Rewrite the Apocalypse dream (by Dee Cari) novel Chapter 103

Chapter 103 This, everyone, is a zombie core

Finished

Satisfied that their home base inside the pocket dimension was secure, the team geared up in their tactical outhts. Joanna focused her mind and pulled the entire group out of the storage space, materializing them right back into the quiet, real-world living room of the apartment.

The contrast was instant-the dim, stagnant air of the real world replaced the bright peace of her dimension. Joanna didn’t waste a second.

“Rachel, go check on Ryan below,” Joanna commanded. “Tell him to be ready in an hour for a scavenging mission.”

While Rachel slipped out the door and headed down the concrete stairwell, Joanna turned back to the rest of the crew to recap yesterday’s events and lay out the plan for the day ahead.

Joanna looked around the circle and noticed how heavy the silence felt. Everyone looked really down and sad, staring at the floor as if they were expecting Joanna to yell at them for messing up during yesterday’s high-stakes mall run.

Instead of getting angry, she smiles a little. “Why so sad?”

Jolie sighed, looking up with guilt in her eyes. “We know we messed up. Sorry, boss.”

Joanna looked surprised. “I am not disappointed. I was really happy with you guys!”

Jolie shook her head. “But boss… I froze up on that zombie. I couldn’t move.”

Julian frowned, staring at his boots. “And I slipped. I almost died out there.”

Uncle Nate rubbed the back of his neck, his voice dropping to a quiet murmur. “I really thought she was a zombie….”

The room stilled. Everyone froze and shot Nate a quick glance, the words hanging heavily in the dim apartment air.

Rachel walked in just then, breaking the heavy tension that had settled over the room. “Ryan said he and his wife will be ready in an hour,” she announced, walking over and sitting down beside Julian.

Joanna gave a firm nod, intentionally letting Uncle Nate’s comment slide for the moment as she looked back at the anxious faces of her crew.

“No, guys,” Joanna said, her voice steady and reassuring. “Those were all minor mistakes. Stop beating yourselves up about it.”

She stepped into the center of the circle so she could look each of them in the eye. “Remember, this is not a training camp anymore. It is surviving! The fact that you all helped each other out, covered for one another, and came back alive means yesterday was a complete success!”

A collective breath seemed to leave the room, the crushing guilt finally starting to lift from the team’s shoulders as Joanna’s words sank in.

Joanna clapped her hands together lightly, shattering the last remnants of the heavy mood. “Okay, let’s move on. Here is the plan for today.”

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Chapter 103 This, everyone, is a zombie core

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Finished

She turned her attention to the older man and the rest of the support crew. “Uncle Nate and Raven, today two are on laundry duty while the power is still working in the apartment complex. Wash everything we’ve got. Once that’s done, you’re cleaning weapons and gear. Inspect everything thoroughly, and anything with deep tears needs to be stitched up and fixed.”

Turning back to the rest of the circle, she continued, “The rest of you need to go with Ryan and Danielle to scavenge supplies specifically for them. Focus on food, water, and anything useful they can easily pack I want to give them a small cushion if they are going to follow us. Stick to the businesses nearby, don’t stray too far, and use their RV to transport the haul. While you’re out, try to siphon and grab as much gas as you

can.”

Joanna pulled a handheld radio from her tactical vest and tossed it across the room to Jolie, who caught it cleanly. “Give this to Ryan so they can reach us immediately if they get separated. Josiah can stay here at the base with Raven and Uncle Nate. Aim to be back by lunch if possible.”

She paused, taking a breath before addressing her own tasks. “This morning, I will be putting all that jewelry we gathered into my pocket space. I want to see if absorbing it can level up the dimension or make the storage area larger.”

Lastly, Joanna reached into her pack and dropped a heavy, medium-sized pouch onto the table. It landed with a dull, solid thud, almost filled to the brim.

Julian leaned in close, eyes narrowed in curiosity. “What’s that?”

Joanna reached into the bag and lifted out a smooth, oval crystal that caught the dim apartment light. “This, everyone, is a zombie core,” she explained, holding it up for all to see. “I thought cores only came along once zombies mutated but I took all of these from the zombies you hit with your truck last night.”

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