Apocalypse Days: I Rule with Foresight and a Powerful Son
Chapter 177

Chapter 177: 177

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Zara froze.

Another knock—firmer this time, too polite to be a soldier, too early to be Winter. Her heart dropped into her stomach.

She reached for the knife hidden beneath the wooden countertop, fingers twitching with instinct.

No one knocked out here.

Not the soldiers, who didn’t care about privacy. And not winter who has the card to enter. He always let himself in, with the kind of quiet ease that said he had nothing to fear from the world.

So who was it?

"Mommy?" Leo’s soft voice reached her ears, his small feet padding across the wooden floor. He rubbed sleep from his eyes with one hand and held his stuffed fox in the other. "Who is that? Is Uncle back?"

"Shhh." She crouched beside him, brushing his dark curls away from his forehead. Another knock came—louder this time, more insistent.

"Remember what I told you?"

Leo nodded, his lower lip trembling. "Go to my space."

"Good. Go now, baby. Don’t make a sound."

He hesitated, eyes wide and frightened, flicking toward the door.

"But—"

"Go to your space, baby. Now."

For a heartbeat, he lingered, torn by fear, but he obeyed. Padding to the far side of the bed, he reached under the frame—and in a blink, he shimmered out of sight, vanishing into thin air as if he had never existed.

Zara turned back to the door, forcing her fingers to relax around the knife. One more breath. One more heartbeat.

Then she opened it.

Standing in front of her was him—tall, sharp-suited despite the mist-choked world with an easy smile on his face was Adrian.

His eyes glowed green, faint but unmistakable in the dim hallway light. A serpent’s gaze, curling around her like a noose.

"Zara," Adrian said with a pleasant smile. "For a moment, I thought I had the wrong place."

She nearly slammed the door in his face.

But what was the point?

If Adrian was here, he knew. Slammed doors didn’t stop men like him.

His boots were loud against the wooden floor as he took in the small room—the table, the two chairs, and the blanket tossed over the bed.

"Neat," he said. "Much neater than I expected honestly. Did you do all this?"

Her knuckles were white around the doorframe. "Get out."

He turned, looking her over like he was sizing up a prize. "You don’t need to be afraid. I understand. It’s hard to know who to trust. But Winter being away... well, it seemed like the best opportunity."

She blinked. "Away?" How did he know that? And where the hell was Winter?

Adrian’s smile sharpened. "Yes. His little errand with the files, right? Strange how long it’s taking, isn’t it?"

A chill slithered down her spine. He knew. He knew she had overheard them. Had Winter fallen into a trap? Was that why he wasn’t back yet?

"Have you been watching us?" she asked, stepping fully into the room now, keeping the knife behind her leg.

"Not you specifically," he said with a shrug. "This base needs monitoring, yes?"

Zara watched as he pulled out a chair and sat. "I have come with the same proportion again." he continued. "You, Winter, the boy—you’re not like the others. You’re important. This world is changing, Zara. Crumbling. But in the ashes... something better can grow."

She didn’t respond. Just stood there, tense, watching him.

He glanced around the room, casually. "Where’s the boy?" His eyes flicked toward the bed.

Zara didn’t answer.

He looked back at her, unbothered. "Sit," he said calmly. "I’ll speak quickly, and then I’ll leave."

Still, she hesitated. Every instinct screamed not to trust him, not to let her guard down. But refusing wouldn’t make him leave either. And she needed to know what he knew—what he wanted.

Zara moved stiffly, pulling out the chair opposite his. She didn’t relax, didn’t even rest her back against it, and kept her eyes on his hands the entire time.

Adrian noticed. His mouth curled into a faint smirk. "You don’t trust me."

"You’re wasting time," she snapped. "Say what you came to say."

Adrian laced his fingers together, his voice lowering into something coaxing. "I’ve been watching for a while. You, Winter, Leo. You’re all... unique. A new world is being born. One where the strong govern the weak. And the strong? We must stick together."

Zara stared at him, revolted.

"You sound like a madman."

"No." Adrian tilted his head, still smiling. "I sound like someone who sees what’s coming. And I want you on the winning side."

"You’ve said this before. And I’ve told you—no."

He sighed, like she was a stubborn child. "You keep denying what you are. What he is. But you know I’m right."

"I’m not interested in your delusions."

He laughed—low and soft, almost sad. "Delusions? Is it delusion to recognize power? To embrace destiny?"

"You’re insane," she said, pushing back her chair. "And if you think I’ll help you, you’re worse than that."

Adrian moved like a flash of lightning.

He was out of the chair and on her before the scrape of it against the floor even ended. One hand crushed her wrist to her side. The other clamped around her throat—not tight, but present. The message was clear.

"I tried to be gentle," he murmured, inches from her face. "I tried to reason with you."

Zara twisted, kicked. Her back hit the wall hard. The knife skittered across the floor, out of reach.

"You don’t get it, do you?" Adrian’s voice had lost its warmth. "This world—our world—has no place for weakness. For hesitation. You’ve been hiding. Letting Winter protect you like a little pet. But you’re more than that."

"Get your hands off me!" she gasped, slamming her knee upward. He dodged, but she caught his thigh. It wasn’t enough.

"Leo is proof," Adrian snarled. "He’s something rare. Power incarnate. And you—you carried him. Bore him. Do you even realize what you’ve made?"

Zara’s nails dug into his wrist. "You stay away from him!"

Adrian’s eyes glittered. "Too late for that."

She choked back panic and rage. "You’re crazy! Leo was born before the apocalypse! Before all this. My giving birth didn’t cause anything!"

"You think this is all coincidence?" he hissed. "That your son, born with that much power, appeared at random? You are the mother of the new age, Zara. And I’m here to make sure you fulfill your role."

"No!" she screamed, thrashing harder. "I want nothing to do with your twisted world!"

"You don’t have a choice—"

He stopped.

His eyes flicked downward.

A small weight had wrapped itself around his leg.

Leo.

Zara’s heart cracked open.

Leo had reappeared, arms wrapped around his leg, chin quivering. His little eyes were wide with tears, but he stood his ground.

"Leave my mommy alone," he said, voice trembling. "You’re a bad man. Go away."

Adrian blinked, stunned for a second. Then he best slowly, eyes unblinking as though in a trance.

Zara moved fast, yanking Leo into her arms, and clutching him tight. Her breath came in shallow gasps.

Adrian stared, something sparking behind his eyes—fascination, calculation, desire.

"Amazing," he said, breathless. "He’s not even afraid to use it. The way he just phased in... It’s beautiful."

Zara recoiled. "Don’t you dare touch him."

"I won’t," Adrian slowly straightened, brushing imaginary dust from his sleeves, his smile unsettlingly calm. "You should be proud. His potential is limitless—yours, too. But hiding in this hole won’t protect you from what’s coming. Leo’s power is a gift, Zara. One that’s vital to all of us."

Zara backed toward the wall, toward the single drawer where another knife waited. "Get out."

He stepped back, eyes never leaving Leo.

"Zara. You can’t hide from this forever. You know what’s coming. The world is shifting. People like us—like Leo—we’re the future. You have a responsibility."

Her stomach turned. "Responsibility? To you?"

"To humanity," he said, voice rising. "The old world is dying. Chaos is coming. Famine, war, collapse. But those with power—real power—can rebuild something better. You should be honoured to play a part in it."

Zara held Leo tighter. "You don’t care about humanity. You just want control."

"I want survival. And you, Zara, you and the child, are key to it."

He stepped back and casually clapped his hands. To zara’s confusion and horror, the door slammed open, startling her and her baby.

She turned quickly.

Three soldiers stepped in, clad in black armour, rifles raised. Their visors glinted under the flickering light. One moved forward, another aimed at her chest.

Leo whimpered and buried his face in her neck. "Mommy."

"Shhh, baby," she whispered, never taking her eyes off the guns. "It’s okay. I’ve got you."

Adrian turned, hands lifted in mock surrender.

"Now, now," he said. "Let’s not escalate."

"What the hell is this?" Zara hissed. "You said we’d talk."

He smiled again—so calm it made her sick.

"And we are." He tilted his head. "I’m simply asking a question. A choice, really. This is your moment, Zara. Join me. Help save humanity. Don’t waste your gifts on fear."

He gestured, and the soldiers stepped forward, weapons glinting in the low light. Zara’s breath caught in her throat.

"This—" Adrian gestured to the soldiers, to himself, to the trembling child in her arms "—this is your chance to rise. To secure a place in the new order. To be part of something bigger than yourself. What do you say?"

She stared at him.

Then at the guns.

Then at Leo, who clung to her with tears streaking his cheeks.

Zara looked back up and met Adrian’s eyes with pure, unfiltered rage.