Chapter 123: Relentless

"What’s going on outside?"

"A riot. Don’t go out yet. Let’s hide here for a bit." Evelyn Ford checked Wendy’s condition. Red spots had already appeared on her face, neck, and arms.

"It really is an allergic reaction. I have antibiotics here. Have her take one for now. The allergy shouldn’t be a problem."

Officer Graham was relieved. Evelyn introduced everyone. Dr. Miller had recovered from his shock, but Serena Lynch was still shaken.

"Chase Underwood must be worried sick about me. It’s all my fault. If I had just listened to him and rested for two days, I wouldn’t be trapped here." As she spoke, tears streamed down her face.

No one knew how to comfort her, but Evelyn shushed her, telling her to be quiet.

"Don’t attract the attention of the people outside."

Serena Lynch quickly covered her mouth and nodded, then whispered, "Sorry."

The five of them hid in the utility room for nearly three hours. When Evelyn felt enough time had passed, she opened the door, preparing to go out and check the situation.

She had only taken a few steps when a thick, metallic stench of blood hit her. Evelyn put on a second mask to block it out.

Besides the blood, there was nothing downstairs. No people, not even any bodies. The area was completely silent, except for the sticky pools of blood on the floor.

Evelyn heard a faint noise and walked toward the operating room next to her. Several cabinets were barricading the door from the inside. ’Looks like someone’s in there.’

Evelyn knocked on the door. There was no response. She coughed once, and the people inside immediately moved the cabinets away.

"Ford?"

"It’s me."

Evelyn recognized Dr. Lawrence’s voice. When the door opened, she saw a lot of people. Besides Dr. Lawrence and Dr. Wyatt, Rachel Xavier was there, along with several patients and even two security guards.

"What’s it like outside?"

"There’s no one."

Dr. Lawrence cautiously poked his head out. Seeing no one, he dared to step out.

"It was terrifying. Those people went completely insane and started attacking each other. Then a squad of people showed up. I saw them open fire and kill all the rioters."

"Open fire?" ’But I didn’t hear any gunshots.’

"They were silenced weapons. Then they dragged all the dead bodies away."

Evelyn glanced at the patients, who cowered in fear.

"Evelyn Ford?" Rachel Xavier called out uncertainly, then reached out to pull off Evelyn’s mask. Evelyn quickly dodged her.

"You’re Evelyn Ford? You really are Evelyn Ford! You recognized me earlier, didn’t you? Why didn’t you say anything? Evelyn, you actually became a doctor at the base? I thought you were dead."

Evelyn rolled her eyes internally but said nothing.

"Dr. Lawrence, I’m going to check the situation outside. If no one’s guarding the entrance, we should be able to leave."

"Hey, Evelyn..."

"Who do you think you are? Don’t bother Ford while she’s working." Dr. Lawrence’s short temper flared, and he yelled at Rachel.

Rachel Xavier trembled in fear and quickly scurried into a corner.

Just as Evelyn reached the main entrance, she found the Medical Department doors had been locked with a chain. Two security guards stood watch outside. Evelyn banged on the door, and the two men turned to glance at her.

"What are you doing? Stay put and behave. Anyone else who causes trouble will be thrown in the base’s prison."

’So the base has a prison,’ Evelyn thought. It was the first she’d heard of it.

"Get this place cleaned up, now! Otherwise, no one eats today."

’Oh? They’re going to withhold our rations? Are we prisoners now?’

Evelyn couldn’t get any more useful information out of them, so she had no choice but to return to the operating room and tell everyone what had happened.

"Let’s clean up first. It’s a bloodbath in here. We can’t just leave it." With Dr. Lawrence’s command, everyone got to work.

Evelyn returned to the utility room. Wendy was awake but still looked listless and unwell.

"The people outside told us to clean up the Medical Department. The door is locked. The rioters are dead. Only a few people who hid in the operating room survived."

Dr. Miller grabbed some mops and buckets and started working. Officer Graham strapped Wendy to his back and joined in.

Kevin Holloway on the top floor remained completely unaffected. When his bodyguard came downstairs looking for a doctor, Evelyn reacted quickly and hid.

The Medical Department had just been cleaned when more people were brought in. Fortunately, a shipment of medicine had also arrived, including a good amount of traditional Chinese medicinal herbs.

With Evelyn’s guarantee, Wendy and Officer Graham were allowed to leave. After recognizing Evelyn, Rachel Xavier started pestering her, sticking to her like glue.

Within a few hours, the floor had returned to its previous state of chaos. People lay scattered everywhere, and some began vomiting blood the moment they were brought in.

Surprisingly, Rachel’s condition had improved significantly. She insisted on leaving, and Evelyn readily agreed to see her out, but unexpectedly, she started making demands.

"Evelyn, give me some medicine, and I’ll leave."

"How about I give you a slap across the face instead?"

"I’m your old classmate! We were even roommates! It’s only been a year. How did you become so cold?"

Evelyn was speechless. "If you don’t know what’s good for you, I’ll have the guards outside ’escort’ you out."

"But I still don’t feel well! What if I still have parasites in me?"

"Then you can stay here for a few more days of observation."

Rachel was furious. "I want to leave now! I just want two packets of medicine. I won’t feel safe leaving without some on hand."

"I’m not in charge of the medicine. You can go get it from the pharmacy stores."

"If I could get it myself, would I need to beg you?" Rachel persisted. Suddenly, Evelyn grabbed her hand and dragged her into the utility room.

"What do you think you’re doing?"

Evelyn didn’t say a word, simply throwing Rachel to the floor.

"Evelyn, are you crazy? Why did you push me?"

"I could kill you right here, then toss your body out the window. So many people have died these past few days, one more wouldn’t make a difference. Rachel, do you want to die?"

Now Rachel was truly afraid. She hadn’t expected Evelyn to not only be ruthless but to actually dare to kill her.

"I was wrong! I’ll leave right now! Evelyn, please let me go. I’ll never do it again."

"Who am I?"

"Evelyn Ford."

Evelyn’s gaze turned icy. Rachel immediately understood and frantically shook her head. "I don’t know you. I don’t know who you are."

"Get out."

Rachel scrambled out of the utility room. Evelyn rubbed her temples. She hadn’t slept in days and was exhausted, her temper wearing thin. If not for the last shred of self-control, she really would have killed Rachel just now.

More and more patients were being brought in, and the incubation period was getting shorter. Watching person after person die in front of her, Evelyn felt like she had descended into hell.

The food sent in from outside was still the same: hard, cold steamed buns and canned meat. Evelyn still didn’t eat any of it.

Her protective suit was filthy. Aside from the medicine, the base hadn’t sent any other supplies.

The Medical Department building was surrounded once again. The temperature rose to twenty degrees, and Evelyn was suddenly struck with the urge to escape.