The Spare's Second Chance in Apocalypse-Chapter 102: Ch : Rose Grayson- Part 1

By the time the sun began its descent, casting warm amber hues over the city, Selene felt a semblance of normalcy return.

The dream that had shaken her earlier now felt distant—like a bad memory left in the shadows of the morning.

She pushed it aside, determined to focus on her plans for the help center.

’Let think about all this later. For now, I have a job to do.’

The government had finally assigned her a plot of land, and she was eager to scout the location, envisioning the space that would one day offer sanctuary to those in need.

She slipped into her jacket and called for Zara, who was sitting at the kitchen counter, scribbling away in a worn notebook.

"Zara, come with me?"

Selene asked, a soft smile gracing her lips.

Zara perked up immediately.

"Sure! Where are we going?"

"To check out the site for the help center. I want to get a sense of the place and figure out what needs to be done before I advise the government."

Zara closed her notebook and hopped off the stool.

"Perfect! I’ve been dying to see it."

As they prepared to leave, Orion and Ethan appeared, both of them geared up for a dungeon run.

Orion’s expression was relaxed, but Ethan’s eyes narrowed as soon as he saw Selene putting on her shoes.

"Where are you going?"

Ethan asked, his tone laced with suspicion.

Selene didn’t miss a beat.

"The help center site. Zara’s coming with me. You and Orion have a dungeon to clear."

Ethan’s frown deepened.

"I’ll come with you instead. The dungeon can wait."

"Nope. You need to finish your job. I need to get started on mine. How about this—if you finish the dungeon quickly, you can join us later?"

Selene said firmly, hands on her hips.

She could see the conflict in Ethan’s expression. His need to protect her warred with his duty, but the compromise soothed the sharp edge of his worry.

"Fine. Let’s get this over with."

He muttered, albeit reluctantly. He turned to Orion.

Orion smirked, nudging his friend.

"I’ve never seen you move this fast, man. Selene really has you wrapped around her finger."

Zara giggled as Ethan shot them both a glare before disappearing out the door.

When they were finally outside, Zara looped her arm through Selene’s.

"You know, you’re the only one who can make him act like this. It’s kind of amazing."

Selene chuckled, shaking her head.

"I just tell him what needs to be done. He recognizes that and listens. It’s not that special."

"Uh-huh. Your ignorance is cute, but you really need to face reality. You can’t pretend forever."

Zara arched a brow, her lips curving into a sly smile.

"Reality?"

"That Ethan’s feelings for you aren’t exactly platonic."

Selene opened her mouth to respond, then closed it.

She didn’t want to argue, but she also didn’t believe Zara’s claim. Ethan cared about her, sure, but not in the way Zara was suggesting—or so she thought.

Instead of dwelling on it, Selene led them toward the government-assigned plot.

______

The city had made strides in recovery, with patches of greenery emerging between buildings and construction crews working tirelessly to rebuild what had been lost.

The site itself was situated on the outskirts, near a developing community where the help center would be most needed.

When they arrived, Selene’s breath caught in her throat.

The area was larger than she had anticipated, a mix of open land and abandoned structures.

She could already imagine where dormitories could be set up, where food distribution could happen, and where safe spaces for children and families might be.

"Wow. This place has so much potential."

Zara breathed.

Selene nodded, a wave of excitement washing over her.

She activated her Insight, wanting to get a better read on the area and its surroundings.

The skill expanded her perception, a soft hum in the back of her mind as information flowed in—structures, potential hazards, the energy of the place...

And then, like a drop of ink in clear water, a dark presence rippled through her senses. Her pulse quickened as a familiar signature appeared at the edge of her Insight’s range.

Rose Grayson.

The annoyance was immediate.

She exhaled sharply, the sound more a huff of frustration than anything else.

"What’s wrong?"

Zara asked, her bright eyes turning cautious.

Selene forced a smile.

"Nothing. Just thinking it might be better if we come back a little later."

Zara’s expression shifted, concern etching lines into her youthful face.

"Are you sure? Did you see something?"

"Nothing dangerous. I just... don’t think now is the right time. Let’s not risk it."

Selene assured her.

Zara hesitated, her intuition prickling. But she trusted Selene’s judgment, and after a moment, she nodded.

"Okay. We can come back later.."

As they turned to leave, Selene couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched.

Her Insight remained active, and she tracked Rose’s energy, noting that he wasn’t alone.

Several signatures hovered near him, their auras muted but present.

She kept her expression neutral, not wanting to alarm Zara.

As far as she could tell, Rose hadn’t noticed them—or if he had, he wasn’t making any moves.

Still, his presence here bothered her.

Was he scouting the site too?

Or had he known she would come and orchestrated this encounter?

’What a headache. I would rather not deal with this man if I can help it. But I also feel like I won’t have much of a choice either.’

Selene’s mind raced with possibilities, each more unsettling than the last.

She had no intention of confronting him, not when she wasn’t prepared. But she made a mental note to strengthen security around the help center site.

If Rose had any designs on interfering with her plans, she needed to be ready.

"Selene, are you fine? You are looking around too hard. If it is something I can help with, then let me know. I will be happy to take care of things for you."

Rose offered but Selene just shook her head. She had no intention of taking advantage of Rose or telling her about the situation.