Apocalyptic Rebirth: With a repairman system space, she rises again. - Chapter 288

Chapter 288: Temptation.
They had been walking for four days, trudging through snow and fending off everything that hoped to turn them into food. Moon, scarf piled high, limping and holding on to her father’s arm as if for dear life was exhausted. The heat he was giving off was the only thing keeping her going at this point.

“There it is.” Dustin muttered through the scarf that covered most of his face. Ahead, the compound he had been searching for loomed: Greenhill Academy. It was a private boarding school at the edge of the city, just before one entered Burton city. To get to Crosstown, they had to cross through two more cities.

It was a long journey, and they needed to rest. That is why his eyes had been searching the horizon for the academy.

He increased his speed, almost dragging Moon and the suitcase. The closer they came to the academy, the more he noticed the changes around it. Its perimeter was highly guarded, armed men and women patrolled the high walls of the school. But more than that, there was a lot of motion, especially in the air.

Figures were darting from the wall, flashes of power blinded parts of the sky. He paused and frowned. Superhumans, just like him. They were fighting something.

A screech shook the ground. A winged beast, its feathers curling up and down, in all the wrong ways. It dove toward the compound, screeching again. A young man leaped off the wall, blade in hand but the creature swatted him aside just like it had done all others before him.

Dustin stepped forward.

Moon clenched her hands on his jacket. “Dad, wait—”

But he shrugged her off and dashed forward. His hands were already glowing red, fire roared from his palms, spiraling into the air. His ability had multiplied since he swallowed the seed Moon gave him. Even though he was not as powerful as he was when they made their escape, he was more powerful than before. The bird beast shrieked as flames engulfed it, rendering its wings useless. It fell to the ground, unrecognizable, black as ash and dead.

Every eye turned to Dustin.

He turned back for Moon who was already feeling the sting of the cold. His eyes avoided her accusing ones as he warmed her up silently and then they walked the rest of the distance to the gate of the academy. Just as Dustin had calculated, because of his help, the gates were opened for them.

They were taken to the outside of what was once the administration building. A woman descended from the top of the stairs, floating through the air. A dozen bodyguards flanked her, floating as well. Dustin wondered if all of them were superhumans of some kind and what ability they had. As for the woman, he figured out easily that she was the leader of Greenhill base.

Her white fur was long and thick, her eyes sharp and assessing.

“I have been waiting for you,” she said, voice smooth as melted butter mixed with honey.

“We don’t know you.” Moon replied tensely.

The woman smiled. “Does it matter? I have eyes on all the land around here, so I have known for two days that you were heading my way.” She stretched her hand out to Dustin elegantly, “I am Lynda Bing, headmistress of Greenhill Academy now Greenhill base which also makes me the commander here.” She turned around and gestured for them to follow her.

Moon looked around curiously, wondering where the supplies were kept.

That was not answer she would get, unfortunately. Only Lynda and people in her close circle knew where the supplies were. Ahead of the apocalypse, they had stocked food, medicine and weapons. Only five people had access to those things. So, Moon’s prying eyes were useless, there was nothing for her to see aboveground.

Lynda led them inside, introducing them to her base. The halls were warm, generators were running, and their sound hummed softly. Children were playing, especially the toddlers. Classes were on going as teachers taught survival skills in classrooms where they once taught languages, math and history.

They had superhuman classes for students that had awakened, and people were peeking through windows at the lucky ones that were in training.

They passed by a dining hall whose air smelled of stew and rice. Moon’s stomach rumbled. When had she last eaten rice? She could not remember. The thought made anger burn in her chest. She was the chosen one, reborn with all the memories of the apocalypse. Why was she suffering while others lived well?

Her biggest hope was that Sunshine was suffering worse than she was.

Lynda gestured that they go into the dining hall, and she walked beside Dustin. “I am impressed with your skills; we don’t have many pyrokinetics around here. Even the ones we do have are not well versed in control like you.”

“I’ve had practice,” he replied.

She smiled at him, eyes lingering. “After the journey you two look like you have had, I don’t doubt that. You should stay. We need someone like you. You can be one of the teachers for the awakened children, teach them how to control their abilities.

You get your own almost apartment sized house and all the supplies you need. Of course, safety cannot be forgotten. Surely, staying here with us must be better than dragging yourselves through the snow.”

Moon stiffened. “We are just passing through.” She could hear temptation in Lynda’s voice and she did not like it one bit.

Never again would she be a servant on someone else’s base. In her bunker in Crosstown, she would be queen. With her knowledge, she would have everyone at her knees. In the power grab of the superhumans, she would stand out.

Lynda’s eyes flicked to her. “Of course. It is just an invitation, we will not keep you here if you don’t wish to stay. But even so, you should rest for a few days. Let the cold leave your bones. Take it as thank you for helping us fend off the bird monster. Someone will take you to your room after you fill up.”

She left them there, being served food and hot tea. As soon as they had some privacy, Moon looked at her father that was already filling up. “She wants something.”

“She wants help.” Dustin replied.

“She wants you.” Moon stated the obvious.

Dustin didn’t answer. But it was the reality that they had both seen in Lynda’s eyes. The woman’s desire and appreciation had been quite obvious.

“Dad,” Moon hissed. “We cannot stay here.”

“And we cannot keep wandering through the heavy snow and fending off everything that wants to take a bite out of us.” He answered. “In case you have not noticed, I am the one doing all the fighting, keeping you safe and keeping you from freezing.”

“You are my father, that is your duty.” Moon replied arrogantly. “Have you forgotten that I know everything about the apocalypse? This place can only be a temporary stopover, we must make it to Crosstown. It was the capital city of development in the apocalypse, over there, we will thrive. Here, we will be worker drones just like it was at Zenith.”

Dustin looked around, shushing her. “I told you not to mention Zenith. We stay for a while, how long that is, I get to decide. Don’t worry, it is not permanent.”

Moon wrapped her hands around the cup of tea. Her worry was that Lynda’s seduction would work. She was a beautiful woman, and her father was now a widow. He was probably thinking that if he became Lynda’s man, he would share power here. But Dominic and Leah would find them easily. This place was too open and too welcoming.

She shook her head. They needed to leave; two days was all the break they needed.