End Times, Surviving with My Beastly Army novel Chapter 195

Chapter 195 Centerville

Finished

Central Command’s roads were two to three times wider than anything in Outerville, and every building had been raised with actual brick and mortar.

The few people passing by weren’t dressed particularly well, but compared to the hollow-eyed wretches outside, the difference was staggering.

“If you don’t mind me asking.” Ella said, “who exactly lives in Central Command?”

“Most of the people here have made significant contributions to our base,” Mary-Jean said.

“And by significant contributions, you mean…”

Before Mary-Jean could answer, Lyle cut in, “Significant contributions means you’ve handed over enough supplies to earn your place here.

“You didn’t think Central Command was open to just anyone, did you? Nothing in this world comes free.

“Sure, our base gives survivors somewhere to stay, but we don’t let deadweight through the door. This world runs on survival of the fittest. If you bring nothing to the table, nobody’s carrying you.”

He tilted his chin up with naked arrogance. “So don’t go thinking that working with us means you’ve scored some huge deal. Drop that idea right now.”

“Lyle,” Serena said, her voice like ice, “one more word out of you and I’ll throw you out myself.”

She honestly couldn’t believe she’d brought him along today. The thought alone sent a fresh wave of mortification crashing through her.

It got worse every time she accidentally caught Robin’s amused gaze. She would’ve gladly sunk straight through the floor.

“I’m not saying anything wrong, though,” Lyle muttered.

“Everything I said is the truth. Better to get it out early before misunderstandings come up later…”

r

Serena was about to unload on him when Robin raised a hand and stopped her cold.

Robin nodded with total sincerity. “Lyle’s not wrong. It’s always better to clear things up sooner rather than

later.”

“Right?” The second he heard her agreeing, Lyle perked straight back up. “Since you already get it, I guess I don’t need to waste any more breath.”

Serena had completely given up on talking. She’d never felt this humiliated in her entire life.

Central Command’s living conditions already left Outerville in the dust, but when the group finally cleared the last checkpoint and stepped into Innerville, Ella couldn’t hold it together.

A sharp, involuntary sound escaped her throat, somewhere between a gasp and a choked laugh.

11:32 am

M

M

Chapter 195 Centerville

Her eyes went wide. She couldn’t believe what she was looking at.

Townhouses.

Redwood Military Base’s Innerville was lined with row after row of actual townhouses.

Finished

The streets were spotless, the roads impossibly wide, and recreational facilities dotted the landscape throughout. The whole place looked exactly like a luxury residential neighborhood from before the world ended.

Thinking back to everything she’d just seen in Outerville made it feel like a fever dream.

Serena caught Ella’s reaction and shed the earlier awkwardness without missing a beat. “This is our base’s Innerville. Only the commander and senior leadership have clearance to live here,” she said, her voice carrying unmistakable pride.

The others around her straightened up, wearing matching expressions of reflected pride.

Only one face looked different.

2

Wayne’s brow furrowed, barely perceptibly, and then he looked away. Compared to everyone else, he seemed quietly out of place.

Dylan exhaled through his nose, sharp and dismissive. “Out of curiosity, do you all live here too?”

Serena’s expression froze. “We… we don’t have clearance for this yet, obviously. We’re in Centerville. This is strictly for senior leadership…”

Dylan’s mouth curved just slightly. “So you don’t actually live here either. What exactly are you so proud of? I was starting to think you had rooms in there.”

That landed hard, and a stiff silence settled over the others.

Lyle bristled, clearly irritated. “What do you know? We’re part of this base. Of course we take pride in it.

“And honestly, you’re just jealous. You saw how good our bases and it got to you. That’s the only reason you’d say something like that.”

He’d assumed those words would rip away their pretense and expose the envy festering underneath.

His gaze swept over them, expectant. He didn’t see what he’d imagined, though. Not a single flustered face in the group.

Robin and Dylan both looked completely unmoved, their expressions utterly blank.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify