Apocalypse Days: I Rule with Foresight and a Powerful Son
Chapter 161

Chapter 161: 161

"We need to talk Winter."

Winter hesitated at the threshold, glancing back at Zara, who stood just inside the doorway with Leo in her arms.

"I’ll be back soon," he assured her.

She didn’t stop him. Her expression was unreadable, but her nod was all the permission he needed.

Leo squirmed in her arms, his chubby fingers stretching out toward Winter. "Go too! Wan’ go too!"

Winter smiled, reaching over to ruffle the boy’s dark curls. "Not this time, little man. Stay with your mom, alright?"

Leo’s lower lip trembled, but Zara adjusted her grip, rocking him slightly. He pouted but settled with a small sniffle.

Behind Winter, Marcus, Ima, and Miles stood waiting, the door angled in a way that they couldn’t see inside the room.

Winter smirked at him and then turned to his people. The teasing smirks on their faces told him all he needed to know.

"Shut up," he muttered before any of them could make a comment.

Miles chuckled. "Didn’t say anything."

"Didn’t have to," Winter shot back, ignoring the warmth creeping up his neck. "But you’re thinking it real loud."

Ima crossed her arms. "We’re just saying—it’s cute, you getting all soft."

"Soft?" Winter scoffed. "I’ll show you soft when I shove my boot up your—"

"Alright, alright," Marcus cut in, glancing toward the open corridor. The humour faded from his face, replaced with something sharper. "We can’t talk here."

Winter followed his gaze, taking in the too-wide spaces, and the watchful eyes of passing soldiers. He understood. Too many ears.

Marcus tilted his head toward the alleyway between two crumbling buildings. The walls were scorched black in places, remnants of a fire from god-knows-how-long-ago. Most of the city looked like that now—wounded, barely holding together.

Winter hesitated, glancing back once more. Zara had already taken Leo inside, and the door shut.

"Fine," he murmured. "Lead the way."

They moved swiftly, keeping their heads down. The streets inside the military-controlled base were deceptively quiet, the kind of silence that made the hairs stand on their necks, warning of unseen eyes.

Ima kept glancing over her shoulder, unease written across her face. Miles and Marcus exchanged wary glances.

To distract them—and himself—Winter asked, "How’s Naomi and the kids?"

Miles exhaled through his nose, some of the tension easing from his shoulders. "Safe. For now. Travelling here was hell, though. We ran into all kinds of shit, and moving with kids in the apocalypse is a nightmare."

Winter huffed a quiet laugh, he couldn’t actually relate. Leo had been a godsend in the few weeks he had travelled with the kid and Zara. But he also knew Miles’s kids, the little hell raisers would have had him pulling his hair out with their antics too.

His eyes flickered past Miles’ shoulder, catching movement. A soldier, one who had been walking near them, subtly veered off after hearing that.

Ima whispered, "Is he gone?"

Winter nodded. His smile faded slightly. The uneasy feeling he had had had been the soldier trialling them.

They reached the ruined structure, stepping carefully over shattered concrete and rusted metal. It was close enough to the center of the base that Winter could rush back if needed, but far enough to keep their conversation private.

The city hummed around them—distant murmurs, the occasional bark of orders, a patrol passing down a nearby street.

Winter remained standing, arms crossed, waiting. Ima, Marcus, and Miles exchanged glances before Ima finally spoke.

"Something is off here, Winter."

She didn’t have to say it—he already knew.

Still, he listened as they laid out everything they’d noticed.

Miles rubbed his hands together, voice lowering. "I keep hearing soldiers talk about ’orders from above,’ but no one ever says who’s giving them."

Ima’s mouth pressed into a thin line. "There’s more. We’ve heard... rumours."

Winter’s stomach twisted. He already knew what was coming.

"Experiments," Marcus said grimly. "On people with abilities."

Winter’s pulse pounded in his ears.

His silence made them tense.

Miles looked at him closely. "You knew."

Winter exhaled. "I suspected." He met their gazes, voice firm. "But we can’t act without knowing how deep this goes. If we make a wrong move—"

"They’ll come for us," Ima finished.

He didn’t want to confirm too much—couldn’t afford to, not yet. Zara and Leo’s safety came first.

He couldn’t act recklessly.

But ignoring it wasn’t an option either.

He glanced away for a moment, jaw tight. Zara and Leo had no part in this war, in this broken world’s hunger for control. But Leo’s power wasn’t something they could hide forever.

His thoughts drifted to Bale. Had he gone through the flash drive they had found? When would he call them back? They needed more information before making a move.

The moment shattered when he caught movement beyond the ruins.

His hand shot up in a silent command for silence.

They pressed against the crumbling wall, barely breathing.

A small group of soldiers passed by, their voices hushed but urgent.

Winter strained to hear.

The voices drifted through the crumbling alleyway, hushed but unmistakably urgent.

"They’re still looking for the runaway. Orders came down this morning."

Winter froze, signaling the others to stay silent. They pressed against the cold, jagged wall, barely breathing.

"Can’t believe it got out. If command finds out, we’re all dead."

A sick feeling curled in Winter’s gut.

"Did you hear what it did to the last guy who got too close? I’d rather be on patrol than deal with that freak."

A pause. A scrape of boots against rubble.

"Just keep your mouth shut and do your job."

The soldiers’ voices faded into the distance, their words lingering in the still, heavy air.

Ima exhaled sharply, her wide eyes darting to Winter. "What the hell are they hunting?"

Marcus shook his head, his expression unreadable. "That didn’t sound normal."

Winter’s mind was already running through the possibilities. Runaway. Freak. It.

His hands clenched at his sides. Who—or what—were they talking about?

And more importantly, why did it feel like he already knew?

Miles shifted beside him. "You think it’s got something to do with..." He hesitated, eyes flicking toward Winter. "You know."

Winter didn’t answer immediately. His heart pounded against his ribs. Did it have to do with the creature they saw in the feed?

He forced his voice steady. "We don’t jump to conclusions."

Ima gave him a disbelieving look. "Come on, Winter. You heard them. Something escaped, something they think is dangerous."

"Or something they made dangerous," Miles muttered darkly.

He swallowed, keeping his expression neutral. "It’s not just that it got out. They’re still looking for it. Meaning, it’s either hiding... or it’s blending in."

Ima’s eyes widened. "Shit. You think it’s—"

"—someone inside the base?" Marcus finished, expression grim.

Winter didn’t respond. He didn’t need to.

Miles cursed under his breath. "We need to be careful. If people are disappearing, and the soldiers are this jumpy... this base isn’t as safe as they make it seem."

"No kidding." Ima crossed her arms. "I don’t like this. And I don’t like that they’re being vague as hell about whatever they’re hunting. No names, no descriptions. Just—’freak.’ Like that’s all we need to know."

Winter inhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. He needed more information. He needed to think.

Marcus folded his arms. "If it’s that bad, we should consider moving. I don’t like the idea of being here when they decide to start sweeping through the city looking for whatever the hell got loose."

Winter met his gaze. "And go where?" His voice was sharp. "There’s nowhere safer. If we run now, we lose access to supplies, shelter—hell, everything. And you think the other havens will take us in after we abandon this one?"

Marcus didn’t answer, but the tension between them crackled.

Ima looked between them and sighed. "Alright. We stay, for now. But we don’t sit on our asses waiting for things to get worse. We keep our eyes open, figure out what the hell is going on."

Winter pushed a hand through his hair.

"Me and the people I travelled with—we’ve noticed things too." He exhaled, considering his next words carefully. "We don’t have the luxury of running. If we leave, we’re locked out of every high-level safe haven. We’d be out there alone, fighting off the hordes with no resources."

Marcus arched an eyebrow. "So what are you saying? We take over the government?"

Winter snorted despite himself. "Don’t get any ideas."

Miles shook his head, sighing. "Dumbass."

Ima rolled her eyes, but amusement flickered across her face. "So what do we do if things get worse?"

Winter glanced toward the base. "We keep gathering information. In a few days, meet me by the rations stand. We’ll share what we know."

His gaze swept over them, serious. "I don’t want to be seen with you for too long. It’ll draw suspicion."

Marcus grinned, nudging Miles. "Listen to him. Acting all responsible and protective. What a big softie."

Winter glared, but Miles smirked. "Oh, we’re definitely teasing him about this later."

Ima sighed dramatically. "Alright, alright. We’ll meet at the stand." Her expression sobered slightly. "We’re all gonna make it through this, Winter. One way or another."

He didn’t reply, but he met her gaze and nodded.

They parted on light terms, but their eyes held worry.

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