[{"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-72":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Surviving the Apocalypse With My Yandere Ex-Girlfriend",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"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},1745727,2231,"Chapter 72: Throatburn","surviving-the-apocalypse-with-my-yandere-ex-girl-chapter-72",72,"\u003Cp>The nameplate caught the light first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>CALLAHAN.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Polished. Smug. Sitting there like a warning label I’d ignored once already.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stared at it longer than necessary, letting the glare burn into my eyes. Maybe if I focused hard enough, it would tell me how this ended. Whether I walked out with my people... or walked out alone, escorted, stripped of whatever illusion of safety we’d borrowed by stepping inside these walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I blinked slowly, grit still clinging to my eyes, lids heavy like they’d been glued shut and ripped open too soon. Sleep had been a rumor last night— something other people got. Not me. Not after Jane. Not after Peter. Not after realizing what I’d let Lila handle for me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That thought alone made my jaw tighten.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Using Lila to fix things had felt efficient in the moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This morning, it felt like rot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I leaned back in the chair anyway, arms loose, posture careless. If this was the part where we got escorted out at gunpoint, I wanted to look bored when it happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sixty percent chance, by my estimate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Good enough odds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was tired of this place already.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Carter.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The word snapped through the haze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked up too fast, irritation flashing before I could bury it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I caught myself just before sir turned intofuck you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Callahan stood behind his desk, hands planted like he was bracing against weather. His expression was tight—controlled, but strained at the seams. Pride under pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There was a meeting last night,\" he said flatly. \"After you left.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t respond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Command staff. Security. Logistics. Medical.\" His jaw tightened. \"Everyone who had an opinion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And?\" I asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He inhaled through his nose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You were discussed at length,\" he said. \"Your behavior. Your... speech. The way you spoke to me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I raised an eyebrow. \"You mean the part where I told you your compound has structural weaknesses?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes flickered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You undermined my authority,\" he snapped. \"In front of personnel. You implied this camp was unsafe.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I didn’t imply,\" I said. \"I explained.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His fingers dug into the desk. It was evident on how badly he wanted to shut me up for good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Regardless,\" he continued stiffly, \"there was a vote.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That caught my attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A vote on what?\" I asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"On whether you and your group should be removed from the camp,\" he said. \"Immediately.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I let out a quiet laugh. \"And?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Callahan’s mouth thinned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It wasclose,\" he admitted. \"Closer than I would’ve liked.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I leaned back. \"But?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But the final decision was to keep you here,\" he said. \"For now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For now,\" I echoed. \"That’s comforting.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He ignored that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’ll have your firearms returned,\" he said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I blinked once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And that’s on our way out, right?\" I asked. \"Little goodbye gift?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes hardened. I noticed something flicker underneath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s what I wanted,\" he said. \"But I was overruled.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That made me sit up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Overruled by who?\" I asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s not your concern,\" he snapped. Then, after a pause: \"You’ll be given your weapons back under supervision. On one condition.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tilted my head. \"Here it comes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You and your group will assist in an external food acquisition operation,\" Callahan said. \"Recon. Retrieval. Infected response.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He noticed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We have less than a few weeks of food before rationing becomes unavoidable,\" he continued. \"Our soldiers are trained, but they lack... exposure. Experience.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Exposure,\" I repeated. \"You mean they’re scared.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His jaw flexed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The last unit we sent out didn’t return,\" he said. \"Eight men. Armed. Disciplined.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And unprepared,\" I said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He slammed his palm on the desk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t,\" he warned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I leaned back again, slower this time, crossing one leg over the other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So let me get this straight,\" I said. \"You voted on whether to throw us out. Decided you couldn’t afford to. And now you’re giving us our guns back so we can do the shit your soldiers won’t.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His knuckles went white.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You people need our help,\" I added, gently twisting the knife.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stop playing games with me, boy,\" he snapped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I smiled wider.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then waited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally—finally—he said it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We need your experience,\" Callahan said, voice tight. \"You’ve survived outside the perimeter longer than any civilian group we’ve encountered. You understand the infected.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The infected aren’t animals,\" I said. \"That’s your mistake. That’s the thing you people don’t get.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes flickered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They learn,\" I continued. \"They test. They wait. You’re still fighting them like they rush and scream.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, quieter: \"So what would you do?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I met his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When the time comes,\" I said, \"you’ll see.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He folded his arms, frustration etched deep into his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When do you plan to deploy?\" I asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As soon as possible,\" he replied. \"Ideally today. I understand your people may need time to—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s done,\" I said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That stopped him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stared at me. \"You didn’t even consult them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don’t need to,\" I said. \"They’ll follow.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because I hadn’t lied to them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because I hadn’t hidden the cost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because when this goes wrong—and it will—it won’t be their blood on his hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’ll be his.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stood, chair scraping softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I walked toward the door, I felt it clearly for the first time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t a negotiation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was conscription.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Callahan hated that he’d just admitted who needed who more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had practically skipped my way back to the quarters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The door creaked as I pushed it open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t bother hiding the smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We got our guns back.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For half a second, no one moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Aubrey looked up sharply, eyes narrowing like she was waiting for the punchline. Cherie’s lips curved into a quiet, satisfied smile. Hale scratched at his beard and gave a single, approving nod—slow, thoughtful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Really, honey?\" Lila said brightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was on her feet in an instant, arms sliding around me, pressing herself close. Her kiss landed warm and deliberate against my cheek, just long enough to make a point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I let my hand settle in her hair, fingers combing through it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Aubrey hesitate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment—just a moment—it looked like she was going to say something. Approval, maybe. Relief. Pride.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she saw Lila hugging me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her shoulders dipped. Her gaze dropped to the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But how?\" Terri asked instead, voice tight. \"Didn’t the commander basically say you insulted him to his face?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, I did,\" I said lightly. \"Turns out he didn’t have the luxury of holding a grudge.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt Lila lean into my side as I spoke, like she was anchoring herself there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They need our expertise,\" I continued. \"On the infected. For outside-the-wall operations.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That did it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone straightened sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We’re going out?\" Cherie asked, eyes bright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I nodded once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m putting together a small team.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room felt like it leaned in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Cherie. Aubrey. Hale,\" I said, counting them off. \"Be ready in a few hours. They haven’t given me an exact time yet.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hale grunted and immediately started thinking logistics. Cherie cracked her knuckles like she’d already made peace with it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aubrey didn’t react right away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lila slowly looked up at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t speak. She didn’t have to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was something quietly expectant in her eyes—something waiting to be chosen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I took her gently by the wrist and pulled her a few steps aside, out of earshot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By now, I knew how to handle things like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I need you to stay here,\" I said softly. \"For our plan. Remember?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her expression changed instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not disappointment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her face lit up, eyes shining as she nodded eagerly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course,\" she said. \"Whatever you need, my love.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I smiled back, lowering my voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Remember what I said.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her fingers tightened around mine for just a second longer than necessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I always do,\" she whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When we rejoined the others, Hale was already sitting on a bench, tightening his boots, jacket laid out with methodical precision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I scanned the room once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Peter,\" I said. \"I’ll need you on this too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air shifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few heads turned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Peter could even open his mouth—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jane’s voice cut in smoothly, sharp as glass wrapped in velvet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I grimaced internally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She rose from where she’d been sitting, moving to Peter’s side, slipping an arm around his shoulders like a claim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re a sweetheart, Adrian,\" she said, smiling at me. \"But Petey would just slow you down.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She leaned into him, pressing a kiss against his temple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He’s not really built for things like that,\" she continued sweetly. \"Are you, sweetie?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peter didn’t look at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Didn’t look at anyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He just nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Small. Silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room went subtly wrong after that. Eyes drifted away. Shoulders tensed. No one challenged her— not directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was this guy serious...?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I swallowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So much for handling this quietly. So much for doing things under her nose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I forced a nod, keeping my face neutral.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright,\" I said. \"Then you stay.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jane smiled wider.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peter didn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I turned away, something heavy settled in my chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was already unraveling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And we hadn’t even left the walls yet.\u003C\u002Fp>",1522,"2026-06-06T16:52:00.838Z",1,"novelbin.me","f12c5b4aff31cea74229b1b84b411b198203d0be9ff6597f87060b8ccdff6d4f","surviving-the-apocalypse-with-my-yandere-ex-girl-chapter-73","surviving-the-apocalypse-with-my-yandere-ex-girl-chapter-71",202,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsurviving-the-apocalypse-with-my-yandere-ex-girl-cover.jpg"]