Chapter 138

Chapter 138 The Real Purpose
“Declan, just admit it already! You know I’m right!”
“If even my own sister’s mocking me, you’d better believe I’m coming for payback when we get home!”
Laughter erupted across the convoy. One car after another rolled down the dusty road, the mood light and ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ.net
full of celebration.
It was a day worth smiling about. Everyone had risked their necks, and they had come out with more than they hoped for. A rare win in the apocalypse.
Theresa returned to Blazing Sun Camp first. After unloading the truck, she did a quick inspection of the grounds. Everything looked in order, quiet and secure. Only then did she finally relax.
She stood still for a moment, mulling over her next move. Where could she find new recruits?
Simple. Go straight to another camp and poach them.
Where are the people? K1 Camp has people.
Decision made.
“Kyle, hold the fort,” she said as she tossed him the keys. “I’m heading out to return this truck.”
Kyle looked up from his clipboard. “And how are you planning to get back?”
“They can drive me.”
Seriously? he thought, speechless. You could’ve just sent a message and had Graham pick it up.
However, Theresa was already behind the wheel, heading toward Kl Camp in Lucas’ truck.
By around 3 p.m., she reached the outer perimeter of Kl Camp without issue. The guard at the gate recognized the vehicle and immediately switched to autopilot, waving her forward.
Theresa didn’t rush in. Instead, she stepped out and addressed the guard.
“I’m just returning the truck,” she said. “Let Lucas know I’m here.”
The guard nodded and ran off to pass along the message. While she waited, Theresa leaned casually against the gate and scanned the scene around her.
Two long lines stretched out from either side of the entrance-people desperate to get in.
They had all heard the same 24/7 radio broadcast KI Camp had been blasting to the outside world, promising shelter, food, and safety. That kind of word spread fast.
Theresa’s gaze settled on a commotion happening near one side of the line.
1/3
“Calm down, everyone! We’ll all get in eventually! We’re through quarantine! There’s a kid here! And a pregnant woman! Please don’t push!”
A man in a dirt-smudged white button-down-what had once been crisp and clean-stood at the front, glasses askew, trying to reason with the crowd.
No one listened.
Instead, they shoved him from behind, elbowing for space.
“Then, move aside and we won’t have to push!”
“Yeah! It’s easy to be polite when you’re already at the front!”
“There’s an old man back here! If you’re so kind, why don’t you let him
go
first?”
And to Theresa’s absolute disbelief, the man actually stepped aside.
“Sir, come over here. You can take my spot,” he said without hesitation.
Theresa blinked. You’ve got to be kidding.
The old man shuffled up… and so did everyone behind him. They all surged forward, eating up the space he had given up. Within seconds, the man in the gray-stained shirt was shoved all the way to the back.
He stumbled, nearly falling, then wiped the sweat from his brow. No complaints, no grumbling. He just quietly joined the end of the line again, like it didn’t bother him at all.
And as if that wasn’t enough, another group of survivors approached him.
“Let us go ahead, would you? We just finished quarantine. We really need to get in.”
He held up his clearance card, tired but polite. “Go ahead.”
That was when Theresa heard a familiar voice behind her.
“Theresa! You’re here!”
It was Graham, grinning ear to ear as he jogged over.
“Yeah,” she replied casually.
“You really didn’t have to come in person! I could’ve picked up the truck later,” he said, chuckling.
“Less hassle this way. I was coming out anyway.”
“Well, come on in then!” Graham led her through a side gate, skipping the line entirely. “Lucas heard you were here. He asked if you’d wait for him in his office-he’s wrapping up a meeting.”
“No need. I’ll wander around a bit. Once he’s free, I’ll say hi.”
2/3
“Alright, I’ll tag along then.”
“No thanks. Go do your thing.” Theresa waved him off with a dismissive smile. She had her own plans and
didn’t need a tail.
Graham hesitated, then handed her a badge and a small pager. “Here-management credentials. Flash this if anyone stops you. Or use the pager. This button calls us. This one pings Lucas.”
“Got it.”
She tucked both items away and gave him a smile as he jogged off.
The moment he disappeared, Theresa turned on her heel and headed straight for the shantytown district. She wasn’t here to return a truck.
She was here to recruit.