The Endgame Chronicles (by Hugh White) novel Chapter 553

“Yeah, look at their gear. That truck’s customized. They’ve got to be from another base, out scavenging.”

“If they find us, they’ll take all our supplies!”

“They’ll kill us, too!”

“So what do we do? Mr. Ortega’s not back yet!”

“You three stay here and keep watching them. Don’t let them spot us. The rest of us will go find Mr. Ortega.”

A group of seventeen–year–olds argued in hushed, urgent voices on the rooftop.

“Okay.”

“Yeah.”

After they split it up, three of them ran off.

The other four stayed behind, lying low near the edge of the roof. They watched as Hayley climbed down from th truck and headed into the administration building, and stiffened instantly.

Inside, Hayley stepped into the office building.

She remembered this school for a reason.

Back when people still used the radio to organize raids, this place had come up more than once. It was a private school with no summer break. It was under strict lockdown management year–round, which meant supplies.

The school had three on–campus convenience stores, and its cafeteria was built like a small college dining hall. Each serving line was stocked with flour, cooking oil, and canned goods, enough to last months.

Several groups had tried to take the place, but none made it inside.

Later, someone broadcast a warning. There was a level 4 or higher Zombie King here. It was dangerous as hell.

Hayley sorted through the memories and headed straight for the administration offices.

If it had been a teacher, this was where it would stay.

She pushed open the thick glass doors, coated in layers of dust.

Inside was a wide, echoing lobby. Two rows of long–dead plants flanked the space. On the walls hung framed bios of award–winning teachers.

Across the front wall, large letters read: Teaching and shaping lives is a joy.

Hayley took it all in, moving slowly, eyes scanning every detail.

Two gold–trimmed frames at the far end caught her attention. One on the left, and another on the right.

Alec Daniels and Marvin Hale.

Their résumés filled the plaques beneath their photos.

Marvin looked to be in his thirties or forties. Alec was over seventy. He had retired once, then was hired back to keep teaching.

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+15 Bout

Hayley stopped in front of the older teacher’s photo.

“What is it?” Griffin asked

“He was my homeroom teacher.”

Griffin blinked. Hayley almost never talked about her past.

“You went to school here?” he asked.

“No. He retired after my class graduated. Guess they brought him back here later.” She kept her eyes on the photo. “He was amazing. Knew every student he ever taught. He treated us like we were his own kids.”

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