Chapter 753 Pull Yourself Together

After finding a relatively safe place, Evelyn Ford took two black tents out of her space. The men would stay in the left one, and the women in the right. Evelyn also prepared clothes and shoes for everyone, having them take turns going into the tents to wash up. Once they were at least clean, Evelyn would treat their injuries.

White spots had appeared all over Annie’s skin. Everyone thought it was a skin disease or vitiligo, but it was just an allergic reaction. Evelyn gave him some special medicine and a tube of ointment to treat the allergy.

Wendy and Zoe’s ears needed to be examined with a proper device. To help everyone regain their strength, Evelyn first gave them some potent medicine. They would eat and rest after everyone had finished cleaning up.

Micah Manning was severely weakened and needed careful recuperation. After a simple diagnosis, Evelyn prescribed her an herbal remedy. She would need to drink one bowl, three times a day, for two consecutive months for her body to recover.

The others weren’t in as critical condition. Evelyn was most worried about Quincy. Back in the cellar, his numb eyes held no will to live. Wyatt Vaughn’s death had been too great a blow. Ethan Dawson had mentioned that Quincy hadn’t eaten or drunk anything for a long time; he had completely given up on himself.

After Quincy woke up, Officer Graham spoke with him for a bit. He finally managed to muster the energy to take a shower and change into clean clothes. Once everyone had washed up, Evelyn brought out food and told them to fill their stomachs.

"Start with some congee to settle your stomachs. You can’t eat anything else right now, or your systems won’t be able to handle it. You’ll just get diarrhea and throw up. Starting today, the men will stay in that tent, and we women will stay over here. Tomorrow, Ronan and I are going out to find Rhys Chase and the others. The rest of you stay here and get some proper rest."

After they ate, Annie and Zoe grew sleepy. Once the two children were asleep, Evelyn brought up the matter of what to do for Taylor Vance and Wyatt Vaughn.

"I’ve placed them in my space. Later, we’ll find a good place to lay them to rest properly. Quincy, Miles, we’re just as heartbroken as you. We feel your pain. But you have to pull yourselves together. Miles, if you’re thinking of giving up, think about Joelle Finch, think about Zoe. Wyatt doted on Zoe more than anyone. You have to be strong, even if it’s just for her. Quincy, you need to think about Zoe, too. We’ve already lost Wyatt and Mr. Vance. We can’t lose you two as well."

Quincy lifted his head, his eyes bloodshot.

"I don’t see the point in living anymore."

"If she were here, she’d slap you awake. If you can’t find a reason to live, then look at Zoe. Look at all of us. Aren’t we worth living for?"

"I’m sorry. I’m just so tired. I’m really... so tired. I can’t go on." Quincy finished, covering his face as he began to sob.

Everyone sat quietly by his side, letting him release his emotions without interruption. But every one of them had red eyes.

"I wish it had been me who died. If I could, I’d trade my life for Wyatt’s and Mr. Vance’s. Zoe keeps crying for her mother. I’ve failed her, and I failed Wyatt. I didn’t protect her. She wouldn’t have died if she hadn’t been protecting a useless piece of trash like me in that critical moment. It’s all my fault." He raised his hand and slapped himself hard across the face several times. Miles rushed over to restrain him, and the two men, who were usually at each other’s throats, clung to each other, wailing.

One had lost his sister, the other, his wife.

Just then, Officer Graham told Evelyn that Taylor Vance had been the first to spot the fireball as it fell. Wendy was at the community clinic at the time. He’d shouted for everyone to get into the cellar before rushing to the clinic to find her. Wendy made it back safely, but on his way back, he was caught in the blast, collapsed, and never woke up.

Officer Graham was beside himself with remorse, while Wendy sobbed, clutching her head.

"I wasn’t feeling well that day. Everyone told me not to go to work, to just rest at home for the day. But I wouldn’t listen. I insisted on going. I’m the one who got Vance killed."

Everyone was lost in self-blame and guilt over the explosion. Evelyn didn’t know how to comfort them. The deaths of Wyatt Vaughn and Taylor Vance had dealt her a heavy blow as well. Her heart ached unbearably whenever she thought of it.

"I’ll go with you to search tomorrow," Ethan Dawson said, holding Micah Manning’s hand, his eyes filled with guilt. "The day of the explosion, Micah’s parents had come to visit her. They were supposed to stay for a few days, but they ran into some acquaintances in the courtyard and went to the community center to play mahjong. After the explosion, they never came back. I’ve been out looking for them several times these past two months, but I haven’t found them." He was determined to go look. If he couldn’t find the elderly couple, Micah’s heartbreak would only deepen.

Officer Graham raised his hand. "I’ll go with you, too. I don’t know where Roy Henderson and Owen Chapman are... we only just found them again. Evelyn, give me a flashlight. I’m going to look for them."

"You all need to rest for a few days. Wait until you’ve recovered before you go looking for anyone. There’s no rush. If everyone goes out searching and leaves the women and children behind, we’ll be easy targets for robbers. No one has food right now. If you go out, you need to change into ragged clothes and make yourselves look dirty. The entire base and the downstream area are in chaos; everyone is crammed in here. We have to be careful. One more thing: if you need to use the restroom or do anything else, you must go with someone else and bring a weapon. No one, and I mean no one, leaves the tents alone."

After giving her instructions, Evelyn glanced at the time. "Get some rest for now. Tomorrow, Ronan and I will head out first to search. I’ll leave some weapons for you, but be extremely careful. Don’t let anyone else see them."

Evelyn exchanged a few words with Ronan, telling him to keep a close eye on Quincy. He was in a dangerous state of mind, and she was worried he might do something reckless.

The men went to the adjacent tent, and Evelyn quickly laid out the sleeping mats and blankets.

"Time to sleep, Wendy. Here are two bottles of ear cleaning solution. When Zoe wakes up tomorrow, give one to her. She relies on you, so try to comfort her and keep her spirits up." Wendy could still hear a little, and she could also read lips, so she understood everything Evelyn said.

"I know. I’ll take good care of her."

Evelyn patted her on the shoulder. "You’ve been through a lot. Get some sleep."

Lying down and staring at the roof of the tent, Evelyn felt no desire to sleep. Her mind was consumed with the deaths of Wyatt Vaughn and Taylor Vance.

Evelyn tried to enter her space. This time, she actually succeeded.

When she arrived in the storage area, she saw the two tightly wrapped bodies on the ground. Evelyn could already smell an odor, and an indescribable sorrow filled her heart. But she suppressed her grief and decided to make two coffins for them first.

"Mr. Vance, Wyatt... my handiwork isn’t very good, so the coffins might be pretty plain. I hope you don’t mind."

"When we have a chance to go back south someday, I’ll find a better place for you."

"I’m sorry we were too late."