The Spare's Second Chance in Apocalypse-Chapter 106: Ch : Unfamiliarly Familiar- Part 2

Selene moved through her morning routine with practiced ease, keeping her expression neutral and her thoughts guarded.

The memory of last night clung to her like a dark cloud.

The way Ethan had looked at her, the weight of his questions about the gun—it all simmered beneath the surface.

’I am sure there is something that Ethan is not telling me...and I have a feeling that it is not about the gun...’

Selene wanted to look into it more, but honestly, it felt like a hassle. So she decided to head down and forget about the night...

Or, at least pretend to forget about it.

When she walked into the kitchen, Ethan was already there, laughing at something Zara had said.

His usual bright smile and relaxed demeanor grated on Selene’s nerves.

He didn’t look bothered at all. It almost made Selene feel as if her worries had been for nothing.

’Let’s not think about it. I need to smile! Now, force a laugh on your face Selene. You are good at pretending nothing is wrong.’

Selene forced a tight-lipped smile as she greeted everyone, and no one seemed to notice the tension in her shoulders.

If Ethan was pretending, he was doing a better job at it than she was.

"Are you ready?"

She asked, keeping her voice steady as she looked at Ethan.

"Always. You’re the boss today."

He replied, his tone light.

The nonchalance in his voice stung, but Selene bit down on the urge to snap back. She needed to stay focused.

She turned to Zara and Orion, who were prepping their gear for their own task.

"Stay safe. We’ll meet back here tonight."

Orion gave a thumbs-up, and Zara shot her a reassuring look.

"You too. Don’t let Ethan slow you down." fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm

Selene chuckled despite herself, nodding as she turned to leave.

Ethan followed her out without a word, his mood still irritatingly bright.

She made a snap decision as they reached the vehicles.

"We’ll take my SUV today."

Ethan didn’t argue, didn’t ask why. He just climbed into the passenger seat and buckled up, his gaze on the road ahead.

The ride to the dungeon site was quiet.

Selene’s fingers gripped the steering wheel, her knuckles pale.

She had expected him to say something, even a joke to break the silence, but he remained unbothered but it was as if he had already forgotten their argument.

Ethan just made small talks to ease the air out between the pair.

That alone made her more uneasy.

When they finally reached the dungeon, Selene’s unease sharpened into alarm.

Her Insight flared, showing the telltale signs of life surrounding the area. She had expected this dungeon to be deserted—her memories told her it was an undiscovered one.

But now, it was teeming with people.

Her heart thudded painfully. Was this because of her interference with the past?

How many more things had changed without her noticing?

A spike of fear shot through her, and she couldn’t hide it. Her breath quickened, her fingers trembling against the wheel.

Before she could say anything, Ethan’s hand covered her mouth, muffling her startled gasp.

"Shh, something’s not right"

He whispered, his eyes sharp and his posture tense.

Selene nodded, her panic simmering down into something colder—something more controlled. She trusted Ethan’s instincts. If he felt danger, there was danger.

Ethan leaned closer, his voice barely a breath.

"Stay down. I’ll check it out."

"No," she hissed back, swatting his hand away.

"We need to stick together. It’s safer that way."

His jaw tightened, but he didn’t argue.

Instead, he nodded and slipped back into his seat.

"Fine. But we need to move the car. If things go south, I don’t want our ride getting trashed."

Selene put the SUV in reverse, maneuvering it away from the dungeon’s entrance. She found a spot under a canopy of trees, hidden from plain sight but close enough for a quick escape.

They moved in tandem, slipping out of the vehicle with practiced efficiency. Selene’s Insight remained active, and she counted at least a dozen presences nearby.

Selene and Ethan exchanged a quick glance, their unspoken agreement clear.

They couldn’t afford to let this group clear the dungeon first.

Whatever the nullifier could reveal, Selene needed it.

Keeping low, they moved closer to the party outside the dungeon entrance.

What Selene had initially thought might be a small group turned out to be a well-organized operation.

At least a dozen people milled around, setting up equipment and discussing plans. They were equipped with high-grade weapons and gear, signaling that they weren’t amateurs.

Selene activated her Insight, hoping to get a better understanding of who they were dealing with.

But the moment her skill kicked in, a sharp, overwhelming sensation stabbed through her mind.

She winced, clutching her head as her vision blurred. It was like being dragged through glass shards—too many presences, too much hostility.

Ethan’s hand found her shoulder, grounding her.

"Stop. If they have a sensor or a skill detector, they might notice. We can’t risk it."

He whispered urgently.

Selene swallowed and nodded, letting her Insight fade away.

She forced her breathing to steady, the lingering echoes of that sharp feeling still ringing in her skull.

Whoever these people were, they weren’t normal raiders.

Ethan’s expression hardened.

"We’ll do this the old-fashioned way. Stay close."

Selene mirrored his resolve, her focus sharpening.

She had a good idea what Ethan meant when he said that they would do it the ’old-fashioned’ way. He was going to sneak into the camp and cause a distraction so that they all could sneak around.

Selene leaned in close to Ethan, her voice barely a whisper.

"We need a distraction. Make them move to the right side. We’ll sneak in from the left."

Ethan nodded, a sly grin spreading across his face.

"Got it. Give me a minute."

He slipped away, moving with practiced stealth. Moments later, a loud crash echoed from the right side of the camp. Shouts erupted, and the group hurried to investigate.

Selene didn’t waste a second. She signaled to Ethan, and together, they darted left, skirting around the chaos and heading straight for the dungeon entrance.