The Endgame Chronicles (by Hugh White) novel Chapter 228

Chapter 218

The convoy drove uphill until a cluster of factories and nearby houses came into view.

Sharp wooden stakes formed rows around the settlement, wrapped tightly with thorny vines to serve as a crude defensive wall against zombies.

Guards patrolled the fence line about every 30 feet. When they saw the vehicles returning, they quickly moved a large metal barricade blocking the road and let the convoy pass inside.

Once they entered, they saw the open space in front of the main factory building packed with people.

Everyone was waiting for Wallace and his group to come back.

Shield Base was still in its early stages. There were about 200 people here. Other than those who had gone out to scavenge, nearly everyone was present.

The base had started as a convoy of survivors who fled the city together. Most of these people had escaped with their families. The age range was wide. There were babies still nursing and elderly people in their seventies and eighties.

The population was a complicated mix. Most people came with their whole families in tow, household by household.

Wallace, on the other hand, used to be a top sales manager before the outbreak. He lived in company housing, along with several of his subordinates. From the very start, he had been dealt an excellent hand.

In the apocalypse, whoever had the strongest group ruled.

Other families were weighed down by children and elderly relatives. Compared to Wallace’s group of able-bodied men, they had no real chance. Even men who were more capable than Wallace hesitated to step up because they had families to protect.

Wallace, backed by his smooth talk, fake friendliness, and the group behind him, naturally became the leader.

On top of that, he was a water-element Gifted.

Over time, Wallace tightened his grip on Shield Base. His people dominated, while everyone else remained scattered and powerless.

His lackeys strutted around the base like they owned the place.

Harassing women who had no protection and stealing supplies were everyday occurrences.

Later on, it even became normal for people to be killed inside the base without consequences.

Most people stayed silent for the sake of their families. They saw everything but dared not speak out.

The only small mercy was that the base was large and chaotic enough that Wallace had to keep a little order for appearances. He had to rein in his men just enough to avoid complete collapse.

To survive here, you either joined Wallace or fought back, as Thomas did.

If you were strong enough, Wallace’s group would eventually back down.

If not, life in this place was hell.

Clearly, Hayley chose the same path as Thomas. She resisted instead of bowing down.

No matter how bad things got, she still believed she was human. She would never become the kind of monster Wallace’s people

were.

She would never stand on the same side as them.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify