All Chapters of Rejected Before The Apocalypse, Now I'm The Queen: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

AUTHOR’S POVFamilies surged toward the northern path. Someone dropped a sack of food. A child fell beneath the rushing feet, and Elena lunged to pull her out of the mud.“Get up! Stay with your mother!”The girl stumbled away.Elena turned just as another infected man appeared between two cottages.His gaze fixed on her. Then he charged.She grabbed a fallen wooden pole and swung it at his head. The impact staggered him, but he kept coming.Elena struck again, this time driving the pole into his chest.He crashed against a fence.“Move!” Garrick shouted behind her.Elena backed away, then ran.She reached the northern path as the last families gathered beneath the trees. Garrick was counting heads, shouting for the hunters to take positions along the trail.“Are we all here?” Elena demanded.“Everyone who answered.”“That's not the same thing.”“I know.”His expression told her what he wasn't saying. Some residents had refused to leave. Others might already be dead.Elena looked towar

AUTHOR’S POV She rushed out to find Garrick beside an old stone well behind the storehouse.“There's water,” he said.Elena peered into the darkness. A faint reflection shimmered at the bottom.“Did anyone drink from it?”“No.”“Good. Find a clean container. We'll draw a sample and examine it before anyone uses the water.”Garrick pointed toward the storehouse. “We found tools, too. A hammer, nails, rope, a few cracked lanterns.”“Bring everything usable to the hall. We'll need them for repairs.”For the next several hours, the survivors worked.The hunters inspected the surrounding slopes. Two carpenters examined the cottages. Others cleared the communal hall, dragged broken furniture outside, and patched the worst gaps in the roof with salvaged boards.Elena treated sprained ankles, cleaned cuts, and checked the elderly man who had complained of chest pain during the climb.By midday, she had barely touched her own water.Then Garrick returned from the storehouse carrying an empty s

AUTHOR’S POV The argument began before sunrise.“We cannot keep doing this!”Harlan’s voice rang through the communal hall as he stormed inside, startling several survivors from their breakfast. Elena was securing the lid on a water container when he stopped in front of her.“We’re running out of food,” he continued. “Yesterday’s hunting party brought back barely enough to feed everyone. The northern trail is useless, and now you want to send another group into the forest?”Elena tightened the strap around the container.“Good morning to you, too.”“This isn't a joke, Elena.”“Neither is starvation. Which is why we're organizing another supply expedition.”Harlan threw up his hands. “To where? Another abandoned settlement? We've searched the nearest buildings already.”“There are older settlements farther down the mountain. Some were abandoned years before the plague. We might find food, tools, or medical supplies.”“Or infected people.”“Then we'll take precautions.”“And when someon

AUTHOR’S POV The infected began moving toward the building.Garrick swore under his breath.“Hunters! Secure the entrances!”Two men hurried toward the rear corridor while Garrick checked the front doors.Elena returned to the classroom.“We have to leave. Now.”The youngest girl began crying.“Where are we going?”“Somewhere safer.”“But my mother—”“I know, sweetheart. We'll look for her when we can do so safely. Right now, we need to get out.”Nora gathered the younger children. Then she looked at Finn.“What about him?”“I'll carry him.”Finn immediately scrambled backward, dragging his injured leg.“No!”Elena stopped.“Finn—”“Don't touch me!”His voice cracked with terror.He pressed himself against the wall, his breathing coming in short, frantic bursts.Elena could see that his fear was more than a child's reluctance to be handled by a stranger. Whatever had happened before he reached this school had taught him that hands reaching toward him could mean pain.She couldn't undo

AUTHOR’S POV Elena set her empty bowl aside and rose to address the group.“Before we rest, I want everyone to understand something. We don’t know how far the illness has spread, and we cannot assume that the mountains will protect us forever. We need to conserve our supplies, keep the settlement secure, and pay attention to any signs of infection.”The room quieted.“If you see something unusual, report it. If you feel sick, tell me. If you find food or water, don’t consume it until we’ve checked that it’s safe. And no one leaves the perimeter alone.”A man near the fire raised his hand. “What if a group of survivors arrives tomorrow? What if they need help?”“We’ll assess the situation before allowing them inside.”“And if they are sick?”“Then we’ll keep our distance and find a way to help them without endangering everyone here.”He nodded slowly.Another voice came from the back. “What if an Alpha’s patrol comes looking for survivors?”Elena considered the question.“If a patrol