SrCuervo
patreon
68
🕑 Added 2025-06-15 04:37:07 +0000 UTCStay Alive
Chapter 68 – Nothing Is What It Seems
“I told you time and time again, we shouldn’t have strayed from our designated route. Now we’re prisoners of rebel soldiers. We’d be lucky to get out of this alive,” said Alex, complaining about Levi’s decision, who remained silent.
Levi looked around the completely empty place and asked, “Where are the people?”
“Didn’t you just see them all evacuating?”
“I don’t get it. How did those soldiers trust that the civilians weren’t infected? How did they stop fearing and start following orders that went against basic protocol?” Levi couldn’t understand how the man in charge here had replaced fear with options that defied normal military procedures.
If only he could meet that man, maybe he’d understand what kind of outcome he hoped to achieve by making such decisions.
At that moment, footsteps echoed from a distance. John and Brion came down the stairs. “Sorry for leaving you alone for so long. We had to make sure we could hold back the infected long enough to complete the evacuation.”
“Who are you?” Levi asked after a moment. Even from behind bars, he didn’t seem afraid of John, who looked dangerous despite his older age.
John assessed the soldier and immediately realized he was different from the rest.
Right now, it would be impossible to get Levi on his side, so the best thing to do was to either keep their paths separate—or kill him.
“Who am I? Hmm, let’s just say I was once a respected soldier in the military… Damn it, I served this country for many years, only to be trampled on by everyone after the war.”
John was muscular and carried an imposing presence. His piercing, killer gaze, long hair, and beard reinforced his rough appearance—an aura few possessed.
This time, he was playing a different game than usual. He needed information from Levi and wanted to know if they were a threat or not.
“Damn it, the world’s gone to hell, and probably everyone I fought for is already dead. I’m not special. I’m just surviving in our own way, under the orders of those who brought us together,” said John as he approached the cell holding the two soldiers they still couldn’t trust.
Levi stared into John’s eyes and asked, “So, where’s your leader?”
“It doesn’t work that way. Very few get to deal with him directly. But damn, that guy has definitely done things differently.” John showed a hint of admiration for Dominic, knowing things had truly gone to hell.
Everyone was grateful to have listened to Alan—thanks to him, people in Texas had a chance to dream of survival.
“Then let us go. We’re not enemies. As far as I know, we’re all soldiers, just following different orders. That won’t change until this is under control,” Levi said without backing down, even under John’s intense gaze.
John shook his head. “FEDRA plans to bomb the cities, burn down the streets until the extermination operation is complete. But guess what? That won’t stop the infected.”
“You’re lying!”
“I never lie!” John shouted. “The government’s plan will destroy its own system. Most of the military will collapse. All we can do now is look out for our own safety.”
“We’ll all do that.”
“Then what’s the point of keeping us here?” Levi shifted to the question that intrigued him the most.
“We’ve been ordered to release you once our helicopters are in the sky. We’ll strip your chopper of weapons and leave just enough fuel for you to return to your base,” John laid out the plan clearly.
Levi didn’t respond, but his unwavering stare at John was defiant.
“You just have to wait, and you’ll be released. You have my word,” John said before turning and walking away, knowing there was nothing more to be done here.
Levi wasn’t a threat to the base—and that was good, because otherwise, they’d have had to kill him.
Once everyone had left, Alex, still beside Levi, asked, “Why don’t we join them?”
“I won’t be a deserter like the ones from Texas,” Levi replied coldly.
Alex looked a bit ashamed and added, “It’s not desertion. It’s following the smartest people we can. That’s the only way we’ll save humanity. There’s no way FEDRA can handle all the damage it’s causing across the country.”
Levi remained silent. His calm gaze revealed little about what he was thinking. He knew these people were at least smart—returning to a military base would mean living in a depressing environment few could endure.
…
Safe community near the provisional base, a few hours after sunrise.
Helicopters were now descending into the streets, landing wherever there was space, paying no mind to the chaos.
Everyone was frightened. They didn’t know what was happening—but still, they approached.
“Why are some people being taken before others?”
“They’re more useful.”
“We’re human too.”
“Yes, but we won’t secure the future of the world at our age.”
“We need to evacuate. The military is pulling out from now on, so we’re going with them. Everyone is being taken to a safer place. Of course, you also have the right to choose,” John raised his voice so everyone could hear.
Immediately after, many people started shouting, asking what was really going on, why they were being evacuated. But no answer ever came.
Riya looked at John. She knew what was happening, so when she had the chance, she boarded one of the helicopters. “We’re trying to preserve morale. Don’t make it harder than it has to be.”
