Apocalypse Days: I Rule with Foresight and a Powerful Son
Chapter 111:

Chapter 111: 111:

The afternoon sun was heavy against Zara’s back as she walked beside Winter, adjusting the sling that held Leo close to her chest.

Even with the dome protecting the base, the heat was stinging. That meant the weather had done another one of its weird things where it was extreme.

They were looking for the lab.

It wasn’t as simple as finding a sign that read Top-Secret Facility This Way. The base was sprawling, it was quite literally blocks of buildings and streets that had walls built around them during the start of the apocalypse.

People walked with purpose, some in pairs, others alone, their faces tired but resigned. Government officials—identifiable by their crisp uniforms and ever-present clipboards—watched from various posts, their gazes impassive as they monitored the civilians. There were checkpoints at intersections, each manned by at least two officers. Large signs designated different sections of the base—living quarters, rations centre, and medical bay amongst others.

But no signs pointed to a lab.

Zara adjusted the sling around her chest, her hand instinctively brushing over Leo’s small back. He was still fast asleep, his little face peaceful despite the controlled tension that hung over the settlement. Winter walked beside her, hands shoved in his pockets, his expression one of mild curiosity as if he were just another newcomer getting the lay of the land.

"Where do you think they keep the lab?" she murmured, keeping her voice low.

Winter exhaled through his nose, scanning the area as they strolled past a ration station where a line of people waited for their daily provisions. "If I were running this place? Underground or tucked behind the high-security zones."

Zara glanced at the buildings ahead. Most looked like repurposed warehouses, old structures reinforced with additional barriers. Some were guarded more heavily than others. "Then we should see where security is the tightest."

Winter nodded, angling their walk toward the busier parts of the base.

As they moved through the settlement, they kept their pace natural, never lingering too long in one place. They passed a small communal space where families sat at outdoor tables, eating quietly. A few children played with makeshift toys, their laughter a rare sound amidst the orderliness.

An elderly woman glanced up from where she was peeling a piece of fruit. Her eyes landed on Leo, and her face softened. "What a little angel," she murmured as they passed.

Zara offered a polite smile. "Thank you, ma’am."

"He looks so much like his dad," the old lady continued, looking at Winter.

Zara’s smile faltered. She could feel Winter tense beside her, though he said nothing. Her fingers curled slightly against the fabric of Leo’s sling, holding him just a bit closer.

"Yes, he does," she murmured. Her voice was smaller now, almost fragile. She forced herself to smile down at Leo

"Yes, he does," Zara’s voice was smaller now as she looked down at Leo with a forlorn expression. The guilt she had tried to rationalise slowly twisted its way into her mind again.

Guilt—sharp, insidious—coiled through her like a slow-moving poison. She had spent the past year trying to rationalize, to tell herself that moving forward didn’t mean forgetting. But moments like these made it hard.

Because it was true.

Leo had Damon’s eyes, his nose, the same shape to his mouth when he slept. And even though he would never remember his father, the world still saw Damon in him. A reminder that no matter how much time passed, she would never truly be able to leave him behind.

Winter shifted beside her, and she didn’t have to look at him to know he was watching her, reading the tension in her shoulders, the way she suddenly refused to meet the old woman’s gaze.

He didn’t say anything right away. Instead, he gave her a moment.

The woman must have noticed the change in atmosphere, because she offered a small nod before turning back to her fruit, muttering something about how children were a blessing.

Zara inhaled, steadying herself. She needed to move past this—needed to focus. But her body still felt stiff as they walked away.

A few steps later, Winter finally spoke, his voice low enough that only she could hear.

"You okay?"

Zara hesitated before nodding. "Yeah. Just... it caught me off guard."

He hummed in acknowledgement but didn’t push further.

They continued walking, the sounds of the settlement filling the spaces between them. People moved through their daily routines, murmuring in small clusters, bartering supplies, and watching the patrols from the corners of their eyes. Even here, where things seemed peaceful, there was a tension that lingered beneath the surface—an unspoken understanding that none of this was truly safe.

Winter’s hand brushed against hers, soft and fleeting at first before grasping it gently as they walked. It grounded her.

She exhaled softly and spoke, more to shake off the weight of the past than anything else. "I wasn’t expecting it to still hit this hard."

Winter tilted his head slightly, considering. "Grief’s a funny thing," he said. "It doesn’t fade the way people say it does. Just... shifts."

She swallowed, glancing at Leo’s peaceful face. "Yeah."

There was so much she could have said—about how she had spent the past year trying to balance mourning and survival, about how she had never planned for someone like Winter to enter her life the way he had.

But she didn’t.

Because the truth was, she loved Winter.

And she had loved Damon.

The two feelings coexisted, messy and complicated, and no matter how many times she tried to untangle them, they never truly unravelled the way she wanted them to.

Winter suddenly smirked, his voice dipping into something lighter, teasing.

"Besides, I don’t know why she thought I was his dad. We look nothing alike."

Zara let out a short laugh, startled by the shift in tone. "God, you are so full of yourself."

He shrugged. "What? I’m just saying. The kid’s got the pretty genes from somewhere."

She gave him an unimpressed look. "Uh-huh. And you think that’s you?"

He placed a hand over his heart, feigning offense. "Damn, and here I thought you were falling for my rugged charm."

Zara rolled her eyes, but her chest felt lighter.

He had done that on purpose. Steered her away from the dark thoughts before they could fully settle. And as much as she wanted to be annoyed by his cockiness, she was grateful.

She bumped her shoulder against his. "You’re an idiot."

Winter grinned. "An idiot you’re stuck with."

She snorted. "Unfortunately."

Winter smirked. "No one can resist a cute kid."

"Yeah, well, let’s hope cuteness is enough of a distraction," she muttered.

They kept moving, passing a cluster of men fixing a broken water pipe. Winter slowed slightly, pretending to inspect their work while covertly studying the nearby structures. One building, taller than the rest, had a restricted access sign posted near the entrance. A pair of guards stood at the door, their post relaxed but firm.

"Could be something," Winter murmured.

"Or just another supply building," Zara countered.

They kept walking, moving toward another area of the base where the atmosphere subtly shifted. Here, people spoke in hushed tones. Fewer civilians lingered. The presence of uniformed personnel was heavier.

A checkpoint blocked their path ahead, leading toward what looked like another sector of the base. A group of workers in grey uniforms passed through without trouble, their ID badges scanned by a stationed officer.

Zara tightened her grip on Leo. "We won’t be getting past that."

Winter hummed. "Not today."

A young soldier manning the post caught sight of them and gave a slight frown, stepping toward them.

"This area’s restricted. Civilians shouldn’t be wandering this way."

Zara smiled, adjusting Leo in her arms. "Sorry, we’re new. Just trying to get familiar with the base."

The soldier’s eyes flickered to Leo, and his stern expression softened slightly. "Right. Still, best not to go past this point unless you’ve got clearance."

Winter gave a small nod. "Got it. We’ll head back."

They turned away without protest, but Zara noted how the soldier watched them until they were a good distance away.

"Definitely something behind there," she murmured.

"Yeah. Now we just need to figure out how to get past it."

They continued exploring, making mental notes of the areas with the most foot traffic and where officers seemed most focused. Near the far end of the base, they came across what looked like a storage facility. The scent of chemicals lingered faintly in the air, and workers in protective gear moved large crates.

Zara slowed slightly. "This could be related."

"Maybe," Winter said, eyes sharp as he took in the scene.

Before they could get closer, a soldier stationed near the building gave them a hard look. "You two need something?"

Zara shook her head. "Just passing by."

The officer’s gaze lingered, but he didn’t press further.

They moved on, pretending to admire the view beyond the fenced perimeter of the base. Beyond the walls, the land stretched barren and desolate.

Winter let out a low breath. "Not exactly inviting."

Zara frowned. "It’s not supposed to be."

They spent another hour circling back through the settlement, subtly mapping out which areas seemed important. By the time they reached the bus terminal near their housing section, the sun was beginning its descent, casting long shadows across the base.

Zara shifted Leo in her arms. He stirred slightly but didn’t wake.

Winter stretched his arms behind his head, glancing at her. "Got what you needed?"

"For now," she admitted.

Winter smirked. "Not bad for a casual stroll."

Zara rolled her eyes but smiled.

As the bus pulled up to the terminal, she reached for the strap of Leo’s sling, making sure he was secure.

That’s when a voice cut through the low murmur of the waiting passengers.

"Winter?"