Page 155 of My 100th Rebirth a day before the Apocalypse

"Nothing, just thinking about my younger brother and grandparents," Kisha replied softly, her gaze still fixed on her family. She felt as though she were there with them, sharing in their moment. Reaching out her right hand, she gently touched Duke’s face, caressing it tenderly.

Despite feeling happy and contented, a sense of fear gripped her heart.

It seemed that every time she was on the verge of achieving her goals, an invisible force would intervene, presenting impossible challenges or orchestrating betrayals from those around her, threatening her very existence.

With no tangible evidence to support her suspicions, only her intuition and thoughts, Kisha couldn’t discern if it was destiny, fate, or perhaps some constellation joke playing out in her life. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something or someone was determined to make her existence difficult.

Now, as her life seemed to sail smoothly, adhering to her plans, she feared that future challenges would only grow more arduous, compounded by the unsettling changes already unfolding around her.

Despite her worries, Kisha collected herself.

Knowing she wouldn’t find answers to her concerns, she redirected her focus.

As Duke looked down to meet her gaze, she looked up, smiling at him affectionately.

Witnessing her expression, Duke’s stoic demeanor softened, his eyes forming gentle crescents as his lips curved into a reciprocated smile.

Regardless of the challenges that lay ahead, Kisha found solace in the presence of Duke, the unwavering figure who stood steadfastly by her side through thick and thin.

He was the man who had faced death because of her but had never placed blame, who had evolved into her closest confidant amidst the chaos, and the one person she knew would never betray her.

Just as they were settling into a comfortable moment together, they heard Aston’s voice ring out, announcing, "We’re done packing!!!" His gaze didn’t linger on Duke and Kisha; he simply stated the fact for everyone’s benefit.

Meanwhile, Vulture and Sparrow had conducted a thorough scouting round around the villa to detect any hidden cameras or listening devices in the vicinity outside, and indeed, they found some.

They refrained from reporting immediately to Kisha, knowing that with the scarlet bees at her disposal, she might already be aware of the situation.

Returning to where the truck was parked, they overheard Aston’s announcement.

Acting swiftly, they secured the entrance and stood beside Kisha.

As they made their way to the truck, Sparrow and Vulture broke away from the group and headed to the driver’s seat.

Aston glanced at Kisha with a questioning expression, clearly curious about the change in seating arrangements.

"Since our duty is to ensure everyone’s safety, it’s imperative that we take every precaution, including driving the truck ourselves to guarantee a safe journey," Kisha asserted firmly.

She made sure her tone and words left no room for argument, ensuring that the group would have no choice but to agree.

Observing Kisha’s resolute stance, Aston didn’t prolong the discussion or challenge her authority, recognizing the truth in her words.

He ascended to the back of the truck with the rest of his team, leaving Vulture and Sparrow in charge of navigation.

Kisha and Duke joined them, settling in the middle of the truck as if they were embarking on a leisurely picnic outdoors.

The other soldiers gazed at Kisha and Duke with admiration, noting their calm and composed demeanor.

It was evident that they exuded confidence in their abilities and were committed to ensuring everyone’s safety.

With a sense of reassurance, the truck departed from the central part of the shelter, retracing its route back to Gate 2, much like the day before.

As the truck approached Gate 2, the soldier stationed there signaled to the guard atop the walls to open a path.

Soon, the sound of gunfire echoed outside the truck, catching the attention of Kisha and her companions.

Slowly but steadily, the guards surrounding the gate began to open it, allowing the truck passage.

Sparrow wasted no time; as soon as he saw the gate begin to open, he pressed down on the gas pedal. Timing it perfectly, he managed to navigate the truck through the partially open gate just in time before it swung wide enough to allow their passage.

This tactic ensured that no zombies could slip through the narrow opening of the gate, making it easier for the guards to close the gate swiftly with minimal risk.

Sparrow’s bold maneuver surprised the guards, who were initially nervous that the gate might not be wide enough for the truck to pass through safely.

Typically, drivers waited for the gate to fully open before proceeding, relying on the guards atop the walls and inside the gate to handle any approaching zombies. This indifference to safety from other drivers stemmed from their confidence in the guards’ ability to fend off threats.

Kisha and her team stood out for their emphasis not just on efficiency, but also on safety and effectiveness.

They remained mindful that the Winters and some of their people were still inside the shelter.

Consequently, they were determined not to allow a single zombie through the gate that might endanger their comrades’ safety, especially when they were outside and unable to provide protection.

Kisha took additional precautions by deploying more scarlet bees to safeguard her people. Although she couldn’t communicate with these scarlet bees remotely, she was confident they would remain faithful to the mission she had assigned them until her return.

Now, Kisha was confident that neither zombies nor humans would easily defeat her scarlet bees. While they might not be as powerful as Bell, they were still equipped with enough lethality to get the job done effectively.

After the soldier at Gate 2 successfully closed the massive gate, they all watched Kisha’s truck plow through the zombies on the road without hesitation, a testament to the driver’s skill in navigating the infested streets.

As the truck vanished from sight, leaving only the lingering fumes behind, they collectively breathed a sigh of relief, yet were also left feeling somewhat lost.

While many soldiers had abandoned Aston to align with the Minister of Defense, a significant number still held deep respect and trust in Aston’s leadership.

The majority of the soldiers stationed on the walls were loyal to him.

They all shared concerns for his safety, especially after the harrowing zombie raid they had experienced just the previous night.