NOVGO.NET Chapter 37 A hard betrayal.
Chapter 37: Chapter 37 A hard betrayal.
Away from the chaos unfolding outside stood an enormous estate enclosed by towering walls of reinforced glass that shielded it from the disasters sweeping across the world. The walls spoke of nothing but luxury, decorated with pure gold while polished marble floors gleamed beneath the sunlight. It was built on a slightly elevated hill, almost as if it had been purposely placed there to display the cruel contrast between the poor, desperate survivors outside and the elites living safely within.
Mounted above the walls were automated cannons and heavy machine guns that moved on their own, tracking every movement outside before instantly gunning down any threat that wandered too close to the gates.
Rows upon rows of heavily armed soldiers stood guard around the estate, making it clear that this was a place no one was allowed to attack. It had become the last hope of mankind, yet with the way the world had turned out, nobody cared about the people left outside anymore. The only lives that truly mattered were those of the elites relaxing comfortably behind the impenetrable walls.
Meanwhile, as the day dragged on, an alarm suddenly blared from the entrance of the fortified estate.
Three exhausted men staggered toward the massive glass gate, gasping desperately for breath. Allen led them, though he barely resembled the confident commander he once was. Blood streamed down his forehead while deep cuts and bruises covered both his arms. His body ached from endless fighting, his muscles screamed from exhaustion, and every step felt heavier than the last.
Although they had escaped both the zombies and the horrifying Obliterating Light, the blinding sunlight was still racing after them.
All they needed now...
...was someone to open the gate.
"Open this door! We are not armed! It’s Commander John Allen speaking!"
His strained voice echoed through the communication speaker fixed into the marble wall opposite the gate.
Silence answered him.
Not even a single response came from inside.
The silence slowly became suffocating.
Fear began creeping into the hearts of the other two survivors standing beside him.
"I told you..." the skinny man muttered hopelessly. "Nobody is going to give a fuck about us. We’re all going to be skinned alive out here while the people inside pretend we don’t exist."
"I’m a commander here," Allen replied immediately, refusing to believe it. "They won’t reject me... they would never."
After everything he had sacrificed for this country...
After all the missions he had completed...
Surely they wouldn’t abandon him now.
"It’s John Allen!" he shouted louder, almost pleading. "Who doesn’t remember Commander Allen?"
His voice grew increasingly desperate as he glanced behind him.
The blinding wall of light was drawing closer.
It wasn’t slowing down.
It was swallowing everything in its path.
Seeing it approach at such terrifying speed, Peter and Paul completely lost their composure.
They rushed toward the gate, pounding on it with all the strength they had left.
"Open the gate!"
"We’re going to die!"
"Please!"
The twins screamed until their voices became hoarse.
Allen looked between the approaching light and the silent gate, his breathing becoming increasingly unstable.
Just when every shred of hope seemed lost...
The gigantic metal gate finally began to move.
Relief instantly spread across the three men’s faces.
They had made it.
Or so they thought.
Instead of welcoming them inside...
Dozens of heavily armed soldiers poured out from the estate.
Every rifle was raised.
Every muzzle pointed directly at the three survivors.
Allen froze.
"What the hell?"
His brows knitted together.
"Why are you aiming at us? We’re survivors! This isn’t—"
Before he could finish speaking...
CRACK!
The butt of a rifle smashed violently into the side of his head.
The impact nearly knocked him off balance as blood trickled from the fresh wound.
He stumbled backward, barely managing to remain standing.
Allen was naturally muscular, but after days of fighting nonstop, hunger, dehydration, and watching nearly every member of his squad die before his eyes, his body had already reached its limit.
Yet the very people sworn to protect humanity were treating him like a criminal.
"Step outside."
The captain leading the soldiers spoke coldly.
"All three of you."
"We’re conducting a full search. Cooperate, or we’ll throw you back outside."
None of them seemed aware that the Obliterating Light was only moments away.
"As you’re wasting time," Allen said through gritted teeth, "remember we’re all going to die if that thing reaches us. Stop this nonsense and let us inside."
No one listened.
"It’s protocol," the captain answered emotionlessly. "Direct orders from the General."
"You are not exempt."
"Now get on your knees."
Those words struck Allen harder than the rifle had.
The General...
The man had practically been a father to him.
He was the reason Allen accepted this suicidal mission in the first place.
He still remembered sitting inside the General’s office before departing.
"Don’t go," the General had warned him.
"You’re one of the finest soldiers I’ve ever trained."
Back then Allen had laughed confidently, believing he would return victorious.
Instead...
Nearly his entire squad had died.
And now the same General was supposedly ordering him to be stripped and searched in front of junior officers.
He couldn’t believe it.
"I don’t believe you."
Allen’s voice trembled with anger.
"The General would never give such an order."
"When I see him, every single one of you will lose your jobs."
The captain’s expression darkened.
Without warning—
SLAP!
A vicious slap landed across Allen’s face.
The force split the corner of his lip.
Blood slowly dripped down his chin.
"Things aren’t like they used to be, asshole."
The captain stepped closer until they were nearly face to face.
"You’re nobody now."
"And you’ll stay nobody until the day you die."
He gave Allen a slow once-over before smirking.
"Hell..."
"I might even throw you outside myself."
"I’ve always wanted to know how long someone lasts against that light."
Allen’s fists instantly clenched.
Every muscle in his body screamed at him to retaliate.
Just one punch.
That was all it would take.
But before he could move...
Peter grabbed his shoulder tightly.
"For our sake..."
The skinny man shook his head.
"Let’s just get this over with."
"We’ve come too far to die because of pride."
Allen shut his eyes.
His jaw tightened painfully.
Being humiliated by soldiers who once saluted him...
It was almost unbearable.
Still...
He slowly relaxed his fists.
As for the General...
He prayed these men were lying.
Because if they weren’t...
Then the man he respected most had abandoned him.
"Fine."
Allen spread out his arms.
"Search me."
"Isn’t that what you wanted?"
His dark hair clung to his forehead because of the sweat soaking his body.
His military jacket had long since been destroyed during the escape, leaving only a torn black singlet that hugged his broad frame.
The soldiers wasted no time.
They roughly yanked away the remaining pieces of clothing until Allen stood completely naked before everyone.
Humiliation burned inside him like fire.
Still...
He refused to lower his head.
He stood proudly despite his clenched fists trembling by his sides.
If they wanted to strip away his dignity...
They would never strip away his pride.
After finishing with Allen, the soldiers moved toward Peter.
Everything seemed normal...
Until one guard suddenly frowned.
"Wait."
He pointed toward Peter’s ankle.
"What’s that?"
Peter’s entire face drained of color.
"A blood wound?"
Immediately he shook his head repeatedly.
"No."
"It’s not."
"I fell while we were running."
"My leg scraped against the concrete."
"It’s just that."
His explanation came out hurriedly.
Desperately.
But no one believed him.
The guard’s expression immediately turned cold.
"Looks like a zombie bite."
"Don’t let him inside."
The words exploded inside Allen’s mind.
"What?"
He stepped forward immediately.
"No!"
"It’s an injury!"
"I was there!"
"I can personally vouch for him!"
The soldiers ignored him completely.
Paul’s face turned ghostly white.
He immediately grabbed his brother.
"We’re twins."
"You can’t separate us."
"Please..."
"Let him in."
Peter lowered himself onto his knees.
"I swear it’s not a bite."
"Please."
"I don’t want to die."
His voice cracked halfway through.
Allen turned desperately toward the captain.
"Call the General!"
"Let him decide!"
Behind them...
The Obliterating Light had already reached frightening proximity.
Its overwhelming brightness swallowed buildings whole.
The air itself seemed to burn.
Even the soldiers began glancing nervously behind them.
Then the captain spoke one final sentence.
"The twin..."
"Or your life."
Silence fell.
Peter looked toward Allen.
Paul did the same.
The soldiers had already begun retreating toward the safety of the gate.
Allen lowered his head.
His entire body trembled.
His lips parted slightly before the painful words finally escaped.
"...I’m sorry."
He couldn’t even meet their eyes.
"But..."
"I have to put myself first."
Peter froze.
Paul’s mouth slowly fell open.
Even several soldiers looked surprised by how quickly he had chosen.
Without waiting another second...
Allen sprinted through the opening gate.
The massive doors immediately began closing behind him.
Peter and Paul rushed forward, screaming desperately while pounding against the thick glass.
"No!"
"Allen!"
"Please!"
The gate shut completely.
A heartbeat later...
The Obliterating Light arrived.