Chapter 316: Chapter 316: Fluke?

Bella’s breath hitched sharply.

Her sister, the only family she had ever known, had raised her with love and protected her fiercely.

Even when her sister fell blindly in love with the vile Perry, Bella never abandoned her. She tried to warn her, again and again.

But then the apocalypse came.

The first week was quiet... deceptive even.

But by the second week, Perry’s mask had fallen off.

By the time Bella’s sister realized the danger, it was already too late. Perry had already made arrangements. Already found buyers. Already prepared the exchange.

And Bella’s eldest sister was sold like livestock.

Bella closed her eyes tightly, tears slipping silently down her cheeks as hatred curled like a blade in her heart.

This time... it was her turn on the auction block.

The two men roughly dragged Bella toward the exit, ignoring her frantic struggling.

Once they pulled her out of the house, they shoved her toward a rusted truck and forced her inside.

As she stumbled, Bella caught sight of Perry counting the five kilograms of rice with a gleeful, disgusting smile.

Her nails dug into her palms.

’May you rot. May you be torn apart by zombies. May you be sold just like you sold us...’

However, she knew that cursing wasn’t going to help her at all...

Bella looked around, trying to find something, anything, she could use to escape. But before she could act, one of the bulky men climbed into the back of the truck and, without hesitation, slammed his fist against the side of her head.

Her world went dark.

When Bella opened her eyes again, she found herself lying on a cold, damp floor. The room was pitch black except for a faint light seeping through the cracks around a distant metal door. Her heart sank into a pit of despair.

She could smell rust, mold, and tears.

She was kidnapped.

Her breath hitched as she curled her legs closer to herself. ’This is it. Whatever future waits for me... it won’t be a good one.’

Meanwhile, miles away, Dante and Talia were moving through the shadows of an abandoned industrial zone.

They were part of a military division assigned specifically for human trafficking rescues. Amidst military chaos and shortages, it was Dante who insisted they go, because he couldn’t abandon innocent people.

"Keep your guard up," Dante whispered as they approached the suspected hideout, a massive, decaying warehouse that reeked of rot and despair.

Talia nodded, tightening her grip on her blade. The two of them pushed open the heavy metal door.

"Is someone here?!" Dante called out sharply.

His voice echoed across the dark emptiness.

For a moment, there was silence, cold and suffocating.

Then suddenly, a shaky scream erupted from the depths.

"I... I’m here! I’m inside! Please help!"

Talia and Dante froze.

They had not expected anyone to be conscious. Victims were usually drugged or knocked out.

This place had multiple rooms, hidden compartments, and layers of traps. It should have taken hours to search everything.

But that voice changed everything.

They rushed toward it, tearing through the maze-like layout until they reached a locked basement door. Soldiers behind them swiftly took down the guards stationed nearby, clearing a path with silent efficiency.

Once the locks were broken, Dante kicked the door open.

The stench hit them first, fear, sweat, and blood.

Then they saw them, rows of people lying on the ground, tied up, unconscious, deprived of basic dignity.

Bella, sitting among them, eyes filled with tears, immediately stumbled forward and threw herself at Dante and Talia.

Talia caught her firmly. "Hey, hey... It’s all right. You’re safe now. Are you hurt?"

Bella shook her head quickly. Her voice trembled as she said, "I’m okay. There are more people... please save them."

Talia gently untied her ropes and smiled. "Good. Now go to the soldiers. They’ll guide you."

Bella hesitated.

Then she shook her head.

"I want to help. Please... let me help them too."

Her gaze drifted to the unconscious victims sprawled across the floor, people just as helpless and terrified as she had been moments ago. Determination replaced her fear.

’They were just like me. I can’t leave them.’

Dante exchanged a quick glance with Talia. "Fine. Stay close to the soldiers."

With everyone’s help, the victims were lifted and carried to the trucks outside.

Bella assisted, stumbling occasionally but refusing to sit still. When the last victim was loaded, she climbed into the truck too.

They drove away from the trafficking den, leaving a few soldiers to secure the area and gather evidence.

For the first time in weeks, Bella felt a flicker of joy.

She was rescued. Saved. Free.

But her relief was short-lived.

Halfway back to the base, the truck screeched to a halt. The drivers shouted something unintelligible before the sounds of groaning, clawing, and snarling filled the air.

Zombies.

Dozens of them.

Dante, Talia, and several soldiers jumped out to form a defensive line. The infected swarmed from all directions, waves of them crashing against the soldiers.

Bella grabbed the truck’s metal bars, her heart hammering wildly.

She was powerless. Completely powerless.

She watched Dante cut down zombies, Talia push back the horde with fierce agility, soldiers fighting shoulder to shoulder, and her chest tightened painfully.

’I hope they survive... please... please survive...’

Her desperation grew as more zombies poured out of the surrounding streets. The soldiers were getting tired. Their breathing grew heavy. A few staggered under blows.

Bella’s heart clenched when a zombie lunged toward Talia.

"NO!" she screamed.

Suddenly, an invisible force burst from her, crackling with energy she had never felt before. It shot forward and struck the zombie mid-lunge.

The creature froze, then spun around and sprinted away, fleeing like a terrified animal.

Bella’s eyes widened.

’I... made it run? Was that me? Did I... use a sonic power?’

To test it, she turned toward Dante and shouted again.

"NO!"

Nothing happened.

The zombies swarming him didn’t even flinch.

Her heart sank.

’So it was just a fluke?’

But then she saw another zombie rushing at Dante from the side, faster and more aggressive.

"CAREFUL!!"

As soon as the words left her mouth, that same mysterious force exploded outward. The zombie skidded, screeched, and bolted in the opposite direction.