Chapter 289 The Camp in the Mall
Mario had a bad name in the camp. He was a bully who never yed fair. His favorite thing was witching people get ripped apart by zombies. Sometimes, he even tricked people he didn’t like into going outside just to see them die.
However, still, he had still been one of the groups.
Watching him get shot dead right in front of them left a chill in the air.
“What camp are you people from?” she asked, stepping forward.
Before anyone could answer, a sharp voice called out from above. “What about you? Who are you?”
Theresa looked up. A group of men and women stood along the second–floor railing. Their weapons were raised. The woman in front had a gun.
It <b>was </b>aimed <b>right </b>at Theresa.
As soon as she lifted her <b>arm</b>, Graham and the others behind Theresa raised their guns too.
In a sh, the air turned tense. No one moved. Everyone stood locked in <b>a </b>standoff.
“They’re refugees,” <b>Ray </b>Hogan, the man who had been spoken to by Theresa, hastily replied. “They escaped from the subway station.”
“Ms. Hunter! They killed <b>Mario</b><b>!</b>” someone shouted from the group on the ground.
Eva Hunter’s face tightened. Her brow creased in a deep frown. Her eyes moved from Theresa to the body on the floor.
She stared for a few seconds. Her <b>thoughts </b>were hard to read. Then, she lowered her gun.
“Come on up,” she called out.
Keeping that <b>many </b>people on the ground floor was a big risk. The zombie horde outside was still close. Any sound or movement could bring them back and break down the gate. If that happened, the people upstairs would die too.
Besides, this new group wasrge. Also, they were armed. Eva had counted their weapons. The odds <b>didn’t </b>look good.
After weighing the pros and cons, she let Theresa and the otherse up straight to the second floor, far from the chaos below.
Theresa gave a small nod. Her group climbed the stairs to the second floor. They kept their weapons <b>out </b>but pointed them down to show they meant no harm, despite still being on guard.
Ray <b>and </b>two others dragged Mario’s body up with them.
Once they were all <b>upstairs</b>, the zombies outside began to drift away. With no more sound or motion <b>to </b>keep their interest, they lost focus and started to wander.
Chapter 289 The Camp in the Mall
<b>Eva </b>waited until everyone reached the second floor. Then, she stepped forward with her own group
“Who are you?” she asked. Her eyes stayed fixed on Theresa.
“zing Sun Alliance. I’m Theresa.
Eva raised an eyebrow. “Never heard of it
“Never?” Theresa didn’t look away. She took a moment to study Eva. She looked about twenty–eight or twenty–nine. Neat and clean. Not stunning, but sharp and striking. Her figure stood out. She moved with strength and control.
The longer Theresa watched, the <b>more </b>she respected Eva. This was the first fernale leader she had seen since the world fell apart.
Even in peacetime, women had to fight <b>to </b>be seen as equals. After the world ended, that fight got harder.
Many women were born with weaker muscles, morepassionate hearts, and a deeper fear of killing. These were the things that made survival harder for women.
Most had been pushed to the bottom.
Eva was the only female leader Theresa had ever known.
“No,” Eva said again. Her voice was <b>calm</b>. Her eyes didn’t leave Theresa. “Where did youe from?”
“Ironspire Station, Theresa replied.
“<b>You </b><b>came </b>through the subway tunnels?”
“That’s right.”
Eva’s eyes sharpened.
She had seen huge waves of zombies heading toward Ironspire Station just days ago, which meant the group before <b>her </b>had run over with the horde on their heels.
If these people had survived that and made it here, they weren’t lucky. They were exceptionally <b>strong</b>.
Eva stood straighter.
She scanned them up and down.
“This mall belongs to Ridgefall Camp. I’m Eva Hunter. I lead Ridgefall Mall. That gives me full control over this ce,” she said after a pause. You can stay here for two days. After <b>that</b>, you leave. If not, I won’t be so kind.”
“Sure. No problem, Theresa answered right away.
Eva blinked. That answer came fast.
She had expected resistance. In times <b>like </b>these, people held on to safety like treasure. Once someone found shelter, they didn’t give it up. However, Theresa just agreed and moved on. No fight. Noints.
Chapter 289 The Camp in the Mall
Would they really leave? Or was this just a trick?
Eva narrowed her eyes. She waved her people to fall back. The group from Ridgefall Camp moved up <b>to </b>the third floor.
They kept <b>a </b>wide space between themselves and the new group.
In the apocalypse, trust came slow. Or not at all.
Letting them stay two days was already a stretch. <b>Any </b>more than that, and the two sides might sh for
<b>real</b>.
“Ms. Hunter, are you sure you <b>want </b>to let them <b>stay</b>?” Ray asked in a low voice once they reached the third Поог