Chapter 27: Checkpoint

Chapter 27: Chapter 27: Checkpoint Sophia shook her head with a bright smile. "Nope, it only tickled a little! After that, I started bathing there every hour. Hehe, it was fun." Betty’s tense shoulders loosened. Seeing Sophia’s happy face, she gently patted her head. "Thank goodness..." But soon, a peculiar expression crossed her face. ’If she bathes there every hour... doesn’t that mean her strength is way higher than mine now?’ She quickly shook her head. Thinking about it only made her worry more for Sophia’s safety. The car sped down the empty road, its engine humming. Suddenly, Betty hit the brakes hard—the road ahead was tightly blocked by police cars and makeshift barriers. A knock sounded on the broken window. Betty turned to see a weary police officer with dark circles under his eyes. "Please confirm if you have any bite marks," he said in a tired voice. Betty calmly shook her head. The officer scribbled something on his clipboard. "Hey, officer, did you not sleep?" she asked with a smirk. The officer sighed and shook his head, looking completely drained. Betty put on a pitying face and yawned exaggeratedly."Well, I slept soundly. Tch tch, I pity you." The officer glared at her resentfully. Betty widened her eyes innocently."What? I’m just telling the truth. Oh, and I also ate very well, hehe." Sophia, sitting in the passenger seat, stared at her incredulously. ’Why is Mommy suddenly messing with this officer?’ A sly grin crept across the officer’s face. "So, you slept well and ate well?" Betty nodded confidently. "Yep." The officer’s grin widened. "Then, according to the rules, if you want to enter, every survivor who has food must share it with those who don’t." He extended his hand with a smug look. By the time the car passed through the checkpoint, Betty’s face was as dark as coal. She gripped the steering wheel so hard it bent slightly. Sophia shook her head, almost laughing. "Wow, Mommy, why did you mess with him? See, now you had to give half of your snacks to him." Betty snorted, her teeth gritted. "Daughter, you wouldn’t understand. I have a long feud with the police, so I couldn’t just pass silently at a checkpoint." Sophia pouted, crossing her arms with a teasing expression. "Wow, Mommy, what feud did you have? Didn’t you tell me before that you respect the police very much and they would definitely come to rescue us?" Betty’s lips twitched. That must have been the original Betty, not me, saying such cheesy words. She coughed awkwardly and replied, her face full of seriousness as if she were teaching a profound lesson. "You see, Sophia, in this world there are good people and bad people... and cops are bad people." Sophia blinked at her in disbelief. "..." Really, Mommy, with that serious face? Betty looked away awkwardly, not backing off from her statement. Up ahead, the road narrowed again, and another line of barriers came into view. Betty slapped the steering wheel in frustration. "When will these checkpoints end?!" Sophia noticed her mother’s behavior and smiled inwardly. ’Mommy’s behavior has changed... It’s better this way rather than that hopeful innocence.’ A female officer approached the car window. After glancing at the father and daughter, she nodded and opened the door. "Mister, please step out for a moment. We need to check for any injuries." Betty crossed her arms in defiance but still stepped out, not wanting to embarrass herself in front of Sophia again. "Hmph, fine. Check whatever you want." The officer blinked at Betty’s glare—those big eyes glaring like a puppy trying to scare a lioness. "Pffft—" Betty tilted her head."Hey, did you go mad? Why are you laughing for no reason?" The officer quickly swallowed her laughter and pulled out a strange device resembling a police speed radar. ’What the heck? Why is she using a speedometer on a person?’ Ignoring the "madwoman," Betty looked around. The road, like the last one, was heavily blocked, with officers checking people one by one. Her gaze hardened when she spotted another officer pointing a gun at a crying woman. "Are you all bullying people here? Why is she being held at gunpoint?" Betty glared at the female officer, demanding an answer. The officer’s expression turned troubled as she explained, "Mister, it’s protocol. Anyone infected by a bite can’t be allowed in. We have to protect the humans inside—we can’t let a potential danger slip through." When the device in her hand lit up green, she sighed in relief. "Alright, miss, you’re clear. You can go inside." She then walked to the car and scanned Sophia, who sat quietly. Betty glanced back at the woman who was still being held at gunpoint. Her steps slowed for a moment before she forced herself to turn away. ’Tch, why am I feeling pity? I’ve killed zombies without hesitation. I have to protect my life and Sophia’s, not anyone else’s, and I cant do anything to help her.’ As they entered the survivor camp, Betty’s eyes twitched. Though it was called a camp, behind it loomed a heavily fortified military base. Soldiers patrolled the perimeter with rifles in hand, their expressions cold and watchful. Around them, civilians covered in dirt hugged each other, crying tears of relief at having survived. Exiting the car, Betty and Sophia were immediately approached by a soldier who guided them toward the shelter. Halfway there, the soldier suddenly stopped and turned to her, his sharp gaze locking onto hers. "Sir... have you, perhaps, ever absorbed a zombie stone?" Betty’s body stiffened, her instincts screaming at her. ’What Stone?..... WTF This shouldn’t be happening yet... there are still four days before the world learns about cores!’ Her fingers curled slightly, ready to react at any moment, while a forced smile crept onto her face. The soldier started explaining the reason for the sudden question. "You see, the person with powers has been sent to fight in exchange; they can get supplies, and some apply to be a soldier, and I’m one of them, and the more civilians you save the better reward you will got."