Rewrite the Apocalypse dream (by Dee Cari) novel Chapter 159

Chapter 159 Dillon City Hall

Finished

Jonna asked if the duo wanted to come along with them. From the back of The Beast, Michelle and Warren quickly nodded in agreement. The moment Joanna mentioned she wanted them to continue researching the plant, their posture relaxed slightly. “I have it with me, don’t worry,” Joanna added smoothly.

Though they still looked incredibly nervous, both prisoners exchanged a fleeting, silent glance. They were thinking the exact same thing: if the terrifying demon lady who could kill zombies as strong as Dr. Aderson asks for your help during the apocalypse, you just go along with it.

Julian fired up the whisper-quiet hybrid engine, the military-grade war machine surging forward into the ruined streets, leaving the Pharmatech facility behind as they raced toward City Hall.

By the time The Beast pulled up to the perimeter of City Hall, Michelle and Warren had warmed up to the team considerably. Recognizing their cooperation, Joanna had their restraints removed and treated them to an unexpected luxury: a bucket of crispy fried chicken and fresh lemonade, pulled straight from her dimensional storage.

Both scientists had tears in their eyes as they ate, having forgotten what real food even tasted like since the outbreak began. To make them even more comfortable, Joanna provided them with fresh, clean clothes and told them they could sleep safely inside the reinforced cabin of The Beast. Feeling secure for the first time in weeks, the two exhausted researchers quickly drifted off to sleep.

Outside, the quiet hum of the hybrid engine cut out as Julian brought the war machine to a halt. He pulled behind the building parking lot and shut off the engine. Nothing but silence and darkness around them.

Joanna looked back at her team, her expression deadpan. “I need you guys to drive on to the shelter,” she said calmly, tapping the dashboard screen. “Jolie said they are almost there.” She inputted the GPS coordinates directly into The Beast’s navigation system to give them the exact directions.

Immediately, Julian and Kailee shook their heads in sharp disagreement.

“Absolutely not,” Julian said, his dominant CEO tone slamming down as he gripped the steering wheel tighter. “I’m not leaving you behind in a hot zone while I play bus driver.”

“Yeah, no way, boss lady,” Kailee chimed in from the back, leaning forward with her arms crossed. “We just got this armored monster rolling. If there’s a fight at City Hall, you’re not having all the fun without us.”

Joanna shook her head, cutting off their arguments instantly. “This is a solo mission,” she said, her voice dropping to a serious whisper. “Jax is a snake, and he needs to be flushed out. I can handle him better alone.”

Without waiting for another objection, she popped the heavy armor door open and hopped out of the vehicle onto the cracked pavement. She turned back, looking at Julian and Kailee. “You need to get the two newbies back safely and organize the shelter. I am counting on you guys.”

The cabin went quiet. Julian engaged the park brake, stepped out of The Beast, and walked over to her. The usual aloof, unbothered powerhouse CEO facade was completely gone, replaced by a rare, heavy tension in his shoulders. He stopped right in front of her, his eyes scanning her face as his hand hovered near his pockets, his knuckles unconsciously sparking with a tiny, nervous flicker of electricity.

“Going after a snake alone is reckless, Joanna,” Julian muttered, his voice unusually low. “Even for you. If things go sideways…” He trailed off, the genuine worry in his eyes cutting through his dominant exterior.

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Chapter 159 Dillon City Hall

Finished

Joanna let out a soft huff, a tiny smirk playing on her lips. “Don’t worry, bossman. If I get eaten, you can officially inherit the title of team leader. Just try not to drool on the steering wheel while I’m gone.”

Juan stared at her for a second before a faint, defeated smile finally broke through his grim expression. He let out a breath and nodded. “Fine. But if you take more than a few days, I’ll come for you.” He turned and climbed back into the driver’s seat of The Beast, finally agreeing to leave her behind to handle business

With a small wave from Joarina, RJ was pulled back out of the storage space, looking completely refreshed from her hot spring soak. She immediately stepped up and gave Joanna a tight hug. “Stay safe, girl!” RJ said softly.

Breaking the hug, RJ hopped into the front passenger seat next to Julian. The team watched through the ballistic glass as Joanna turned and confidently headed toward the building’s back entrance.

Just as she reached the threshold, the rear door swung open from the inside. Will stood in the doorway, his expression grim but alert. He gave a sharp, silent nod to the departing team in The Beast, stepping aside to let Joanna slip inside before quickly closing the door behind her.

“Everyone is upstairs in a back office,” Will said, gesturing toward the stairwell as they moved deeper into the building.

As they walked through City Hall, the place looked like an absolute bomb went off. Shattered glass, splintered furniture, and shredded documents littered the corridors. Dead bodies lay scattered across the ground, interspersed with the rotting corpses of some dead zombies the convoy had taken care of earlier during their first sweep.

Stepping carefully over the debris, Joanna started a casual conversation to break the eerie silence. “You know, there’s always room for you on my team if you want it,” she offered smoothly, not taking her eyes off the shadows ahead.

Will let out a little laugh, shaking his head at her timing. “Maybe,” he murmured, adjusting the grip on his weapon. “I’ll think about it. Let’s survive Jax first.”

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