54
There was definitely an issue within the base; otherwise, Levis Westwind couldn't have known these details so well.
There were too many coincidences today.
The horde dispersed, and we were brought over immediately.
If it had been a day later, Zenith Franklin would have likely noticed the discrepancy in the number of corpses downstairs and tightened the base's security measures.
Facing a surprise attack wouldn't have left us as passive as we are now.
Emotions only make people weak.
I wiped away my tears.
I had to find a way to root out the culprit.
Who could it be?
The first-floor back door was supposedly locked, yet Levis Westwind could come and go freely.
Could it be Ethan Jackson who tampered with it?
Or... Emily?
If she hadn't brought us here, this plan wouldn't have been possible.
But she was just an implementer; everyone in the base knew we were coming.
So, the one who suggested it might be the real mastermind.
Watching her weep uncontrollably next to Uncle Grant, I subconsciously didn't want to believe she was the instigator of this massacre.
Could it be Hudson Blake?
That didn't make sense either...
Most importantly, why would these base members have any reason to work for Levis Westwind?
Even if they encountered him by chance while out and told him everything to save their lives, once they returned to the base, they had no reason to continue obeying him.
"Captain, don't go down there," Ethan said. "He can't do anything to us. This platform is easy to defend and hard to attack; we can hold out for a long time."
"He's right," someone agreed. "If they had a way in, they'd have broken through already. There's no need to waste words with us."
The rooftop door had been reinforced after the last attack, with thick steel plates added to both sides.
Unlike doors with simple locks that could be broken with a couple of shots, the base lock used iron bolts. Unless the entire door was destroyed, those invaders couldn't get onto the rooftop.
Zenith Franklin nodded and began distributing weapons.
Four rifles, two handguns. The bullets were very limited.
Anne, Chris, Ethan, and Emily were each given a weapon.
I was also handed a handgun.
Zenith didn't give Hudson Blake a weapon.
Maybe he had also realized there was an issue within the base.
The gunfire downstairs had stopped.
Given the limited ammunition, they knew better than to waste it on meaningless displays.
Uncle Grant's death cast a shadow over everyone.
The day was bright, and we waited in silence for Levis Westwind's next move.
Suddenly, the air filled with a burning smell.
"What's that smell..." Anne coughed.
Black smoke billowed from the back of the warehouse.
"Fire!" someone exclaimed.
Zenith immediately stood up to check.
I peeked out to see.
Through the glass door leading to the mall, flames roared, and thick smoke poured out. The shattered glass offered no barrier.
"The fire on the fifth floor is severe," Zenith's face was blackened with soot when he returned. "I don't know the situation on the other floors."
"It shouldn't spread so fast," Chris glanced at the fire. "Did they use an accelerant?"
"What do you plan to do now?" Anne looked at Zenith worriedly.
"While the building hasn't caught entirely, go down and put out the fire," he grabbed a fire extinguisher from the warehouse.
I felt a headache; this was walking into a trap.
Levis Westwind was using threats and fire to force us out.
Going down was the worst option.
Zenith decisively assigned tasks, "You all stay here. The fire on the fifth floor is intense; there probably won't be anyone inside. I can handle it alone."
"Are you kidding?" Anne frowned. "If you go, we go together."
"No. You all stay here. Follow orders."
"What's this about?" Anne picked up two fire extinguishers from the ground. "I'm not your soldier."
"You—" Zenith scratched his head in frustration.
"Captain," Chris interrupted their argument, "You can't persuade her. Let's all go together."
I nodded.
Zenith couldn't hide on the rooftop, gambling with the lives of the base members.
Anne wouldn't agree to let him go alone to put out the fire.
And I, knowing it's the worst option, would still stand with Anne if she decided to go.
"Emily, Ethan. You two handle things up here."
Zenith stopped hesitating and packed a military backpack.
"Captain..." Emily hung her head, the words of persuasion never coming out.
With a creak, the iron door opened.