Apocalypse Days: I Rule with Foresight and a Powerful Son
Chapter 171

Chapter 171: 171

Winter’s boots echoed softly as he walked through the dimly lit halls of the base, the quiet hum of the place settling around him like a constant low buzz. The flickering of the overhead lights seemed to match his thoughts—flickering, uncertain.

The meeting with the group had brought some relief. It always helped to speak the truth, to have people who understood the danger they were all facing, but there was an undercurrent of worry gnawing at him, tightening in his chest with every step.

The truth had been laid bare: Harker was alive, and he was embedded in the very fabric of this place. Not just a ghost from their past, but a malignant force, manipulating the infected and their powers in ways that were becoming more and more dangerous by the second.

Harker’s return isn’t just a personal vendetta. It’s a threat to everything we’ve built here

The threat he posed wasn’t just to him—it was to them all. The team. Zara. Leo. The world, maybe.

They had no idea yet how deep Harker’s influence reached, how far his experiments stretched. But Winter knew that whatever his old adversary was doing, it wasn’t just about control. It was about power—unfathomable power—and the last thing they could afford was to give him even a small advantage.

The streets were quieter now, the oppressive quiet of the night settling in like a heavy fog. The base never truly slept, but at this hour, everything felt more muted, more threatening. There was no place for doubt now.

He rounded the corner of the hallway that led to the small apartment he shared with Zara. She’d been on edge for days now, that nightmare of hers proved it. He raked a hand through his hair as he tried to put on a face of relaxation. She was already stressed as is, they all were but it was clearly taking more of a toll on her.

Now if only he could just pass this off and give her the information he had learnt without feeling her out. He doubted it though. She had a way of reading him, of sensing when something was wrong.

He didn’t have an answer as he approached the building where they were staying, the worn-out structure standing tall in the silence of the night. A few soldiers stood guard at the entrance, their figures half-hidden in the darkness. Winter nodded at them, but his attention was already drawn inward, to the warmth of the room awaiting him. To Zara.

When he pushed the door open, the room was bathed in a soft glow from a single lamp on the table. Zara was sitting by the bed, cradling baby Leo in her arms, her body tense, even in the stillness. The sight of her made his throat tighten.

She was already on edge—he could see it in her posture, the tightness of her shoulders, the sharpness in her eyes. And then, her gaze flickered to his face, as if searching for signs of what had happened during his meeting.

"You’re late, did something happen?" she said, her voice taut with worry. Her eyes flicked to his chest, scanning for any signs of injury, any indication that something had gone wrong.

"I’m fine," Winter replied, his tone softening as he stepped inside. He could see the exhaustion written all over her face—the dark circles under her eyes, the way her lips pressed together in a line.

It was the same look she’d had the last time they were together, when everything had gone to hell and they’d been moved to this new sector. "My meeting ran longer than expected."

He reached up, cupping her face gently in his hands. Her skin was warm, soft against his rough palms, but there was a tension in her muscles that made him want to pull her closer, hold her tighter.

"Zara, calm down," he said, his voice low, a quiet command. "I’m fine. Nothing happened. I’m here."

Her eyes searched his face for a long moment, as if deciding whether to trust him.

She took a breath, her shoulders loosening slightly, but the worry didn’t leave her gaze. Her exhaustion was palpable, but there was something else in her eyes, too—a fierce protectiveness.

She glanced down at Leo, who was nestled in her arms, his small body curled against her chest. "We were waiting up for you," she said softly.

The sight of him, so peaceful and trusting, made something in Winter’s chest tighten. He couldn’t help but feel a pang of protectiveness for both of them.

Zara and Leo were his world now.

"Well? How was it? What did you learn?" she asked quietly, her voice breaking the silence. "Tell me everything."

Winter let out a slow breath, walking over to the small table in the corner of the room. He took a seat, motioning for Zara to join him.

She hesitated for only a moment before walking over, sitting down with Leo still in her arms.

"I spoke with Richard, Sam, and Mike," he started, his voice steady as he relayed the details. "Then with Ima and the rest after, you met them," Zara nodded, those where the people from hair former base.

"We believe Harker’s been in contact with some high-ranking officials. People who are dangerous, Zara. People who know what he’s been doing, and they’re using him."

Zara’s eyes narrowed, her lips pressed tightly together as she absorbed the information.

The tension in her body grew with each word, and Winter could see the weight of his revelation settling on her like a heavy cloak.

"Why are they using him?" Zara asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Winter’s jaw tightened. "It’s not just about power. Like we thought, he has been in kahoots with Adrian. Harker’s been experimenting. With the virus. With abilities. He’s probably been working on something that could change everything. And those people..., Adrian, they want to control it."

Zara’s breath caught in her throat. She looked down at Leo for a moment, her fingers brushing the top of his head in a soothing gesture.

He nodded. "Richard’s group—they’ve been tracking strange behavior in the infected. Sam saw one with regenerative abilities. Mike swears he saw another one use an ability. Not instinct—controlled. Like it remembered how."

Zara’s grip on Leo tightened.

"And Subject 17," Winter went on. "They think it’s real. Not a myth. Some kind of enhanced infected, but different. It doesn’t lose everything. It keeps the abilities. Maybe even mutates them. Richard said one of the early test subjects walked straight into a group of survivors and tore through them like it was made for it."

Her voice was quiet but firm when she spoke again.

"So, Harker’s probably still alive and he’s working with them to control the virus? To create... more of us? Or better put, zombies with abilities."

"Exactly." Winter’s eyes met hers, his gaze serious. "From what I heard today, it’s not just wanting to use ability users for fear. They’re testing how the virus interacts with us. How they can manipulate us for their own agenda."

Zara’s lips trembled slightly, her mind clearly racing as she processed everything Winter had just told her. She pulled Leo closer, a protective instinct that made Winter’s heart ache.

He could see it in her eyes.

Her thoughts were a whirlwind, just as his were. The pieces were falling into place, but they were still so many unknowns. So many things to fear.

Zara’s expression twisted with a mix of fear and fury. "So what now? Do we wait for him to make his next move?"

"No," Winter said. "We leave."

She blinked. "What?"

"We’re planning something. It’s not finalized yet," he said quickly. "But we’re scouting ways to bypass security. Tunnels maybe—old access points under the compound."

Her eyes widened, and her fingers tightened around Leo. "Are you serious?"

Winter gave a small smile, a flash of something warm amidst the dark. "Dead serious."

"How soon?" she asked, almost breathless.

"Could be days. Could be weeks. Depends on what we find."

Zara leaned back, stunned. "I—I didn’t think... I mean, I hoped. But this place had started feeling like the end of the road."

Winter shook his head. "It’s not. It’s just another stop. But if we stay... we’re giving Harker the advantage."

She was quiet for a long moment, staring at the floor.

"I know we’ve spoken about it as an option, but I don’t know if I’m ready," she whispered. "What if it’s worse out there?"

"It might be," he admitted. "But it might also be our only shot."

She looked at him again, her eyes fierce now. "Then we go. But only if we go together."

"We will," he promised. He reached for her free hand, squeezing it gently. "I’ll keep you both safe. I swear it."

Zara exhaled slowly, and he saw the shimmer of unshed tears in her eyes. Relief. Fear. Hope. All bleeding into one expression.

"You always say that," she murmured.

"And I always mean it."

The room settled into silence. Outside, the wind whispered against the walls.

"We should get some rest. I’m going to check in with Bale and Harlow tomorrow. Since your strength is back, you can stay here with Leo or see what you can find around the base. The quarantine period is over."

Zara stood, laying Leo gently into the bassinet they’d made out of a storage box and old blankets. The child barely stirred, lost in his own dreams.

When she turned back to Winter, her features had softened. The storm in her was still there, but it had quieted—for now.

She crawled into the cot beside him, tucking herself against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her immediately, one hand resting protectively over her side, the other brushing back her hair.

"You’re warm," she mumbled.

"You’re freezing," he murmured, wrapping an arm around her waist and drawing her in until there was no space between them. "Sleep. I’ll keep watch."

"You always say that," she whispered, but her voice was already fading.

"I mean it," he whispered back, and kissed the top of her head.

And in the silence that followed, Winter stared into the dark, listening for footsteps that hadn’t come yet, and praying they had enough time left to fight back.