Vampire Overlord's Harem In The Apocalypse-Chapter 80: Blood (Part 2)

Simon didn’t look at her as he replied. "We have to."

The weight of his words hung between them, unspoken but understood. Failure wasn’t an option — not for him.

The final crate was the heaviest yet, and Leo was visibly struggling as he and Bethany carried it toward the car.

Simon stepped forward to meet them halfway, grabbing one end and helping hoist it into the trunk.

"That’s it," Bethany said, her breath coming in short bursts. She wiped a bead of sweat from her brow, her eyes darting toward the compound. "We’re clear."

Simon slammed the trunk shut with a decisive thud. "Get in."

The team piled into the car without hesitation. Simon slid into the driver’s seat, Bethany beside him, and Leo and Rita squeezed into the back.

The moment the doors clicked shut, Simon started the engine, the low growl of the motor cutting through the oppressive quiet.

"Keep your heads down," Simon ordered as he eased the car forward, navigating the narrow alley that led away from the compound.

The floodlights swept over the road as they drove, but Simon kept to the shadows, his grip steady on the wheel.

The car’s tires crunched softly against the cracked pavement, and the tension in the air was palpable.

As they finally merged onto a larger, darker street, Bethany let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. "We’re clear," she said, her voice quieter now, almost disbelieving.

"For now," Simon replied, his eyes fixed on the road ahead.

The silence in the car was heavy as they drove through the desolate streets of the city. The crates in the trunk rattled faintly with every bump, a constant reminder of their haul.

"So, what’s the plan with all this?" Bethany asked after a while, breaking the quiet.

Simon’s jaw tightened as he considered his words. "We keep what we need. Enough ammo to last us for months. The rest — we sell."

"Sell?" Rita asked, her voice skeptical.

Simon glanced at her in the rearview mirror. "You think we’re the only ones who need weapons? There are plenty of groups out there who’ll pay a fortune for what we’ve got. Supplies like this don’t come cheap."

Leo frowned. "You’re planning to arm other groups? Isn’t that risky? What if they use it against us?"

"They might," Simon said bluntly. "But that’s a risk I’m willing to take. We need the resources more than we need a stockpile of guns we can’t use all at once."

Bethany turned to him, her expression unreadable. "And what happens when those groups get too strong? When they think they can take us out to get what we have?"

Simon met her gaze, his own steely and unyielding. "Then we’ll deal with them. Just like we dealt with Grayson."

The weight of his words settled over the car, silencing any further protests.

"Chaos is inevitable," Simon said, his tone flat. "The only thing that matters is making sure we’re the ones who survive it."

The conversation died after that, each of them lost in their own thoughts as the city passed by in a blur of darkened buildings and flickering streetlights.

The car sped through the dimly lit streets, its engine a low growl against the quiet of the night. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Simon gripped the steering wheel tightly, his eyes flicking between the road ahead and the rearview mirror.

Bethany sat in the passenger seat, her gaze locked on the side mirror as she scanned for any signs of pursuit.

In the back seat, Leo and Rita crouched low, their hands resting on the crates of stolen weapons crammed into the trunk and footwell.

For a brief, fragile moment, it felt like they might actually get away clean.

"That went smoother than I expected," Leo muttered, his voice low.

Bethany snorted softly. "Don’t jinx it."

Simon didn’t join the exchange. His focus was razor-sharp, his mind already running through contingency plans.

The road stretched out before them, empty save for the occasional flicker of a broken streetlight. But something felt off — a tightness in the air that he couldn’t shake.

Then, in the distance, the sharp wail of an alarm split the night.

"Damn it," Simon hissed under his breath.

"They noticed," Bethany said, her voice tight. She twisted in her seat to glance back at the compound, now a shrinking silhouette in the rearview mirror.

"We’re out of their range," Leo said, though he didn’t sound convinced.

Simon’s knuckles whitened as he gripped the wheel. "Not for long. Everyone, brace yourselves."

As if on cue, the faint roar of engines grew louder, cutting through the night. Bethany’s eyes narrowed as she spotted headlights in the distance, weaving through the streets with alarming speed.

"Bikes," she said. "They’re coming."

Simon’s jaw tightened. "Of course they are."

The guards weren’t just chasing them — they were hunting them. The bikes were fast, built for maneuverability in the narrow streets. And worse, the riders were armed.

"We can’t outrun them," Rita said, panic creeping into her voice.

Simon’s voice was cold, calculated. "We don’t have to outrun them. We just have to make it harder for them to keep up."

The first gunshot cracked through the night, shattering the tension like glass. The sound jolted everyone in the car.

"They’re shooting!" Leo shouted, ducking instinctively.

"No kidding!" Bethany snapped. She turned to Simon, her expression fierce. "What’s the plan?"

Simon didn’t answer immediately. He jerked the wheel, taking a sharp turn down a side street. The car skidded slightly, tires squealing against the pavement, but he corrected quickly.

"Keep them off us," he said.

Bethany raised an eyebrow. "With what? Harsh language?"

Simon’s eyes flicked to the backseat. "There’s a rifle in the crate. Use it."

Bethany didn’t hesitate. She twisted around and yanked the lid off one of the crates, pulling out a sleek rifle.

Leo grabbed a handful of ammo and handed it to her, his hands trembling slightly.

"Stay steady," Simon said, his tone harsh but steady. "We’ve got one shot at this."

Bethany rolled down her window, the night air rushing in and whipping her hair into her face. She ignored it, focusing instead on loading the rifle with quick, practiced movements.

The headlights of the bikes grew brighter, the riders closing the distance. Another shot rang out, this one striking the rear of the car with a metallic ping.

"Bethany!" Simon barked.

"I see them!" she snapped back. She leaned out of the window, bracing the rifle against the doorframe.

The first bike was less than ten feet away, the rider’s face obscured by a helmet. Bethany exhaled slowly, her finger tightening on the trigger.

The rifle kicked against her shoulder as she fired, the crack of the shot echoing through the street.

The bike swerved violently, the rider losing control. The machine skidded out, sparks flying as it crashed into a lamppost.

"One down," Bethany muttered, already lining up her next shot.

The remaining riders didn’t falter. If anything, they seemed angrier, their engines roaring as they closed the gap.

Bullets peppered the car, one shattering the rear windshield.

"Rita, keep down!" Leo shouted, shielding her with his arm as glass rained over them.

"Simon, they’re gaining!" Bethany yelled.

Simon gritted his teeth. He veered into another sharp turn, the tires screeching as the car narrowly avoided a parked truck.

The maneuver bought them a few seconds, but the bikes were relentless.

"Bethany, take the tires out!" Simon ordered.

"I’m trying!" she shot back, frustration lacing her tone.

She fired again, the shot grazing one of the bikes. The rider wobbled but managed to stay upright.

"They’re not amateurs," Leo said grimly.

"No kidding," Simon muttered.

Another burst of gunfire erupted, one of the bullets striking the side mirror and shattering it. Simon didn’t flinch, his focus unbroken.

"Rita, get in the other crate," he said suddenly.

"What?" Rita asked, her voice trembling.

"There’s a handgun in there," Simon said. "Use it."

Rita hesitated, her hands shaking.

"Rita!" Simon barked. "Now!"

The force in his voice jolted her into action. She pried open the crate and pulled out a small pistol, her fingers fumbling with the safety.

"Point and shoot," Bethany said, not looking away from her own target.

Rita nodded, swallowing hard as she leaned out of the opposite window. The gun felt foreign in her hands, but she gripped it tightly, aiming at the closest bike.

Her first shot went wide, the bullet striking the pavement.

"Again!" Simon shouted.

This time, she steadied herself. She squeezed the trigger, the recoil surprising her, but the shot found its mark. The bike skidded, the rider tumbling to the ground.

"Got him!" Rita exclaimed, a mix of shock and relief on her face.

"Good," Simon said. "Now keep going."

The remaining riders were relentless, their bullets riddling the car. Simon’s eyes darted to a narrow alley up ahead, just wide enough for the car but too tight for the bikes.

"Hold on," he said.

Without waiting for a response, he swerved into the alley. The car scraped against the walls, sparks flying as metal met concrete, but it fit.

The bikes screeched to a halt, the riders forced to dismount and continue on foot.

"Bethany, cover us," Simon said.

She leaned out of the window, firing at the dismounted riders. Two of them fell, their bodies crumpling to the ground, but the others pressed forward, firing back.

The car burst out of the alley and onto a larger street. Simon slammed the gas, putting as much distance as possible between them and their pursuers.

After several tense minutes, the sound of engines faded into the distance.

"Is everyone okay?" Simon asked, his voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through him.

"I think so," Rita said shakily, lowering the pistol.

Bethany slumped back into her seat, the rifle resting across her lap. "That was too close," she muttered.

Simon didn’t respond. His focus was on the road, his mind already calculating their next move.