Survival in the last days of America

The protest crowd occupied the central thoroughfare. Nearby quarantine zone residents, seeing the march, quickly stepped aside to the sidewalks, afraid of being swept up into the demonstration.

Patrolling soldiers nearby watched the protesters with cold indifference, as if observing mindless pigs, their lips curled into mocking smirks.

But strangely, despite the protests having continued for months, the quarantine zone government had not sent troops to disperse them. Instead, they silently allowed their existence, permitting them to march freely throughout the zone.

To any outsider, this would seem utterly incomprehensible. But the protesters themselves, immersed in the moment, remained unaware… or rather, most residents of the quarantine zone had yet to realize that something was deeply wrong.

They believed the government, unable to withstand public pressure, was showing signs of surrender—hence the tolerance of the protests. They thought they were on the verge of victory, and so shouted their demands with even greater boldness.

"Do you think… if the Resistance Army really replaced the quarantine government, would things actually get better?"

Looking at the crowd of protesters, at their passionate, determined faces, Sarah suddenly seemed troubled. Her expression wavered, and she quietly asked Brian, "Why do you suddenly ask that?"

Brian, standing quietly at the edge of the street as the protest passed, hadn't expected such a question. He studied her for a moment and said, "Did someone say something to you?"

Lost in thought, Sarah hadn't anticipated Brian's sudden shift in topic. Her mouth moved faster than her mind.

"They said that if…"

But she immediately caught herself. The words choked in her throat. She snapped back to awareness, looked up at Brian—and realized how sharp he was. Her face flushed with guilt.

"What are you afraid of? I'm not going to scold you. Tell me, what did they say?"

Seeing her guilty expression, Brian couldn't help but smile. He gently ruffled her hair, soothing her.

Sarah looked up, relieved that Brian wasn't angry. She gathered her courage, glanced around to make sure no one was near, then leaned in close and whispered:

"When I became an intern doctor, a nurse secretly slipped me a note. It said they were members of the Resistance Army and wanted me to join. They said the upper government is completely corrupt, that they must eliminate these tumors to restore order. If I was interested, I should go to XXX. I wasn't sure what to do… but what they said made sense, so…"

"So you came to test my reaction before deciding whether to join them?"

Brian cut in without hesitation, finishing the sentence she'd left hanging.

"Heh…"

Sarah gave an awkward, polite smile, her eyes wide with curiosity, hoping for an answer.

"Sigh…"

Brian let out a soft sigh. He'd never been able to resist this girl. After a moment's thought, he spoke in a voice low enough that only she could hear:

"The reason the quarantine zone is so chaotic is because of the extreme inequality in resource distribution. Those at the top, holding power, can easily seize vast supplies and control others' lives as if they were nothing.

If they at least focused on developing the zone, it might be different. But prolonged peace and a life of luxury have corrupted their hearts. The resources the lower-class residents earn through backbreaking labor keep shrinking. When inequality reaches a breaking point, those with no way out will naturally rise up. This has happened countless times throughout world history.

As for whether life would be better under the Resistance Army's rule—let me tell you: no. It might even be worse than under the current government. Whether the quarantine zone could grow stronger? I can't give you a definite answer. That depends on the leadership, wisdom, and capability of the resistance leaders. My advice? Stay out of it."

As he spoke, Brian noticed the protest crowd had already moved down another street. He turned to Sarah, who was still deep in thought, took her hand, and led her forward.

In theory, a capable leader might restore order in time. But deep down, Brian was pessimistic.

…

Sarah walked, letting Brian guide her, her mind swirling. She wasn't the little girl she'd been five years ago. She had her own ability to think independently.

At first, she'd been drawn in by the message on the note, and by her growing disappointment with the government's actions. That's why she'd imagined what life might be like under resistance rule.

But after hearing Brian's words, she realized things weren't as simple as she'd thought. After careful consideration, she decided to remain neutral. She also feared her actions might endanger those close to her—that was the last thing she wanted.

Once she'd made her decision, Sarah felt a complex weight lift from her heart. Without worries, her mood brightened. A smile returned to her lips.

"You figured it out?" Brian asked softly, noticing the change in her demeanor.

"Yeah. I'll do what you say. Let them do what they want—we're staying out of it."

"Good. Glad you understand."

As they approached the checkpoint for Zone F, Brian glanced at a row of wanted posters taped to the wall. There were seven or eight of them, and the top two were especially prominent.

These were wanted notices. While the Resistance Army remained hidden within the quarantine zone, the government had been actively trying to uproot this thorn in its side. With their vast resources and reach, even as the resistance stayed in the shadows, the government had managed to uncover and destroy several of their safehouses, capturing vital intelligence on key figures—including two of their leaders.

The government then issued bounties and set up anonymous tip boxes. Anyone who provided credible, verifiable information would receive a substantial reward in supplies.

Greed moves hearts. As soon as the announcement was made, even residents with the slightest rumors began secretly reporting.

Anyone who had ever been seen with a wanted individual was quickly exposed, arrested, and interrogated. From their mouths, the government extracted valuable intelligence, dealing a serious blow to the resistance.

Now, there was no trace of resistance activity within the entire quarantine zone. They likely wouldn't reappear for months. This was government territory—so the resistance could only retreat deeper into hiding.

"I'm here. You go back."

Looking ahead at the F-Zone Management Center—right next to the checkpoint they'd first passed through when entering the quarantine zone—Brian felt a wave of nostalgia. Though he'd entered many times, the memories still stirred something in him.

"When will you be back from this mission?"

Seeing they'd arrived and Brian was about to leave, Sarah grabbed his arm, her eyes flickering with reluctance as she asked.

Feeling her grip, Brian stopped. He turned to face the young woman.

"The exact mission details won't be known until I get the briefing. But it'll probably be similar to previous ones. I should be back in three or four days."

He reached out with his left hand, running his fingers through her smooth, golden hair, gently caressing her cheek. His expression softened. He leaned in and kissed her lightly on the lips.

"When I get back, let everyone know. We'll have a reunion."

"Mm-hmm."

Sarah nodded softly. A faint blush colored her cheeks. She lowered her head, suddenly shy—completely different from the fiery girl she'd been moments ago.

"Heh…"

Seeing her like this, Brian instinctively glanced to the sides. Sure enough, several passersby and soldiers were sneaking glances their way.

He couldn't help but chuckle. He ruffled her hair again.

"Why do you get so shy when people are watching?"

"Hey!" Sarah shot him a mock-angry look, but then whispered, "Come back soon."

Without waiting for a reply, she turned and hurried away, not looking back.

As Brian watched Sarah's figure grow smaller in the distance, a warm smile—unnoticed even by himself—spread across his face. In his heart, he mused: I never imagined this girl, once just a little kid, would become my partner.

For some reason, a word from the old world suddenly popped into his mind… a strangely suggestive word… Wait… did this feel a little like… raising ?