Rewrite the Apocalypse dream (by Dee Cari) novel Chapter 158

Chapter 158 They’re Telling The Truth, Joanna

Ju then, the varr door swung wide open. RJ stood at the back entry, peering inside at the tense interrogation with a dark, heavy expression on her face.

Finished

“I think that zombie was using those people,” RJ announced, her voice flat and strained. “It was draining their energy to emit the mind control. Once you killed that zombie downstairs, the people died as well

Hearing that the barely-alive survivors were gone, Michelle broke down and started crying all over again, burying her face in her bound knees. “That zombie was Peter Walters,” she sobbed through her tears. “He was in sales for Pharmatech.”

Warren swallowed hard, his eyes shifting nervously between Joanna and Julian. “They got into a massive fight a few days before the outbreak. I don’t know the exact particulars, but Dr. Anderson openly accused Peter of being a thief.”

RJ swallowed hard, her jaw tightening as she nodded. “I sense that Dr. Anderson and Walters both took some sort of strange energy. When I scanned them, both of their signatures were completely covered in it.”

Joanna let out a long, heavy sigh. “Everyone out for a moment,” she ordered softly.

Julian, Kailee, and RJ filed out of the van without a word, leaving Joanna alone with the two prisoners. She looked down at Michelle and Warren, her expression unreadable.

“If you are telling the truth, I will offer you a choice,” Joanna said, her voice completely calm. “You can come with me and my team, or we let you go right here. Think it over.” She paused, letting her gaze linger on them both. “If you are lying…”

Joanna trailed off, leaving the threat hanging heavily in the air. Without another word, she turned, stepped out of the van, and shut the door firmly behind her, locking them in with their thoughts.

Joanna stepped away from the van doors and gathered Julian, Kailee, and RJ into a tight circle out of earshot of the prisoners. The air outside was crisp, but the tension from the interrogation carried right over into their meeting.

“RJ, did you read them while they were talking?” Joanna asked, getting straight to the point.

RJ nodded, rubbing her temples as if shaking off the residual psychic noise. “They’re telling the truth, Joanna. I didn’t detect any mental deception. Michelle is completely terrified, and Warren is genuinely grieving Dr. Anderson. Whatever that Virobane plant is, it’s the real deal.”

“If this plant can block the virus from replicating, we need to find its source in the mountains,” Julian said, his knuckles still faintly humming with residual static. “But what bothers me is what you said about the energy signatures, RJ. If Anderson and Walters were both covered in some weird energy, where did they get it?”

“Pharmatech must have been experimenting with something beyond basic virology before the collapse,” Kailee added, looking back at the dark facility. “If a sales guy and a lead scientist both absorbed a power source, there might be more of it out there. Or worse, more people like Anderson who can control minds.”

Joanna leaned against the side of the van, thinking through their next move. “We have the lab equipment and supplies packed in my storage space. If we bring Warren and Michelle along, they can help us set up a functional lab and test the Virobane. But I’m not untying them until we’re far away from this place.”

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Chapter 158 They’re Telling The Truth, Joannal

Finished

Julian crossed his arms, channeling his dominant CEO vibe. “Let me drive The Beast instead of that silly

he demanded. After a brief back-and-forth, Joanna shrugged and agreed.

RJ leaned against the van, pale and exhausted. “I’m really drained,” she admitted. Joanna nodded. “Go soak in the hot spring inside my storage space for a half hour. Let me know when you’re dressed and ready to come out.” With a wave of her hand, Joanna sent the telepath into her pocket dimension to recover.

Then, Joanna summoned The Beast. The massive, military-grade war machine materialized with a heavy thud. It featured matte-black composite armor, a hydraulic steel plow, reinforced ballistic glass with steel mesh, and a 360-degree automated roof turret. Its run-flat tires were protected by custom wheel wells with retractable diamond-tipped shredding spikes. Calling it a ‘Utility Vehicle’ was a gross understatement, yet its hybrid engine merely purred with a whisper-quiet hum.

The moment the vehicle appeared, Julian’s aloof facade completely shattered. He practically bounced on his heels, acting like an excited schoolboy as he ran his hands over the armor.

While Julian marveled at the vehicle, Joanna easily carried the bound Michelle and Warren into the spacious interior of The Beast. With everyone loaded, Joanna swiped her hand, instantly storing the old van away into her dimensional space. Julian hopped eagerly into the driver’s seat, gripping the wheel with a massive, triumphant grin.

Inside the rolling fortress, Kailee leaned forward from the back seat, cracking a smirk at Julian’s intense excitement. “Try not to drool on the steering wheel, bossman,” she teased, crossing her arms. “We know it’s bigger than your corporate jet.”

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