The Apocalypse Survival Manual (Three Days Before Doomsday, I Stockpiled Billions) novel Chapter 352

Chapter 352

Taking down the Drakebane Guild had come down to timing, positioning, and a bit of luck.

This was different. Two people going up against a base of over 200 wasn’t realistic.

But hiding wasn’t an option, either. If people from Ironvale Base could find them here, they could find them anywhere.

Ironvale Base might look like a loose crowd, but it wasn’t that simple.

“We’ll deal with it as it comes,” Zeph said after a moment. “I’ve got a few sets of body armor. There’s one in Poppy’s size. Go find it.”

Nicole went into the storage space to look.

He really had prepared several sets. It was a little big on Poppy, but it would do.

“Can you adjust it?” Zeph checked the armor. “Make one for Cola, too.”

Nicole wasn’t exactly skilled, but she could give it a try.

Body armor was hard to come by. She didn’t want to mess it up, so she measured Cola again and again. Luckily, he stayed still the whole time.

She worked through the night and finished the adjustments. Once it was on, Cola looked sharp and intimidating.

“Don’t take it off. You’re wearing this from now on.”

Neither of them said it out loud, but they both knew Ironvale Base wouldn’t let this go.

Moving had to be put on hold. There was no point dragging others into it.

That night, Zeph locked the rooftop door, checked the stainless steel doors on the 16th floor, and turned the current up to maximum. All the doors and windows on the 17th floor were shut tight.

He set traps, stretching thin wire across the doors and windows and tying them to small alarms. If anyone forced their way in, the alarms would drop and let out a sharp, piercing sound,

Late into the night, Nicole got up to head back to her own apartment, but Zeph stopped her.

“It’s not safe to split up. Stay here. There’s plenty of room.”

He had a point. If they got picked off one by one, that would be worse.

She thought it over. “I’ll sleep with Poppy.”

Zeph looked at her without saying anything. Nicole felt a little awkward and looked away.

Zeph said, “I’m not going to do anything.”

The master bedroom was large, clean, and neatly arranged.

Nicole lay down, feeling a little tense.

After the lights went out, Zeph pulled her into his arms. “Go to sleep. Don’t overthink it.”

She almost snapped back, as if she was the one overthinking.

1/2

+15 Bonus

But he just held her, nothing more.

Worn out from the day, she drifted off.

Suddenly, something heavy landed on her.

Nicole jolted awake, thinking Zeph had crossed a line, but it was Cola jumping onto the bed. A low growl rumbled. in his throat, and his teeth were bared. 1

Zeph was on his feet in an instant, already pulling on clothes.

“Someone’s inside.”

He put on his armor and grabbed his weapons.

“I’ll check it out. Go get Poppy.”

Nicole was fully awake now. She got dressed in the dark without turning on the lights, ran to Poppy’s room, got the armor on her, then pushed her under the bed.

“Stay down. Don’t move. No matter what happens, don’t come out unless we call you.”

Nicole meant to hide Cola, too, but he had already followed Zeph. She put on her night vision goggles, grabbed her weapon, and stepped out.

Several figures moved in the dark. Wearing insulated gloves, they had used underhanded tricks to get past the electrified stainless steel doors and made their way up quietly.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify