Chapter 18 Sisters
After a three-day quarantine period, Amy and Andrea stood at the door of the quarantine room, looking at the "new world" outside, speechless for a long time.
A hot bath.
Clean clothes.
A soft yet safe bed.
Three meals a day were delivered on time. Although not luxurious, they were filling.
Most importantly, they didn't have to live in constant fear anymore—no half-asleep vigilance, no listening for footsteps in the dark, no fear that closing their eyes might mean never opening them again.
"sister?"
Amy whispered, "Did we make the right bet?"
Andrea took a deep breath and nodded.
"At least for now, yes."
As they walked out of the quarantine area, they ran into Wu Fan.
"How about it?"
Wu Fan leaned against the corridor wall. "Rest enough?"
Amy immediately nodded. "It's amazing! I've never slept this well in ages!"
Andrea was more reserved. "Thank you."
Wu Fan waved it off. "No need to thank me. You made the right choice. Now—what kind of work do you want?"
Amy raised her hand instantly.
"I want to be your personal secretary!"
Andrea turned sharply. "Amy!"
"What?" Amy said casually. "I did all kinds of work in the mine. Nobody appreciated me. Now I just want an easy job."
Wu Fan glanced at her. "Do you even know what a secretary does?"
"Tea, phone calls, schedules," Amy replied confidently. "I took a secretarial elective in community school!"
A pause.
Wu Fan nodded. "One-week probation."
Amy grinned. "Guaranteed!"
Andrea sighed.
"And you?" Wu Fan looked at her. "Lawyer?"
Andrea froze slightly. "How did you know?"
"Guess."
Andrea gave a bitter smile. "What use is a lawyer now? Sue walkers?"
She straightened. "I want security."
Wu Fan studied her for a moment.
"Sure. Report to Sandra."
On the first day, Andrea stood in front of the mirror in full gear, silently admiring herself.
On the second day, she started to understand nothing.
On the third day, she regretted everything.
The weight. The drills. The running. The shooting posture training. The constant exhaustion.
Sandra didn't go easy on her.
"Again."
"Faster."
"Stand up."
Andrea began questioning life choices she never thought she would question.
Meanwhile—
At the entrance of the CDC.
Amy walked out in high heels and a professional suit, perfectly polished.
"Sis! The boss is looking for you!"
Andrea, lying exhausted on the training ground, slowly turned her head.
She looked at her sister.
Then closed her eyes again.
"I knew it…"
In the following days, the CDC changed rapidly.
Barbed wire fences were raised.
Walker patrol teams cleared surrounding zones daily.
Survivors began arriving in small groups.
Wu Fan received them personally every time.
Same speech. Same tone.
"For humanity."
"For survival."
"For the future."
And always ending with:
"Anyone who obstructs vaccine development is an enemy of humanity."
People believed him.
They signed contracts.
They stayed.
Only the original group knew—
The boss had perfected this rhetoric to an art form.
A week later.
Brock, Sandra, Marcus, Dylan, and Kyle stood in Wu Fan's office.
"Congratulations."
Wu Fan pushed five ID cards forward.
"Official employees. Security Division. Level One clearance."
They stared blankly.
"Hive…?" Brock muttered. "What's that?"
Half an hour later, they stood inside the Hive.
And went silent.
The sky was too real.
The grass too natural.
The houses too perfect.
Sandra crouched down, touching the ground.
"It's… real."
Brock shook his head slowly. "Even if you told me aliens were real, I'd believe it."
They chose houses.
They entered homes fully furnished as if life had never collapsed.
And for the first time—
They felt safe.
On the third floor of CDC, Wu Fan sat in his office.
[Current Points: 4680]
[Points required for Hive Level 2: 5000]
[Remaining: 320]
"Almost there…"
Knock knock.
"Come in."
Amy entered first, smiling professionally.
"Boss, your sister is here."
Andrea walked in behind her, still covered in dust and sweat.
A contrast.
Wu Fan pointed at the chair.
"Sit."
Andrea sat.
"Coffee?" he asked.
"Water is fine."
Amy smirked and handed her sister a glass before leaving.
Silence.
"How's training?" Wu Fan asked.
"I can handle it."
He nodded.
"I have a mission for you."
Andrea's posture straightened.
"The mine."
Wu Fan leaned forward slightly.
"Go back. Convince them to join us."
Andrea blinked. "All of them?"
"You know them. They know you. You're the best proof."
A pause.
Then Andrea nodded.
"I'll bring them back."
At the entrance of CDC, a Humvee waited.
Black paint. Red Umbrella logo.
Sandra checked her weapon. The team prepared.
Wu Fan stood behind them.
"If they come willingly, bring them in. If not—"
He paused.
"I won't force it."
Sandra nodded. "Understood."
Andrea got into the vehicle.
Before closing the door, she looked back.
"Boss… wait for me."
The Humvee drove off.
Dust rose behind it.
Wu Fan stood still.
Only one thought remained in his mind.
320 points left.
And soon—
The mine would finally become part of the Hive.