Semua Bab Apocalypse Reborn: My Family Begged But I Shut The Gates: Bab 61 - Bab 70

"I'm sorry, Mr. Raymond. The footage is gone."Detective Hale's voice was apologetic. Raymond stared at the phone in his hand. His fingers tightened around the device until his knuckles turned white."What do you mean, gone?" The words didn't make sense.Raymond had been waiting for this call for days. The warrant had been approved. The police had the legal authority to obtain the footage. Everything was supposed to be straightforward."Gone," he repeated. "How can it be gone?"Detective Hale sighed on the other end of the line."We served the warrant this morning. When our officers arrived at the Starlight Hotel, the manager—a man named Marcos—informed them that the recordings had been erased due to a technical malfunction."Raymond felt his chest tighten. "A malfunction?""That's what he said. According to him, the system experienced some kind of failure two days ago. All footage from the relevant period was lost."Raymond closed his eyes.He was sitting in his car outside Meridian

Amanda stood up from the couch to get some water. That was all. She walked into the kitchen, took a glass from the shelf, and filled it at the tap.She was halfway through the first sip when the pain hit.It wasn't a cramp. A cramp she could have waited out. This was a hot, twisting knife low in her belly, and it made her fingers go loose. The glass slipped and exploded against the tiles."No." Her hand flew to her stomach. "No, no, no."{Warning: Elevated stress levels detected. Recommend immediate medical attention.}Her knees gave out. She caught the edge of the counter and hung there, knuckles white, water and glass all around her bare feet."Something's wrong," she said, and her voice came out thin and cracked. "Something is really wrong."She made it to the living room one wall at a time. The couch was only ten steps away, but it felt like a mile. She fell onto the cushions and the pain followed her down. Then it got worse.She folded in half. A scream ripped out of her before s

Nobody laughed this time. Darius looked at the shelves again. The joke had touched something he couldn't quite explain. There was too much food, too much water, and too much medicine. Amanda had even stored fuel and equipment for emergencies.He remembered seeing her being carried to the car. Whatever was happening to that woman, he thinks she had been preparing for something long before tonight but that wasn't his concern.He had been paid to get inside and take what he could. He wasn't going to lose his chance because he suddenly wanted to understand a stranger's decisions.“Ghost, pack those tablets but leave the unimportant ones behind.”Ghost looked at him. “You really want to leave her supplies?”“I want us to be swift and leave before someone catches us. Now move.”They filled their bags and carried them toward the hallway. Butcher disappeared into the medical room, where he found more equipment arranged along the walls.He stopped in the doorway, staring. “Darius! Come and se

At the next turn, the hospital sign appeared through the rain. Raymond took the corner too quickly, corrected the wheel, and kept his eyes on the entrance ahead.“Hold on, Amanda,” he whispered.She didn't answer. Her hand slipped from her stomach and fell against the seat. Raymond looked over, saw her still breathing, and pressed harder on the accelerator as the hospital lights grew nearer.When he finally reached the emergency entrance, he braked hard and jumped out before the car had fully settled. He ran around to Amanda's side, pulled open the door, and called desperately for help."Please! Somebody help me!”Two hospital workers hurried toward him with a wheelchair. Raymond tried to explain that Amanda was in terrible pain, but he had no answers when they asked what had happened.They helped her out of the car, and Amanda cried out again, grabbing Raymond's hand so tightly that her nails dug into his skin.“Don't leave me,” she begged.“I won't,” he answered immediately.A nurse

“I had no choice.” She lowered her voice. “I was already planning to divorce him anyways. I knew our marriage was over, but I didn't know how to leave safely or how to protect myself. Then I discovered the baby, and everything became more complicated.”Raymond stared at her, struggling to absorb everything she had revealed.“Eric is the father,” Amanda continued quickly. “I know that but I don't want to stay married to him. I don't want to raise this child in a home where I am constantly mistreated. I kept the pregnancy from him because I needed time to find a way out and prepare myself.”Raymond's expression softened, though concern still filled his eyes. “You should have told someone.”“I was afraid.” She wiped away a tear. “I was afraid no one would understand. I was afraid you would think I had deceived you, or that you would see me differently because the baby belongs to Eric.”Raymond reached for her hands. “I don't see you differently.”“You should.” Amanda sobbed.“No.” His vo