Survival in the last days of America

After confirming that the Black girl standing at the clinic entrance was indeed the same person in the locket's photograph, Anna and Sarah exchanged a knowing nod. Without hesitation, they stood up and started moving toward her.

Brian, seeing this, felt a sudden jolt of alarm. He quickly reached out and grabbed both of their wrists, hissing in a low, urgent tone:

"You're out of your minds!"

Startled by his sharp rebuke, Anna and Sarah froze in place, turning back with confused expressions.

Seeing their bewildered looks, Brian pointed toward the entrance, where soldiers surrounded the military truck, scanning the area with alert eyes.

"They're unloading medicine right now. Don't you see how everyone else is keeping their distance? What are you trying to do, get yourselves shot?"

Hearing this, Anna quickly looked up. Sure enough, the quarantine zone residents were giving the truck a wide berth, their faces tense with fear, clearly terrified of approaching.

In that moment, she realized her mistake. She slapped her forehead, mentally scolding herself for acting so impulsively. She had nearly caused a serious incident.

She placed a firm hand on Sarah's shoulder, who was equally eager, and gently pushed her back into her seat.

"It was my fault. Sarah, let's calm down. We'll wait a little longer."

"Okay, yes," Sarah replied.

She glanced at Anna, then at Brian. Though still anxious, since both of them said it wasn't safe, she decided to hold back and wait quietly.

Seeing the two girls finally composed, Brian let out a long breath of relief. Ever since the military truck arrived, he'd noticed how everyone instinctively avoided it, as if fearing some unseen danger.

And when he saw the soldiers' alert stances, he understood immediately: a truck like this, transporting medicine, was as critical and high-risk as an armored cash transport from the old world—perhaps even more so, given the current environment. It required extreme protection.

Moreover, from the fear in the residents' eyes, it was clear that someone had once tried to approach such a vehicle and had been met with lethal force or severe punishment. That was why everyone now avoided it like a cursed object.

As Brian watched the soldiers carry box after box of medicine into the clinic, he tapped his fingers lightly on his knee, glancing repeatedly toward the back of the truck.

Finally, after the last box was unloaded and nothing more emerged, the lead soldier handed a document—apparently a delivery manifest—to the young Black woman waiting nearby.

Once she signed it, the soldier signaled to his comrades. They boarded the truck, hit the gas, and sped away down the street.

The moment the truck disappeared from sight, Anna and Sarah could no longer contain themselves. Before Brian could say another word, they shot up from their seats and sprinted toward the clinic entrance. Alan, not wanting to be left behind, followed closely behind.

Brian could only shake his head in resignation at their frantic rush. He said nothing, simply stood and followed after them.

At the clinic entrance.

Marlene watched the military truck drive off. Remembering the lead soldier's inappropriate, lingering gaze, a flash of disgust crossed her face. She turned to go back inside and resume work.

But the moment she turned, she saw two figures—one tall, one short—rushing toward her from the clinic, their faces filled with intense emotion.

Instinctively, Marlene raised an eyebrow, studying the two girls. One was around her age, with long, golden hair reaching her waist and a strikingly beautiful face. The other was about thirteen or fourteen, with short blonde hair. If not for their different features, she might have thought they were sisters.

Before she could speak, the younger girl blurted out:

"Are you Marlene? Do you know Sylvia?"

At the sound of that name, Marlene's pupils contracted sharply. Long-buried memories surged into her mind like a flood. She grabbed the girl's shoulders and demanded:

"How do you know that name?!"

Anna, standing behind, saw the Black girl's immediate, emotional reaction at hearing "Sylvia." Her heart leapt with hope. In that instant, she was certain—this was the person they had been searching for.

She stepped forward, gently placing a hand on Marlene's shoulder.

"Do you have time? Let's go somewhere and talk."

Marlene glanced at Anna's kind face, hearing her words. She realized these girls must know something about her sister. After a brief hesitation, she took a deep breath to steady herself.

"Wait for me here," she said, then turned and dashed back into the clinic.

She ran up the stairs two at a time, asked something at the front desk, and disappeared onto the second floor.

Brian, watching her pass by, stepped out of the clinic and approached Anna.

"Well? Was it her?"

The two guards at the entrance gave the boy strange looks. If they hadn't overheard the conversation and if these weren't just kids, they might have assumed they were up to something suspicious.

"Yes! It's her!" Sarah threw her arms around Anna, turning to Brian with excitement. "We found her!"

Hearing the confirmation, Brian let out a deep internal sigh of relief. At least they had fulfilled the final wish of someone long gone.

In a dark alley beside the clinic.

Marlene took the silver locket Anna handed her, opened the cover, and looked at the photo of her and her sister as children. Tears welled in her eyes.

With slightly trembling hands, she traced the image of her sister's face.

"Thank you," she whispered, voice thick with emotion. "Thank you for bringing this to me."

She now knew the full story from Anna, who had withheld nothing. She understood her sister Sylvia had died saving Anna's father, and that the man had also perished during their journey into the quarantine zone.

Having lived through the chaos of the apocalypse, Marlene felt no anger. No one wanted such tragedies. And both involved were already gone. The only thing to blame was this cursed, broken world.

Seeing Marlene's sorrow, Anna slipped a small slip of paper into her hand.

"This is where I live now. If you ever need help, come find me. Maybe…"

She paused. She remembered what Brian had told her in the clinic—don't get carried away by emotions . She decided to wait until things were clearer before saying more.

"Yes," she said simply.

Sarah ran up to Marlene, beaming.

"If you need anything, write to us! We're at school. We'll help however we can!"

Hearing their words, Marlene wiped her tears. She felt deeply moved, a warmth spreading through her chest. It was the first time since entering the quarantine zone that someone had spoken to her with genuine care.

She placed the locket around her neck, then pulled Anna and Sarah into a tight embrace.

"Thank you… thank you so much."

Facing this emotional scene—enough to bring tears to anyone's eyes—Brian remained unmoved. He looked down at Alan, whose eyes were shining with emotion, and gently patted her head. Still just a child , he thought.

Though Marlene was Sylvia's sister, he wouldn't let sentiment cloud his judgment like Anna and Sarah had. Until he understood her true nature, he would keep his distance.

As if sensing a watchful gaze, Marlene turned toward the alley entrance. She saw Brian, his deep eyes thoughtful and unreadable. For some reason, her heart skipped a beat, a strange unease rising.

But when she looked again, he had already turned away, speaking quietly with the child beside him.

Puzzled, Marlene shook her head. She glanced once more, but saw nothing unusual. Maybe , she thought, it's just the emotion of finally learning about my sister.

"I can't stay out too long," she said, checking her watch. "I've already been gone half an hour. If Dr. April finds out, she'll be furious."

Anna understood her urgency and nodded.

"Alright. We should head back too. Let's go together."

"Okay."

The three began walking toward the alley's exit.

Seeing they were done, Brian slung an arm around Alan's shoulders and stepped out with him, making way for them.

As they emerged from the alley, Anna hugged Marlene one last time. Then, with warm smiles, they waved goodbye and prepared to go their separate ways.

—Vroom! Vroom!

—Attention! All residents on the street, evacuate immediately! Seek safe shelter! Do not linger near military zones!

But at that moment, engine roars erupted from both ends of the street, accompanied by a metallic public announcement. Moments later, panicked screams broke out. The pedestrians, like herded livestock, scrambled to the sides of the road, clearing a wide path in the center.

Then, from both ends of the avenue, four or five military trucks slowly rolled into view, entering full sight of everyone.