The Spare's Second Chance in Apocalypse-Chapter 90: Ch : The Meeting- Part 2

The morning sun hung low over the base camp, casting long shadows that seemed to stretch and pull at the very fabric of the bustling temporary settlement.

Selene stood at the edge of the camp, her expression neutral as she watched Ethan, Zara, and Orion prepare to depart for the dungeon.

The atmosphere between her and Ethan had grown heavy—his silence less a cold shoulder and more a solid wall. She tried again to bridge the gap, her voice light and casual.

"Be careful out there, okay?"

She said, forcing a small smile.

Ethan didn’t look at her. He tightened the strap on his gauntlet, his movements deliberate and practiced.

"Call us if you need help,."

He said, his voice flat.

It wasn’t a promise, nor was it a goodbye. It was a directive, an obligation, and nothing more.

Selene’s fingers tightened around the strap of her messenger bag.

"I will."

Zara stepped in, her expression gentle but her eyes firm.

"Give him time. He just needs to blow off some steam."

Orion offered her a nod, his expression an echo of Zara’s reassurance.

"We’ll be back soon."

Selene returned their nod, her lips pressed into a thin line.

"Good luck."

The trio departed, slipping into the treeline with practiced ease.

As they vanished into the woods, Selene felt the weight of their departure settle on her chest. She exhaled slowly, pushing the ache down into the hollow space beneath her ribs.

A rustling behind her snapped her attention back to the present.

The government official stepped forward, his gait awkward and hesitant. His nervousness clung to him like a second skin.

"Miss Shadow. A pleasure to see you again."

He greeted her, his voice wavering.

Selene regarded him with a mild, unbothered expression.

"There’s no need to act like this around me. You’re making yourself uncomfortable."

The man’s cheeks flushed, and he offered a weak smile.

"Ah, yes. Of course. It’s just... today’s circumstances are rather unusual."

"Unusual how?"

She asked, falling into step beside him as he led the way through the camp.

"Well..."

He hesitated, glancing around as if the trees themselves might be listening before he continued.

"We have a special guest today. Someone... important."

Selene hummed in acknowledgment, her tone laced with mild curiosity.

"Must be quite the VIP if it’s got you this rattled."

"It’s not their status, really. It’s more about the alliance. We need to make a good impression. We need connections."

He wiped a thin sheen of sweat from his brow.

Selene’s lips curled into a faint smile.

"Connections, huh? You mean leverage."

He stiffened, a deer caught in headlights.

"I didn’t mean—"

"It’s fine. "I know how this game is played. You want to build bridges, ensure the safety of your people. It’s nothing new."

She waved a hand dismissively.

He exhaled, visibly relieved by her understanding—or at least, her lack of resistance.

"That’s exactly right. And we were hoping..."

He trailed off, his gaze darting to her as if he might catch her expression turning sour.

"We were hoping you might be... a friend to us. An ally."

Selene’s smile didn’t reach her eyes.

"We’ll see."

They continued on, the camp’s organized chaos flowing around them.

Selene’s Insight remained active, a gentle hum at the back of her mind. The ability had become almost second nature to her, a constant stream of information filtering through her senses.

It was this sharpened awareness that caught the flicker of attention—a gaze too focused, too intense. Selene’s steps faltered, her body tensing as her Insight honed in on the source.

Amidst the moving bodies, a figure stood still.

The person was half-hidden behind a tent, their silhouette sharp against the muted canvas. It wasn’t their presence that set off her alarm bells—it was the way their energy felt.

Her Insight bloomed, peeling back layers of perception.

The figure was cloaked, both physically and metaphysically.

She could sense the attempt to obscure their aura, a deliberate dampening of their presence.

But the veil wasn’t perfect, and beneath it lay something dark and coiled—like a serpent waiting to strike.

Selene didn’t let her expression change.

She kept walking, her pace steady, her conversation with the official unbroken.

The figure remained motionless. Watching. Waiting. He was observing Selene as much as she was observing him.

The government official seemed oblivious, his mouth moving as he recounted the logistics of the support center’s potential establishment.

Selene nodded along, her responses automatic, the bare minimum to keep him engaged.

When she drew close enough, her Insight sharpened again.

The person she was watching finally turned around and Selene opened her eyes, only to notice that she was moving in the same direction she had felt that man move in.

’Looks like I am going to meet the person who gave me that creepy feeling. Talk about being unlucky.’

She shifted her weight, adjusting her posture to be ready to move.

Her mind ran through scenarios, calculating escape routes, potential collateral damage, the safest path to neutralize the threat.

She needed to find a way to deal back anything she was about to experience.

But before she could try anything, the connection broke and Selene felt a mild ache in her head for prolong use of her skill.

Selene’s fingers twitched, a subtle flex as if testing the readiness of her own reflexes.

"Miss Shadow? Is something wrong?"

The government official’s voice pulled her back, his brow furrowed with mild concern. "

"No. Just... getting a feel for the place."

She offered him a calm smile, her mask slipping seamlessly back into place.

He relaxed, the unease in his eyes receding.

"Of course. I’ll take you to meet the council members now."

Selene nodded, allowing him to lead her away. But her mind remained locked on the shadow that had slipped through the camp, the specter of danger lurking just beyond sight.

Whoever they were, they hadn’t acted yet. But Selene knew, with the certainty of her Insight, that it was only a matter of time.