Apocalyptic Rebirth: With a repairman system space, she rises again. - Chapter 488

Chapter 488: The drive.
Her children, three and one, were sleeping in their small beds, their faces tight with hunger. Her husband, Elijah Harrington stirred when she entered, his eyes narrowing. She was alone, so he guessed her trip had been another failure.

“Did you find her?” He whispered.

Amber nodded. “I used the powder and taser like you suggested. She is tied up in the boot of the car. I found some of those missing kids that she took. They are also in the car, waiting for us. We leave tonight.”

Elijah hesitated. “Vicente’s guards–”

“They won’t notice. Use your invisibility ability to hide our luggage. We will take what we can carry. And we will drive on the outskirts, the dirty path. It is less crowded because it is closer to the mist.”

Elijah glanced at her, fear in his eyes. “The mist…. what if…”

Amber shook her head. “Don’t think about it. This is our only chance, Elijah. Are you willing to see our children living like this for much longer? We are running out of supplies. They have been reduced to one small meal a day.”

“We could go to Kingsbridge, my safe house….” he started.

Amber gritted her teeth. “It was probably emptied out months ago. We are only a week away from marking off a year since this apocalypse started. Every place with supplies has been looted or occupied by superhumans. This is the only way. We will get thirty million, supplies, a fresh start and a chance to survive. Maybe, you can even start doing business again.”

Elijah sighed. Before the apocalypse, Amber was silly and she had no concept of money, wasting it as she liked. After the apocalypse, she stopped drinking and turned into a planner. She had exposed a serious side, a motherly one, a determined one. They would not have survived this far if not for her.

He made his mind up to follow her plan.

Together, they moved in silence, gathering clothes, blankets, the little canned food they had. Amber’s hands trembled as she tucked her youngest son’s toy into a bag. They were going to have a fresh start. She would get him new toys, new clothes, enough food to fill his stomach.

She woke the children slowly, softly whispering about their new beginning in a better place. They rubbed their eyes, confused, but obedient.

The family walked through the dim streets, mingling with the few residents of the town that were outside, sleepless because of the uncomfortable heat. Some people sent a look or two there way but didn’t stop them, unaware of the prize Amber was stealing away.

At the edge of the town, the car waited. The four children were waiting inside, hurdled close, clinging onto each other. The fear in their eyes had multiplied since they were rescued. They watched warily as Elijah loaded two more children in the back seat.

From behind the wheel, where she had already slipped, Amber looked back and said to them, “these are my sons. We are all going to Westbrook, you don’t need to be scared.”

“I… I’ve got a knife.” The oldest one said, voice trembling. She could not have been older than ten. “If you are like Fifi, I will do what I have to.”

Amber laughed. “Do that.” Elijah squeezed in behind with the children, keeping the young one in his lap and then they set off.

Ferry Island was a town where one could come and go freely, at all times. The town guards could check and ensure that something illegal was not being smuggled in or out but tonight, they were absent.

Amber drove slowly, headlights dimmed, heart pounding. Every bump jolted the car and frightened her. Every shadow made her say a silent prayer because it threatened to reveal her secret.

The car hit another bump and the youngest started to cry. Elijah soothed him, whispering about where they were going. He told his children stories of the impenetrable fortress, warm meals, clean water and safety. He talked as if he knew how Fortress four operated on the inside, like he had been there before.

Amber drove silently, her jaw tight. She knocked over anything in their way that tried to stop them, including other survivors who were making the same journey on foot. She listened to Elijah. She hoped things would work out for them as he hoped, though she knew the man that owned the base hated her guts.

Hated her.

In the trunk, the fugitive snored.

****

By the time the sun’s rays fell on the roof of the car, the steel gleaming wall of Westbrook rose before them. Armed men and women manned it from the top, pointing their rifles outward. Most did not move, keeping still like statues. The crystal solar panels on the upper wall glinted in the hot sun.

Amber’s breath caught. This was it.

She slowed the car, lowered the windows and pulled to the gate. But now, she did not know how to proceed.

Outside the gate, she was not the only survivor looking to be allowed inside. There were at least fifty other people that had arrived before or at the same time with her. Some were banging on the gates. Others were sitting on the ground, dirt and sorrow camped on their faces.

A few were discussing continuing on to the factory grounds that they had heard about before. One was assuring a family that the gate would not be opened. It was not market day so there would be no aid.

Only the residents of the fortress that would be going out to hunt would be back.

Elijah frowned and looked at Amber. “Did you hear what the man said? They will not be opening the gate today. What do we do now?”

Amber forced herself to remain calm. She had created the plan, despite all doubts, she needed to see it to the end. So, she stepped out of the car. “Stay inside.” she said to Elijah.

She had the fugitive; she had the missing kids. They would let her in.

So, she walked to the trunk, pushed aside the blankets and dragged Fifi out. The woman was dizzy and weak, obviously, still sleepy. Amber dragged her to the gate. She knew that a wall like this one was bound to have cameras, especially the gate.

“I have someone you are looking for.” She looked up to the one of the lights that was blinking red. “You tell Hades Quinn that Amber is here, and she has Fiona Quinn and some of those missing kids. Tell him to come out and talk to me.”