The Spare's Second Chance in Apocalypse-Chapter 279: Ch 278: Angry Rage - Part 2

Zara shook her head slowly.

"You really don’t get it, do you?"

She didn’t wait for an answer.

"I need time to cool off. Don’t follow me.""

She said, voice sharp.

Then she stormed past him, heading for the door.

As she stepped into the hallway, the kids were still waiting—Orion, Nora, and Noah. Their eyes went wide the moment they saw her.

"Zara? Is everything... okay?"

Orion asked, reaching out instinctively, his voice uncertain.

But Zara didn’t even look at him. Her eyes were fixed ahead, shoulders stiff, pace unchanging.

She walked right past them like they weren’t even there.

Noah glanced at Nora with a worried look. Orion’s hand slowly lowered, his expression hurt, confused.

They all turned toward Ethan, who finally stepped out of the room behind her.

Orion was the first to speak. freeωebnovēl.c૦m

"What happened?"

Ethan exhaled, not meeting their eyes.

"It’s fine. Don’t worry about it."

He said.

"But—"

Noah started.

"I said it’s fine."

Ethan cut in, his voice cool and final.

That didn’t ease their worries. If anything, it made them worse.

But none of them pressed further. Nora gave Orion a gentle pat on the arm and said softly,

"Let’s just give her space for now."

Orion nodded slowly, though he kept glancing toward the door Zara had disappeared through.

Ethan didn’t say another word as he walked back to Selene’s room and shut the door behind him.

The weight of everything that had just been said hung heavy in the air. And though no one voiced it, the fracture between them all had just become that much harder to ignore.

Ethan stepped into Selene’s room in silence, his face weary, his shoulders tense with the weight of everything that had happened.

He looked at her—still unconscious, her breaths shallow but even—and slowly made his way to the bed.

He sank onto the edge beside her, his body giving in to the exhaustion.

He reached out and took her hand in his, cradling it gently between both of his palms. Her skin was cold. Too cold.

"What the hell am I doing wrong? Why is everything just... falling apart?""

he muttered, barely above a whisper.

There was no answer. Just Selene’s stillness.

Ethan pressed her hand to his forehead, closing his eyes.

He stayed like that for a moment—long enough for the exhaustion to creep into his bones and start pulling him under.

He let out a quiet sigh and slumped sideways, resting against the bedframe, Selene’s hand still in his.

Just as he started to doze off, the door creaked open behind him.

Ethan didn’t even look up.

"What is it?"

Orion’s voice followed, soft but serious.

"Are you... going after Zara?"

Ethan opened his eyes and glanced at the boy.

"No. She needs time. Let her cool off first. She’ll come back when she’s ready."

Orion looked unsure, his lips pressed into a tight line. He stared at Selene for a second, then back at Ethan.

"She looked really upset."

"I know. But trying to force anything right now will only make it worse. Just trust me."

Ethan leaned back, running a hand down his face.

Orion didn’t seem satisfied, but he nodded anyway and backed out of the room.

______

Zara, on the other hand, had stormed out with fire in her veins and no destination in mind.

Her boots thudded against the concrete as she wandered the city, letting her rage carry her through one block, then another, then another. She clenched her jaw, fists tight by her sides.

She wasn’t even sure what she was angriest about—Ethan, the dungeon, the kids, or herself.

Eventually, the adrenaline began to fade, replaced by a dull ache in her legs and a sinking realization: she had no clue where she was.

Her surroundings were unfamiliar. She turned in place once, twice, hoping something would jog her memory. Nothing.

"Great. Where the hell am I?"

She muttered, pulling out her phone. She opened the GPS and waited for it to load, but just as the map flickered on-screen, something prickled the back of her neck.

Someone was watching her.

Zara’s eyes narrowed.

She turned sharply, weapon already half-drawn, ready to swing—

But her hand froze mid-air.

Standing a few feet away, hands in her coat pockets, was none other than Isabelle Thorne. Her smirk was casual, almost amused.

"Woah!! Close one. You almost took my head off."

Isabelle said.

Zara didn’t lower her weapon.

"Why are you following me?"

Isabelle tilted her head.

"Wasn’t following. Just saw an angry girl with no direction and thought maybe she needed a little... fun."

Zara’s grip tightened.

"I’m not in the mood for games. What do you want?"

Before Isabelle could respond, a new voice entered the scene.

"That’s enough, Isabelle."

Zara turned to see Madam Varta stepping out from the shadows of a nearby alley. Her voice was calm. Cold.

"Zara. It’s alright. Our meeting tonight was always meant to happen"

She said.

Zara raised a brow.

"Predetermined, huh? You expect me to believe that?""

She scoffed.

"I don’t expect you to believe anything. But I do expect you to listen. You’re smart enough to know that everything happens for a reason... even your little outburst."

Madam Varta replied smoothly.

Zara didn’t put her weapon away, but she wasn’t swinging anymore.

"So talk."

Varta smiled faintly, her eyes gleaming in the dim city light.

"You’ve outgrown your place in Ethan’s shadow. And you know it. You don’t belong at his side—you never did. But with me, you could carve your own path."

She said.

Zara didn’t say anything.

"You’re strong and resourceful. And I like people like you the most. They’re the ones who change things."

Zara’s eyes narrowed further.

"And if I say no?"

"Then you die. Sooner than you think."

Varta said simply.

Isabelle smiled behind her, like it was a joke, but her eyes were sharp.

Zara held her gaze for a long moment, heart pounding. Every instinct told her not to trust them. But she also knew she couldn’t ignore them.

Not yet.