The King Of The Apocalypse

The betrayal

Marcus continued is journey back to Aurora Tower which was worse than he had expected 

The backpack was heavy, and his legs were beginning to ache. Without the bicycle, carrying the supplies had become exhausting.

He tried to avoid the main roads, but the growing number of zombies made every route dangerous.

Twice, he had to change direction after hearing growls from nearby buildings.

By the time he reached the main road leading to Aurora Tower, his clothes were covered in dust, and sweat ran down his face.

Soon, he finally reached the familiar building, standing several streets ahead.

Relief washed over him.

He had made it.

Marcus tightened his grip on the backpack and forced his tired legs to move faster.

"Just a little more."

A sound came from behind him.

He turned briefly.

Several zombies had emerged from the surrounding streets, following him.

Marcus's heart sank.

He couldn't afford to stop now.

He pushed himself forward, ignoring the pain in his legs. The zombies continued closing the distance and their growls grows louder.

Finally, Aurora Tower was within reach.

Marcus reached the entrance and began pounding on the reinforced doors.

"Open the door!"

He looked over his shoulder.

The zombies were only a short distance away.

"Please! Open the door!"

Inside the reception hall, the survivors turned toward the entrance.

Derek rose from his leather chair and approached the glass doors with two security guards.

Marcus almost cried with relief.

"Mr. Kane! Open the door!"

Derek stopped on the other side of the glass.

His eyes moved from Marcus's exhausted appearance to the backpack and several bags of supplies he had managed to carry.

"What's all this?" he asked.

"Food, sir. I brought food."

Marcus quickly placed the bags near the entrance.

"Please, open the door. They're coming!"

Derek ignored his warning and examined the supplies through the glass.

"How much did you bring?"

Marcus stared at him in disbelief.

"Sir, we need to get inside first!"

Derek glanced at the approaching zombies.

His expression hardened.

"Wait."

Marcus froze.

"What?"

"Don't move. I want to see what you've brought first."

"Sir, please!"

Derek continued inspecting the bags.

Behind Marcus, the zombies were getting closer.

The survivors inside the tower began moving toward the entrance, but nobody attempted to open it.

Marcus struck the glass with his palm.

"Open the door! They're right behind me!"

Derek finally turned toward him.

Instead of reaching for the door, he folded his arms.

"Look at what you've done!"

Marcus blinked.

"What?"

"You brought those things straight to our entrance! Do you want to get everyone killed?"

Marcus stared at him.

"I didn't bring them here deliberately! They followed me!"

"Exactly!" Derek snapped. "And now you've put everyone inside this building at risk."

"Sir, please. I brought the food you asked for. Just open the door!"

Derek looked at the bags again.

For a moment, Marcus thought he would finally give the order.

Instead, Derek stepped away from the entrance.

"Nobody opens that door."

Marcus felt his blood run cold.

"Sir?"

"You heard me."

"Please!"

Marcus turned toward the reception hall.

His eyes searched the faces behind the glass until he found the woman he had been thinking about throughout his entire journey.

"Elena!"

She stood beside a group of survivors.

"Elena, please! Tell him to open the door!"

She didn't move.

"Elena!"

Marcus pressed his palm against the glass.

"Sweetheart, please. I'm right here!"

Elena slowly walked toward Derek.

For a moment, Marcus felt relieved.

He knew she wouldn't abandon him.

After everything they had shared, she couldn't possibly allow him to die outside.

But then something happened that made him forget about the approaching zombies.

Elena slipped her arm around Derek's waist.

And kissed him.

Marcus stopped breathing.

His eyes widened.

He stared at the two people standing together behind the glass, struggling to understand what he was seeing.

Derek smiled against Elena's lips before wrapping an arm around her.

When they finally separated, Elena looked toward Marcus with no concern or fear on her face. Only cold amusement.

"Elena..." Marcus whispered.

She tilted her head.

"What is it, Marcus?"

He shook his head.

"What are you doing?"

Derek laughed.

"Surely, you didn't think she was going to spend the rest of her life with someone like you?"

Marcus looked between them.

His mind struggled to process the situation.

"Elena, what is he talking about?"

She sighed.

"Must you really make this difficult?"

"Elena..."

"We've been together for a long time, Marcus, but that doesn't mean I ever intended to spend my life with you."

His lips parted.

"What?"

Elena glanced at Derek before continuing.

"Do you remember how I always complained about not having enough money? How I needed new clothes, bags and other things?"

Marcus nodded slowly.

"Those were things you wanted..."

"Exactly. And you always provided them."

She gave a small laugh.

"You were so desperate to make me happy that you never questioned anything. It was convenient."

Marcus felt his fingers go numb.

"What about us? What about everything we planned?"

Elena's expression barely changed.

"Plans? Marcus, there was never a future for us."

Derek chuckled.

"Don't look so surprised. Elena and I have been together since long before the outbreak. In fact, we were together right before everything collapsed."

Marcus stared at him.

The man he had respected as his employer had been involved with his girlfriend all along.

All those late nights Elena claimed she was busy.

All those times she asked him for money.

All those promises.

It suddenly made sense.

"Why?" Marcus asked weakly.

Elena shrugged.

"You were useful, Marcus. You paid for things, you helped me whenever I needed something, and you were always willing to do whatever I asked."

She glanced at the bags outside.

"Even now, look at what you've done. You've practically carried food for everyone while risking your life."

Derek smiled.

"Unfortunately, it seems your usefulness has finally come to an end."

Marcus's eyes widened.

"You knew?" he asked, looking at Derek. "You both knew?"

"Of course," Derek replied. "Did you honestly think a woman like Elena would choose someone like you over me?"

Elena leaned against Derek.

"Don't take it personally. You were just someone we could use. Now that you're no longer useful, you should take responsibility for the situation you've brought upon yourself."

Marcus looked at her, unable to believe the words coming from her mouth.

"Elena, please..."

She rolled her eyes.

"Stop embarrassing yourself."

Derek glanced toward the approaching zombies.

"Since you've brought them here, you might as well do something useful with your remaining time."

Marcus frowned.

"What are you talking about?"

"Hold them off."

The words came so casually that Marcus almost thought he had misunderstood.

Derek pointed toward the zombies.

"You wanted to prove how strong you were. Here's your chance."

Marcus looked at the approaching creatures, then back at the man behind the glass.

"Are you telling me to fight them?"

"Don't be so dramatic. You've survived this long, haven't you?"

Derek turned toward the survivors.

"Everyone, take the supplies upstairs. We'll use the upper floors as a temporary shelter until those things leave."

Several people immediately moved toward the entrance area.

Marcus's expression changed.

"Wait! What about me?"

Nobody answered.

He struck the glass again.

"Please! Open the door!"

Derek picked up one of the bags after giving a signal to the security guards.

"At least we have enough food to last another week. That should keep everyone comfortable."

Marcus watched as the people inside began carrying away the supplies he had risked his life to collect.

He couldn't believe it, they were taking everything he had struggled to bring back and they were leaving him outside.

"Elena!"

She turned.

"Please, sweetheart. Don't let them do this. You know I only went out because you asked me to."

For a brief moment, Elena stared at him.

Then she laughed.

"That's exactly why you're so pathetic, Marcus. Even now, you're still begging me."

Derek slipped an arm around her shoulders.

"Come on, darling. Let's leave him to his responsibilities."

He leaned closer and kissed her forehead.

Elena smiled and followed him toward the stairs.

Marcus watched them disappear.

The other survivors weren't any better. Some looked at him with pity, while others laughed openly.

"Look at him. He actually thought they would let him back in."

"Poor fool. He risked his life for people who don't even care about him."

"At least he brought us food before dying."

Their laughter echoed through the reception hall.

Marcus slowly lowered his hand and the zombies finally reached the entrance.

Marcus turned around,the zombies were too many.

His legs trembled from exhaustion and his arms barely had enough strength to hold his baton.

He looked back at the reinforced doors one last time.Through the glass, he could see everyone disappearing toward the upper floors without looking back.

A bitter laugh escaped Marcus's throat.

So this was how it ended.

The first zombie reached him.

Marcus stumbled backward, struggling to keep his balance.

He was too exhausted to fight properly.

More zombies surrounded him, leaving him with nowhere to go.

With the last strength he could gather, Marcus raised his head and stared at Aurora Tower.

"Derek Kane!"

His voice echoed through the deserted entrance.

"Elena Voss!"

He clenched his fists.

"If there's a second chance... I swear

I'll make every one of you pay!"

The zombies closed in.

"I won't protect anyone but myself! I'll take everything I can get, and I'll never trust another person again!"

His vision began to fade.

But his hatred remained.

“If only I could live again… Just one more chance. I want to live! I want them all to suffer!” Marcus screamed his lungs out before the darkness swallowed him.