Apocalypse Days: I Rule with Foresight and a Powerful Son
Chapter 91:

Chapter 91: 91:

The convoy rumbled along the cracked road, its tires crunching over gravel and debris. The imposing silhouette of the base grew sharper with every passing moment.

A transparent dome arched over the structure, gleaming faintly under the pale, polluted sunlight.

Zara leaned her head against the window, her gaze fixed on the dome. "It’s probably for the mist," she murmured absently, her voice almost lost beneath the hum of the engine.

Her hand rested protectively on Leo’s small shoulder, keeping him close as he stared wide-eyed at the approaching fortress.

Winter sat stiffly beside her, his rifle balanced across his lap. Outwardly calm, his jaw clenched and unclenched rhythmically. His eyes flickered toward the gate, but his thoughts were elsewhere—on his team.

Had they made it to City H? Were they even alive? Guilt gnawed at him, sharper than the hunger he’d grown used to ignoring.

He’d pushed the memories aside for weeks, prioritizing survival and taking care of Zara and Leo. But now, as they made their way to the gates.

"Winter," Zara said softly, her brows knitting together as she studied him. "You good?"

His gaze snapped to her, and for a moment, he didn’t answer. Then he nodded, shifting in his seat. "Just... thinking."

She decided to chalk it up to nerves. They were all on edge.

In the backseat, Mike leaned forward, his wiry frame squished between Sam and Richard. He let out a shaky laugh. "Bet they’ll hose us down like laundry before they let us in."

His weak attempt at humour fell flat. Sam shot him a glare while Richard’s jaw tightened. No one had the energy to laugh.

The base represented safety, but safety always came with strings.

The convoy slowed, and the gates came into full view—massive slabs of reinforced steel, etched with scars from countless attacks. Armed guards stood at attention, their weapons gleaming under the harsh light.

As the vehicles rolled to a stop, more guards emerged from the shadows. Their postures were rigid, and their faces were obscured by tinted helmets.

"This is it," Zara whispered, tightening her grip on Leo.

A sharp knock on the convoy door made her jump. The soldier outside gestured for them to step out. Winter was the first to move, his rifle slung over his shoulder. He exited cautiously, his sharp eyes scanning the scene.

Zara followed with Leo, her heart pounding as the guards approached.

"Line up," one of them barked, his voice clipped and authoritative.

One of the soldiers stepped forward, a scanning device in hand. "Step forward, ma’am," he said, gesturing to Zara.

Her breath hitched, but she nodded, stepping into place. The scanner emitted a low hum as the soldier passed it over her, its blue light flickering. She glanced nervously at Winter, who gave her a slight nod. The scan finished with a faint beep, and the soldier moved toward Leo.

"Wait," Zara blurted, instinctively pulling Leo back. Her heart thudded painfully in her chest as her eyes darted to the soldier. "What is that thing? Is it safe for kids?"

The soldier’s expression didn’t waver. "It’s a standard bio-scan, ma’am. Non-invasive. We need to make sure no one’s carrying any... risks."

Zara hesitated, her grip tightening on Leo’s shoulder. She looked at Winter, who stepped closer, his presence grounding her. "Zara," he said quietly, "let them do it. It’s protocol."

She swallowed hard, glancing down at Leo’s wide, innocent eyes. "It’s okay, baby," she murmured, kneeling to his level. "Just hold still, alright?"

Leo nodded, clutching his bear as the soldier scanned him. The light beeped again, and the soldier straightened. "Clear."

Zara exhaled, relief mingling with lingering unease. She pulled Leo back into her arms, holding him tightly.

Meanwhile, Sam stood by as another soldier inspected his bandaged arm. The man’s sharp gaze lingered on the injury. "How’d this happen?"

"Caught it on some debris," Sam replied nonchalantly. "It’s clean. Nothing to worry about, I’m a doctor."

The soldier didn’t look convinced, he eyed Sam, taking in his calm expression. "We’ll need to check that in the infirmary. Make sure it’s not infected."

Zara tensed at the soldier’s tone, a subtle edge of suspicion in his voice. "He’s fine," she interjected, her protective instincts flaring. "I cleaned it myself."

"Ma’am," the soldier said firmly, "it’s procedure."

Sam gave Zara a reassuring nod. "It’s fine. Let them look."

The tension eased slightly as the group complied with the guards’ instructions. But when it came time to hand over their weapons, Winter’s jaw tightened.

His rifle felt like an extension of himself, a lifeline in a world gone mad. Plus, it wasn’t a normal rifle.

"Sir," one of the guards said, holding out a hand, "we’ll need your weapon."

Winter’s grip on the rifle tightened. He didn’t move.

"Winter," Zara said softly, placing a hand on his arm. Her eyes met his, pleading. "It’s just for now. We’ll get it back."

His gaze flicked to hers, the steel in his expression softening just enough. Reluctantly, he handed the rifle over, keeping an eye on it as it was marked and registered.

Once it was returned, the group were cleared to move on to the next phase.

The gates groaned as they began to open, revealing a secondary set of barriers beyond. The convoy was directed through, entering a quarantine zone. The space was white and sterile, lined with white tents and harsh fluorescent lights. Medics in full protective gear moved around quickly, while armed guards patrolled the perimeter. The smell of antiseptic hung heavy in the air.

One by one, the group was led into separate tents for individual evaluations. When Zara reached the entrance of her assigned tent, she immediately tightened her grip on Leo’s hand.

"I’m not leaving him alone," she said firmly, her eyes darting between the medic and the guard.

The medic—a middle-aged woman with tired eyes but a kind demeanour—exchanged a glance with the guard before nodding. "He can stay with you. We’ll check him here."

Zara exhaled, though her heart still pounded in her chest. Inside the tent, she sat on a small folding chair, keeping Leo on her lap as the medic began the examination. The woman’s movements were clinical but gentle, her questions coming one after the other.

"Have you had any direct contact with infected individuals in the last two weeks?"

Zara hesitated, glancing at Leo, then answered, "Not that I’m aware of. We’ve avoided crowds and stayed away from... infected zones."

The medic hummed softly, noting her answer.

"Any unexplained fevers, headaches, or fatigue?"

"None," Zara replied quickly.

"Were you near anyone who displayed symptoms of infection?"

Zara hesitated. Her mind flashed back to moments on the road, strangers they’d encountered briefly before moving on, people she’d seen but hadn’t stopped to help. "No," she said finally, though her voice faltered just enough for the medic to raise an eyebrow.

"Has the child shown any unusual symptoms? Lethargy, irritability, excessive crying?"

Zara felt a twinge of offence but masked it. "Leo’s fine. He’s healthy, just tired from the trip."

The medic nodded and moved on, though her eyes lingered on Leo for a moment longer. "Does he have any medical conditions we should know about? Any injuries or illnesses we need to be aware of?"

"No, nothing like that," Zara said quickly.

The medic finally smiled, her tone softening. "Good. He looks strong. You’ve done well keeping him safe."

Zara relaxed slightly but stayed wary. When the medic turned her attention to Leo, asking him his name and age in a sweet, coaxing tone. Leo blinked at her, confused as to why she was being so nice to him. many of the adults he had met had been meanies.

He pressed his face against Zara’s chest instead of answering.

ara answered for him. "His name’s Leo. He’s three."

The medic chuckled gently. "I see he’s shy."

Leo, tucked against Zara’s chest, only nodded, gripping his mother’s sleeve tightly.

After a few more standard questions, the medic moved to check Zara’s vitals, scanning her for any abnormalities and carefully inspecting her arms and neck for signs of contamination or infection. She didn’t miss anything.

When the medic finally stood back and declared them cleared, Zara exhaled a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. She tightened her grip on Leo, murmuring to him softly. The guards outside waved them to the next checkpoint, where Winter waited.

Earlier....

Winter sat stiffly as a medic inspected him, his mind elsewhere. He barely registered the questions being asked, his thoughts circling back to his team. Had they made it here? Or were they still out there, fighting to survive—or worse? His fingers gripped the edge of the cot he sat on, his knuckles white.

Outside, she saw Sam seated by a medic and a soldier. Sam winced as the medic carefully peeled back the blood-soaked bandages on his arm. The soldier supervising leaned in with narrowed eyes as the medic examined the wound.

"It’s healing, but you’re lucky it didn’t get worse," the medic muttered, re-bandaging it with cleaner materials. "We’ll keep an eye on it. If there’s any sign of infection, you’ll need to report back immediately."

Sam gave a curt nod, his jaw tight, but Zara noticed the soldier’s lingering suspicion.

Next came the injections. A soldier stepped forward, carrying a tray of pre-loaded syringes. "Standard immunity booster," he announced, his tone flat. One by one, they rolled up their sleeves.

"You sure this is safe?" Sam grumbled, eyeing the needle.

"It’s mandatory," the soldier replied curtly. "Unless you want to head back out there."

No one argued after that. Zara tensed as the cold needle pressed against her arm, her other hand gripping Leo’s. The boy whimpered at the sight of the needle but didn’t cry. Zara kissed his forehead reassuringly as the medic gave him a much smaller dose.

The tension in the air spiked when, not far from them, a family was denied entry. The soldiers’ sharp voices carried through the area, and the cries of the two children in the family were piercing. "Please! We’re not infected!" the father begged as his wife clutched their children.

"We can’t risk it," the soldier said coldly. "Move back."

The heavy gates clanged shut behind the family, muffling their cries. Zara’s heart twisted painfully as she held Leo closer, grateful but haunted. The sound of the children’s sobs stuck with her as they were pushed to stand on the side.

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