[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-surviving-the-apocalypse-with-my-yandere-ex-girl":3,"chapter-surviving-the-apocalypse-with-my-yandere-ex-girl-surviving-the-apocalypse-with-my-yandere-ex-girl-chapter-202":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Surviving the Apocalypse With My Yandere Ex-Girlfriend",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":12,"novelImage":21},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1745705,2231,"Chapter 202: Together","surviving-the-apocalypse-with-my-yandere-ex-girl-chapter-202",202,"\u003Cp>The exhaustion that had been weighing down every muscle in my body vanished the second a bullet screamed past my head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound was so close it almost felt physical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A violent crack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then concrete exploded somewhere behind me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh, shit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is real.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not that I hadn’t known before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not that I hadn’t spent months surviving impossible situations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But there was something different about watching a gun aimed directly at you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something primal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something that reminded your body exactly how fragile it was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Move!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aubrey grabbed my shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three of us dove behind an overturned table just as another burst of gunfire tore through the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wood splintered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Metal screamed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Terri yelped as fragments sprayed over us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The table shook under the impact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I pressed my back against it, breathing hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The situation wasn’t good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Actually, it was terrible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The exits were covered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every hallway we’d considered using was now occupied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every route the lattice suggested led directly into armed soldiers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We weren’t pinned down accidentally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’d been herding us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boxing us in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Waiting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sir, we’ve got them surrounded!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A soldier crouched behind a support pillar, rifle trained on the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They’ve got nowhere left to run.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice echoed through the walkie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Around him, a dozen more soldiers waited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finger on triggers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eyes fixed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nobody wanted to be the one who looked away first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I closed my eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately the lattice responded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Possibilities flooded my mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Angles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Distances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Timings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Paths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Failures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deaths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too many deaths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The calculations overlapped so quickly they became difficult to separate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Terri shifted beside me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could practically hear a question forming in her throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aubrey immediately raised a finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Terri froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aubrey glared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Terri looked offended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aubrey gestured toward me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let him think.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Terri rolled her eyes but stayed quiet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two of them had somehow developed an entire language of irritated expressions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under different circumstances it would’ve been funny.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other end of the transmission, the man listened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re overestimating the boy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice was calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Annoyingly calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He isn’t invincible.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jennifer’s head immediately snapped upward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was still restrained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still seated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still trapped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But something in the man’s tone made genuine fear flash across her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The word escaped before she could stop it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man glanced toward her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Annoyed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jennifer swallowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You can’t use that again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice cracked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You don’t understand what it’ll do to him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man’s expression didn’t change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He survived before.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Barely.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The response came instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her composure was beginning to fracture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The third exposure nearly killed him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man looked away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uninterested.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then let’s hope he’s resilient.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jennifer felt sick.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Actually sick.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’ll kill him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shut the fuck up.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words struck like a slap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jennifer’s mouth closed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man raised the radio again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Use the device.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A pause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do it now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Copy that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldier shoved the radio away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then turned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bryce!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bryce!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldier frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rest of the squad remained focused on the barricade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Weapons ready.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nobody noticed Bryce immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nobody noticed his rifle slowly lowering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nobody noticed the trembling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The slight twitching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then somebody finally looked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...the hell?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bryce stood motionless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Head tilted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eyes blood red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not irritated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not bloodshot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The kind of red that made your stomach drop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldier who’d called his name approached cautiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bryce?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man grabbed his shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shook him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Get it together.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bryce turned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The smile widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldier recoiled immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What the hell—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rifle discharged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shot blew through the side of his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gray matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The body hit the floor before anyone processed what they’d seen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For half a second nobody moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nobody understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then chaos erupted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"HE’S INFECTED!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bryce opened fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two more soldiers dropped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One screaming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One instantly dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The formation shattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Men started shouting over each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some aimed at Bryce.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others aimed at the spreading infection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nobody aimed at us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was all I needed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Aubrey.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She already knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second I moved, she moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The table exploded upward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shoved it directly into the nearest soldier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man disappeared beneath it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His rifle clattered away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aubrey hit another before he could react.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Violent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Efficient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One elbow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One knee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One stolen rifle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldier collapsed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Terri grabbed the dropped weapon awkwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The recoil almost knocked her off balance when she fired.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shot missed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Terribly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it forced another soldier into cover.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gunfire erupted everywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bryce continued tearing through his former allies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The infected grin never left his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sprinted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A soldier raised his rifle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too slow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lattice had already shown me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My hand closed around his wrist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The weapon twisted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A shot discharged into the ceiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then into another soldier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then into him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shoved the body aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kept moving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aubrey appeared beside me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone swung a baton.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She ducked underneath it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drove her shoulder into his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man crashed through a rolling equipment cart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Metal scattered everywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Terri ran after us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Panicked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Breathing hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trying her best.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A soldier grabbed her arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a split second fear crossed her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she remembered Aubrey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her knee slammed upward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man doubled over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Terri immediately looked horrified she’d actually done it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aubrey shoved past her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Later.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three of us ran.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More gunfire followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A bullet shattered a light fixture above us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Glass rained downward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We kept moving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every corridor felt identical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every turn felt wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But eventually—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A stairwell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An exit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fresh air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We burst through it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The outside wasn’t any better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If anything, it was worse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood covered the streets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bodies littered sidewalks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People ran in every direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some fleeing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some hunting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The infected had spread everywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The smell hit me immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Smoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The borough had become a graveyard pretending it was still alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Part of me wanted to look away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another part remembered every second I’d spent suffering beneath these people’s system.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The neglect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The abandonment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cruelty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It would’ve been easy to say they deserved this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Easy to convince myself this was justice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But watching a man get dragged screaming into an alley made something twist inside my chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching a mother desperately pull her child through the chaos did the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nobody deserved this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not really.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if they had failed people like me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if they’d stood by and watched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Empathy still felt stupid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It always had.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet somehow I couldn’t get rid of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Terri, hold it in!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aubrey’s voice snapped through the chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Terri’s face had gone pale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dangerously pale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She swallowed hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then almost gagged anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We rounded a corner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dove into a narrow alley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment we did, Terri doubled over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aubrey immediately looked away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pretending not to notice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Terri threw up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sounds echoed off the walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I leaned against the brick.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trying to breathe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trying to think.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trying to process everything that had happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fuck...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aubrey wiped sweat from her forehead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This place is so fucked.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Terri was still busy vomiting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aubrey looked genuinely concerned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She just wasn’t good at showing it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eventually the retching stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The alley became quiet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a few seconds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then I spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You two remember where the exit is, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both looked toward me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aubrey nodded first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A pause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I mean...I think so.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I turned around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately Aubrey frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wait.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The irritation arrived instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where the hell are you going?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I met her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You two need to leave.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The response came before either could argue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m serious.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neither moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m not letting you keep risking your lives for me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Terri stared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aubrey looked offended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Actually offended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like I’d personally insulted her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are you about to do?\" Terri asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hesitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No point hiding it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m looking for Lila.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aubrey’s stare somehow became even flatter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The look alone practically said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Are you kidding me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I pointed before she could speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I already know what you’re thinking.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyebrow rose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Impressive.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It sounds stupid.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It is stupid.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"See?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aubrey pinched the bridge of her nose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I continued anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m not leaving her.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The conviction surprised even me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Completely true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter what happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how insane the situation became.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t leave her behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not after everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not when I knew she was still out there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hungry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Broken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe dangerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe beyond saving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aubrey continued staring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long enough that I started wondering if she was actually angry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tension immediately vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She shook her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You haven’t changed at all.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The observation wasn’t cruel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wasn’t mocking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If anything it sounded strangely fond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh yeah?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I crossed my arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Maybe I haven’t.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aubrey nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something softened in her expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Barely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she pushed away from the wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m not leaving.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My eyes widened slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re the reason we came down here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Aubrey—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She cut me off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Firm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Certain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you’re doing something this unbelievably stupid...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She pointed directly at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...then I’m doing it too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words landed harder than expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No conditions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No bargaining.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just certainty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The kind only Aubrey seemed capable of.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked toward Terri.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked terrified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Absolutely terrified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she nodded anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A small one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost invisible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still real.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The alley became quiet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just a second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Warmth spread through my chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Followed immediately by fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because suddenly I had something to lose again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe I’d always had.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe I just hadn’t realized it until now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I smiled despite myself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shook my head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t say I didn’t warn either of you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aubrey rolled her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Terri laughed weakly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the three of us stepped back into the chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Together.\u003C\u002Fp>",1673,"2026-06-06T16:52:01.117Z",1,"novelbin.me","2da9641611d1a21dc85a5683e36104f02a6198c80733fa423a3ee3044cd4752d","surviving-the-apocalypse-with-my-yandere-ex-girl-chapter-51","surviving-the-apocalypse-with-my-yandere-ex-girl-chapter-201","https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-apocalypse-with-my-yandere-ex-girl-cover.jpg"]