The Endgame Chronicles (by Hugh White) novel Chapter 751

Chapter 751

“I said, get back.”

Douglas repeated himself, firmer this time.

Celia pouted, clearly annoyed, but pulled her foot back. She shot Hayley a glare before turning and heading back to Douglas.

All 16 of Douglas’s people squeezed in with Preston’s 11 in the entryway.

No matter how big it was, it felt packed now. They sat shoulder to shoulder, pressed tight, barely able to stretch their legs.

“Boss, we’re starving. Can we eat?” someone asked Douglas.

“Go ahead.”

With a wave of his hand, everyone started unzipping their backpacks.

They had gotten lucky earlier, stumbling across a roadside bakery. The fresh stuff was long gone. Bread, pastries, and anything with flour or eggs had spoiled years ago.

But somehow, they had found a stash of Hearthfall cakes.

Four years later, everything else had rotted away, but the dense and sweet Hearthfall cakes were still

intact.

Especially the mixed-nut kind. It looked almost brand new.

Before all this, no one would’ve touched the stuff. Now, it was as good as gold. They were high in sugar and fat, packed with calories, and practically indestructible.

Everyone had stuffed their bags with it before leaving.

They pulled out the cakes and started eating.

Preston stared, eyes locked on the food. “You found Hearthfall cakes?”

“Yeah,” Douglas said with a grin. “Didn’t expect it to hold up this well. Everything else was ruined, but this? Still perfect.”

Preston swallowed hard, his gaze glued to the food.

“What about you guys? Did you find anything?”

Preston hesitated. “Nothing. We’ve been hungry for a while now

The moment he said that, Douglas handed him five pieces. “Then eat with us

Preston lit up, grabbing them as if they were treasure.

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Douglas went on, “Surviving out here isn’t easy. In times like these, we gotta help each other. We make it through together.”

“Right, right, exactly!” Preston nodded eagerly.

He kept two for himself and split the other three among his ten men.

“Captain Snee, that’s always been my thinking. We share what we have and get through this together!”

He said it extra loudly for Hayley to hear.

Hayley didn’t even bother reacting. She flicked her lighter, fed a stack of bills into the flame, and kept heating instant noodles.

Douglas caught sight of it, and his eyes lit up again.

“You’ve got instant noodles?”

Hayley ignored him.

Douglas stood, more animated now. “How about we trade? I’ll give you one cake for two packs of noodles. Calorie-wise, one of mine is worth at least three of yours. I’m offering you a good deal.”

Hayley didn’t know whether to laugh or just walk away.

Trading her fresh noodles for four-year-old Hearthfall cakes?

Yeah, no thanks.

“Boss, some people just don’t know a good deal even if it hits them in the face,” Celia said, biting into a rock-hard piece of Hearthfall cake. She kept it in her mouth, trying to soften it enough to chew. “Why even bother offering?”

Douglas didn’t get a response from Hayley and took the hint, letting it drop. He sat back down and started eating his own share.

Seeing that, Celia felt even better.

“Our cake’s way better anyway. Some people don’t know what they’re missing. They’ll regret it later

She bit down hard on a chunk of the dried fruit and nuts.

Crunch!

One of her front teeth snapped clean off.

Celia froze.

2.3

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