Apocalypse Days: I Rule with Foresight and a Powerful Son
Chapter 121:

Chapter 121: 121:

The atmosphere in the lab had shifted the moment Harker arrived. It wasn’t outright fear, but Zara noticed the subtle stiffness in the scientists’ postures, the way their eyes flicked toward him warily before quickly returning to their work.

Even Calloway, who didn’t seem intimidated by much, carried a tightness in his shoulders when Harker was around.

And Harker?

He noticed everything and soaked it all up.

The tension in the lab grew thicker with each passing minute. Harker didn’t belong here—that much was clear.

He paced near the central workstation, arms folded, his sharp gaze flicking between the researchers. Every few minutes, he’d direct a question—no, a demand—at Dr. Strauss, Dr. Osei, or Calloway.

And every time, they shut him down.

"I need access to the core data from the last energy readings," Harker said smoothly, turning to Calloway with a smirk.

Calloway didn’t even bother looking up from his notes. "That’s restricted."

Harker’s jaw flexed, but he kept his voice light. "You act like I’m an outsider." He let out a soft chuckle. "I’m part of this operation too, Calloway."

Calloway tapped his pen against the table. "You’re part of your operation. That doesn’t mean you get free rein here."

Dr. Strauss cleared her throat, adjusting her glasses. "We’re still analyzing the data. Until we have confirmed results, no external involvement."

Harker’s expression didn’t change, but Zara caught it—the tightening of his fingers, the brief flicker of irritation behind his eyes. He wasn’t used to hearing ’no.’

"I want access to the primary containment room," he said, his voice hard. "Now."

Dr. Strauss didn’t look up from her notes. "You know the answer to that."

Harker’s smile was razor-sharp. "I do. And I’m saying it’s the wrong one."

Dr. Osei cleared his throat, adjusting his glasses. "Access is restricted for a reason. The material is unstable."

"That’s why I need it," Harker replied easily.

Strauss finally set her pen down and met his gaze, calm but unwavering. "Your request has been denied, Lieutenant."

He seemed to take a step forward, as though thinking of fighting, but she stared him down, unimpressed.

He grunted, turning away harshly.

Zara didn’t care. She had more important matters to attend to.

What she did care about was the fact that Harker had started following her.

Not obviously. Not in a way that most people would notice.

Whenever she moved to a different workstation, he wasn’t far behind. Watching. Studying.

Annoyance coiled in her gut.

What did he want?

Zara was examining the mist sample under a scope when Harker leaned against the table beside her, arms crossed. "You don’t talk much, do you?"

She didn’t look up. "I don’t have much to say."

Harker chuckled. "That’s a shame. A woman with a mind like yours should have plenty to discuss."

Zara finally turned to him. "Funny. I was just thinking a man like you should have better things to do than bother me."

His smirk twitched. "You wound me."

"No, I just don’t care."

That got him. His smirk faltered for half a second before he regained it, tilting his head in mock curiosity. "You know, most people try to get on my good side."

"I doubt you have one."

Calloway, who had been pretending not to listen, snorted.

Harker shot him a glare but didn’t push further. Instead, he straightened, adjusting his coat. "I like a challenge, Zara."

She turned back to her work. "Then go find one."

*****

By the time she reached the daycare, the sun had dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows through the hallway windows. The doors to the small childcare room were open just a crack, and Zara could hear soft murmurs from inside.

She stepped in, scanning the room.

Most of the other children had already been picked up, leaving only Miss Lilian—the kind older woman who ran the daycare—and a small figure huddled beside her.

Leo.

His tiny hands were clenched in his lap, his shoulders hunched. The moment he saw her, he sprang up, running toward her at full speed.

"Mommy!"

Zara knelt just in time for him to crash into her arms.

Miss Lilian smiled gently. "He’s been waiting all day."

Zara frowned. "Did something happen?"

Miss Lilian hesitated. "He didn’t play with the others. He just... sat with me. All day."

Zara felt her stomach twist. "Did he say why?"

Miss Lilian shook her head. "Not really. But he seemed... uneasy."

Zara held Leo tighter. "Thank you for staying with him."

The older woman nodded. "Of course, dear."

Zara picked Leo up, his small arms clinging to her neck. She pressed a kiss to his hair.

"I’m sorry, baby," she murmured. "Let’s go home, okay?"

Leo just nodded against her shoulder.

*****

Back in their room, Zara served Leo a small meal, trying to distract him with his favorite fruit slices. He ate quietly, still subdued.

She would have to figure this out.

Later.

For now, she needed to check her notes. She moved toward her desk—then stopped.

A slip of paper lay on the wooden surface.

She hadn’t left it there. A chill crept up her spine.

Slowly, she picked it up, unfolding it.

The message was written in small, sharp handwriting.

They are watching you. Choose your allies carefully.

Zara’s pulse quickened.

She turned toward the locked door. The window was shut.

Who had left this?

And more importantly...

What exactly were they warning her about?

*****

When Zara arrived the next morning, the lab was already bustling. Bright overhead lights buzzed faintly, and the scent of sterilized equipment mixed with the faint metallic tang of the mist samples being studied.

Dr Strauss was already at her workstation, brow furrowed as she examined a translucent vial containing a swirling wisp of violet mist. Zara did a double-take at that. Was it ok to have something so dangerous out in the open without any protective gear? Nearby, Calloway skimmed through a set of data, muttering to himself.

"Ah, good. You’re here," Dr. Strauss said without looking up. "Your notes from yesterday—impressive work."

Zara blinked, caught off guard. "Thank you?"

Calloway snorted. "That’s about as high praise as you’re gonna get from her."

Dr. Strauss ignored him, carefully setting the vial down. "Your suggestions on containment protocols—the adjustable filtration system and controlled pressure chambers—are being implemented. We’re recalibrating the venting systems now."

Zara’s eyebrows lifted slightly. "That was fast."

Calloway smirked. "Turns out when someone actually suggests something useful, the higher-ups listen."

Strauss shot him a look but didn’t disagree. "Additionally, your theory on the mist’s response to different temperatures—"

"Ice seemed to slow it down. Heat made it expand." Zara nodded. "It acts more like a living thing than a gas."

"Precisely," Strauss said. "We ran some preliminary tests overnight. It reacts differently depending on exposure duration. The changes aren’t just physical—they’re structural."

Zara leaned forward. "You mean—"

Strauss tapped a screen, pulling up a magnified image. "The mist adapts. What we initially thought was random movements are calculated—like it’s testing its environment."

Zara’s stomach tightened. "That’s... unsettling."

"It should be."

There was a beat of silence.

Then Calloway, ever the tension-cutter, exhaled. "Well, great. So we’re dealing with some kind of smart fog."

Zara shook her head. "Not smart. But aware."

Calloway frowned. "Even worse."

Strauss adjusted the screen. "This is why containment is critical. We’ve been fortunate so far that the breaches have been minimal, but the mist is evolving. If we don’t get ahead of it—"

"We’ll lose control," Zara finished.

Strauss gave a grim nod. The room was quiet for a moment.

Then, of course, Harker ruined it.

"I knew you were clever," Harker’s voice drawled behind her.

Zara clenched her jaw before turning. He stood with his usual arrogance, arms crossed, smirking.

Calloway muttered something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like ’asshole.’

Harker ignored him. "Finally, someone in this damn place who actually understands the stakes."

Strauss sighed. "We understand the stakes just fine, Captain."

He scoffed. "Do you?" His eyes flicked to the mist vial. "Because from where I’m standing, all I see is a bunch of scientists wasting time with microscopes instead of fixing the problem."

Strauss’s lips thinned. "Research is fixing the problem."

Harker made a sound in the back of his throat. "Research doesn’t mean shit if doesn’t bring results."

You’re wasting time," he snapped at Strauss. "All these theories, all these calculations, and yet we still don’t have control over the mist."

Strauss shot him a sharp glare. "Science takes time, Captain."

Harker scoffed. "Time we don’t have."

He turned suddenly, eyes locking on Zara.

"Maybe you’d like to show them how it’s done since you’re the only one with ideas that actually make sense."

Zara met his gaze evenly. "Science is about patience, Harker. Maybe you should try it sometime."

Calloway coughed to hide a laugh.

Harker, however, wasn’t amused.

Instead, he smirked and took a step closer. "Patience isn’t my strong suit. I prefer action."

Before anyone could stop him, he raised his hand toward the containment field.

The mist inside reacted instantly.

It lunged toward him, coiling against the barrier.

Zara’s breath hitched. "Harker, what the hell are you doing?"

Harker’s smirk deepened. He extended his fingers slightly—

And the mist moved.

Not randomly.

It responded to him.

What the fuck?

The researchers around them froze, watching in a mix of fear and horror.

For a moment, Zara could only stare.

Harker had control over the mist. How was that possible? How did he have power over such a dangerous thing?

Strauss was the first to snap out of it. "Turn it off. Now."

Harker exhaled sharply, then flicked his fingers—and just like that, the mist settled.

He turned to Zara, clearly pleased with himself. "Now that’s control."

She felt uneasy.

Whatever Harker was, he wasn’t normal.

*****

Midday, Zara slipped away to check on Leo. She needed to get out of there.

When she reached the daycare, the room was once again quiet. The other children were playing in clusters, but Leo sat alone in the corner, small hands curled around his knees.

Zara’s stomach twisted.

She knelt beside him, brushing his hair back. "Hey, buddy."

Leo looked up at her with those deep, dark eyes.

"What’s wrong baby? Why aren’t you playing?"

He said nothing, but instead, he climbed into her lap, pressing his face against her shoulder.

Miss Lilian approached, a kind but concerned expression on her face. "He’s been like this all morning."

Zara sighed. "He used to be shy, but never like this."

As she held Leo, a different daycare worker—a younger woman Zara didn’t recognize—approached with a hesitant smile. "You’re Leo’s mother, right?"

Zara tensed. "Yes."

The woman nodded, eyes flickering to Leo. "He’s a sweet boy. Quiet." She hesitated, then lowered her voice. "Has he always been like this?"

Something about the way she said it made Zara uneasy. "No. Why?"

The worker glanced toward the other children, making sure no one was listening. "It’s just... someone’s been asking about him."

Zara’s grip on Leo tightened. "Who?"

"I don’t know. A man."

Zara’s heart pounded. "What did he look like?"

"I didn’t see him myself. Just heard Miss Lilian talking about it."

Zara forced herself to stay calm. "Thank you for telling me."

The worker gave her a small nod before walking away.

Zara exhaled slowly, pressing a kiss to Leo’s head.

Someone was watching them.