Chapter 38 - The Wall

Time is running but before it reaches midnight, the mud flood has finally come in contact with the wall. Despite how dark it was added by the fact that it continued to rain, Zach could still see how the mud flood got separated due to the flashes of lightning. 

Ethan and the rest were also there with him witnessing this phenomenon and all of them were wearing smiles seeing that the wall they had built wasn't all for naught seeing it standing still redirecting the mud flood and protecting their base. 

"Tell the people that the wall was working and tell them that they could now rest." Zach then said seeing that there is no imminent danger for the time being. The worries that he was hiding inside were also reduced a little upon seeing that the base was safe for now.

With that, the survivors were also happy to hear the news and so started cleaning themselves so they could now finally rest for the night without feeling worried about their safety.

After that, Zach then just also ordered some of the Rangers to continue monitoring the mud flood in the other watchtowers while telling the others to rest so they could replace them tomorrow. Zach himself took the initiative to stay for the night as he wanted to make sure that they were safe.

With that, only the sounds of the heavy rain and thunderstorms could be heard throughout the night as everyone was already sleeping in their houses. The mud flood, on the other hand, still didn't give signs of stopping as it continued to move at a steady speed. 

Looking at the walls, Zach could find a little leaking, but it was completely normal knowing that there were small gaps between the logs that they could not mend so he didn't mind such a thing, he then just continued to watch over the place while drinking coffee at the same time. 

The next morning came, and everyone started waking up without worries. On the other hand, Zach and the other Rangers who stayed up all night had finally climbed down the watchtowers and were replaced by the others. 

Nothing of great concern has happened aside from the time-to-time leaking from the walls. The mud flood was still ongoing and didn't seem to stop soon but it was no longer a great issue as the wall could be found doing its work to protect the base.

Entering the house, Zach was greeted by Vanessa and Shiela who were now cooking breakfast. Seeing that the children and the rest were still not awake, Zach then just headed straight to the bathroom to take a bath. 

Following that, each and everyone then woke up and finally had their breakfast together. Vanessa and the rest knew that Zach stayed for the night to watch over the base so they started asking him what was the situation outside now which the latter answered truthfully before finally letting him go so he could rest. 

Zach rested peacefully in his room while there was still a storm happening outside. Though he felt like he was still full of energy, he still decided to rest since it was not his body that was tired but his mind instead as he couldn't stop thinking all night. Mental fatigue was more tiresome than his body which have changed for the past few months. 

It was only in the afternoon did Zach woke up from his slumber. Greeting everyone inside, he then started eating lunch even though it was late, and after spending some time with his family, he left the house to see the situation outside as he was now heading to the watchtower wanting to get the latest report of the mud flood. 

Arriving at the watchtower, Zach saw Sophia together with three other Rangers with her holding their binoculars as they kept on looking at the wall not knowing that he had arrived. It was only after he made a sound did he saw them stop and greet him a good afternoon. 

"How was the wall?" Zach then asked. 

"It's still holding up." Sophia replied with certainty as they never once stopped checking up on it. 

"Good. And the mud flood?" Zach asked again. 

"Well, it is still ongoing." Sophia answered. 

Hearing that, Zach then just also took a binocular in his hand and looked at it himself. There he saw the wall still standing amidst the mud flood coming in and just like they said, it really was holding up though there were more mud flood leaking than before he took a rest. 

"Good. You can go back now and take a rest. I'll take it from here." Zach then ordered thinking of replacing them as he preferred the place to be quiet. 

Following Zach's orders, the Rangers looked at each other before climbing down with Sophia as an exception as she didn't leave and continued to stay behind. Zach, however, didn't mind since the place was already quiet, he was just a little uncomfortable being with this woman upon hearing Hannah's words a week ago. 

"How many humans do you think are still alive right now?" Suddenly, Sophia asked a very intriguing question which caught Zach's attention. 

"I don't know. Probably less than a quarter of the total population." Zach thought about it before giving an estimation. However, he still doubted whether there were still that many knowing how many calamities had already happened. 

"I also thought the same. As long as everybody used their intelligence, I think many would survive given that they would use efficiently the changes that were happening in their body. Of course, great luck was also important." Sophia commented. She has survived there for so long just eating moss or grass so she thought that as long as people do the same and would not lose hope, then they would probably survive. 

On the other hand, Zach was also thinking the same. In fact, he probably had the greatest luck of them all after being bound by the system, and the fact that he had traveled back to the past with his mind more mature than the people of her age. 

"Hey. I have written a song lately. It's still not done but do you want to hear it?" Suddenly Sophia changed the topic thinking how depressing the atmosphere had become. She then just wants Zach to hear the song she has composed after surviving for this long. 

"Let's hear it then." Zach replied while he continued looking at the wall. He just said to himself that he preferred quietness, but he didn't want to reject Sophia knowing that she might feel bad if he did so. 

With that, Sophia then adjusted her voice and got into the mood before finally singing the first note and continuing the rest. The song was completely filled with different emotions but most of them depict sadness as the song relays the bitterness and struggle of being a survivor. 

For the next two minutes, Zach listened to Sophia and even he started to get emotional as he could feel the emotion in every stanza. Sophia said that it was not finished but he felt like it was already so good. 

"What do you think?" Sophia, after singing, immediately asked Zach's opinion as she looked at him while still having watery eyes as she was the most affected by the lyrics of the song that she made. 

"It was good. Really good. Does it already have a title?" Zach controlled his composure and replied. That song really was something that could only be composed during these times since it would make everyone who listened be attracted to it by understanding it more than before the calamity happened. 

"I will finish it first before giving it a title." Sophia said while feeling happy upon hearing Zach's comment. She then just adjusted herself not wanting to look ugly as she was almost on the verge of crying. 

With that, Zach and Sophia then just continue to linger around the watchtower. Looking at the wall while talking to each other were the things that had been done before night came and were replaced by the other Rangers as they rested through the night. 

Another week passed and this time, the problem had finally arrived upon seeing Zach, the Rangers, and a number of men fortifying the walls from within as the mud flood started moving very fast added by the fact that some debris from buildings, cars, and trees were flowing together with it making them thought that the wall would not last long. 

With great haste, Zach and the others were working very hard as they could hear the flow of mud flood on the other side of the wall putting them all in a dangerous situation. The leaks were also piling but they didn't pay it any mind as they continued burying logs to make the wall stronger. 

After working together, they finally managed to fortify the wall. Zach and the others then hurriedly headed back to the base since no one would ever want to be left behind as the collision of the mud flood and the wall continued to sound which made them nervous over time. 

Heading back to the base, Zach immediately climbed the watchtower wanting to see the situation. The sudden fast movement of the mud flood has increased over time most probably due to it becoming more watery because of the rain. Fortunately, they had seen it beforehand and took action before it was too late. 

"The wall just needs to continue to hold for five more days. Tell everyone to get ready at all times. We will protect the base as long as it takes." Zach ordered. He could see the fortified walls were holding up for now, however, the more the mud flood would become watery, the more leaking would flow and so the base would now be affected. That's why he needs everyone to be prepared for the worst to come. 

With that, everyone was on alert. Zach and the Rangers would head out from time to time to fortify the walls if necessary and also to start moving the piling mud flood so that it would not reach and leak inside the base. From day to night, they were working nonstop as they all wanted to protect the place they had already regarded as their home. 

When night came, Zach and a group of brave Rangers seeing Ethan, Mike, and Carl could now be found on top of the wall witnessing the flow of mud flood on the other side. They didn't get there just to sightsee but it left them no choice but to do it as the debris of buildings, cars, and especially trees started to pile up that would destroy the wall if they let it be. 

Holding metal pipes in their hands, each one of them started moving the piling debris outside. It was very dangerous, especially since it was completely dark added by the scary noise from the thunder but all of them were completely focused as they had only one thing in mind and that was to protect the base. 

"T-Truck!! A truck is coming!!" Suddenly, a Ranger shouted with great haste as he couldn't believe what he just saw and he didn't even notice it until it was already close to the wall as it was just too dark. 

Everyone stopped but they didn't properly hear the shout, so they immediately looked at the man, unlike Zach who was already jumping and running towards the man's direction as he heard it well which made him completely nervous as they were talking about a truck this time not a fucking car. 

The truck could not be stopped and it did not take long before it collided with the left side of the wall making the logs suddenly shake. Not long after that, the leaking on the left side of the wall became faster with the truck having no intention to move and was stuck on the wall while slowly pushing the logs aside. 

Arriving at the place where the truck collided, Zach saw that the wall would be pushed in no time if the truck did not move and so leaving him no choice but to do it himself if he wanted to protect the base. Thus, he immediately spends all of his free attributable stat points to strength before climbing the wall. 

"This better be enough." Standing on the wall, Zach looked at the truck outside. In fact, he wasn't sure if his current strength right now could push this truck away but there was nothing else he could do but try and hope that it would be enough before he stealthily took out three metal pipes and struck the truck with all his might.