Chapter 58: Chapter 58: When You Can’t Save Someone, Respect Their Fate

’Can’t carry them?’

Hearing the phrase, Sierra Sullivan felt a little strange.

’That’s a weird way to put it.’

Before Sierra could dwell on it, Dominic Crawford had already started walking toward the old man.

"Sir, are your family members hungry or sick?" Dominic asked without breaking stride. "We have food and medicine. Don’t worry. Now that we’re here, we’ll definitely get all of you to the base safely!"

Hearing this, the old man’s eyes welled with tears of gratitude. He nodded vigorously. "Yes, yes, good! I knew it! I knew the government wouldn’t abandon us common folk! We’ve waited so long, and you’re finally here!"

The old man’s gait was unsteady, and he walked rather slowly.

Dominic could only lead his team and follow behind him.

Sierra quickened her pace slightly and soon caught up to Dominic’s side.

Just then, the old man walked through his front door.

Sierra and Dominic were about to follow him in but stopped dead in their tracks.

Even through their masks, the putrid stench of decay was all-pervasive, assaulting their nostrils.

The moment she smelled it, Sierra gagged reflexively, nearly throwing up her breakfast.

’What is that smell!’

’It can’t be...’

A suspicion formed in Sierra’s mind.

She didn’t want to believe it, but she knew her suspicion was probably correct.

Turning to look at Dominic, she could faintly see his eyes behind his goggles grow grim.

Clearly, the same thought had crossed Dominic’s mind.

The old man had already been inside for a little while.

Seeing Sierra and the others still outside, he started to hurry them along.

"What are you doing standing at the door! Come on in! Hurry and get my family to the vehicle. We can finally go to the base and live a good life!"

Sierra tried her best to ignore the smell in the air and finally stepped inside.

She had to see with her own eyes whether the reality matched her suspicion.

Once inside, the foul odor was even more pronounced.

Three bodies were lying on the living room sofa.

They were so decomposed that their original features were unrecognizable.

But from their clothing, it was clear one of them was likely the old man’s wife.

The other two were a young man and woman, perhaps his son and daughter, or his son and daughter-in-law.

The old man seemed completely unaware that they were corpses. He walked over, sat down on the sofa, and smiled.

"See? I told you the government wouldn’t abandon us. They’re here to rescue us now, aren’t they? You all should stop sleeping. Get up, let’s pack our things and go to the base! These people came all this way, through so much trouble. We can’t make them carry you to the vehicle!"

The old man’s voice was filled with a mix of exasperation and affection, as if he were truly making small talk with his family.

But he was facing three highly decomposed corpses that could never respond to him.

After muttering for a while, the old man gave a helpless smile and turned to Sierra and the others. "They’re a little tired. Once they fall asleep, you can’t wake them. Please don’t mind them!"

Hearing the old man’s words, even though Sierra had always tried to be more detached, she felt her eyes begin to sting.

A heavy lump formed in her chest, making it hard to breathe, like a wad of cotton she could neither spit out nor swallow.

Although Dominic Crawford was a big man, he couldn’t help but choke up at the scene.

"Sir," Dominic took a deep breath. "They’re already gone. Please, come with us."

"Gone?"

The old man looked up, his vacant gaze slowly clearing.

As he looked at the bodies on the sofa again, tears welled in his eyes.

"That’s right... They’re all gone."

"I’m not going! I’m not going either!"

"They’re all gone. There’s no point in me living anymore."

"You’re here for the rescue mission, right? Then you should hurry on. I’m so sorry! I was confused just now. I’ve wasted your time."

Hearing the old man’s words, Dominic’s brow furrowed tightly. "Sir, those who have passed are gone, but the living must go on! You should still come with us."

"No!" The old man shook his head repeatedly. "I know things are tough at the base, and I don’t blame you. I’m old, my health is poor, and I can’t do much of anything. I’d just be a burden if I went to the base. It’s better to stay here with them. At least... our family can be together, whole, until the end."

The room fell silent. No one spoke.

Someone let out a choked sob, which only made the ache in everyone’s heart more profound.

Dominic wanted to try persuading him again, but the old man closed his eyes. He had clearly made up his mind and wouldn’t change it, no matter what anyone said.

Once a person makes a firm decision, nothing anyone else says will matter.

Jayce stepped forward. "Captain Crawford, let it be."

As he spoke, Jayce opened his backpack, took out all the food and water inside, and placed it on the table.

It wasn’t much, but it was all he could do to leave these for the old man.

The old man seemed to hear the sound and slowly opened his eyes.

He looked at the items on the table, then glanced at Jayce, and tears suddenly glistened in his cloudy old eyes.

"Go on now."

The old man waved his hand.

"When you leave, please close the door for me."

The team members filed out one by one, with Sierra the last to leave.

At the doorway, Sierra turned her head for one last look.

The old man was gazing at his three family members on the sofa with a look of profound, lingering affection.

Seeing this, Sierra’s eyes stung, and she almost broke down in tears.

She quickly averted her gaze, walked out of the room, and closed the door behind her.

With the click of the closing door, the inside and outside were completely cut off from each other, becoming two separate worlds.

Sierra didn’t know if that door would ever be opened again, and she didn’t want to think about it.

’Save people when you can. When you can’t, respect their fate.’

Jayce looked at the group. "Alright, stop dwelling on it! We don’t have much time. We have to be back at the base before dark!"

They were out here to rescue survivors, not to get themselves killed.

Regardless of anyone else, they had to return to the base before nightfall.

Hearing Jayce’s words, the team members gradually pulled themselves together.

Jayce’s actions and demeanor might have seemed cold and heartless, but everyone knew deep down that he wasn’t wrong.

There was very little they could do in the first place.

Dominic took the lead, heading upstairs with the team.

This building had two apartments per floor, served by a single staircase.

On every floor, they would have to knock on doors to check if there were any more survivors inside.