It's the End of the World as We Know it (Silent Moments Series: Book 4)

Chapter 7

 Amidst the hum of activity and underlying tension in the camp, I briefed the guards, pointing to specific locations on the map where Jaha had recommended police deployment. The camp was alive with a mix of purpose and anxiety, a reflection of our precarious situation. Seeking a brief escape from the overwhelming pressure of planning for the end of times, I followed the sounds emanating from the heart of the camp. The scene that unfolded before me was both unexpected and somewhat comical. Jaha, our former Chancellor and the man responsible for sending us to the ground, was amusingly stranded in the middle of the lake, courtesy of Jasper's mischief. It was a rare moment of levity in our otherwise grim reality.

Jaha, trying to maintain his dignity, shouted from his precarious position, "Huh. Keeping yourself busy, Mr. Jordan?"

Jasper, clearly enjoying the moment, retorted with a mischievous glint in his eye, "Oh, I'm living it up. Every last day."

Jaha, curious yet apprehensive, asked, "Do I want to know how you managed to do this without waking me up?"

Jasper's response was playful yet tinged with a hint of defiance. "Oh probably not. The effects are harmless, I promise, kinda."

Observing the scene, I couldn't help but smile at the irony and Jasper's spirit. "All right. We've had our fun, let's get back to work," I said, signaling an end to the brief respite and a return to our grim reality.

As I walked back towards the guards, Monty approached me, his expression a mix of concern and curiosity. "What's with the 'we're all gonna die' face?" he asked, then quickly amended, "I mean..."

I let out a sigh, the anxiety and uncertainty of our situation weighing heavily on me. "I know what you mean. Bellamy should be back by now."

Monty offered a calming perspective. "Hunting parties go radio silent. It's nothing new," he reassured me. "What else?"

Opening up, I shared my sense of helplessness. "I just feel useless. I'm stuck here in case anyone needs a cut bandaged, supervising the backup plan when I should be going to the island with everyone else to make Nightblood," I confessed, my frustration evident.

Monty, ever the optimist and friend, lightened the mood with a gentle tease. "Kegan. You're definitely not a geneticist," he said with a half-smile.

I couldn't help but counter, "Neither is Abby," feeling the sting of not being more directly involved in the critical mission.

Monty's confidence in our team was unwavering. "Yeah, you're right. But they have Raven. Genetic code, computer code. They'll figure it out," he said, his optimism a comforting balm to my worries.

I was serious, though. "Monty, I'm serious," I insisted, my voice tinged with concern.

Monty's response was both reassuring and realistic. "So am I. If Jaha's right and Becca created Nightblood there, they'll find her records. All they'll have to do is reverse engineer it from Luna. They'll save everyone's lives," he said, his belief in our friends' abilities clear in his tone.

His words were a source of comfort, yet the shadow of the impending radiation hung over us. "Only if they can get it done before the radiation gets here," I replied, my voice carrying the weight of our uncertain future.

In that moment, Monty's unwavering optimism was a much-needed counterbalance to the pragmatic and sometimes pessimistic view that had taken hold of me. His ability to maintain hope amidst our grim reality was a testament to the strength and resilience of the human spirit. His presence, his belief in a better outcome, was a reminder that even in the darkest of times, hope could find a way to shine through.