The Apocalypse Survival Manual (Three Days Before Doomsday, I Stockpiled Billions) novel Chapter 422

Chapter 422

Looking back, Nicole realized it was a miracle she had made it at all.

When she woke, bodies were everywhere. She searched for a long time before finding a little food and kept going, one day at a time.

In the end, she hadn’t been able to outrun death.

Nicole leaned against Zeph’s shoulder and looked up at the sky, thick with stars. “Look at that. It’s beautiful, like someone scattered diamonds.”

In her memory, a sky like this hadn’t existed over industrial Westbridge for a long time.

The night was deep and clear. The stars burned sharp, the moon bright and clean.

Under that sky, the ground had split, buildings had come down, and bodies lay buried in the wreckage. Survivors had lost everything.

The weight of it settled between them.

Zeph didn’t say anything. He stayed beside her, their fingers laced together.

Then the ground shifted again. Not as violent this time, but enough to feel.

Another aftershock.

Nicole snapped upright and pulled out the escape pod.

Zeph climbed in first and saw Cola gripping Poppy’s clothes, tugging hard.

The four of them got back inside.

The aftershocks came and went through the night. In the end, they stayed in the pod. It was cramped and didn’t have the extra storage space, but it was safe, and that was what mattered.

Close to 5 a.m., Zeph tapped Nicole’s shoulder, letting her know it was time.

They stepped out. The two little ones went back into the tent to sleep a little longer.

Nicole stored the pod, stretched out the stiffness in her body, then crawled into the tent.

Zeph moved closer, but she pushed him away. “Back off. You’re like a heater.”

He looked at her, displeased. “You didn’t say that when you were holding onto me that day.”

She caught the meaning right away. Heat rushed to her face, and she gave him a light kick.

Zeph caught her foot. “Careful. Don’t wake Cola.”

“I should let him bite you.”

The words had barely left her mouth when a pair of green eyes lit up in the dark, making her jump. “Cola, out!”

Cola froze for a second, then turned and padded back to the outer area, curling up quietly.

So that was it. She had found a man and forgotten all about him.

They didn’t sleep long before the eastern sky began to lighten.

1/2

+15 Benus

Zeph woke Poppy and Cola. They washed up, ate a quick breakfast, and packed up the tent.

The earthquake had torn everything apart. Cracks ran through the ground. Roads were either broken or gone.

The closer they got to the city, the worse it looked.

Nicole didn’t take out the Hummer. If the roads were blocked, she would just have to store it again, and in daylight, being seen would only bring trouble.

So they went on foot.

Looking too clean would draw attention. They smeared mud on their faces and clothes, roughing themselves up.

Each of them carried a trekking pole, watching for hidden cracks or unstable ground. Zeph held Poppy’s hand, while Nicole kept Cola on a leash.

No one wandered off.

A little after 6 a.m., it was still dim, but there was enough light to see.

Zeph led the way, calling out whenever they hit an obstacle.

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