All Chapters of Swapped for His True Love in the Flaming Apocalypse: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

8 Chapters

Chapter 1

The voice on the other end crackled with excitement. "Nora, this is incredible. Level One needs someone like you!"The underground city was divided into three levels.Level One was a classified research and technology sector, the beating heart of the entire city, sealed off from the general population without exception. Level Two was home to those who had earned their place through contributions to the city's founding.Level Three, as the years wore on, had become something else entirely, the darkest corner of a world that had already lost most of its light.I had just hung up when Rhett Calloway stepped out of his room. He pressed two fingers to his temple, voice heavy with fatigue. "Anna's condition is serious. She needs medical supplies.""And what exactly are you planning to do about that?" I asked. I kept my back to him, afraid he might see my face.Rhett's voice was low and hoarse. "Treat her, obviously. No matter what it costs. I've already sent for a doctor."Three yea

Chapter 2

I silenced my phone screen without a word and managed a thin smile in Rhett's direction."Fine. I'll go."Where I actually went was my own business.He let out a slow breath, then leaned in and pressed a brief kiss to my forehead. "I knew you'd understand. Don't worry, I'll bring you back soon."I wiped the spot with the back of my hand once he looked away.That night, Rhett stayed by Anna's side without once changing out of his clothes. I sat on the couch all night, chasing sleep that never came, my mind dragging me back through things I'd rather have forgotten.Rhett had grown up on a scholarship funded by Dad. His grades were exceptional, good enough that Dad had arranged for him to study abroad alongside me.Back then, he once crossed half the foreign city just to bring me a slice of cake. When I couldn't stomach the food there, he showed up outside the campus gates every evening with a covered lunchbox, waiting.Now, he couldn't stand the thought of someone like Anna being

Chapter 3

Before the apocalypse, I had been a core researcher at the institute. I gave up my spot on Level One for Rhett, choosing to follow him to Level Two instead.Never mind that the Vale family had funded the underground city's construction. Without me, Rhett wouldn't have had the standing to set foot even in Level Three.But in the end, talent was the only currency that still mattered down here.On the second night before I was due to leave, I stayed up past midnight sorting through my files. I was nearly ready to give in to sleep when sounds drifted through the wall and killed it entirely.My fingers went still. I set down what I was holding and made myself walk out of the study.What was coming from the bedroom left little to the imagination. I didn't open the door. I didn't need to.Then Rhett's voice, low and rough, came through the wall clearly enough. "Anna, will you give me a child?"My hand froze on the doorframe.After our daughter died, the underground city had issued us

Chapter 4

For the rest of that afternoon, Rhett made himself scarce. Guilt, most likely. He didn't come near me until evening, when he pushed open my bedroom door."Nora, the car from Level Three is almost here. Have you packed?"I was bent over my suitcase, transferring stacks of files and documents into it. He didn't notice what I was doing, but what he did notice was the ring sitting in the trash can.He picked it up and asked, "What is this supposed to mean?"I glanced at it without moving from where I stood. It was a plain band, no stone, nothing special.When we got married, Rhett had just moved into the Vale residence with nothing to his name, and I hadn't wanted to make it harder on him. So I asked for something simple.In the years that followed, he never once gave me anything on any occasion that might have called for it. I told myself he just wasn't that kind of person.Then yesterday, I found Anna's social media profiles from before the apocalypse. Rhett had sent her something

Chapter 5

Rhett stared at me, his eyes wide. "Nora, you reported us?"I pushed the hair out of my face and caught my breath. "So what if I did? Can you honestly tell me there's no one here from Level Three?"The Level Two officers didn't take long to verify. They had Anna in handcuffs within minutes.She dropped the act entirely and grabbed Rhett's sleeve with both hands. "Rhett, you have to help me. I can't go back there. If they send me back, I'll die! I know I will!"Rhett pulled his arm free without hesitating. When he saw me turn toward the other car, he rushed over and grabbed my arm."Nora, where do you think you're going?"I pointed at the large insignia on the vehicle's side. "Level One. Can't you read?"What little color he had left drained out of his face. His jaw tightened. "You're not going to see Elliot Callum, are you?"I didn't answer. I slipped my arm free and got in, pulling the door shut behind me. Then I rolled the window down."You should probably start packing," I

Chapter 6

Elliot Callum was waiting at the entrance to the research institute when I arrived on Level One. He extended his hand."It's been too long, Aldenvale's Rose."I took it and laughed, a little embarrassed. "After all these years, you're still calling me that.""Some things don't change." He smiled. "Aldenvale's Rose never withers."I smiled back, though there was a quiet ache behind it.Back in college, I'd won a campus debate competition that got me voted the thorned rose of Aldenvale University on the school forums. The nickname stuck.Later, someone came along and plucked that rose, trimmed away every thorn, and let the years wear her down to something softer and smaller. Then that same person turned around and chose a fresher flower entirely.Inside the institute, Elliot casually slung an arm around my shoulders and turned to the room."This is my closest friend from Aldenvale and my junior by two years. Nora Vale, PhD in astrophysics, formerly known as Aldenvale's Sky Eye, a

Chapter 7

Rhett's voice came out as a shout, his eyes red. "I don't accept that. Priority decision rights? That's complete nonsense!"Elliot stifled a yawn and waved a hand at the men beside him. "Get him out of here. Send him back to Level Three.""Yes, sir."Several pairs of hands grabbed Rhett by the arms and legs. He fought like he had nothing left to lose."Nora! Please, don't let them do this. I can't go back down there. That place is barely fit for animals!"I smiled, though there wasn't any warmth in it. "Anna managed three years down there just fine. What's your excuse?"Rhett broke free and threw himself at my feet, grabbing onto me with both hands."Nora, I was wrong. I was manipulated. Anna was a liar, and she deceived me from the start!"I crouched down and patted his cheek. "She deceived you, sure. But you didn't exactly hate it, did you? You loved feeling needed."The last of the color left his face. He kept pleading, grasping at memories, trying to find the one that woul

Chapter 8

Elliot kept his eyes on the road but couldn't resist asking, "Didn't you say you weren't going to have dinner with me? What happened to that?"I rested my chin on my hand. "I was using you to make a point. Don't let it go to your head.""It's my honor to be of use to you, Ms. Vale," he said without missing a beat.I tilted my head. "And what about you? I thought I told you to go home. Why were you still waiting?""Trying my luck," he said lightly. "In case you changed your mind about dinner."I smiled a little and left it at that.…A few days later, it snowed over Havenport. The apocalypse had kept the world scorching for years, and this was the first winter anyone had seen in a long time.I bundled up in a coat I hadn't worn in ages and bought a bunch of white roses. I didn't drive. I walked, letting my shoes sink unevenly into the slush with each step.Rounding a corner, I noticed a figure crouched at the side of the road.It was Rhett. For a moment, I almost didn't recogn

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