Chapter 752 Downstream

Evelyn Ford looked back at Ronan Kendrick, completely at a loss. Her eyes were filled with pleading and denial. "Ronan, he’s lying to us, right?"

Just as Ronan Kendrick was about to step forward and grab Evelyn Ford, she suddenly shoved Ethan Dawson and Officer Graham aside and jumped into the cellar.

Inside the dim, damp cellar, a single kerosene lamp burned. Quincy, Miles Vaughn, and Peter Owens leaned in a corner on the left, while Joelle Finch, Micah Manning, Wendy, and Zoe were squatting on the other side. In the corner diagonally opposite them, the bodies of Wyatt Vaughn and Taylor Vance were buried. There were two small mounds of earth, covered with a plastic sheet and a thick mattress to keep the smell of decay from spreading. Evelyn Ford found it hard to breathe. She took off her gas mask, clutching her chest and gasping for air. Everyone stared at her blankly, as if trying to confirm that she had really returned.

Just then, Zoe scrambled up from the floor and staggered over, throwing herself into Evelyn’s arms.

"It’s Auntie Evelyn! Auntie Evelyn, you’re finally back! Please save my mom, and save Grandpa Vance, okay?"

Zoe clung to her, wailing loudly, and Evelyn’s own tears couldn’t stop falling. She wanted to say something, but no words would come out. Evelyn’s heart was filled with regret and self-blame. ’If Ronan and I hadn’t left, this wouldn’t have happened to them.’ But there were no do-overs in this world. She didn’t know how to face everyone. Looking at the dejected, numb group, Evelyn opened her mouth, but in the end, could only shut her eyes in pain.

"I’m sorry, Zoe. I’m so sorry."

Zoe’s ears had been injured, and she could only hear a little bit of static. She was still crying, still begging Evelyn to save Wyatt Vaughn and Taylor Vance. She threw herself onto the two mounds in the corner, trying to tear away the coverings and dig them out. Seeing Zoe’s actions, some light returned to Quincy’s vacant eyes. He quickly ran over and pulled Zoe back, then straightened the mattress she had disturbed.

Zoe fell to the ground, but she was defiant. She tried to lunge for the mattress again, only to be blocked by Quincy. Seeing this, the others quickly separated the father and daughter.

"Auntie Evelyn, please save my mom! I don’t want her down there! I don’t!"

Zoe struggled fiercely, crying until her voice was hoarse. Wendy held her, trying to calm her down, but as soon as Zoe saw Evelyn, it was like she had found a lifeline that could save Wyatt Vaughn. At that moment, she couldn’t hear a word anyone said. She had only one goal: to bring Wyatt Vaughn back to life.

Quincy collapsed onto the ground, utterly dejected, while the others wept silently. Evelyn took a deep breath and pulled them all to their feet.

"Let’s get out of here first."

Officer Graham and Wendy quickly started gathering their things, but Evelyn stopped them.

"Leave it all. Go. Get out."

"I’m not leaving." Quincy stared at the mounds, his voice calm. "Evelyn, I’m entrusting Zoe to you. You..." Before he could finish, Evelyn walked up to him and chopped him on the back of the neck, knocking him out instantly.

"Everyone, out," Evelyn commanded again.

Evelyn looked at Micah Manning. Micah was in very bad shape; she had suffered a miscarriage in these conditions, leaving her with severe psychological and physical trauma.

"Carry Micah out first. Be careful."

After everyone had filed out, Evelyn put on her gas mask. She took a shovel from her space, then pulled back the mattress and plastic sheet. Evelyn began to gently dig into the mound, but Ronan Kendrick came over and took the shovel from her hands.

"I’ll do it."

Ronan dug open the mound. Looking at the wrapped bodies inside, Evelyn’s eyes reddened. She carefully collected them into her space.

After coming out of the cellar, Evelyn told the group that the other survivors were currently downstream from the lake. To find Rhys Chase and the others, they would have to head downstream first. Evelyn assessed everyone’s condition. Micah Manning was too weak and needed to be carried. But Ethan Dawson and the rest weren’t much better; they were all so weak they could barely stand. Evelyn handed out masks for everyone to wear. Then she hoisted Micah onto her back, Ronan Kendrick lifted Quincy, and the others supported each other as they left the small courtyard.

"Evelyn, let me walk for a bit. I’m heavy, and I’m filthy. I can walk on my own."

"You’re not heavy, and you’re not dirty. I’m very strong, so carrying you is no problem. Micah, don’t talk. Just rest. I’ll treat you when we get downstream."

Micah nodded, choking back a sob. "Okay. Thank you."

The path was treacherous. Zoe and Annie both fell several times. There wasn’t a single patch of flat ground left in the entire base; the ruins were littered with broken glass and rebar.

Evelyn and Ronan led the way, with the others following behind, holding flashlights. Except for Ethan Dawson, Peter Owens, and Officer Graham, the rest of them hadn’t left the cellar. They had no idea what it was like outside. Now, seeing it with their own eyes, they were all stunned.

"The base is gone," Wendy murmured to herself.

"How did this happen? What are we going to do now?" Joelle Finch stared at the ruined base, stumbling twice and nearly falling. Miles Vaughn caught her with his quick reflexes. The couple leaned on each other, gazing at the scene before them in utter grief.

In the distance, flames shot into the sky, and the thick smoke carried a foul stench. Zoe and Annie couldn’t stand the smell and squatted on the ground, throwing up.

"They’re burning bodies," Officer Graham said. As soon as the words were out, everyone’s expression turned grim.

"Let’s go. We need to get out of here first."

There were still many people rummaging through the ruins, but Evelyn kept her eyes fixed straight ahead. Wanting to reach the downstream area faster, she quickened her pace.

"I wonder how many people are still alive."

"The explosion was even more terrifying than the earthquake. The death toll must be enormous."

Peter Owens and Miles Vaughn were muttering to each other in the back when Annie suddenly cried out. Everyone rushed over to see what was wrong. It turned out he had stepped on a nail.

Annie’s eyes were injured, so his vision was blurry. Both Ethan Dawson and Peter Owens had offered to carry him, but he refused. Seeing that the nail had pierced the sole of his shoe and was embedded in his foot, everyone’s heart clenched.

"Don’t pull the nail out yet. It’s rusty, so there’s a risk of tetanus. Peter, you carry Annie. I’ll take the nail out when we get downstream."

Peter Owens nodded. "Alright. I offered to carry him earlier, but this kid just wouldn’t let me. Now you’re paying for it, huh?"

Annie was dripping with sweat from the pain, but he still managed to thank Peter Owens through it.

"Everyone, watch your step. We’re almost downstream. Just hold on a little longer."

The journey was exceptionally arduous. By the time they reached the downstream area, four hours had already passed. Looking at the dense cluster of tattered tents and makeshift shelters cordoned off everywhere, everyone’s hearts grew heavy.

The base had once held over ten million people, but the number of people here was probably not even one-twentieth of that.

"Let’s go over there. We should stay as far away from the crowd as possible."

To make it easier to retrieve things from the space, they couldn’t be too close to other people. No one had any food right now. If they were seen or smelled eating, the consequences would be unimaginable.