Chapter 486 The So–Called Trial

    “Theresa, you’re really asking for it!”

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    Brian, the Level 3 administrator she’d crossed paths with before, stepped out with his chest puffed, trying to look important.

    Theresa didn’t even blink. Her boot drove straight into his chest with a crack. He hit the floor hard, gasping, before she crushed his ribcage beneath her heel. The sound of his heart bursting echoed in the hall, blood flooding out beneath her.

    She stood tall on his corpse, eyes sweeping the room. “Anyone who thinks they’ve got the right to judge me–step up and say your name.”

    iMob/i. iThat’s /iiall /iishe /iiis/i. iEven /istanding here in chains, she can’t hide what she is. The silence was thick enough to choke on. Even through their masks, she could feel the shift–their bravado faltering.

    Magnus was the first to speak, his voice deep and steady. “Magnus Nellson. Camp leader of Ark Camp One.”

    The others followed his lead.

    “Zahair Rucker. Camp leader of Ark Camp Two.”

    “Teion Smith. Camp leader of Ark Camp Three.”

    Theresa scanned the hall slowly. Everyst one of them shows up. iNot /ia isingle /icoward idares /iito /iihide/i. She tapped her fingers against her thigh, holding back the storm for the right moment.

    Magnus spoke again, like some priest about to deliver judgment. “Theresa, the trial begins. You’ll admit your crimes and repent.”

    Her lips curled. “Crimes? What exactly are you using me of?”

    “You dare y dumb Zahair shot back. “You sowed discord between our camps, you endangered all of us, and you hurt our people. Those crimes alone are enough to put you to death!”

    Theresaughed, sharp and bitter. “Discord? When Ark Camp One was in danger, I marched my people miles to help. If you’re such tight allies, why didn’t any of you lift a finger?”

    She took a step forward, voice cutting like ss. “Endangered you? Please. You’ve never taken K1 Camp seriously. To you, we’ve always been that little backwater camp you could sneer at. We still traded with you at dirt–cheap prices. Tell me again–how did we endanger you?

    “And hurting your people? Show me one time we’veid a hand on yours. Meanwhile, yesterday, you killed two hundred and three of mine. Exin that.”

    Faces shifted. Silence cracked through the room.

    “You refuse to repent!” one voice suddenly shouted.

    “You’re too stubborn. Beyond saving!” another chimed in.

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    11:04 Mon, 25 Aug S

    Chapter 486 The So–Called Trial

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    Theresa’s stare hardened. “Stop dressing it up. The truth is simple. You see K1 Camp as a threat, and you’re scared. That’s why you want me gone. Survival of the fittest, right? Dog eat dog. Don’t call it justice–it’s fear.”

    She leaned forward, her words hitting like daggers. “You want to talk about sins? Let’s talk about you. You gorge yourselves on blood sports. You gamble with lives. You abandon the poor when the zombie hordese knocking.

    “You treat ordinary people like trash. Don’t dare tell me about redemption–you’re the ones rotting from the inside.”

    “Shut your mouth!” Zahair roared. His voice shook with fury. “It doesn’t matter what you say. The strong rule. The winner takes everything.”

    He pointed straight at her. “You lost. You’ll die for it. From today, Kl Camp belongs to us. If you know what’s good for you, repent now, and have your people kneel too. Maybe we’ll spare them. If you don’t…”

    His voice dropped into a growl. “Everyst one of them dies.”

    The people of Ark Camp Two red at Theresa, their eyes burning with hunger.

    iHer /iicamp’s /iitoo /iiprosperous /iito /iwaste. K1 Camp’s foundation is strong, its resources overflowing–idestroying /iiit /iioutright /iiwould /iibe /iifoolish/i.

    iThat’s /iiwhy /iithe /iifirst /istrike ionly /ishattered her defenses and scorched her fields. A city iwithout /iizombies/ii? /iiWho /iiwouldn’t /iwant ito /iim iti? /i

    iToday/ii, /iwe’ll put iher /iion /itrial and take her camp in the open. No matter how istrong /iishe /iis, ione /iiperson /iican’t /iistand /iiagainst /iithe /iibined /iipower /iiof /ithe three camps.

    Teion from Ark Camp Three spoke next, his tone mocking. “You came here to protect your camp, didn’t you? Do the smart thing. y along. We might even let you live.”

    Her eyes narrowed. “Let me live? In what condition?”

    The hall fell into a low murmur as eyes turned toward Magnus. Suggestions flew–kill her outright, cripple her forever, or break her and keep her breathing.

    Morgan pushed back, insisting she stay alive. His obsession clung to her like a shadow.

    Atst, they reached their verdict.

    She would live, but paralyzed from the neck down, a prisoner for life.

    Theresa stood silent, her mind cold and sharp as they started carving up her world in front of her- splitting Kl Camp’s resources and people like livestock. ns rolled out on how to butcher her fighters, how to crush her camp’s spirit.

    The final decree: tomorrow, Theresa would be paraded back to K1 Camp, forced to confess before her people. If anyone resisted, her severed hands would be delivered to them before the next bombing run.

    Kl Camp was no longer a neighbor to them. It was prey and a prize they couldn’t wait to sink their teeth

    into.

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    Mon, 25 Aug

    Chapte