Chapter 111-Wait for me

Chapter 111: 111-Wait for me

"I know where you can find a ship worth more than anything you’ve taken from us."

Dylan’s head snapped toward her but Sarah ignored him. He had said all that he had to say and she had listened enough. Now, she no longer needed to consider him before deciding for herself. She prioritized her own wishes over his.

"What kind of ship?" Rourke asked.

"A heavily fortified cruise ship. It has advanced defenses, independent communications, and enough supplies to support its occupants for a very long time."

The captain’s expression changed drastically. Just hearing the description of the said ship was enough to get his blood boiling.

"How do you know that?" He asked to be sure, "Why should I believe that such a vessel exists?"

"Because I know the woman who owns it," Sarah claimed with much confidence, she didn’t just know Aymara in one life, no.she knew her in two lives. "I really know her."

Sarah forced herself to continue despite the growing knot in her stomach.

"Her name is Aymara Ellington. She’s wealthy, intelligent, and has been preparing for the apocalypse for a long time. She’s not just prepared... She might be the most prepared of everyone around. Her ship can operate without relying on normal communication networks. If you capture it, you’ll have food, medicine, power, and technology that other survivors can only dream of."

Rourke studied her face for lies or exaggeration born from her desperate act to live but found none. Sarah’s eyes were clear and held sincerity.

"And why would you tell me this?" He asked her, if such a ship existed, shouldn’t she save the information for herself. Why tell him and lose out on the opportunity? He doubted her.

Sarah swallowed. She had thought that this time, she’d live well and she even dreamt of ruling the apocalypse. She had thought that she was the chosen one and that she would never need to bend or bow to anyone but she had been wrong.

Whether in the first life or the second, Aymara had better luck that her. She seemed to be more of the chosen one. And Sarah knew her own truth, she wasn’t a nice person so why should she suffer alone?

Since she had lost everything and was at the mercy of others, it was only fair that Aymara should lose everything too.

"Because I want to survive," she claimed, it was partly true but not her full truth.

The captain laughed, clearly pleased by her answer. "Now we’re talking," he threw his head back and laughed even harder.

He leaned closer to her and whispered with genuine interest. "Tell me everything you know about this woman."

Sarah described Aymara’s resources, the advanced systems aboard her ship, and the unusual communication capabilities she had learned about when Aymara called her up.

She also explained that Aymara had been using a phone-like device connected to her own system, allowing her to maintain contact even when ordinary networks failed.

Rourke’s eyes gleamed with interest. With a device like that, he’d be unstoppable in the apocalypse. He might end up ruling the dangerous oceans.

"Can you lead us to her?"

Sarah hesitated for a moment. After all, Aymara was not just Dylan’s backup but hers too. However, in the moment, she had to work with what she had. She swore inwardly to find an opportunity later and betray Rourke and take everything back.

"I don’t know her exact location, but I might be able to help you find it."

She glanced at Dylan’s confiscated belongings, remembering the location-tracking function on Aymara’s phone.

Before the apocalypse, Aymara had shared location access with them. Sarah had never bothered to disable it after their betrayal, assuming the arrangement would remain useful if they ever needed to locate her.

She had no idea whether the connection still worked but it was worth trying.

"If the location tracker is still active, we may be able to trace her phone," Sarah explained. "If she’s carrying it, we could find her ship."

Rourke turned toward one of his men. "Get their devices. Find out whether this tracker works!" He ordered, his tone full of urgency.

The pirate returned with Dylan’s confiscated phone and began examining it. After several minutes, he looked up.

"Captain, there’s an active location link. The signal is weak, but it’s still transmitting coordinates."

Rourke’s grin widened. "Excellent," he could already picture the ship in his possession and his lips stretched from ear to ear.

He looked at Sarah with newfound appreciation. "You may have just earned yourself a place on my ship, girl."

Sarah released a breath of relief and for now, she was safe but when she glanced at Dylan, she noticed that he had gone unusually quiet.

His jaw was clenched, and his hands were curled into fists. He knew exactly what Sarah had done. She had handed the pirates a path to Aymara’s ship.

His ship, if he could somehow convince Aymara to take him back.

He should have been furious with Sarah for exposing their former companion to danger. Instead, a different thought began forming in his mind: at least they’re taking me to her.

He could see Aymara again. He could find a way to speak to her, convince her that he had changed, and perhaps exploit whatever feelings she might still have for him.

If the pirates captured her ship, he might even find a way to benefit from the chaos and if they failed?

He could still try to approach Aymara once he was close enough. Dylan lowered his head, hiding the calculating look in his eyes. He wasn’t going to waste this opportunity.

Meanwhile, Captain Rourke stood before the navigation display as his crew entered the coordinates recovered from the location tracker.

A new destination appeared on the screen. He looked up and directed, "All vessels, prepare to move," he ordered. "We’re hunting a cruise ship."

Across the deck, pirates began preparing their weapons and checking their equipment. Engines roared to life as the fleet turned toward the new coordinates.

Sarah watched the vessels begin moving, her heart pounding. She had sacrificed Aymara’s safety to secure her own survival.

Perhaps she could justify it by telling herself that Aymara had abandoned them first or perhaps she could pretend that Dylan’s betrayal had left her with no other choice but deep down, she knew the truth.

She had made a decision and whatever happened next, she would have to live with it.

Dylan stood beside her, staring toward the horizon. His expression remained grim, but beneath his clenched jaw, a dangerous determination was taking shape.

’Aymara, wait for me,’ he inwardly requested.

He didn’t know whether he wanted her forgiveness, her resources, or the life she could provide. Perhaps he wanted all three but one thing was certain. He wasn’t going to let this opportunity slip through his fingers. Not again.

’Just a little while longer and we’ll be together again, my dear,’ he thought, his eyes softening with the practised softness he always wore for Aymara. ’Wait for me.’