Chapter 9

Chapter 9

"What do you mean, dead?" Douglas roared, hurling his cup against the wall. The drink splattered over the nearest man, who flinched but didn't dare move.

"Boss, when we followed the direction where Kurt and his group went to bring back Risa and her family, we found them... dead. Inside a barn. There was no trace of Risa or her family."

Douglas's face contorted with rage. Not only had Amelia slipped through his fingers, but three of his men were dead.

He gritted his teeth. This was all that bitch Risa's fault. She had accepted his deal to hand over her wife—yet somehow she had let Amelia escape.

He felt humiliated. Tricked. And he was going to make sure that family paid for making him look weak in front of his men.

He had it all planned out. He'd been obsessing over Amelia since the day she arrived at the camp. A rare female Omega, beautiful and vulnerable. There were no other female Omegas around.

The plan had been simple: Get rid of Risa and those damn twins. Risa had always annoyed him. As for the kids, they were just an inconvenience. He had intended to kill them all, framing their deaths as a tragic accident or a necessary act of discipline.

With them gone, Amelia would have been left with no choice but to accept his "protection." He would make her his wife, a trophy to parade around the camp, a symbol of his dominance. Once he'd had his fill, he'd share her with his men, keeping her pliant and obedient. An Omega was a valuable resource, and he'd make sure the camp understood that her loyalty—and her body—belonged to him.

But now, because of Risa, all his plans had crumbled. She had humiliated him and made him look weak in front of his men. He couldn't let that stand.

His fists clenched, knuckles white. "Find them," he growled, his voice low and deadly. "I don't care what it takes. Bring them to me. Alive. I want them to see what happens when you cross me."

After Risa finished showing Amelia how to use a gun, she picked up the map and notes, thinking through possible plans for their next move.

Amelia noticed and asked, "What are you doing?"

"I'm thinking about where we should go next," Risa replied, not looking up.

"We don't have enough supplies here, and we had an unwelcome visitor yesterday," she continued, her tone serious. "On top of that, Douglas' camp is still hours away, and they might be looking for us. We haven't put enough distance between us and them since we only got here on foot."

Amelia just stared at her, uncertainty clear in her eyes.

Risa finally looked up, meeting her gaze. "What do you think?," she asked, her voice softer but no less intent.

The white-haired woman was having a hard time with this Risa. It was as if the person she had married had been swapped with someone entirely different—someone more reliable, more... present.

The old Risa had been distant, cold, and indifferent. She'd always seemed like she had one foot out the door, even before the world ended. But this Risa? She was focused, deliberate, and strangely protective.

"We can go to Red Field, but we'd need a car. That place is about two hours from here," Amelia said, pointing to the spot on the map.

She had originally planned to take the kids there when they escaped the city. Her sister lived there. Amelia had always been close to her sister, and one of her hopes had been to reach her and make sure she was safe.

But things had changed. The world had fallen apart, and survival had become the priority. She'd had to put the kids first, abandoning the idea of finding her sister—at least until now.

Risa looked at the spot where Amelia pointed.

'Red Field.' She read the name silently, wondering what the town had to offer.

The Sentinel's voice activated, its tone cold and mechanical.

Red Field City: small farming town.

Distance: approximately four hours by car from the Main City, two hours from the current location.

Estimated population: 5,000.

Resource status: sufficient food supplies due to agricultural infrastructure.

Current threat level: low. The town maintained its population and effectively defended itself by exhibiting hostile behavior toward outsiders. Initial infection was introduced by a refugee from the Main City who fully turned within town borders, leading to increased caution among residents.

Risa barely flinched at the voice in her head. She was getting used to the sudden interjections and the crisp delivery of information. It was strange, but useful. At least now she knew Red Field wasn't completely overrun—though their hostility toward strangers could be a problem.

"What's in Red Field?" Risa asked.

"My sister lives there," Amelia replied, her voice soft but hopeful.

Risa nodded. "I see. Getting there sounds like a plan. But finding a car might be tricky. For now, we should figure out where we can scavenge supplies and locate a working vehicle."

She rested her hand on her chin, deep in thought.

"We'd need to head to the main road to find a car. There are probably still abandoned vehicles with some fuel left. We might also find supplies in stores or buildings along the way, but if it's a well-traveled road, other survivors might have already picked it clean."

Her tone was matter-of-fact, but her eyes stayed sharp, scanning the map for potential routes.

"And the zombies are also an issue. The roads will definitely have them roaming around—it'll be dangerous for both you and the kids," Risa continued, her expression serious.

"If we're going to search for a vehicle and supplies, a stealthy approach would be best. That way, we won't attract zombies or draw attention from other survivors." The last thing she wanted was to get overwhelmed by a mob of the undead or ambushed by desperate people.

Amelia hesitated, then nodded slowly. "That sounds... good."

Risa could see the uncertainty in her eyes, but there was a glimmer of trust, too. It was a start.

Amelia, sensing Risa's gaze, looked up. Their eyes met, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence stretched, filled with unspoken questions and a hesitant understanding.

The whitehaired woman shifted uncomfortably. "I'll... I'll make breakfast," she said, breaking the eye contact as she stood up. Her movements were a little too quick, almost as if fleeing from the weight of Risa's stare.

Risa didn't stop her; she merely nodded. "Thanks."

Amelia moved around the small kitchen area, her movements quiet but efficient as she prepared breakfast. The smell of canned soup warming over the small camping stove filled the cabin, a rare comfort in their uncertain world.

Risa sat on the couch, her eyes scanning the map and notes again, mentally piecing together their next steps. Her concentration broke when soft footsteps approached.

Riko, still wrapped in a blanket, climbed onto the couch beside her. She snuggled against Risa's side, small arms wrapping around her waist. Airi hesitated for a moment, her wide eyes darting between her sister and Risa, before she followed suit. The quiet girl nestled in on Risa's other side, her grip tight but gentle.

Risa's expression softened as she draped an arm around each of them. "Good morning, little ones."

Airi looked up at her, her voice barely above a whisper. "What are you doing?"

"We're getting ready," Risa replied, brushing a stray strand of hair from Airi's face. "We'll have to leave here soon."

Riko's face fell. "Why?"

Risa hesitated. She didn't want to scare them, not when they'd just woken up. "Well... there might be some bad people who could come back. It's safer if we find somewhere new."

Airi's bottom lip trembled, her small hands clutching at Risa's shirt. "Are they coming back to hurt us?"

Riko's eyes mirrored the same fear, tears gathering at the corners.

Risa's arms tightened around them, pulling them closer. "It's okay," she said softly. "I'm here. I'll protect you. You don't have to be scared, alright?"

A sniffle escaped Riko. "And Mama too?"

Risa's expression warmed, a gentle smile spreading across her face. "Yes, Mama too. I'll keep all of you safe. I promise."

The twins relaxed, the tension easing from their small bodies. They seemed to draw strength from Risa's words, their trust in her palpable.