If Sierra Sullivan hadn’t been so confident in the walkie-talkie’s quality, she would’ve thought it was broken.

Just as Sierra Sullivan was about to give up and get out of the car with Jayce and the others, a voice finally came through the walkie-talkie.

"Ah, Sierra Sullivan!"

’That’s not Nathan Thorne’s voice!’

’It’s a woman’s voice!’

’A very familiar woman’s voice, at that.’

Even though she hadn’t heard it in a long time, Sierra Sullivan recognized the speaker the instant she heard the voice.

’It’s Autumn Lynch’s voice!’

’Why does Autumn Lynch have Nathan Thorne’s walkie-talkie?’

’It looks like my earlier suspicions were right. This business with raising zombies is definitely connected to Autumn Lynch.’

’No!’

’I can say for certain now. Autumn Lynch is absolutely behind this!’

’But still, why does Autumn Lynch have Nathan’s walkie-talkie?’

’What’s happened to Nathan Thorne?’

"Why the silence?"

Autumn Lynch’s voice came through the walkie-talkie again.

Though the voice was as gentle as she remembered, hearing it sent goosebumps breaking out all over Sierra’s body.

It was like the sound of a snake slithering across the ground, a hair-raising, rustling hiss.

Or the sound of a snake flicking its tongue as it fixed its gaze on its prey.

"I don’t remember you being the type to hold your tongue."

"What’s wrong? Gone timid all of a sudden?"

"You just said you were outside the complex, right? So, are you coming in, or are you turning tail and leaving?"

"He’s your friend, isn’t he? Looks like you’re pretty loyal after all, rushing all the way over here for a friend. Since you’ve come this far, why not come in and take a look?"

"I’ll give you twenty minutes. If you don’t show up, I’m afraid these friends of yours will just have to become zombies!"

"Sierra Sullivan... oh wait, no. *Cousin*. It’s been so long since we’ve seen each other, and I’ve missed you *so* much! I truly can’t wait to see you! I was just thinking that if I wanted a reunion, I’d have to come find you myself. I never expected you to deliver yourself right to my doorstep."

"Wouldn’t you know it, we’re just like sisters, thinking the exact same thing. Great minds, right?"

"Alright, we can save the rest for when we meet in person. I’m starting the clock... now. The rest is up to you!"

The walkie-talkie went silent. Not another sound came through.

So quiet, it was as if it had never made a sound at all.

Dominic Crawford knew of Autumn Lynch; they had met a few times.

He knew there was some friction between Autumn Lynch and Sierra Sullivan.

But from the sounds of it, this went far beyond simple friction.

They were practically mortal enemies!

Dominic Crawford hesitated for a moment before finally speaking up.

"Sierra, you heard her. Autumn Lynch clearly means us harm. Who knows what she has waiting for us inside... She knows this place better than we do. If we go in blindly, we’ll be at a complete disadvantage... Maybe we should..."

Dominic Crawford trailed off.

He didn’t have to finish. Everyone knew what he was suggesting.

Of course, Sierra Sullivan knew Dominic Crawford was just looking out for her.

But whether it was her own feud with Autumn Lynch or Nathan Thorne’s safety, she couldn’t just turn her back and leave.

If she did, she would never live in peace, no matter how safe she was or how long she lived.

"Mr. Crawford, I know you mean well," Sierra Sullivan said, giving Dominic Crawford a small smile. "But no matter what, I have to go in."

"I’m going with Sierra," Jayce said at once. "Mr. Crawford, all of you, this doesn’t really concern you. The situation has changed, so the plan has to change. You all should just wait out here. And don’t wait too long. If we’re not out in an hour, just leave!"

The moment Dominic Crawford heard that, he felt a strange sense of déjà vu.

’Jayce had said those exact words before!’

’After all this time, Jayce was still saying the same thing!’

Anger surged in Dominic Crawford’s chest once more.

"Jayce, I thought you were my friend! What do you take me for? Some coward who’s afraid to die? Let me tell you something. The moment I decided to come out here with you, I put my life on the line. Today, no matter what you say, I’m going in! Even if you try to leave me behind, I’ll go in on my own!"

Dominic Crawford spoke with absolute conviction.

The others reacted much the same.

For people like them, every day they stayed alive was a day won.

They couldn’t just let Jayce and Sierra Sullivan go in alone out of fear, could they?

If that was the case, what was the point of even leaving the base?

They might as well have just turtled up in the base, living one day at a time. Why bother venturing out at all?

Sierra Sullivan’s gaze swept over each of their faces, and her heart swelled with emotion.

In the apocalypse, having people willing to face life and death with you, to stand by your side through thick and thin, was something truly to be cherished.

"Thank you, everyone," Sierra Sullivan said with genuine sincerity.

Only then did Dominic Crawford break into a satisfied smile. But he still said, "Nothing to thank us for! It’s what we’re supposed to do! Time’s wasting, let’s go!"

The time Autumn Lynch had given them was limited.

Now that they had decided to go in, they couldn’t afford to waste any more time.

Otherwise, it would be a cruel joke to get inside only to find they’d run out of time.

The group did a final check of their gear, and once everything was confirmed, they filed out of the vehicle.

Autumn Lynch had said she would be waiting for them on the tenth floor of Building One.

Time was tight, but the group still moved with extreme caution.

The sand on the ground was getting thicker, but they couldn’t be sure if the ground beneath it was solid.

If there were hollow spaces underneath, one wrong step could be disastrously dangerous.

It took them a full ten minutes to finally reach Building One.

Factoring in the three minutes they’d spent in the vehicle after the call, that left them with only seven minutes.

Sierra Sullivan exhaled slowly. "Seven minutes. Enough to get to the tenth floor!"

They were all Superpower Users. Their Superpowers enhanced their physical bodies, making them naturally faster than ordinary people.

Climbing ten floors wouldn’t take them very long at all.

’Still, it can’t be that simple,’ Sierra thought.

’Autumn Lynch clearly wanted her dead.’

’Would she really let them reach the tenth floor so easily?’

"Everyone, be careful," Sierra Sullivan warned.

With that, she was the first one on the stairs.

Jayce followed close behind Sierra Sullivan.

He trusted Sierra’s abilities. He knew she could handle threats from the front. But he had to stay behind her, to guard her back and make sure no danger could sneak up on her.

They made it from the first to the fifth floor without incident, and it only took a minute.

But just as they were about to continue upward, they suddenly heard a door creak open.