The Apocalypse Survival Manual (Three Days Before Doomsday, I Stockpiled Billions) novel Chapter 104

Chapter 104

+15 Bonus

Chapter 104

Cola didn’t move. He lay there like he owned the place, all lazy and smug.

The static buzzed.

Nicole was dumbfounded. She had left the walkie-talkie by the bed. How did it just disappear?

She checked the bed, under it, and around the dog bed, turning everything upside down.

“Move over.”

Cola didn’t budge, still sprawled out like he didn’t have a care in the world.

Nicole narrowed her eyes, something clicking.

She bent down and picked him up.

There it was. The walkie-talkie had been sitting right under his butt.

Caught red-handed, Cola blinked up at her with wide, innocent eyes, as if he had no idea how it ended up

there.

Nicole hesitated. The walkie-talkie was definitely carrying the dog’s scent now, and she wasn’t even sure

she wanted to use it anymore.

She turned the thought over in her mind.

She sprayed it down with alcohol, wiped it clean with a tissue, then spoke into it. “Got it. Heading out now.

Looking at the dog who was making trouble first thing in the morning, she couldn’t help laughing. “Are you staying home or coming with me?”

Cola trotted into the living room and dragged over his gear.

Nicole quickly helped him into it.

They headed out in a rush. Zeph and Jeremy were already waiting. Beatrice stood there holding a still- sleeping Poppy, her voice low. “Be careful.”

They slipped quietly out of the complex. Victor and his parents were already waiting on an inflatable raft.

It was still dark, so it was hard to see much. When the flashlight passed over them, Nicole caught a glimpse of Victor’s parents, Derek and Lydia Goodman, both in their forties and quiet-looking.

They tied the raft to the motorboat and set off toward the hillside villas outside the city. By the time they arrived, it was close to 7 a.m. The sky was just starting to lighten.

They gathered their things and started climbing through the rain.

Cola took the lead, moving easily ahead.

1/3

Chap 104

+15 Bonus

It was a brand new day. Gotta make sure his human was fed.

The trail was slick, the ground uneven.

Nicole’s foot slipped, and she tipped backward.

Zeph was right behind her. He reacted instantly, catching her by the waist. “Careful.”

He steadied her, lifting her back into place. She grabbed onto a nearby tree, heart still racing.

Damn, his core strength was unreal.

He was carrying the motorboat, holding her up, and she still had the raft on her back. That took some serious muscle.

“Watch your step,” Zeph called out to the others. “The slope’s slippery.”

Then, he reminded the front, “Cola, don’t go charging off and leading us the wrong way.”

After that, the path smoothed out a bit.

They moved slowly through the rain. After almost two hours, the reservoir finally came into view, stretching wide between the mountains.

Cola got excited. He motioned for Nicole to take off his rain gear and dove straight into the water with a

splash.

A few minutes later, he came back with a live fish thrashing in his mouth.

He walked right up to Nicole and dropped it into her hands.

Here. Meat for you, human.

“There’s fish, actual fish!” Lydia’s voice trembled as she stared at it.

“Let’s eat first,” Nicole said. “We’ll work after.”

The climb had drained them. They took shelter under a tree to get out of the rain.

Nicole packed the fish into a plastic bag, then pulled out some bread rolls and started eating with Cola.

Zeph ate hardtack. Jeremy had sandwiches.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify