Chapter 363 The Pulse in the Pipes
Chapter 363 The Pulse in the Pipes
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He nced at Theresa. We’ve only gotten <i>this </i><i>far </i><i>because </i><i>of </i><i>her</i><i>. </i><i>None </i>of us <i>are </i>heroes, <i>but </i>at least we manage not to mess things up
His jaw tightened as the memory of Kevin shoving Linda burned in his mind. <i>Then that </i>fool had <i>to </i>pull that stunt… nearly got us all killed.
The scene wouldn’t leave him. It kept looping in his head, sharp and ugly. <i>If </i><i>it </i><i>weren’t </i><i>for </i><i>Theresa’s </i>crew, we’d already be dead.
He drew in a long breath, gripping his fists tighter. <i>From </i><i>now </i><i>on</i><i>, </i><i>I’m </i><i>sticking </i><i>to </i><i>her </i>like <i>glue</i><i>. </i>No way <i>I’m </i>letting <i>her </i>or her team out of my <i>sight</i>.
Kevin finally staggered over, looking like a dog that knew it was about to get kicked.
“Lin… I swear, I didn’t mean to leave you,” he muttered.
Linda didn’t even bother to look at him. Her jaw tightened, her eyes like ice.
“Lin,e on,” Kevin stammered, trying again. “It was instinct. People panic—”
“Save it. Get lost!” Her voice cracked sharply enough to cut.
Kevin stood there for a second, looking like he’d just been pped. Then he dropped his gaze and slinked away, every step heavy with shame.
Then Lional, the second–floor administrator, strolled over and leaned against the railing like he owned the ce. Tough luck, sweetheart,” he drawled with a smug grin. “Moments like this really show you who’s worth keeping around. That guy? Dead weight. You need someone solid like me.”
Linda’s stomach churned. She felt dirty just hearing his voice.
Right then, Amy hooked her arm through Linda’s. “Come on, Linda. I need to change before I lose my mind in these clothes.”
Linda didn’t even argue. She bolted with Amy, anything to get away from the stench of Kevin’s cowardice and Lional’s smugness.
Lional, though, didn’t seem to notice or care. He strutted around like a rooster in an empty yard, tossing out smug little lectures and acting like the king of the floor.
Meanwhile, Theresa’s focus was elsewhere. She was still waiting for Horace’s reply. They’d locked down the second floor, but no one had a clue what came next.
Everyone slumped against the walls, drained and panting Someone cracked open an energy drink, and
soon the rest followed suit.
The quiet didn’tst long.
“Hey, pass me some water. I’m dying here,” Lional called out, his voice already grating on everyone’s nerves as he sauntered up to Theresa’s group.
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Chapter 363 The Pulse in the Pipes
Theresa slowly lifted her head, her eyes half–lidded. “Come again?”
That was when it hit him.
Whoa. How did I <i>miss </i><i>this </i>before? Guess <i>I </i><i>was </i><i>too </i><i>busy </i><i>not </i><i>getting </i><i>eaten </i><i>alive</i>.
s
She’s not just pretty<i>–</i><i>she’s </i>on a <i>whole </i><i>different </i><i>level</i>. Skin’s wless, <i>that </i><i>healthy </i><i>kind </i><i>of </i><i>glow </i><i>you </i><i>don’t </i>fake. Sharp eyes, steady <i>as </i>hell, like <i>nothing </i><i>rattles </i><i>her</i><i>. </i><i>Those </i><i>pampered </i><i>dolls </i><i>on </i><i>the </i>fifth <i>floor</i>? <i>Please</i>. <i>They </i>look like <i>bargain</i><i>–</i><i>bin </i>imitations next to <i>her</i><i>. </i>
She’s bright <i>enough </i><i>to </i>pin <i>someone </i>in <i>ce</i>.
shing his cockiest grin, Lional leaned in. “Hey there, gorgeous. Name’s Lional Yates, administrator of the second floor. Absolute pleasure.”
Theresa frowned. “That’s the third time you’ve said that. What, you practicing for a campaign speech?”
Lional’s grin twitched. He covered it with augh. “I’m serious. You should ditch that backwater camp of yours–K–whatever? Sounds like a joke. Join Ark Camp One. I’ll get you right onto the second floor. No
waiting.”
Theresa chuckled and nced sideways. “Lucas, you hearing this?”
Lucas looked up from his drink, calm as ever. “What’d you do before this? How did you end up in charge here?”
Lional puffed up. “I was a councilman, overseeing construction and managing supplies. None of us administrators are just random nobodies–except for the clown on the first floor. The third floor houses a top military officer, the fourth has Dr. Klein, and the fifth floor-”
He smirked, letting the words hang like bait. “Let’s just say, that’s out of your league.
Lucas blinked slowly,shes dipping like he was bored. “I’m Lucas Keaton.”
The namended like a punch.
Lional’s face went nk. “Lucas Keaton? As in the Eastern Military District, Lucas Keaton?”
Lucas nodded. “That’s the one.”
Lional’s smirk evaporated. Back before the world ended, a guy like him wouldn’t have even been allowed to breathe the same air as someone like Lucas.
Before anyone could enjoy the awkward silence, a scream ripped through the air.
“Ahhh!”
It came from the hallway where Amy and Linda had gone.
Harry dashed ahead before anyone else could move, with Kevin stumbling behind him. Theresa and her team trailed closely behind.
Amy and Linda, trembling, clung to each other as the others approached the corner.
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Chapter 363 The Pulse in the Pipes
“What happened?” Theresa demanded.
“S–someone… someone touched us!” Amy stammered, eyes wide.
Theresa scanned the hall. “There’s nobody here. We’ve been standing guard this whole time.”
Kevin frowned. “Yeah. No one went in or out.”
This wasn’t the first time.
Drip<i>, </i>drip.
A pool of water had formed on the floor.
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Theresa’s eyes narrowed as she tilted her head back. Her mind power swept upward, sharp and precise.
There it was–a heartbeat. So faint it almost vanished beneath the hum of the pipes and the steady rush of water. It was weak and hidden.
Yet it pulsed there, quiet and patiently waiting.