With internal affairs finally wrapped up. Theresa turned her <b>attention </b>to the two cities outside Ansford- Branford and Crestmont,
On herputer screen, the deepening purple–red haze around <b>those </b>tiny white dots signaled an ominous shift.
The zombie hordes in Branford and Crestmont were on the verge of breaking loose.
“Hey, Theresa! Just got a message from Theron, Lucas called out as he walked up, urgent news in hand.
“Theresa, Sage’s been out of contact for three days. There’s a major outbreak in Crestmont. If we don’t pull him out <b>now</b>, we’ll lose the whole operation. So, are we helping or not<b>?</b><b>” </b>
Theresa narrowed her eyes. “<b>Where </b>was hisst <b>known </b>location?”
“Crestmont Wends Park”
She pulled up the map. The park was massive, practically a no–man’snd. But the surrounding area was.pletely overrun with zombies.
<b>A </b>dense ring of purple–red closed in around the park like a vice.
If Theron didn’t <b>get </b>Sage out soon, he was finished.
Theresa studied the screen, then smiled faintly. “Let’s pull back a bit–but not too far. We’re allies, after <b>all </b>
And honestly, Sage’s position couldn’t be better. He was perfectly ced to draw the horde away and wouldn’t die too quickly.
Just then, a calm, cold voice crackled through the radio.
“Ms. Hall, if you really see us <b>as </b>allies,e help. If you retreat now, you’re basically abandoning us.”
Theresa was stunned.
She nced at Lucas.
He casually turned off the radio <b>and </b>said, deadpan, I didn’t realize they were listening,”
Theresa was utterly speechless.
Right then and there, she made a decision–Ansford needed its own secure localwork.
There was absolutely no security <b>on </b>this open radio system.
That b*stard Sage had clearly been eavesdropping this whole time–probably tuned into her frequency all day, listening whenever he felt like it.
“Send a signal to Sage. We’ll go save him. I’ll go myself.”
Lucas froze mid–motion/They’re stuck in the middle of a zombie horde, and you’re going to Theron’s
O
173
Chapter <b>307 </b>We Are Allies
location to rescue them?”
Why make itplicated? I’ve got a helicopter<b>.” </b>
Lucas was stunned into silence.
That afternoon, a helicopter lifted off from the clearing in front of the Ansford bunker, heading straight for Crestmont Wends Park.
Only Theresa, Quentin, and Kyle were on board. No one else joined them.
Lucas could only stare after them in <b>shock</b><b>. </b>
She actually has a helicopter, I don’t even have one! Where the hell did she get it?
But Theresa had it all figured out. The helicopter would fly in and pull Sage out.
Only problem–it seated five. With three already on board, she could only evacuate two people per <b>trip</b>.
And Sage had about eight hundred with him. If she tried to save them all like this, it’d take forever.
Truth was, she wanted Sage to stay where he <b>was </b>and bleed the zombies dry. But after overhearing her <b>earlier</b>, he definitely wouldn’t y along unless she at least made an effort.
So, she was ready <b>to </b>put on the best show of her life.
The helicopter hovered above the park.
When Sage heard Theresa wasing, he had people chop down trees to clear anding zone.
He imagined a full rescue fleet descending from the sky–rotors spinning, doors flying open, salvation at
And then… a single five–seater chopper showed up, fashionablyte.
Theresa stepped out with her three–person crew.
“My friends! I’m here to save you!” she said, with all sincerity.
Sage looked at her for a long moment before asking. “You only brought one helicopter?”
“Mr. Arlen, I know you must be deeply moved. Even with limited resources, I still managed to bring our camp’s only helicopter to help you! If it were me, I’d be in tears too.”
Sage retorted, “I mean… Is one helicopter even enough?”
“Worst case, we just work a little harder, Theresa replied cheerfully. “Fly back and forth until everyone’s out. Don’t worry–as long as I’m breathing. I’ll get you all out. Survivors have to look out for each other!”
Sage was utterly speechless.
“Ms. Hall, your rescue n seems a bit…cking,” a burly <b>man </b>behind Sage grumbled. “This is a five–seater We’ve got over eight hundred people. How long do you think that’s going to take?”
O
<b>2/8 </b>
Chapter 307 We Are Allies
Theresa gave him <b>a </bzy nce, didn’t bother replying<b>, </b>and let out a light, <b>half</b>–hearted cough
Quentin took the cue <b>and </b>stepped up. “Hey, we’re rescuing you for free, you know. What’s your problem<b>? </b>Do we owe you something? That’s your attitude when we’re the ones flying in to save you?”
“Quentin, enough. Let the adults talk, Theresa cut in sternly, turning to him. “We’re allies, remember? Allies help each other–even from miles away. Maybe some people don’t appreciate that, but Mr. Arlen certainly knows how much we’re doing for <b>them</b><b>.</b><b>” </b>