Apocalypse Baby

Chapter 69 Ethan

Elsewhere.

Jonah and Nancy stood at the edge of the camp, their gazes sweeping over the dark forest surrounding them.

The faint sound of the stream nearby offered little comfort.

They had chosen a small clearing downstream for the group to spend the night, but they felt anything but relaxed.

Jonah leaned against a tree, his grip tight on his weapon.

Beside him, Nancy crouched, her eyes darting between the shadows, every rustle of leaves setting her on edge.

Their expressions were etched with exhaustion, their faces pale and drawn. It had only been a single day in this accursed place, yet it felt like weeks.

The physical strain was one thing, but the mental toll—constant fear, tension, and the guilt of failure—was crushing.

The group's condition was grim. They had lost two more people.

Each loss weighed heavily, a bitter reminder of how dangerous this place was.

Complaints echoed through the camp like an unending chorus, further sapping morale. Everyone was on edge, their nerves frayed.

Jonah let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his disheveled hair.

"Why did we let Alex go?"

Nancy glanced at him, her lips pressed into a thin line. "We couldn't force him to stay," she replied, though her tone carried doubt.

Deep down, she wondered if they could have handled things differently. If she could have handled things differently.

"His ability would've been useful," Jonah said, his voice tinged with regret. "If we'd just gotten him to cooperate…"

Nancy didn't respond immediately, her gaze fixed on the campfire's faint glow in the distance.

The thought gnawed at her, too.

Alex's presence could've made a difference, but they had failed to reach him.

Worse, their failure had sown division among the group. Many of the members now looked to Thompson for guidance, a man who was the reason for Alex leaving in the first place.

Hypocrites.

That was the only word Nancy could think of as she glanced back toward the camp.

The others, who once treated Alex like an outcast, were now the loudest voices complaining about his absence.

All they had wanted was to control him, put him on a leash and use his strength.

But Alex was done with that life—and she couldn't blame him.

Nancy's voice broke the heavy silence.

"You think Alex is alright out there?"

Jonah crossed his arms, leaning back against the rough bark of a tree. "I don't know," he admitted, his voice low. "But he seemed confident in his strength when he left. I believe he's holding his own."

The two fell quiet again, the faint crackle of the campfire behind them the only sound.

Nancy fidgeted with her weapon, her thoughts clearly elsewhere.

Jonah suddenly spoke, his voice carrying a hint of regret. "I didn't think Alex would leave us so easily."

Nancy raised an eyebrow, her expression sharp. "And why do you think that is? He had no reason to stay. Not after how he was treated."

Jonah sighed, running a hand through his hair. He couldn't argue with her.

She was right. Alex had no reason to stick around, especially when the group had done little but push him away.

Another moment of silence passed before Jonah broke it again, his voice quieter this time. "Honestly, I didn't know what he was going through. I mean…I suspected, but I didn't think it was as bad as it really was."

Nancy turned to him, her eyes narrowing. "If you suspected, you should have done something. Investigated. Talked to him."

"Yeah," he said softly, his gaze dropping to the ground. "You're right. Maybe I should have."

The silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken thoughts, until Nancy finally broke it.

"It must've been hard for him."

"Yeah," Jonah nodded, though his expression was conflicted.

"But to venture into the unknown alone? That takes a lot of guts. I didn't think he had it in him."

Nancy turned to him. "Haven't you noticed the way he moved and acted? It's like…like he was used to being here, like he belonged in this place."

Jonah frowned, the thought stirring unease. "But that's impossible. We all appeared here at the same—"

Snap.

A sharp sound pierced the quiet, cutting Jonah off mid-sentence.

Both of them froze, their instincts kicking in.

The sound was an unmistakable crack of a twig.

They exchanged a quick glance, tension crackling between them.

And Jonah gripped his weapon tightly as Nancy did the same, their eyes scanning the surrounding darkness.

"There's someone out there," Nancy whispered, her voice barely audible.

Jonah shook his head, his ears straining to listen. "No," he muttered. "Not someone. Multiple people."

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The sound of approaching footsteps became clearer—crunching leaves, snapping branches.

Jonah's voice rang out urgently. "Everyone, wake up! Now!"

His tone left no room for hesitation.

The group, groggy and disoriented, scrambled to their feet. Weapons were grabbed, and the camp instantly shifted from a place of rest to one of battle readiness.

Gustaff, despite the stump where his arm had been severed, surged to the front, clutching his axe in his remaining hand.

He took his place beside Jonah and Nancy, his eyes sharp and unwavering.

"Who are they?" Gustaff asked, his voice low but tense as he tightened his grip on his axe.

Jonah shook his head, his eyes locked on the approaching group.

"I don't know," he admitted, "but we need to be ready for anything."

The group drew closer, their silhouettes becoming clearer in the faint moonlight.

There were seven of them, each armed and appearing battle-ready.

One figure stood out—a leader, perhaps—wearing armor that gleamed with an otherworldly sheen, intricate patterns carved into its surface.

"They're geared up," Nancy whispered, her knuckles white around her weapon. "And that one in the armor…looks like trouble."

"Maybe," Jonah replied, his tone cautious.

"But they don't seem hostile—at least, not yet."

The group stopped a few feet away.

The tension was thick, each side waiting for the other to make the first move.

Then, the figure in the unique armor reached up, unclasping their helmet.

As the helmet was removed, the stranger's face was revealed, and a collective gasp rippled through Jonah's group.

"It can't be," Jonah whispered, her eyes wide.

Thompson stepped forward, his shock written all over his face.

"Mr…Ethan?"

The man standing before them smiled faintly.

It was Ethan—their boss from the company they all worked at before they were all tossed into this hellish place.

"Good to see you, Thompson," Ethan said, his voice calm but commanding.

He looked around at the others, his gaze steady. "And the rest of you as well. How have you all been holding up?"

For a moment, there was silence.

Then, the group collectively exhaled, relief washing over them.

Weapons were lowered, tension easing from their shoulders.

But Nancy still held her guard. Her weapon still raised.

She knew not to be too trusting as this place had a knack of...