Travis' POV
When we finally reached the place Alex called a safe zone, I couldn't help but be surprised. The place was in remarkably good condition—organized, well-guarded, and even had armed soldiers maintaining order. They even have both a navy and an army.
I also noticed that Alex seemed to have a good relationship with Ray. He looked young, probably only a few years older than my kids. After we went through their entry protocols, I asked Leo about it.
The protocol itself was simple—just five questions. They asked about my previous work, my background, how many people I'd killed, what I would do if we were attacked, and how many walkers I'd taken down. Apparently, they call the dead "walkers," so I guess I'll start using that term too.
The soldiers all wore matching uniforms, and from the looks of it, these were crafted during the apocalypse itself. I asked Chris and the others if they were asked the same questions, and it turned out they were. Leo also told me that the man named Ray is currently acting as the leader, while the real one is away with most of their soldiers.
What amazed me even more was that despite many of their forces being gone, there were still dozens of soldiers guarding this place. Alex didn't seem to know where the real leader was either.
Inside the Fifth Building of the Federation
In one of the rooms, seven people were gathered—Travis, Madison, Daniel, Sofia, Alex, Leah, and Victor. They sat together, discussing their plans for the days ahead.
"I like this place," Daniel said, leaning back in his chair. "It's peaceful… and it gives the kids a chance to breathe some fresh air."
"Yeah, I feel the same way," Madison agreed, a small smile forming on her lips.
"We should stay together," Sofia suggested. "That way, we can help each other when things get rough."
"A good suggestion," Victor replied with a nod. "And one I fully support."
"By the way, where are the kids?" Leah asked, glancing around the room in concern.
"They're probably just exploring the area," Travis answered calmly. "I saw them heading out earlier."
"Alright then," Victor said, his tone composed. "Now, let's get back to our main topic, shall we?"
At Victor's words, everyone's expressions changed. The air in the room grew heavy as they all became serious.
"We just got here," Madison said cautiously. "We don't know anything about this place yet."
"Actually, we do," Victor replied, his tone calm but sharp. His gaze shifted toward Alex—and soon, everyone else followed. Leah shifted uncomfortably under the sudden attention focused on them.
"What's your relationship with that man, Ray?" Victor asked. "And what's his connection to the real leader? I don't recall hearing about him—even before the world ended."
Alex's eyes narrowed slightly. "Is that supposed to be an interrogation?" he asked, his voice steady but edged with irritation.
"Relax, Alex," Victor said smoothly. "I just want to know."
Alex understood exactly what Victor was doing—trying to gain an upper hand in the conversation. Still, Victor had a point. He took a slow breath before answering.
"Ray is Marcus's best friend," Alex said. "If you know Marcus, then you know he keeps his circle small. Ray's someone we can trust. He and Marcus are practically brothers… along with one other."
"Is that so?" Victor said, his expression unreadable.
"Wait—what do you mean by 'the other one'?" Madison asked, confusion flickering across her face.
"Marcus has two best friends he considers brothers," Alex explained. "Whatever plan Marcus makes, the other two are usually part of it. You've already met Ray, and I'm assuming Marcus brought Jessy with him. Ray wouldn't tell me where Marcus is, though—just that they're on a mission."
Victor smiled faintly as he listened, already forming a plan in his mind when Alex mentioned the word brothers. "So, this Ray… he doesn't trust you?" he asked.
"From the looks of things, that's about right," Alex replied. His eyes glimmered for a brief moment—something only Victor and Daniel noticed.
Behind Alex's calm smile, darker thoughts stirred: When Marcus returns, I'll have my revenge. Victor… you'll pay for what you did.
Victor seemed to sense it but stayed silent. His gaze drifted to Madison, who met his eyes with a knowing look. An unspoken understanding passed between them.
Then Madison broke the silence. "Do you trust him?" she asked quietly.
"I trust Marcus," Alex said without hesitation. "In this world, he's the most trustworthy person left."
But deep down, he couldn't ignore the possibility that Marcus might have changed. If that really happens, Alex thought, then I'll do whatever it takes to protect my family. His eyes briefly flicked toward Sofia, who sat quietly, saying nothing. No matter what happens, Family come's first.
At that moment, the door burst open.
Nick stepped inside, his cheerful voice breaking the tension. "What's with the gloomy atmosphere in here?" he asked, followed closely by Alicia, Chris, Angel, Ofelia—and Ray.
Ray glanced at Victor before speaking. "We've already checked the area," he said calmly.
"What?" Travis blurted out, turning his gaze sharply toward Victor.
Daniel frowned. "Wait—what did you tell them to do, Victor?"
Victor leaned back slightly, his expression composed. "Relax. They're teenagers. Naturally, they won't attract much attention. People would just assume they're out having fun."
The others stared at him—some surprised, others visibly annoyed.
"So you sent the kids to do reconnaissance?" Sofia said with a mocking laugh. "Wow, what a responsible adult you are."
Victor ignored her jab. "Stop blaming me. Aren't you all at least curious about what they found out?"
Daniel sighed. "Fine. What did you find out?"
Ofelia stepped forward a little. "Well… the people here seem nice. They even helped us look around the place," she said, smiling slightly.
"Yeah, yeah, that's true," Angel added quickly, nodding.
Ray then said, "Also, funny enough—the acting leader here has the same name as me."
That earned a few chuckles from the group, easing the tension for a moment.
Chris spoke next. "This place is called the Federation. They use a currency system called units. People earn them through different jobs."
"A working economy, huh?" Travis muttered, sounding both impressed and cautious.
Nick suddenly jumped in with enthusiasm. "Yeah, and the highest-paying job is being a soldier! So me and the others were thinking about joining!"
"What?!" the adults exclaimed in unison, their voices echoing through the room.
-------------
🌟 Want to support the story even more?
You can join my Patreon for special perks and to help keep the story alive:
👉 patreon.com/xavien1