Rewrite the Apocalypse dream (by Dee Cari) novel Chapter 354

Chapter 354 Too Many Mysteries

–

Finished

Aew days passed before Joanna finally carved out the time to head up to the ridge herself. base matters had eaten every spare hour since the moles’ arrival, between Willow’s garden adjustments, Caleb’s quiet digging into the missing supplies, and Levi’s endless stream of ridge patrol reports. But today, finally, she could focus on the bush itself.

She brought Will, who swore his ability made him “basically immune” to toxins. The moment head it, Kailee appeared out of nowhere, already holding a scarf like she’d been waiting her whole life for this exac

emergency.

“Put this on,” she said, looping it around his neck before he could answer.

“It has ducks on it.”

“Ducks are very protective.” She tugged it up over his nose, hands lingering a beat too long, and stepped back to admire her work like she’d just dressed a toddler for a blizzard. “There. Perfect.”

“I can’t see out of one eye now.”

“Better than toxic gas in your lungs.” She reached up and fixed it anyway, tucking a stray piece of his hair back at the same time for absolutely no reason related to scarves.

Will blinked at her, utterly unaware anything was happening. “You’re being very thorough today.”

“I’m always thorough.”

“You weren’t this thorough when Jake went out.”

“Jake doesn’t matter as much,” she said immediately, then went pink and added, way too fast,” to this mission. Strategically. He’s replaceable.”

“Jake is standing right there.”

“Hi,” Jake said flatly, from four feet away.

Kailee ignored him completely, already fussing with Will’s pack strap, tugging it tighter, then looser, then tighter again, apparently searching for the exact correct tension that would keep him safest and also closest to her for the longest possible number of seconds.

“This feels fine,” Will offered.

“It’s not fine. It’s crooked.”

“It’s a strap.”

“Everything can be improved,” Kailee said, with the quiet devotion of a woman who had, in fact, already imagined several scenarios where she heroically caught him mid-collapse.

Joanna, watching from the tunnel entrance, bit back a grin. “Kailee, he’s going to look at a bush. Not war.”

“You don’t know that,” Kailee said immediately, eyes wide. “Bushes are unpredictable.”

1/3

24

Chapter 354 Too Many Mysteries

Finished

Will, scarf crooked, pack strap now suspiciously tight, gave Joanna a cheerful thumbs up, blissfully unaware that the girl refastening his buttons had been quietly, hopelessly smitten with him for months.

“I el very safe,” he said.

“Good,” Kailee said softly, gaze lingering just a second too long before she caught herself and cleared her throat. “That’s that’s the goal. Safety. For the mission.”

Jake shook his head at Kailee, equal parts amused and vaguely nauseated, before turning to Joanna mo come too, Boss. I can keep watch while you three play Mister and Missus Duck Scarf.”

Kailee shot him a glare that could have melted the snow around them. Jake just grinned back, entirely

unrepentant.

Joanna sighed, though there was no real heat in it. “Fine. Extra eyes won’t hurt.” She glanced at the group Will still cheerfully oblivious, Kailee still hovering half a step closer to him than strictly necessary, Jake already checking his gear with the easy readiness of someone who took lookout duty seriously even when he was teasing everyone around him. “We’re walking, not teleporting. I want a chance to check the ground along the way – see if there’s anything else out there worth noticing before we get to the bush itself.”

Jake nodded, falling into step beside her as they set out, the four of them moving in a loose line through the snow, eyes scanning the brush and rock as they climbed higher into the cold.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify