MasukChapter 15: Batch 7Chloe's POV"Tell me what you know about my father."Imogen glanced at Dad, who was lying on the narrow bed we had prepared for him."I need to examine his blood before I can be certain. The clinic doesn't have enough power to run the equipment properly, but I can do it here if you have a field analyzer.""Then let's get one."She packed her remaining supplies, and we returned to the agricultural store.Noah helped Dad inside while Mum brought him water. He looked worse than he had that morning. His skin was hot, and the rash on his arm had spread towards his elbow.Imogen opened her medical bag."I need an analyzer. I left mine at the clinic.""I'll check our supplies," I said.I went into the storage room and retrieved the compact field analyzer from my space. I had bought it while preparing for the outbreak, along with other medical equipment.When I returned, I placed it on the table."Will this work?"Imogen examined it and nodded."Yes. This is exactly what I
Chapter 14: Dead StreetsChloe's POVThe sky was beginning to brighten when Noah and I prepared to leave with Dad.Mum adjusted the blanket around his shoulders while my sister-in-law handed me a small bag containing his medication and some water."Please don't delay," Mum said, her eyes fixed on Dad. "He looks worse this morning.""I won't. We'll get him examined and bring him back as soon as we can."Dad managed a weak smile. "You both look more worried than I am.""That's because you're making things difficult," Noah replied, adjusting his hold around Dad's waist.Despite everything, Dad chuckled.I wished I could hold on to that sound a little longer.We left through the rear gate and headed toward the health centre Imogen's directions from an earlier neighbourhood notice had led us to. The main road was too dangerous, so we kept to the smaller streets.Abandoned vehicles blocked parts of the road. Shop windows had been smashed, and discarded belongings littered the pavements. We
Chapter 13: The Cost of PreparationChloe's POV"Come out!"I tightened my grip on the metal rod and watched the storage room doorway.A young man emerged from behind the shelves, clutching a small bag. His clothes were dirty, and a fresh cut marked his cheek."Please, I wasn't going to hurt anyone.""Then why did you break in?""I needed food."His eyes shifted toward the entrance, where my family waited. I couldn't be certain he had come alone, so I kept my distance."Put the bag down."He hesitated before placing it on the floor.Inside were two cans of food, a bottle of water, and a screwdriver."You broke into our shelter for these?""I thought the place was abandoned.""Then why were you searching the storage room?"He had no answer.I wanted to question him further, but Dad called weakly from outside. My father needed medical attention, and I couldn't waste more time on someone who had already stolen from us."Leave everything and go. Don't come back."The young man hurried thr
Chapter 12: The Man I Left BehindChloe's POV"We're leaving through the back," I said.Nobody argued.My brother helped Dad into a standing position while Mum packed his medication and a change of clothes. His wife gathered our remaining water and secured it inside a bag. I checked our emergency supplies before leading everyone toward the rear gate.Dad struggled to walk, so we moved slowly through the narrow passage behind the house.We had barely reached the next street when a crash came from behind us. The front door had finally given way."Keep moving," I told them.Our agricultural store was too far to reach quickly with Dad in that condition. I needed somewhere to have him assessed, but the nearest clinic was along the main road, where crowds had already begun fighting over supplies.We took the quieter residential lanes instead.At a junction, I heard someone instructing a group to move an injured man away from the road.Then I saw him.Daniel.He was helping two men carry a s
Chapter 11: The House I Left BehindPOV: Chloe"We know you've got supplies in there. Open the door!"My mother turned toward the entrance, her face pale."That's our neighbor," she whispered. "He lives three houses away. Why would he do this?"Another blow shook the door. The lock rattled in its frame."Because he thinks we have something he needs," I replied. "Mum, step away from the windows."My brother stood beside our father, who was struggling to sit upright on the sofa. Sweat covered his forehead, and his breathing had grown heavier."We can't carry him all the way to the store," my brother said."We can't stay here either."Dad lifted his head. "Nobody is taking me anywhere."I crouched beside him. "Dad, there are men trying to break into your house. You can barely stand. Please, don't make this harder than it already is.""This is my home." His voice was weak but stubborn. "Everything I've worked for is here.""And what good will any of it do if we're trapped inside?"He star
POV: Chloe“We're not taking the main road,” I told my brother as we left the residential area behind.He adjusted his wife's bag on his shoulder. “Then where are we going? We've been walking for nearly an hour.”“Somewhere we can protect ourselves.”I remembered the evacuation center from my previous life. Thousands of people had gathered there, convinced that the government would provide food, water, and security. Within days, the supplies ran short, the toilets became unusable, and people began fighting over necessities. I had watched neighbors turn against one another simply because there wasn't enough to go around.I wouldn't make that mistake again.We followed a narrow road beyond the last row of houses. My brother's wife was struggling to keep up, and I knew we couldn't continue wandering much longer.When the agricultural supply store finally came into view, I stopped.The front windows were damaged, and part of the fence leaned toward the road. It looked abandoned, but that







