Doomsday Rebirth: I Rip Apart the Cheating Couple

The breach in the safe room was patched up for now, but everyone knew it wouldn't last for long.

I reached out to steady Audrey. "Mom, I'm going with you!"

I glanced at the blood on the floor. My voice was firm. "Everyone's counting on us. If we push through, we still have a shot!"

Audrey looked at me for a long moment, then finally nodded. I helped her along as we moved forward. A zombie had torn off her left arm, and blood was pouring out of her.

"Once we get over this ridge… we're almost there…"

From halfway up the mountain, we could already make out the outline of the distant base. Hope flickered back to life. And then…

A flare shell exploded right in front of us. The blast wave slammed into us, sending us flying.

I looked up in shock. Through the haze, I could make out Quinton with his arm around Madeline. A second later, his voice boomed from the loudspeakers on the hilltop, dripping with mockery.

"Just as I predicted, Selene. Your little act didn't work, so now you're forcing your way through, huh?"

His tone turned cold. "I knew you wouldn't give up and that you'd come to ruin Maddie's birthday. Not today, Selene. I won't let you get what you want."

The bombardment grew heavier. Blast after blast shook the slope. Blood poured even faster from the stump of Audrey's left arm.

"Mom, tell Quinton it's you!"

She forced every bit of strength she had into a scream toward the hilltop. "It's me, Quinton!"

There was a brief pause up there. Then, Quinton's laughter rang out again, this time louder and more unhinged. From this distance, he was just a silhouette.

"You really went all out just to ruin Maddie's birthday, Selene. When getting my mom to talk me down over the comms didn't work, you hired someone to act? My mom, missing an arm—you think I'd fall for that? Stop trying to fool me!"

At that, Audrey trembled with rage. "I am your goddamn mother! Can you not even recognize my voice anymore?"

A flicker of hesitation crossed Quinton's face.

Beside him, Madeline quickly grabbed his sleeve. Her voice was soft and aggrieved. "Q, I know Selene has never liked me. Maybe we should just skip the birthday party tonight and go back. It's fine. I'm used to being treated like this, anyway…"

At that, Quinton's expression softened instantly before slowly twisting into anger. "Keep going!"

At his command, more flare shells rained down, cutting off every possible route in and out. The night sky above us grew heavier, almost suffocating.

"We don't have much time. I'll hold them here—you go!" Audrey said, grabbing my shoulders tightly. "You must bring back reinforcements! Everyone's waiting for you to save them!"

Before I could respond, she shoved me away and forced herself forward toward the hilltop where her son stood. I rushed after her, trying to pull her back. "Mom, they don't even recognize you. You'll die!"

From the hilltop, Quinton's cold voice came again. "Selene, if you're dead set on ruining Maddie's birthday, even if it means sacrificing your life, then by all means, I'll grant your wish."

A rocket launcher was already on his shoulder, aimed straight at me. In the next second, a massive flare shell screamed through the air toward me.

"Watch out, Selene!"

Audrey lunged at me and knocked me to the ground, shielding me with her broken, bloodied body.

The explosion nearly shattered my eardrums.

Thick sticky blood splattered across my face. Audrey's body collapsed on top of me. Her back had been torn open by the blast. A massive gaping wound started oozing blood nonstop.

My hands trembled as I reached for her. She was still warm.

I shook her slightly, but there was no response at all. A broken wail tore out of me.

"Mom!"