Apocalypse: Building And Hoarding My Way Through.
Chapter 59: We Leave At Midnight.

Chapter 59: We Leave At Midnight.

The other survivors in the school building, though too terrified to step outside during the earlier monster attack, had witnessed Golden’s death through the cracks and windows of the building. The memory left a mark on all of them, sending waves of fear and sorrow through the room.

"That poor little child," one of the survivors murmured, his voice heavy with sadness. "She didn’t deserve this."

"It’s Victor’s fault," another survivor said, his tone laced with anger and despair. "He didn’t even spare a child. How can anyone be so heartless?"

Larry, Maya, Louise and Ethan sat in silence for what felt like an eternity. The air was thick with mourning and fear, broken only by the occasional sobs of those who couldn’t hold back their emotions. Finally, Larry pushed himself off the floor. He stepped to the center of the room, drawing the attention of every survivor. Their eyes turned to him, desperate for guidance.

"Alright," Larry began, his voice steady but somber. "I hate to be the one to say this, but we might have to abandon the school." He paused, lifting the melted airpod in his hand so everyone could see. "Victor knows we’re here. This airpod wasn’t just a communication device, it was a tracker. He’s aware of our location."

The room fell deathly silent as the weight of Larry’s words settled over them. Nervous glances were exchanged, and the sound of quiet murmurs began to ripple through the crowd.

"What does that mean for us?" a young woman asked, her voice trembling. "Does that mean we’re no longer safe? We’re going to die?"

"What a stupid question? Do you think Victor coming here is to greet you or kill you all?" Louise murmured under his breath as he ran his hand through his hair. "So dumb!"

Larry nodded grimly. "That’s exactly what it means. Victor’s men will come here soon, and when they do, they won’t leave anyone alive. We have to leave, find a new safe haven as quickly as possible."

Larry’s words sent waves of shock and fear down the survivors spine. The fear in the room was palpable, and even those who tried to remain calm found their hands trembling.

"Why the hell did he have to find us?" a man asked, his brow furrowed with concern. "We’ve been so careful all these while."

Louise, who had been standing near the door, stepped forward, his face hard. "Just as Larry had mentioned before, It’s the earpod Victor planted on Golden. He used it to communicate with her and to track her movements." His voice was laced with bitterness. "This entire place has been compromised because of that device."

"That bastard!" Maya hissed through gritted teeth. She slammed her fist against the wall, her anger barely masking her grief. "Golden warned us that Scarlett and her siblings were in danger before she died but she was unable to give us the direction to Victor base. But seriously, I’m still pissed? This is beyond anything I imagined. How could Victor kill a child, an innocent child?"

Louise turned, fixing Ethan with a cold glare. "Someone told Scarlett that Golden, Jaden and little Hope would be safe. Someone assured us Victor wouldn’t harm them until they were older." His tone was sharp, cutting through the tension like a blade. "Was that another one of your lies, Ethan? Because I’m starting to think you’re working for Victor. Are you one of his dogs? Well you wouldn’t reveal that but I’m bent on exposing your secrets."

"Louise please." Maya said as she placed a hand on Louise shoulder but he shrugged it off, his anger evident on his face.

Ethan’s eyes widened, and he took a step back. "I’m not!" he protested, his voice rising. "I thought that was true. I didn’t know Victor would go this far, I didn’t know he was capable of this!"

Louise sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, sure. You didn’t know. And yet, you’ve been friends with that monster for years. How convenient."

"I...."

"Enough!" Larry’s voice thundered, silencing the argument instantly. His face was a mask of frustration and urgency. "We don’t have time for this. If you two want to scream at each other, do it somewhere else and attract monsters to yourselves since you’re ready for death.

"Yes guys. Right now, we need to focus on keeping everyone alive and this fight of yours isn’t necessary." Maya chimed in.

Ethan and Louise exchanged heated glares but said nothing further, their silence grudgingly given.

Ethan then stepped forward, his hands folded over his chest. "We need a plan," he said firmly, addressing the group. "We can’t just sit here and wait for Victor’s men to find us. We need to act. I mean they already know our location but we can’t simply allow him to meet us right here and kill us."

Maya nodded, wiping her tear-streaked face. "I agree. Victor isn’t just after us, he’s after anyone with powers. He knows about Ethan before and now he knows about Larry, he won’t stop until we’re all dead." Her voice wavered but carried an edge of determination.

Louise took a deep breath and spoke. "There’s a hidden passageway in the school. It leads outside, far from the main entrance. We can use it to escape, but we’ll need to move quickly and quietly."

Larry added, his tone serious, "We don’t know if Victor’s men are already out there, lying in wait. That’s why we’ll need to be cautious. No noise. No unnecessary risks."

The survivors began murmuring again, their voices filled with worry.

"When do we leave?" a woman asked, her face pale. "I don’t want to stay here any longer than we have to."

"Yes! What’s the plan?" another man chimed in, his fear evident in his trembling voice.

Larry held up a hand to calm the room. "We leave at midnight," he said firmly. "By then, the rain should stop, and the monsters roaming outside should be fewer. Until then, everyone needs to stay calm and prepare for the journey."