Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 351 - Chapitre 360

Nicole picked up the binoculars and spotted a group of people carrying hoes and sticks, more than 20 of them, heading straight for Oakhaven Gardens. They looked like locals from nearby.They gathered at the entrance. It quickly turned into a standoff, then a fight.An alarm went off inside Oakhaven Gardens. Men, women, even older kids rushed out and formed a defensive line.Nicole tossed the half-eaten watermelon to Cola and focused on what was happening.Alex was leading them. Their fighting skills weren't anything impressive, but this clearly wasn't their first time. They had the advantage of home ground. They relied on simple but effective tactics, sand to the eyes and bursts of pepper spray. They drove the group back fast.Still, it looked like a few people got hurt.From start to finish, it was all close-range fighting.That evening, when the two of them drove back to their building, they saw a van parked at the entrance. The doors were wide open. Several bald men with tatt

Nicole arrived moments later and used the defensive position to drop one of them.A dull thud followed, then a burst of sparks.Cola let out a sharp, urgent bark.It was a bomb.Cola had carried explosives before. The second he caught the smell, he knew what it was and warned Nicole and Zeph.Nicole's eyes widened. She grabbed Zeph and pulled him toward the stairs. "Move!"Instead of falling back, he rushed forward and kicked the explosive pack down the stairs with all his strength.The three of them then sprinted upward.A deafening blast shook the entire building.The shockwave slammed into Nicole from behind and threw her forward. She hit the ground hard. Her ears rang, and the air filled with the acrid smell of gunpowder.Glass shattered. Dust and chunks of ceiling rained down.Her body wouldn't respond. It took several seconds before she could move, and when she did, a violent cough tore out of her.Cola rushed over, whining, grabbing at her clothes and trying to drag

After leaving the research institute housing, Nicole and Zeph drove toward Grayport.Word was the sea had started to calm, and people were trickling back. Every so often, they passed a lone figure on the road.As they got close to the Ironvale Base checkpoint, Zeph turned onto a deserted side road.With their disguises on, the two of them looked completely different: rough, swaggering, tattooed.They brought the two little ones along, cut across the hills, bypassed the Ironvale toll point, and headed straight for the Drakehold Base checkpoint more than ten miles away.One of the men collecting fees lifted a baseball bat. "Stop! Are you blind? Five pounds of food per person."Nicole looked just like them, a cigarette hanging from her lips, her voice loose and lazy. "You really think I'm paying you? Take a look at yourself first.""What did you say? Say it again."Nicole raised her gun and fired. One shot, clean headshot.It happened too fast. The men froze for a beat, then grab

Someone walked over.It was the same man who had been leading the group in the van that day. He recognized Zeph, something flickering across his face before he smiled. "Well, look who finally showed up. I thought you were tough. Didn't expect you to fold this fast."Zeph didn't react to the jab. His tone stayed even. "We gave it some thought. We'd like to join your welcoming community."The man choked on that, his smile turning stiff. "That's more like it. No need to be stubborn. Wait here. I'll go check with the boss."As he turned, a sneer pulled at his mouth. Under his breath, he muttered, "So much for the 18th floor. Just a bunch of cowards."Unfortunately for him, Nicole heard every word.Good. So he was the one behind last night.A show of force at the door was expected. Zeph waited a full hour before the bald man finally came back. "The boss wants to see you, but we've got rules. No weapons inside. Step out for inspection."The four of them got out, and the Hummer wa

Felix continued, "You just got here, so we'll get you settled first. Tonight, I'll put together a proper welcome. I've had Anthony arrange a place for you, and there's a little gift to mark the occasion."He clapped his hands.More than a dozen women walked in, dressed lightly, each one different. Some were tall and striking, others soft and delicate.There were girls barely into their teens, and women in their thirties who carried themselves with practiced ease. Every type you could think of.Felix spread his arms, smiling. "Go ahead, pick whoever you like. If you find someone you like, take them all. They'll keep you company."That threw Zeph off for a second.Nicole let out a quiet, cold laugh. "Felix, we came here to join you, not for you to play games."Felix blinked. "What do you mean?""You seem to have forgotten he's my man." Nicole didn't soften her tone. "You line up a dozen women in front of him and expect me to be fine with it? Should I just walk out?""Oh." Feli