Rewrite the Apocalypse dream (by Dee Cari) novel Chapter 76

Chapter 76 It’s just not there

Finished

Ahe team continued to hurl ridiculous suggestions across the table, the little corgi blinked up at them, completely oblivious to the naming war he had caused. Joanna watched the dog, noting how his oversized ears twitched at every sound and how his small body was finally relaxing. She raised a hand, silencing the bickering around the table.

“I’ve got it,” Joanna announced, a soft but firm smile on her face. “His name is Titan.”

The table went quiet, considering it. Jake grinned, immediately approving, while Allen raised an eyebrow. “Titan? But, he’s barely a foot off the ground. He looks more like a potato than a mythical giant.”

“He has a massive responsibility as our team mascot, Allen, even if he’s in a little body right now,” Joanna explained, looking down at the dog. Hearing his new name, Titan let out a tiny, soft “woof” and wagged his stubby tail, as if sealing the deal. “See? He likes it. Titan it is.”

Before the team could celebrate or tease Allen further, the heavy atmosphere of reality crashed back into the room. The main door clicked open, and Uncle Nathan walked in, having just come from the other apartment on the second floor where he had been keeping watch. His face was lined with deep exhaustion, his shoulders tense from hours of vigilant nursing, but his eyes held a sudden, sharp clarity.

The laughter at the table died instantly. The team straightened in their chairs, their tactical instincts taking over as they looked at the older man.

Uncle Nathan’s gaze swept over the room before landing squarely on Joanna. “Julian is awake,” he said, his voice low and solemn. “He wants to speak to you, Joanna. Alone.”

A tense silence fell over the apartment. Joanna nodded slowly, pushing her chair back from the table. She gave Titan a final, gentle pat on the head before standing up, her mind racing with a mix of relief and intense anticipation. Leaving the team downstairs, she stepped out to head up to the second floor, ready to face whatever critical news awaited her.

Joanna walked out of the bottom apartment and headed up the stairs to the second floor. Reaching the door of the other apartment, she slipped inside quietly. The room was dimly lit, cast in a calm stillness that felt a world away from the lively dinner downstairs.

On the bed, Julian was propped up slightly against the pillows. He looked pale, his body still bearing the brutal toll of the electricity he had endured, but his eyes were open and clear.

Before saying a word, Joanna reached into her tactical pocket and pulled out a fresh bottle of the shimmering spatial spring water. She stepped over to the bedside, unscrewed the cap, and gently handed it to him. “Drink this first,” she said softly.

Julian offered a faint, grateful nod. He wrapped a trembling hand around the bottle and lifted it to his lips, taking a slow, deep sip. As the pristine aura of the water washed through his system, a subtle warmth returned to his face, cutting through some of his profound exhaustion.

Setting the bottle down on the nightstand, Julian looked up at Joanna. When he spoke, his voice was still weak and raspy, but filled with immense emotion.

“Thank you, Joanna,” he whispered, holding her gaze. “For everything. Thank you for rescuing me… and for bringing my uncle back safely. I don’t even want to think about what would have happened if you hadn’t been on that mountain with me.”

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Chapter 76 It’s just not there

Finished

Joanna listened to Julian’s raspy words, offering a small, understanding smile. She pulled up a chair and sat

n close to the bed, letting the heavy silence of the room settle around them for a moment.

“You don’t need to thank me, Julian,” Joanna said softly, keeping her voice low so it wouldn’t carry beyond the door. “But there is something you should know. I haven’t told Uncle Nathan anything about the apocalypse yet. I just told him we needed to get you to a safe place. I figured having him around would help you recover faster, but the choice to tell him the truth is yours. If you want to let him know what’s coming, you can tell him when you’re ready. I am prepared to let him stay with us until the end.”

Julian closed his eyes for a brief second, processing her words. The weight of the impending disaster hung heavily between them, a stark contrast to the lively laughter of the team downstairs. After a moment, he opened his eyes and gave a slow, tired nod.

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