Zombie Apocalypse: I Have Safe Zone Superpower

Chapter 618: Chapter 618: Mysterious Man

After her recent upgrade, she had expanded it into ten floors, each carefully designed to house the people she cared about.

Kael, Ember, Felix, Helena, Victor, Ivy, Silas Asher, Talia... even Alice and Dante.

No one would be left behind anymore. That had been her intention.

Yet now, as everyone gathered in the dining room, the long table between them felt like a barrier rather than a bond.

Awkward silence stretched endlessly. No one knew how to begin. Then Ember spoke.

With a faint smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, she said, ”I’m pregnant.”

For a brief moment, warmth flickered across the room. Smiles appeared.

”Congratulations...”

”Really... that’s wonderful...”

But Ember didn’t respond. Her smile didn’t change.

”I’m going to abort it,” she added softly.

Everyone understood.

They knew what it meant... how much it must be hurting her to say those words out loud.

Ember looked around at them, her lips trembling slightly as her smile slowly broke apart.

”I don’t want to,” she whispered.

Her voice cracked. ”I... I really don’t want to ...”

Tears welled up, spilling down her cheeks as she struggled to keep her composure. ”I know I can be a good mother... if I’m given the chance.”

Her shoulders began to shake. ”But I wasn’t even given that chance ...”

Her voice dissolved into sobs, raw and unfiltered. ”My heart... it hurts...”

She pressed a hand against her chest, as if trying to hold herself together.

”When Pearl had her child... I used to think babies were troublesome...” she continued weakly. ”But after spending time with him... I realized how important they are.”

Her gaze drifted downward.

”When I found out I was pregnant... I thought everything finally made sense... like everything was falling into place.”

Then her eyes lifted toward Jay. ”I hate you,” she said.

No one defended him. No one could.

Jay sat there, staring at the table, his hands clenched tightly, his knuckles turning pale.

’I deserve that,’ he thought bitterly, his chest tightening painfully.

Around them, silence reigned.

Ivy watched quietly, her gaze lingering on Ember. For the first time, she truly understood the weight of it all... the agony of fighting an illness like stomach cancer, only to be faced with another battle... one that demanded a choice between life and loss.

She stood up slowly and walked behind Ember. Then, without a word, she wrapped her arms around her.

The warmth of the embrace broke something inside Ember instantly.

A sob tore through her chest as she leaned back into Ivy, her body trembling uncontrollably.

”It’s okay...” Ivy whispered softly, gently patting her back. ”Everything will be alright ...”

But Ember only shook her head weakly. ’That’s a lie.’ ...’

And yet, she cried harder. The room remained silent.

Because sometimes... there were no words strong enough to fix something like this.

..........

Later that night, when Jay and Ember returned to their apartment, the air between them felt distant.

Ember stood still for a moment before speaking, her voice quiet and fragile.

”Can I... have ten days?” she asked. ”Just... ten days to stay with the baby... to feel it ...”

Jay’s fists clenched tightly.

”The longer we delay this... the more dangerous it becomes for you,” he said, his voice strained.

Ember closed her eyes, her lashes trembling. ”Five days...” she whispered.

Jay shook his head helplessly. ”Ember, it’s not possible...”

Before he could finish, she stepped forward and struck his chest with her hand.

”You’re the father!” she cried, her voice breaking. ”How can you be so cold? How can you act like this doesn’t matter?”

Her strength faded instantly, and she collapsed into sobs. Seeing her like this, Jay shut his eyes tightly.

Tears slipped down from the corners of his eyes. ”...Three days,” he said quietly.

Ember froze for a second before nodding quickly. ”Okay...”

She wiped her tears and turned away, walking toward the bed. Even though she tried to act normal...the distance between them had grown.

Maybe she hated him for telling everyone. Maybe she hated him for choosing logic over her feelings. Or maybe...she hated the fact that they were going to lose their first baby.

Lying down, she curled slightly, her hands resting over her abdomen. ’My baby ...’

Though it wasn’t even fully formed yet, she held onto it as if it were already there, already real, already hers.

Slowly, exhaustion pulled her into sleep.

In her dream... A figure appeared.

It stood at a distance, cloaked in shadows, its face completely hidden beneath a hood. It didn’t move closer. It didn’t look directly at her.

And yet, its voice echoed clearly. ”Do you want to keep this child?”

Ember froze. Then, without hesitation, she nodded desperately.

”Yes... yes, I do...” she said, her voice trembling. ”I want to keep it.”

And the cloaked figure’s voice echoed again, calm yet unsettling. ”Then you must do something in return. As long as you do it... I can strengthen the child.”

Ember fell silent.

A faint sadness flickered across her eyes as she lowered her gaze. ’This is just a dream...’ she told herself, her fingers curling slightly. ”This... isn’t real,” she murmured weakly.

The figure let out a low chuckle, the sound hollow, almost distant.

”To prove it isn’t a dream,” it said, ”and to prove that I can ensure your body suffers no damage... I will heal twenty-five percent of the child.”

A pause. ”But in return... you must listen to me.”

Ember frowned slightly, suspicion rising in her chest, yet she didn’t argue. Something about the certainty in that voice... unsettled her.

..........

The next morning... Ember woke with a start.

For a moment, she lay still, her breathing slow... then her brows knit together. Her body felt... light. Too light.

As if something heavy had been lifted without her noticing.

She turned her head toward Jay, who lay beside her, his eyes tired, dark circles forming beneath them. It was obvious he hadn’t slept the entire night.

”Jay...” she called softly.

He immediately sat up, worry flashing across his face.