NOVGO.NET Chapter 22 Following her orders.
Chapter 22: Chapter 22 Following her orders.
Rowan Ashfang took a detour onto another road littered with loose stones and jagged rocks. It wasn’t the quickest route, but it was the least crowded, and right now that mattered more.
He was heading to the distribution center.
It was around the usual hour the officer in charge of supplies handed out food to the survivors living inside the safe zone. If he arrived early enough, he could secure a decent share before the place became packed with desperate people fighting over the little they had.
That alone was reason enough to avoid the main road.
Rowan walked with an unhurried pace, his hands buried inside the pockets of his worn trousers. A pair of earphones rested comfortably over his ears, though no music was playing anymore. It had become nothing more than a habit.
He was a tall man with long dark hair that reached past his shoulders. His athletic frame made him stand out even beneath his plain clothes, while a pair of crystalline blue eyes carried an intensity that naturally drew attention wherever he went.
As he approached the area surrounding the distribution room, something made the hairs on the back of his neck stand.
A shadow.
It wasn’t the first time he had caught a glimpse of it.
For the past several minutes, it had felt as though someone was quietly trailing behind him.
He stopped walking.
His head snapped around sharply.
Nothing.
The narrow pathway behind him was completely empty.
Only the wind swept through the abandoned road, carrying bits of dust along with it.
"Hmm... weird. I could’ve sworn I saw something."
Shrugging it off, Rowan continued walking, lightly shaking his head.
As he moved closer, he noticed the unusual commotion around the distribution area.
Medical personnel rushed past him pushing stretchers as quickly as they could. Officers barked orders while several survivors stood around whispering nervously among themselves.
More than once he caught sight of blood-stained bandages.
His brows furrowed.
"Okay... what is going on?"
He watched another stretcher race past him before looking away.
"Well... now that I think about it, I don’t really care."
None of it concerned him.
As long as he got his food and returned before sunset, that was enough.
Keeping his eyes on the ground, Rowan continued forward.
Just as he was about to step inside one of the shipping containers being used as the food distribution room, that familiar shadow appeared again.
His expression immediately hardened.
Without making a sound, he stepped aside and hid behind the container.
Kai, who had been carefully following Rowan the entire time, reached the entrance moments later.
He blinked.
"...How?"
He looked around in confusion.
"He was just here."
As he turned around—
A hand suddenly shot out.
Before Kai could even react, he was violently dragged behind the container.
Bang!
His back slammed against the metal wall.
An arm wrapped tightly around his neck, cutting off his breathing almost instantly.
Kai’s eyes widened in panic.
Rowan stepped into view, his blue eyes cold as ice.
"Why are you following me?"
His grip tightened.
"Who sent you?"
Silence.
"The government?"
Kai could barely breathe.
"Answer me."
Rowan leaned closer.
"Or I’ll break one... maybe two of your bones."
Kai’s mind raced.
Countless excuses flashed through his head.
Not a single one sounded believable.
"I..."
His voice came out as nothing more than a croak.
"I can’t... talk..."
He struggled against Rowan’s arm.
"You’re... choking me..."
Rowan stared at him for another second before finally loosening his grip.
He didn’t release Kai.
He simply gave him enough room to breathe.
Kai immediately sucked in several deep breaths, coughing violently while rubbing his sore throat.
Unfortunately...
His brain was still completely blank.
Seeing him hesitate, Rowan slowly bent down.
From inside his shoe, he pulled out a short dagger.
The polished blade reflected the afternoon sunlight.
Kai froze.
At that exact moment—
"Easy there, young man."
A calm feminine voice interrupted them.
Both men turned.
Luna stepped out from where she had been hiding nearby.
She folded her arms casually.
"He was only following you."
She glanced toward Kai.
"He didn’t steal anything."
A small smile appeared on her lips.
"Although I’d appreciate it if someone handled him..."
Her eyes shifted toward Rowan.
"But not now."
Rowan narrowed his eyes.
"You two are together?"
His grip on the dagger remained firm.
"And more importantly..."
He looked directly at Luna.
"Who exactly are you?"
His gaze sharpened.
"Why are you stalking me?"
Luna blinked once.
"...Stalking?"
Before she could answer, Rowan sighed dramatically.
"Usually girls go through desperate measures just to get close to me."
He brushed a strand of hair behind his ear with absolute confidence.
"But I didn’t think it had reached this level."
Kai slowly closed his eyes.
Even he found that embarrassing.
Luna stared at Rowan from head to toe.
From his worn clothes...
To his dusty boots...
Back to his face again.
She tried.
She honestly tried not to laugh.
She failed.
A burst of laughter escaped her lips.
"Hahaha..."
She quickly covered her mouth.
"Sorry..."
She looked at him again.
"I really shouldn’t laugh."
Another chuckle escaped.
"I mean..."
She pointed at him.
"You?"
Her shoulders trembled.
"A homeless fellow like you..."
She shook her head.
"Me stalking you?"
She laughed again.
"Please leave that delusion behind."
"It’s honestly embarrassing."
Rowan looked completely caught off guard.
No woman had ever responded to him like that.
Not once.
Luna finally calmed herself.
"Worry less."
She folded her arms again.
"I’m here for something entirely different."
"Definitely not whatever fantasy you’ve cooked up in that head of yours."
Rowan silently observed her.
Then he looked around the area again.
No hidden snipers.
No additional followers.
No soldiers waiting nearby.
Just the three of them.
"It’s only you two?"
Kai nodded immediately.
Luna didn’t bother answering.
Instead, Rowan slowly stepped away from the entrance.
By now, more survivors had started arriving.
Within moments, a long line had already formed outside the distribution room.
People pushed past each other, desperate to secure whatever food remained.
Rowan glanced toward the growing crowd before looking back at Luna.
"Whatever interrogation the two of you planned..."
"It’ll have to wait."
He pointed toward the container.
"I need to eat."
"If I miss today’s supplies..."
He shrugged.
"I’ll have to wait until tonight."
"And I’m definitely not starving because of you two."
Without another word, he turned to leave.
Only for Luna to suddenly grab his wrist.
Rowan instinctively looked down.
Her fingers were surprisingly soft.
Smooth.
Delicate.
It stood in complete contrast to the hands she remembered from her previous life.
Back then...
When the apocalypse truly began...
She had survived by scavenging through garbage piles.
Picking useful supplies from broken shelves.
Dragging heavy boxes herself.
Doing every form of hard labor imaginable.
Her once delicate palms had become rough with scars and calluses.
Looking at them used to remind her just how cruel the world had become.
But not anymore.
She was back.
This time she had her supermarket space.
She had apocalypse coins.
Soon she’d have machines doing the heavy lifting for her.
All she needed to do now was continue stockpiling supplies, complete more system tasks, and earn enough coins to build the future she wanted.
Rowan smirked while looking at her hand.
"So..."
He lightly raised an eyebrow.
"Those are the hands you’re planning to stop me with?"
His smile widened.
"One twist..."
"They’d probably crack."
Luna’s expression darkened immediately.
"You didn’t just threaten me..."
She slowly lifted her head.
"Did you, Rowan?"
He didn’t answer.
Didn’t apologize.
Didn’t even bother looking guilty.
Instead, he gave her a completely blank stare before gently removing her hand from his wrist.
"I did."
He turned around.
"So go chase some other guy."
As he reached the entrance again, Luna finally spoke.
Her voice was calm.
Almost emotionless.
"If you walk through that door..."
Rowan stopped.
"...a disaster will fall on this place."
He slowly looked over his shoulder.
"The zombie virus is about to begin."
"It starts inside the very room you’re trying to enter."
She pointed toward the container.
"In a few minutes..."
"Half the people inside will die."
"And you’ll be one of them."
Silence settled between them.
Luna continued.
"When that happens..."
"You’ll regret refusing my offer."
"So."
She tilted her head.
"Are you coming with me?"
"Or are you walking to your death?"
Rowan remained frozen on the steps.
For the first time...
His confident expression disappeared.
He replayed everything he’d seen since entering the safe zone.
The frightened faces of the officers.
The whispered conversations.
The medical staff rushing everywhere.
The endless stretchers.
The overflowing medical center.
None of it made sense.
At least...
Not until now.
Something was happening.
Something nobody understood.
Something dangerous enough to terrify even trained soldiers.
Slowly, Rowan turned back toward Luna.
"How..."
His voice became noticeably quieter.
"How do you know that?"
His eyes remained fixed on her.
"Who exactly are you?"
Luna simply shrugged.
"Come with me."
"We’ll grab something to eat."
"I’ll explain everything."
She pointed toward the container once more.
"Or..."
"You can ignore me."
"Walk through that door..."
"And die together with everyone else."
She said nothing further.
Instead...
She simply waited.
Almost as though she already knew what choice he’d make.
Rowan stood there silently for several seconds.
Finally...
He looked toward Kai.
The young man was still rubbing his neck.
The spot Rowan had grabbed earlier had already turned bright red.
"If you’re certain..."
Rowan exhaled.
"...then I don’t see any reason to go in."
Without another word, he stepped away from the entrance.
Kai’s jaw nearly hit the ground.
"You’re actually coming?"
He blinked repeatedly.
"I thought you’d at least warn the others."
Rowan looked at him like he’d just asked something ridiculous.
"Warn them?"
He shrugged.
"And tell them what exactly?"
"That some mysterious woman told me they’re all about to die?"
He scoffed.
"The next thing I know..."
"They’ll drag me straight to the asylum."
He shook his head.
"And trust me..."
"That place is far worse than anything inside this safe zone."
"They’re responsible for saving themselves."
"I’m not."
"I’m not some hero."
With that, Rowan simply continued walking.
Kai quickly hurried after him.
Luna followed between the two men.
The three had barely gone a short distance—
When a blood-curdling scream echoed from inside the distribution center.
"Aaaaah!"
Another scream followed.
Then another.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
People slammed violently against the metal doors.
Panicked cries erupted from every direction.
The entire area instantly descended into chaos.
Survivors ran in every direction while officers shouted desperate orders that nobody bothered listening to anymore.
Kai instinctively looked back.
His face had gone pale.
Rowan’s eyes widened ever so slightly.
Only Luna...
Smiled.
A slow smirk spread across her lips.
"Perfect."
She continued walking as though none of it concerned her.
"Soon..."
She glanced toward the distant bunkers.
"With everyone distracted..."
"Raiding the bunkers will be much easier."
She grinned to herself.
Walking calmly between the two men...
While both of them stared at her with growing curiosity.
Neither of them knew what was going through her head anymore.
One thing, however, was becoming painfully obvious.
Following Luna meant stepping into madness.
And somehow...
Both of them had already taken the first step.