A Message and Choices

In a situation of chaos and unpredictability, many tend to make bad decisions. People who were watching as many were evacuated decided to stay at home.

Have you ever heard that you shouldn't follow the crowd? Well, that's exactly what some were doing, and that was okay. No one would beg to be followed; they would explain their reasons and the chances of survival before leaving with those who did want to be saved by them.

The military weren't angels, but soldiers. Besides protecting those in need, what mattered most to them was protecting their families, many of whom were now waiting for them in the provisional shelter created closest to the island they would seek refuge on.

Alicia, who had boarded a helicopter, watched her entire life flash before her eyes—memories she might never experience again and a life she never thought of selling overnight.

Madison, who was in the company of her entire family, looked out the window. She didn't know where they were heading, but as soon as they saw how the world was outside the safe zone where they lived, they understood everything.

The world, as they knew it, had changed. If they had chosen to stay now, they might have made the worst decision of their lives.

Travis, on the other hand, stayed talking to Daniel, who was beside his daughter, comforting her and letting her know that her mother was now in the place they were heading to.

He had also explained how he had helped someone in some ways and now had an important position where he would help many people. He didn't tell them who Dominic was; no one else besides him and Alicia knew.

Only a few were selected to have that information; only a few were worthy.

Now that the world is ending, they were the ones who had to rebuild it or die in despair.

a provisional army base on the outskirts of the community that was being evacuated at the moment.

Right now, all the soldiers who were here had left in helicopters; only trucks without fuel and cars used to create barricades remained.

The Humvees had been mobilized by helicopters, and now the last flight had been sent to the provisional base on the coast. Everyone understood that there was a possibility that Los Angeles would be set on fire and bombed by the military, so this was the best option.

Outside the place, Dominic, who was stained with Walker blood, looked at Donald and said, "I know your next orders will be to bomb the city. When you leave, you'll have those orders. I don't disagree, and I won't tell you what I think; I just ask that if there's a chance, don't do it here on the outskirts of the city; that would be more than perfect."

What Dominic was trying to say was that damaging structures in the city center was okay, but causing that havoc and spreading it everywhere outside was foolishness. If there was a chance to avoid bombings, then it would be easier to take control of Los Angeles in the future.

That was the initial intention, and shortly afterward, he would begin taking all the military power within his reach. The coastal bases were the priority; those who knew how to move well in the sea were essential.

Additionally, he would take all the fishermen and their families who were at sea, waiting for everything to calm down. Of course, before that, he would establish order and make sure all his refugees were useful.

"You're too young to know all these things... How can you know?" Donald turned his head to Dominic, who was applying a new bandage to his hands after removing the one stained with blood.

He understood that if they didn't maintain control in the coming days, Operation Cobalt would be initiated, eliminating everything that moved outside the safe zones. As the months progressed, they would determine which places were salvageable and which should be destroyed. Donald knew all this because he was one of the brigades and captains who would receive the orders and execute them in specific areas.

Dominic didn't know this man, but he knew that maybe in the future, he could be someone extremely important. If he's right, they might even become enemies.

"My father, on a mission with a team of ex-soldiers from the special forces, was involved in the experiment with a chemical weapon that turned living beings into creatures similar to the infected we can see everywhere. The variants back then gave life to what we know now. What is the best thing about all this? There's no cure; the mutations are so many that there's no possible cure."

Donald listened to Dominic's words and was even more surprised. "Don't you want to come with me? The army will try to relocate to some city and take control with its remaining forces."

"No, I have other plans..." Dominic couldn't make such a risky decision when his goal was to protect his own people under his own rules.

Donald didn't know what those plans were, but that was okay. Each one was the leader of their own path, and he had chosen what his would be.

"The disarmed helicopter has enough fuel for you to return to your base. Good luck, and I hope we meet again." Dominic wasn't cruel to them; he was just securing his own interests.

Stuart hadn't taken his eyes off Dominic, who was in the distance having a conversation with Donald; he sensed something and knew he was right.

"I'll finish everything inside; we'll move in twenty minutes." Dominic adjusted the time on his watch and gave instructions to Stuart, who nodded.

Dominic has something very important that he shouldn't forget right now.