Apocalyse: Marked by Chaos
Chapter 146 - 145 Departure

Chapter 146: Chapter 145 Departure

Her father tried to make her mother keep quiet, but Sofia didn’t obey.

"Please."

Olivia stared at her family. A smirk formed on my lips. "She is old enough to take care of herself." Without another she left them.

"Olivia, come back here. How dare you walk out on me." Her mother yelled behind her. But she paid no attention to them.

Her eyes locked with Lucian’s who gave her a warm smile, she returned the smile, although it didn’t reach her eyes.

Lucian wanted to walk to her, but stopped when Stefan came to them again.

"Now, it is time to depart."

Olivia exhaled deeply, her heart still pounding from the confrontation with her family. She hadn’t expected to see them again, and the bitter taste of their words still lingered in her mouth. She flexed her fingers, trying to shake off the numbness that had settled in her chest.

As they reached the vehicle waiting outside the fortress, she noticed Abigail standing near the door, fidgeting with the strap of her bag. Olivia’s jaw tightened. She had hoped Abigail would have taken her harsh words to heart and stayed behind. But there she was, eyes bright and determined, despite the earlier fallout.

"Abigail," Olivia called out as she approached. "You don’t have to do this. You know it’s going to be dangerous. It’s not too late to turn back."

Abigail’s head snapped up, and for a moment, the hurt from their last argument flashed in her eyes, but she quickly masked it with a stubborn smile. "I already told you, I’m not leaving you alone. Someone needs to make sure you don’t get yourself killed."

"Don’t be stupid. You’ve never fought monsters before. This isn’t a training exercise, Abigail." Olivia’s voice was sharp, her eyes hard. She couldn’t stand the thought of losing another friend.

Abigail crossed her arms, leaning closer to Olivia. "And you think I’m just going to sit here and wait for you to come back in pieces? No, Olivia. I’m coming with you, whether you like it or not." Her voice shook slightly, but her gaze didn’t waver.

Before Olivia could argue further, the loud roar of the engine cut through their conversation. Klaus appeared, his tall frame blocking the light as he climbed into the vehicle. He shot Olivia a sideways glance, his eyes narrowed as if daring her to say something.

"Everyone, get in," Stefan’s voice boomed from the front of the vehicle, where he was already seated, checking the map spread across the dashboard. "We don’t have time for delays."

Olivia shot one last look at Abigail, who was already climbing into the vehicle without another word. She bit back her frustration, knowing that arguing now would only draw unwanted attention. She climbed in after her, slipping into the seat beside her.

Lucian was already inside, his gaze locked out the window, his jaw clenched as if he were fighting an internal battle of his own. Olivia’s heart gave a strange flutter, but before she could move toward him, Klaus suddenly slid into the seat beside her, his arm casually draped over the back of the seat, effectively cutting off her path to Lucian.

"Stay close," Klaus whispered, his lips brushing against her ear. "I wouldn’t want you wandering off and getting yourself killed."

Olivia stiffened, shooting him a sharp look. She tried to ignore the possessiveness in his tone, but it sparked a flicker of anger in her chest. He was doing this on purpose. She glanced past him to where Lucian sat, his face turned away, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white.

The vehicle lurched forward, the thick tires crunching against the gravel as they began their journey into the monster-infested wastelands. The air inside was tense, the silence only broken by the rumble of the engine and the occasional rustle of weapons as the students prepared themselves for the unknown.

Olivia leaned back, her mind racing with thoughts of what lay ahead. She had been to the monster domain before, but something felt different this time. The air felt heavier, the darkness more suffocating. She glanced at Abigail, who was gripping her backpack so tightly her knuckles were turning white.

"You should have stayed behind," Olivia whispered, leaning closer so only Abigail could hear. "This isn’t going to be a simple rescue mission."

Abigail met her gaze, her eyes flashing with a mixture of fear and determination. "I know. But I’m not leaving you alone."

Olivia’s heart twisted painfully. She had wanted to push Abigail away for her own good, to keep her safe. But she had underestimated her friend’s stubbornness.

Suddenly, the vehicle hit a bump, jolting them all from their thoughts. Klaus’s arm tightened around Olivia, pulling her closer to his side. She tensed, resisting the urge to shove him off. She shot another glance at Lucian, but his face remained turned away, his jaw still clenched, his shoulders tense.

As the fortress disappeared behind them, replaced by the crumbling remains of the old world, Olivia felt a strange sense of foreboding settle over her. She had a bad feeling about this mission, a gnawing fear that she couldn’t quite shake.

She clenched her fists, her mind flashing back to the warning Eritrea had given her about the frost fox pup. She hadn’t felt its presence in her sea of consciousness since the transfer, but she could still sense it, a small, cold pulse at the edge of her awareness. She wondered if it would become a burden or an unexpected ally in the battles to come.

The vehicle continued to rumble forward, the shadows of broken buildings and twisted metal casting long, eerie shapes across the cracked road. The air grew colder, the wind howling through the shattered windows of the long-abandoned city.

Olivia forced herself to focus, to push aside the memories of her family, her fractured friendships, and the complicated mess of emotions swirling in her chest. She would need all her strength, all her focus, if she hoped to survive what lay ahead.