Apocalypse: After Reanimation, I Became The Queen-Chapter 18: _ Splitting Up

I press my back against the crumbling brick wall, chest heaving as I fight to steady my breath. My legs still burn from the rooftop jumps and my lungs are raw from inhaling dust, but there’s no time to rest.

Not with the undead snarling in the distance, not with the realization of Kyle’s death still hanging over us like a curse.

The street around us is a wasteland; cracked asphalt, overturned cars, skeletal remains of buildings that look ready to collapse under their own misery. The air stinks of rot, damp wood, and something metallic, like rust and dried blood.

We’re alive, but the question now is: for how much longer?

We all stand, trying to recuperate and gather our strength after that crazy close shave with death.

Hector breaks the silence first. "So... what now?" He exhales, rubbing a hand over his face. "Do we keep going, or do we turn back?"

I want to say keep going. I want to say we didn’t survive that hell just to crawl back empty-handed. But the truth is, I don’t know what the right answer is anymore.

I swallow hard and glance at the others. Their faces are slick with sweat, caked in dirt, exhaustion so heavy in their eyes.

Then I think of her. My daughter. Maggie.

My little girl is back at home, waiting.

I promised her I’d bring food. I promised her she wouldn’t go to bed hungry anymore, and that things would get better. But if we turn back now, we’ll be walking into a massacre. If those scavenger bastards decide to strike while we’re still out here, we’ll lose everything.

If we don’t go back to ensure they don’t return, the base might be in danger. Maggie and everyone else might be in danger.

I squeeze my eyes shut, frustration curling hot and tight in my gut.

No matter what. I’ll choose Maggie. We are out of resources now. We’ve lost the van, almost out of ammunition, we are tired, thirsty, and most importantly, grieved.

We also know we are heading to a death zone, unsure what to expect. I have promised Maggie I would return in one piece.

Maggie needs me. She can’t survive all alone in this cruel world.

"We need to go back," I say finally. My voice is rough, raw. "We have to warn them. If the scavengers find our base while we’re out here, they’ll wipe us out before we even know what hit us."

Vic wipes sweat from his brow. "And then what? Starve?"

Dom shifts his weight. "I’m already starving."

Of course, the two brothers only think with their stomachs all the time.

Vic nods in agreement. "We all are. If we go back empty-handed, what the hell do you think is gonna happen? We won’t even have the strength to fight if they come knocking."

"Exactly." Trish folds her arms, staring me down. "We knew something would go wrong when we left. We expected it. We signed up for this the second we stepped out of the base."

Benji, who’s been uncharacteristically quiet, lets out a humorless chuckle. "Well, I don’t remember signing up for this, but sure. Let’s pretend I did."

Trish ignores him. "If we turn back now and try to run this trip again, there’s a chance we won’t even get this far next time."

I hate that she has a point.

I hate that they all do.

But my daughter is home. My only reason for fighting.

"I can’t let anything happen to her," I say, jaw tight. "If those scavengers attack while we’re still out here, we’ll lose everyone we love. Everyone."

Benji shifts uncomfortably. He drags a hand down his face, smearing dirt and sweat across his cheek. "My mom’s home. Sick."

His voice is quieter now. "She needs the meds I came for. Desperately." He clenches his jaw. "But I still wanna go back. If we’re not there when shit goes down, she won’t have a chance to survive anyway."

His words begets silence.

We are all at a crossroads. I know for sure how important this mission is. Hell, fucking Owen would be ready to use my failure as an excuse to vy for my position and vote me out of power. But if it means ensuring Maggie’s safety, I’d give even my life if I must.

Then Hector speaks out of the blue. "I’ll go."

I blink. "What?"

"I’ll go back." He straightens, rolling out his shoulders. "Warn the others. Help them prepare. If the scavengers do attack, at least they won’t be caught off guard."

Hmm... sounds good. But him going home all alone? With those bastards still at large? That is like signing a death sentence.

Still, having one of us go back while the rest of us deal with the mission will very much solve this confusion.

However, I hesitate still. "Hector..."

"I can handle it," he cuts in. "We’re all needed in different ways, right? You keep moving, get the supplies, and I’ll make sure there’s still a home to come back to."

I clench my fists. My gut tells me to argue, to tell him no, that splitting up means losing people.

But my brain tells me it’s the only way.

I nod once. "Alright."

Hector extends a hand. "Ammo."

Vic digs into his pack, pulling out one of the last magazines we have. "This is it," he says, handing it over. "Make it count."

Hector gives a dry smirk. "Always do."

We all stare at each other, the unspoken words internally killing us. The apocalypse is a death zone itself.

At every turn, there’s something waiting to rip us apart—whether it’s the undead, scavengers, or starvation. We’ve lost too many already. Some we buried, some we couldn’t. Some we left screaming, trapped in places we couldn’t reach.

And now we’re splitting up.

I should be used to it by now. But I’m not.

I know I’m one of the leaders of the base. I’m not the boss man, but I worked hard to get to a position that allows me the bare minimum considered ’luxury’ in the apocalypse.

Because even if having access to two rations of food daily is a luxury here, I can kill to give it to Maggie.

Benji sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. "Good luck, asshole."

Hector grins. "Don’t get yourself killed before I see you again, yeah?"

Benji smirks. "No promises."

Trish clasps Hector’s shoulder. "Don’t do anything stupid."

"No guarantees on that either," he says, winking.

And then just like that, he’s gone.

One man against the end of the world.

We watch him disappear into the shadows, and then there’s no more time to waste.

"Alright," I mutter. "Let’s move."

We push forward.

And whatever happens next... we face it together.