After hours of conversation, Dalia finally brought up the subject of Julian.
"So, what about Julian?" she asked, her eyes sparkling.
"Julian?"
"Yes, Julian, my boyfriend. What do you think of him?"
"I don’t really know him."
"But you’re okay with him dating me, right?"
"If that’s what you want," John replied.
"And if he were to break up with me?"
"I would support you," he replied.
Dalia stared into his eyes, searching for any trace of doubt.
"Would you... want me if I were free?"
John smirked, "you’ll have to wait and see."
The night ended on a content note. They returned to the shelter and that night, Dalia slept soundly, dreaming of their future. Their little date had gotten him one step closer to completing the quest. Once Dalia broke up or abandoned Julian, he would obtain that S-rank Skill.
Over the next few days, John and his people went on hunts. They had to grow stronger to survive, and that meant finding better equipment, food, and materials. They needed a steady supply of resources to maintain the base, and it was his job to ensure that they had everything they needed.
It was a dangerous task, especially since he wasn’t the only one hunting. The monsters were getting stronger and more aggressive, and it wasn’t uncommon for someone to die while on a hunt. But John knew that if they didn’t keep trying, they would all eventually starve to death.
Julia and Dalia had gotten a lot stronger, and even Stephanie was gaining confidence. They were now ready to hunt without John’s supervision. Lydia had become a representative amongst the survivors and she could be trusted with responsibilities. That left John free to take off on his own. His first order of business was checking on Jolene and Maria.
As he walked away from the encampment, the sun began its slow ascent over the horizon. John paused for a moment, taking in the beauty of the new day and relishing the chance to enjoy a quiet walk alone. John took a deep breath, savouring the fresh air. It had been a while since he’d enjoyed solitude, and it felt good.
It didn’t take long for him to reach his destination, Maria’s shelter. He hadn’t been there in a few days, and it was time to check on them.
His eyes widened as he saw smoke coming out of the old textile plant. He sprinted towards it, his heart pounding against his chest.
John rushed towards the bunker and saw the flames engulfing the textile plant. The bunker was underground, but the fire had already spread into the basement. He heard screams and shouts. He didn’t hesitate, jumping right into the flames.
His eyes burned from the smoke, but he pressed on, determined to save everyone.
"John, is that you?" A woman’s voice called out.
"Yes, Jolene," he said. "Come on, we need to get out of here!"
"Wait, the others are still down there, they’re fighting!"
"Fighting?"
"Yes, those monsters, they came through the tunnels, we were safe until the fire started."
"Don’t worry, I’ll help you," he said, grabbing her hand and pulling her out.
Jolene’s eyes were red and watery, and she was covered in soot. She coughed and sputtered, her lungs burning from the smoke. The powerful stench stung her nostrils.
John dragged her out of the basement and into the sunlight.
"Stay here," John commanded. "I’ll get the others."
"Be careful," she said, wiping her tears away.
John nodded and turned back towards the inferno. The bunker had been built like a maze, and he knew the way around, but the fire had spread fast, making it harder for him to navigate.
The heat was intense, the smoke was thick, and the screams of the dying were deafening. John pressed on, determined to save everyone. He didn’t know how long he’d been running around the basement, but he finally managed to spot Octavia and August.
Octavia was badly injured, her clothes torn and covered in blood. She was leaning against the wall, struggling to breathe.
"John, is that you?"
"Yes, it’s me," he said, kneeling beside her.
"Oh thank god," she said, coughing violently.
R𝑒ad lat𝒆st chapt𝒆rs at free𝑤ebnovel.com Only.
"Where are the others?" John asked.
"Down the hallway, but they’re trapped by the flames. Please, help August," she pleaded, pointing towards a burning door.
John didn’t hesitate, rushing towards the door. The fire had blocked the exit, but John wasn’t going to let that stop him. He grabbed the handle and threw the door open.
As the flames poured out, the screams intensified. John ignored them and ran into the inferno.
He could barely see through the smoke and heat, but he kept running. Finally, he spotted a group of people huddled together, trapped by the fire.
"Help!" A man screamed, his clothes on fire.
John rushed towards them and pulled them away from the flames.
"Run!" He shouted, leading them out of the room.
One by one, John helped the survivors escape the inferno, but the others were nowhere to be seen.
John continued to search for them, but the smoke and heat were too much. His body ached, his lungs burned, and his eyes stung.
"Mika!" John called out.
There was no answer.
"Maria!" He yelled.
Again, no answer.
"Edward!"
"Help!" A voice called out.
It was Maria, no longer in a coma. John rushed towards her voice, his eyes burning from the smoke. He found her near the entrance to the bunker, clutching her arm.
"John, thank god," she said, coughing violently.
"How did this happen?" He asked.
"I’m not sure," she replied. "We were safe, but then the fire started and the monsters came through the tunnels."
Just then, the sound of footsteps caught their attention. It was Mika, Edward and August.
"August! How did you get out?" Octavia cried, hugging her brother.
"I crawled," he said, coughing.
"I’m so glad you’re safe," Octavia said.
John looked around at the survivors, their faces smeared with ash and dirt. The old textile plant was gone, and with it, the safety of their home.
"John, what do we do now?"
"I have a place, you guys will come with me."
"Thank you," Jolene said.
With their belongings gathered, the group followed John through the streets. The sun was high in the sky and the air was warm and humid. Their shelter was gone, but a new home awaited them.