All Chapters of I Promised To Protect My Brother In the Apocalypse. : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

“There’s literally nowhere to hide,” I whispered, looking frantically at the bare brick walls stretching down the alley. “True, so what do we do?” Noah whimpered, clutching my hand. “There’s an old storage warehouse down at the end of the block,” Lyla said, looking at us with sharp, calculating eyes. “If we hurry, we might find a place to duck inside.” “Okay,” Adrian said instantly. “Let's move!” We resumed our desperate pace. Even though I was riding on Lyla’s back, cold sweat slicked my palms. The Red Hour was only minutes away. After a few excruciating minutes, the rusted silhouette of a massive corrugated metal warehouse loomed ahead of us. My eyes widened in surprise. Shit, so Lyla wasn't lying after all, I thought. She really did know this area. Maybe she was telling the truth about knowing my mom, too. We sprinted toward the side entrance like our lives depended on it. “We have thirty minutes before the Red Hour,” Adrian panted as we burst through the shattered double

They were so close I couldn't run. I just sat on the cold concrete floor waiting for them to strike, completely powerless to save myself, and knowing no one could jump in to help without dying alongside me. I squeezed my eyes shut and held my breath, bracing for the cold bite of steel against my neck. Seconds ticked by in agonizing, heavy silence. Five... ten... fifteen. Nothing happened. The terrifying hum of the Red Ones faded into complete stillness. Slowly, hesitantly, I cracked my eyes open. The aisle in front of me was completely empty. Far at the end of the warehouse, a tiny ray of golden morning light broke through a cracked high window, illuminating the dust motes dancing in the air. The Red Hour was over. “Phew...” A long, shaky breath escaped my lips. My hands were still trembling violently from lingering fear, but a wide, relieved grin broke across my face as I turned back toward the crate. “You can come out now!” I called out, my voice raspy. Inside the shatte

But then again... we had made the world a place where things were difficult just because of a few cruel people. So maybe Master Marcus really was as good as he portrayed himself to be. “Come, let me show you where you’ll be staying,” Master Marcus said with a polite wave of his hand. Adrian nodded, bending down so I could climb onto his back. We followed Marcus down a wide, air-conditioned corridor until he unlocked a heavy wooden door. “Here we are,” he said, stepping aside with a warm smile. I looked into the room, my mouth agape. I couldn't even remember the last time I had slept on an actual bed. The room was spacious, spotless, and cool. A ceiling fan whirred softly overhead, circulating fresh air, and a private bathroom occupied the far corner. It felt unnaturally comfortable, if someone lived here long enough, they would never want to leave, let alone lose the will to survive. “What’s the catch?” I couldn't help but ask, my eyes narrowing in suspicion. Marcus chuckled

Just as I reached my hand toward the hidden camera inside the lamp shade, the bedroom door swung wide open, and Lyla stepped into the room. “Are you bored?” she asked, offering a pleasant smile. I gave a silent nod, pulling my hand back as subtly as I could. “You should have just said so!” Lyla chuckled. “Come with me. Let me show you something.” I nodded again, stepping around the bed to follow her out into the hallway. She guided me down a long, unfamiliar wing of the hospital until we reached a set of double wooden doors. She turned the handle and pushed the door open to reveal a large playroom inside. Around a dozen children were scattered across the carpet. They were playing silently with plastic toys and building blocks. I know I shouldn't be wandering off, I thought, but maybe I can get some real answers about this place from one of the kids. “Thank you,” I muttered to Lyla before stepping inside. I scanned the room, examining the quiet faces of the children. My eyes

I could already tell Elara wasn't happy staying in this shelter, and I understood why she doubted Marcus. But I couldn't deny that the comfort here was premium, the best I had experienced since the apocalypse began. In all the years since the Red Ones appeared, I hadn't slept a single night as deeply as I slept in this room. Perhaps that very comfort made me blind to the obvious warning signs. After eating the warm meal Lyla brought us, I couldn't help but feel strangely light and airy. My eyelids grew heavy, and I was just about to lie back down when I noticed a tiny glint inside the shade of the bedside lamp. As I reached out to inspect it, the bedroom door opened, and Lyla walked in. “Are you bored?” she asked smoothly. She extended her hand, gesturing for me to follow her, and I obliged. She guided me down a long corridor to a large room and swung the door open. Inside, dozens of well-dressed adults were milling about, playing games, and socialising. The luxury was overwhelmi