Rewrite the Apocalypse dream (by Dee Cari) novel Chapter 217

Chapter 217 Westridge City

Finished

Joanna’s lip curled in disgust as she looked around her compromised bunker. Without a word, she grabbed the bound men by whatever cloth or limb she could grip, dragging them up through the hatch two at a time, as effortlessly as carrying groceries. The rescued women watched from a distance, their expressions a mix of awe and deep unease, entirely unsure what to make of their savior.

Within ten minutes, the entire group was packed into the two sedans parked near the tree line-the bound raiders shoved into the trunks and floorboards, and the quiet, shaken women seated beside the crew. Upstairs, Jake had stripped the keys from one of the bodies, sliding one set across the roof of the car to Julian.

“The women were taken from a hotel in Westridge,” Jolie explained quietly, leaning over the seat. “They just want to go home.”

Joanna climbed into the front passenger seat beside Jake, leaving the logistics to sort itself out. Jake started the engine, his eyes darting to her. She could see the unasked questions sitting right behind his eyes, but he didn’t push. She wasn’t about to volunteer anything about Simon Fletcher.

Fletcher was a problem that defied easy description. Surviving the apocalypse was one thing, but building a brutal, functional empire out of the wreckage was another. Fletcher had done both. She knew that within four years, he would have Westridge completely sealed and cleared of the undead. But he would never, under any circumstances, be safe to trust. The body count he ran up included just as many living rivals as it did monsters. Passage through his territory required steep supply tolls, and he collected them personally; Joanna had once watched him palm a man’s skull and squeeze until the bone gave way. He treated Drew like something disposable, meaning the burden of negotiation always fell on her.

The last time she had seen Fletcher was shortly before her capture. He had cornered her with a grim warning: Nightshade is moving on Dillon. He knew her secret storage capacity would make her a prime target –he was one of the very few who knew what she could do. But his warning hadn’t saved her. She had been taken anyway.

As they crossed into Westridge, Joanna coldly dictated the turns, guiding Jake through the grid of streets, The infected littered the outer intersections, but as they drove deeper, the boarded-up buildings showed signs of life. Candlelight flickered behind reinforced windows and the density of the wandering dead thinned out significantly. Fletcher’s enforcers had been cleaning the streets recently.

Joanna had Jake pull the sedan to a halt directly in front of the grand, barricaded hotel. She knew this was exactly where Fletcher was holed up.

“Stay in the car,” Joanna commanded, her hand already on the door handle. “Keep the engine running. I’m going to speak to Fletcher.”

Joanna stepped into the pitch-black lobby, the heavy scent of mildew and old carpet clinging to the damp air. A single candle flickered on a cracked marble counter, casting long, dancing shadows across the room Before she could take another step, two armed men materialized from the darkness, their rifles aimed directly at her chest.

“Stop right there,” one growled.

Joanna didn’t flinch. She kept her posture perfectly still and spoke with absolute clarity. “I heard Fletcher was injured yesterday.”

3/2

10:43 am

Chapter 217 Westridge City.

Finished

The man on the left tensed, his grip tightening on his rifle. “What is it to you?” he demanded angrily, his eyes narrowing in the dis candlelight, “Who the hell are you?”

Joanna slowly held her hands up, her voice entirely calm, devoid of any fear. “I need to speak to him. I caught the men responsible.”

The two guards frowned, exchanging a quick, bewildered look. A heavy silence settled over the lobby for a long moment before the angry one spoke again. “He won’t speak to anyone right now. You should come back later.”

Joanna shook her head, her gaze piercing through the shadows. “I also have medicine. I can help him.”

The mention of medicine made both men’s eyes widen. In the apocalypse, antibiotics and clean bandages were worth more than gold. They shared another frantic glance, realizing the weight of her claim, before the man on the left turned and sprinted up the dark stairwell to alert his boss.

The guard who stayed behind lowered his rifle slightly, though his posture remained rigid. He took a step. closer, his voice dropping to a quiet, desperate whisper. “Did you see any women with them? They took people from here.”

Joanna smiled, a cold but reassuring expression. “Yes, there were three. I can bring them to you after I speak to Fletcher.”

The guard returned only minutes later, the heavy thud of his boots on the stairs breaking the tense silence. He gave Joanna a short, tense nod and motioned with his chin for her to follow.

She trailed him up the dark stairwell, the air growing warmer and more stifling with every flight they climbed. On the third floor, the carpeted hallway was shrouded in shadows, illuminated only by the faint glow of a flashlight held by one of two heavily armed enforcers standing guard outside a room at the far end. They didn’t lower their weapons as Joanna and her escort approached.

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