Chapter 751: Returning Home
Chapter 751: Chapter 751: Returning Home
There were hardly any intact buildings left in the entire base. Using a few conspicuous structures as landmarks, they finally recognized the path back to the small courtyard. As they passed the hospital, Evelyn Ford sighed, looking at the building—only half of it was still standing.
"All the houses we worked so hard to build... gone just like that. And so many people are gone, too."
Ronan Kendrick watched Evelyn with concern. Since returning to the base, she had been doing her best to suppress her emotions. Even someone as cold as him found it difficult to remain indifferent to the scene before them.
"There are still some buildings that weren’t destroyed. There must be a lot of survivors."
Evelyn Ford nodded. "I hope so."
Countless people were likely buried beneath the rubble underfoot. Even though she was wearing a gas mask, Evelyn could still smell an indescribable stench after entering the base.
"Damn it, felt another body," someone rummaging through the debris nearby muttered, constantly cursing. He picked up whatever he had found, moved to a new spot, and continued his search.
Evelyn and Ronan continued toward their courtyard. The scavengers included not only adults and the elderly but also many children. They were filthy and reeked, their hair matted like nests, their faces smeared with soot. Yet their eyes were incredibly fierce, like wolf cubs in the mountains, possessively guarding a meal.
By the time they reached the small courtyard, Evelyn’s shins were scraped in several places. She wouldn’t have even noticed she was hurt if Ronan hadn’t smelled blood.
"It’s fine, let’s just get home first."
Evelyn eagerly ran toward home, but as she approached the gate, she stopped, unable to bring herself to go any closer.
Ronan shone his flashlight ahead. The courtyard had collapsed. Only a single surrounding wall was left standing.
Ronan patted Evelyn’s shoulder, signaling for her to wait while he went ahead to check. Evelyn shook her head.
"We’ll go in together." Evelyn’s voice was hoarse. When Ronan took her hand, he realized her palm was clammy with cold sweat.
"Alright. Let’s go."
Climbing over the fallen gate, they stumbled into the courtyard. Evelyn’s gaze slowly followed the flashlight’s beam. All the buildings had collapsed except for the outhouse; roof tiles and red bricks were blown to bits. There was even a fragment from a fireball in the yard. She went to where the kitchen had been and scanned the area. Evelyn saw that some of the debris here had been cleared away. In that moment, her eyes lit up. She quickly called Ronan over. The two of them rapidly cleared the remaining rubble, and upon seeing the large iron plate covering the cellar entrance, Evelyn smiled.
"This is great! The iron plate is perfectly intact."
Evelyn banged on the iron plate. She realized it was locked from the inside, which meant she couldn’t open it. The fact that it was locked from within meant someone was inside. Her tense expression immediately softened with relief.
"Mr. Graham! Wendy! Quincy! Ethan Dawson! Are you in there?"
Evelyn continued to bang on the plate. After what felt like a long time, a shuffling sound came from inside.
"It’s Evelyn! Ronan and I are back! Mr. Graham? Quincy? Are you in there?"
"Evelyn? Ronan?"
"It’s us! We’re back!"
"Okay, that’s great! I’ll open it now, right now!" a hoarse, urgent voice called out from within. A lump formed in Evelyn’s throat, and she fought back tears.
With a CLANG, the iron plate was lifted open. Evelyn looked at Officer Graham and Ethan Dawson as they emerged, so choked with emotion she couldn’t speak.
"Are you all okay?"
The two men’s eyes also filled with tears upon seeing them. Ethan Dawson shook his head. He glanced back into the cellar and spoke in a low voice, "Mr. Vance and Wyatt Vaughn... they didn’t make it. Quincy and Miles Vaughn are traumatized. Quincy won’t eat or drink; he’s barely hanging on. The blast damaged Wendy’s and Zoe’s hearing. Annie has some kind of skin disease and an eye injury. My and Micah Manning’s child... is gone. On the day of the explosion, Liam Sterling went to the administration building and never returned. As for the others... we don’t know if they’re alive or dead."
As Ethan finished, tears rolled down his cheeks. Evelyn and Ronan stood frozen, surrounded by a heavy silence. Then, Evelyn suddenly let out a laugh.
"How could that be possible? You’re lying to me, aren’t you? You’re lying. I don’t believe you."