Rewrite the Apocalypse dream (by Dee Cari) novel Chapter 180

Chapter 180 The Eastern Farm

B

Finished

tactical beast tore down the gravel road, its massive tires kicking up dust as they left the main property behind and headed due east. Inside, the roar of the engine did little to drown out the oppressive șilence in the back rows. Julian sat with his arms crossed, staring out the window with frosty detachment, while Commander Briggs adjusted his tactical vest, purposefully taking up just enough space to annoy the billionaire.

As they crossed the boundary into the neighboring property, the landscape shifted dramatically. Unlike their heavily wooded surroundings, this land had been aggressively cleared. The trees were sparse, leaving the terrain wide open and exposed.

Joanna scanned the barren fields, her brow furrowing. “Jake, pull over right here,” she ordered sharply. “With this line of sight, whoever owns this place saw us coming the second we drove onto the property.”

Jake nodded, expertly steering the heavy vehicle onto the shoulder and letting the engine idle.

Joanna turned around in her seat, glancing at the crew in the back rows, and frowned. Julian was still glaring daggers at Briggs, Briggs looked ready to bash a skull in, and Jake had a small smirk. Collectively, they looked cold, mean, and up to absolutely no good. Arriving at a mystery location looking like a hostile raider squad was a terrible way to start a conversation.

“Change of plans,” Joanna announced, her voice leaving no room for argument. “Julian, Jake, Briggs-you three are staying right here with the truck. You look too aggressive, and I don’t want to start a firefight before we even know who we’re dealing with.”

Julian opened his mouth to protest, but Joanna cut him off with a sharp look.

“RJ, Caleb, you’re with me,” she said, cracking her door open. “Let’s move out.”

As the team walked into the open expanse carrying back packs, Joanna scanned the barren horizon, her hand hovering instinctively near her weapon. The lack of cover made her skin prickle. She glanced sideways at the seer, who was walking with stiff, hesitant steps.

“Are you going to be the one talking?” Joanna asked Caleb, her voice low.

Caleb paused, his boots crunching on the gravel. A look of genuine fear washed over his face. He stuttered, blinking rapidly. “N-no, you take this.”

Joanna shot an annoyed look at him, stopping in her tracks. “What do I even ask him, Caleb?”

Caleb swallowed hard, looking toward the distant farmhouse. “I sense he is tied to your destiny. But there is so much darkness surrounding him, I am a little nervous.”

Joanna rolled her eyes, letting out a sharp breath as she continued walking. “Stupid dreamweaver. All- knowing one minute, and completely lost the next.” She guessed she needed to talk to this person and once Caleb got close he could figure out more.

Jolie and RJ exchanged a quiet, tense look behind her, their bodies primed for whatever darkness Caleb was sensing. Up ahead, the quiet farm felt less like a sanctuary and more like a trap waiting to sprung.

The open path finally led them to a classic small farmhouse. It was a modest, two-story structure with peeling white paint, a wrap-around covered porch, and weathered green shutters hanging slightly askew.

1/2

09:52 Wed, Oct 7 FMO

Chapter 180 The Eastern Farm

Despite the neat appearance, the absolute silence hanging over the property felt unnatural.

Finished

cam stepped onto the wooden porch, the planks groaning softly under their weight, when the front dowy clicked open.

A young man glided out slowly onto the porch. He was incredibly pale, with shaggy dark hair falling into his eyes, and a lanky, thin frame. He wore a palt of farled jeans but no shirt. He stood there, completely still, saying absolutely nothing as his vacant gaze locked onto them.

Joanna stared at him, a flurry of critical thoughts running through her head. Does this guy have zero self- awareness? It’s literally freezing out here and he doesn’t even wear a shirt? Is he trying to show off ribs?

Hiding her judgment, Joanna forced a polite smile and stepped forward, breaking the eerie silence. “Hi there. We’re from the property down the road. Would you consider trading some food for live farm animals?”

The pale young man still said nothing. He didn’t even blink, standing on the frozen porch like a statue while the icy wind blew right past him. The silence stretched out, growing heavier and more awkward by the second.

RJ decided to try a light-hearted joke to break the tension. She stepped up slightly, flashing a casual grin, and gestured toward the guy’s bare torso. “Hey man, I know the world ended, but did the shirts go with it? Because I’m freezing just looking at you.”

Jolie let out a tiny, nervous breath, while Caleb looked like he wanted to sink right through the porch planks. Joanna kept her eyes locked on the stranger, waiting to see if RJ’s humor would finally crack his creepy shell.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify