[1] Apocalypse: Third Rebirth

Chapter 168: I'm Not A Hero

"What are we going to do with them?" asked Liu Yu Zeng, tilting his head in the direction of the cages with the girls in them.

"Leave them," replied Wang Chao. Something was off about this whole thing, he just couldn't figure out what it was.

"How can you just leave them?" demanded Yu Xue Yang forgetting that he was not in the position to be making demands on anyone. In fact, the only reason why he was even untied from the chair was only because it was a 3 on 1 situation and Wang Chao was not concerned about being on the losing end.

"It's cold outside. They aren't dressed for winter," explained Wang Chao as if that was the reason instead of the fact that he didn't want to bother with them until Li Dai Lu let him know one way or another what she wanted done.

"You could at least let them out of the cages," snapped Yu Xue Yang.

"Why?" asked Liu Yu Zeng, a slight smirk on his face. "Where would they go?"

"They can at least get a shower and a good night's sleep."

"If we let them out of the cages, then the standing order is to kill them. Are you trying to get them killed? Because there are a lot more humane ways of doing it than giving them false hope," the smile on Liu Yu Zeng's never wavered for a second. However, it was his words that stunned Yu Xue Yang. "What do you mean?"

"We are here for supplies, anyone found is to be considered a threat and is to be eliminated as such," answered Chen Zi Han, using his knife to clean dirt out from under his fingernails. He didn't even bother to look up when he spoke.

"And you consider them a threat?" scoffed Yu Xue Yang.

"If not right this moment then potentially in the future," replied Chen Zi Han with a shrug of his shoulders. He was here to support Li Dai Lu, nothing more, nothing less. As far as he was concerned, the fate of everyone in City J was hers to decide.

"You are crazy," exclaimed Yu Xue Yang turning to look at Wang Chao. "You know he is crazy right?!?"

"No, he is just really good at following orders," said Wang Chao, contradicting the other man.

"Whatever," sneered Yu Xue Yang as he tried to brush past Wang Chao and head to the stairs. He would let the Rear Admiral know what was going on and he could bring the General to heel. The sound of a safety unlatching stopped him dead in his tracks, his foot just hovering over the first step.

"There appears to be an empty cage, just for you," smiled Liu Yu Zeng as he pointed his 9mm at Yu Xue Yang. Chen Zi Han walked up to the man that thought he was free to leave and, grabbing his shoulder and his arm, led him to his...room... for the night.

"You are supposed to be better than this," sneered Yu Xue Yang as he was dragged away from the stairs. "You are supposed to be a hero, a legend in both the Navy and the Ground Forces, and yet... here you are... just another piece of scum."

Wang Chao held up his hand and Chen Zi Han stopped. Walking over to the man that was struggling in the grasp of his friend, Wang Chao leaned down until he was face to face with the other man. "Why on Earth would you think that I was the hero of this story?" he asked, using an expression that he had heard many times in Li Dai Lu's head.

The other man stared at him, shocked. "But-but," he started, his mind pulling a complete blank on what to say next.

"I am more than happy to watch the world burn," Wang Chao whispered softly in the ear of Yu Xue Yang. "And if that makes me the villain, then so be it."

*****

I felt my world tip and turn, but then I took in a deep breath and smelled him. "Liu Wei," I groaned, not knowing if I was talking out loud on in my head. "Hush, Sweetheart," he murmured in my ear, his chest vibrating against my cheek. "We are just going to move you to a different house and then get you all tucked in for bed. Are you doing alright?"