Strongest Boyfriend In The Apocalypse: Every Girl Depends On Me!-Chapter 35: Familiar Faces

"Welcome, youngsters. I’m Mister Fred... Can you tell me your names?"

Ethan was watching and observing as Mister Fred welcomed them and have them introduce themselves.

Karen and his friends were there, and even though Ethan knew that they were going to come here, he was completely wasn’t happy about it.

Although it seemed like everything ended after Lance’s death, Ethan still suspected that Karen could later be up to something.

Now that they are going to be together again in the same area, they could be pushed to do something insane again.

Ethan turned away as Mister Fred continued speaking with the new arrivals.

He did not wait to hear the rest of the welcoming words. He did not care about the polite smiles or the calm tone Mister Fred always carried like a mask.

The moment he caught sight of familiar figures among the group, something inside him tightened hard, and the anger he had been holding back finally slipped loose.

He walked away.

Each step he took felt heavier than the last, his boots scraping softly against the gravel-covered ground of the refuge. The sounds behind him faded slowly, voices, murmurs, introductions, but his ears refused to register them anymore. His attention was focused inward, on the storm of thoughts clashing in his mind.

His hands clenched tightly at his sides.

He hated this feeling.

Not fear.

Not panic.

But the feeling of being dragged back into something he thought he had already escaped.

The refuge was supposed to be safe. That was what they said. High walls. Armed guards. Organized shelters. A place where survivors could rest without constantly looking over their shoulders.

But to Ethan, it felt like a cage.

A controlled environment where secrets were dangerous.

He headed straight toward one of the steel buildings lined neatly behind the aluminum gate. Every building looked almost identical... Cold, gray, built from metal sheets and reinforced scrap panels. They were sturdy, functional, and lifeless. Places meant to keep people alive, not necessarily human.

This one housed Anna, Gracie, Mella, and Helen.

Four people per building, there were no exceptions.

Ethan slowed as he reached the door. His breathing steadied, and he forced the anger down, locking it somewhere deep inside. The girls did not need to see that side of him.

Not now.

He pushed the door open.

The familiar smell of metal and disinfectant greeted him. The interior lighting was dim but steady, casting soft shadows along the steel walls. The room was small, but it was organized in a way that showed people were trying to make the best of what they had.

Four rooms lined the walls, each with a thin mattress, folded blankets, and small personal items placed carefully nearby.

A metal table sat in the center of every room with a few empty cups, a half-open food pack, and a dull knife resting beside it.

Anna was the first to notice him.

Her head lifted instantly, her eyes finding him as if she had been waiting.

"Ethan," she called softly, relief clear in her voice.

Gracie turned next, her expression brightening the moment she saw him.

"You’re back."

Mella looked up more slowly, her movements reserved, but she still gave a small nod of acknowledgment.

Helen, standing with her arms crossed near her mattress, watched him carefully, her sharp eyes studying his expression like she always did.

Ethan felt his shoulders loosen slightly.

"Are you all okay?" he asked, his voice steady but low.

Gracie nodded quickly. "Yeah. We’re fine. Nothing weird so far."

Mella gave a short breath. "Still breathing. That’s good enough for now."

Helen scoffed quietly. "For now," she repeated.

Ethan allowed a faint smile to show, just briefly, before it faded again. He stepped further into the room, his gaze moving from one face to another, checking for signs of stress, injury, or fear that they might not be voicing out loud.

"And the officers?" he asked.

"They haven’t bothered us," Anna replied. "They just told us the rules and left."

Ethan nodded. That was better than nothing.

His eyes lingered on Anna for a moment before he spoke again. "Can I talk to you outside for a bit?"

Anna blinked, surprised by the sudden request. Then she nodded. "Sure."

They stepped out together, the metal door closing behind them with a low creak that echoed softly through the area.

Outside, the air felt cooler. The sun was sinking low in the sky, painting the refuge in long shadows and dull orange light. Guards stood at different points along the fence, their silhouettes sharp against the fading brightness.

Somewhere nearby, people were talking quietly, settling in for the evening.

But where Ethan and Anna stood, it felt distant.

Anna clasped her hands together, shifting slightly as she stood beside him.

He noticed the look on her face immediately.

It was complicated.

"You okay?" he asked.

She hesitated, biting her lower lip slightly before nodding. "Yeah. I think so. I was just... thinking."

"About what?"

She glanced away, her eyes resting on the steel wall ahead of them. "I wish we had more time together."

The words were soft, almost hesitant.

Ethan turned slightly toward her. "More time?"

She nodded. "Back in New Land... even though everything was terrible... we were always together. We talked more. Now it feels like everything is rushed. Controlled. Like we’re being pulled in different directions."

Ethan shrugged lightly. "I’d like that too."

His tone was calm and reserved.

Not as open as hers.

Anna noticed, but she didn’t push.

She smiled faintly instead.

Ethan watched her quietly. Somewhere along the way, something had changed. The way she stood closer to him now. The way her voice softened when she spoke. The way her eyes lingered longer than before.

She was falling for him!

And instead of making him uncomfortable, it left him quietly amazed.

They stood in silence for a moment, the sounds of the refuge filling the gaps between their thoughts.

"Do you remember Atlanta?" Anna asked suddenly.

Ethan exhaled slowly. "Yeah. I do."

"The streets," she continued. "The parks. The way we used to just walk around without worrying about anything."

He smiled and nodded. "I remember."

She smiled faintly. "Do you remember how we used to roll down that small hill behind our apartment?"

Ethan smirked. "You always complained about getting dirt on your clothes."

"And you always pushed me anyway," she said, letting out a small laugh.

"Worth it," he replied.

For a moment, those memories felt close. Warm. Almost real.

"I hope our families are fine," Anna said softly.

Ethan’s expression darkened just a little before he nodded. "I hope so too."

He turned to face her fully. "I promise. I’ll get us out of here."

Anna looked at him, eyes widening slightly before she nodded. "I believe you."

Ethan stepped back. "I should check on the others."

She hesitated and then nodded, the change of look on her face very clear.

But just as he turned to leave, her hand reached out and grabbed his arm.

"Ethan."

He stopped.

She stepped closer, her face flushed, her eyes fixed on him.

"Can you... hug me?"

Ethan froze for a brief moment, surprised.

Then he nodded.

"Yeah."

He opened his arms, and Anna stepped into them, wrapping her arms tightly around him. Her head rested against his chest, and for those few seconds, the chaos of the world felt distant.

He returned the hug gently.

When she pulled back, her smile was shy but genuine, like a little burden had left her.

"Thank you," she said.

Ethan nodded without saying a word and walked away.

Anna remained there, watching him until he disappeared from sight, lifting her hand in a small wave.

Ethan made his way toward the next building.

This one housed Teresa, Eva, Miss Audrey, and Marie, a lady who wasn’t part of them.

The door had barely opened when Eva ran out.

"Ethan!" she exclaimed, nearly crashing into him.

He steadied her. "Easy."

She laughed. "I thought you weren’t coming."

"I said I would," he replied.

Inside, Teresa sat with her arms crossed, her usual cold expression firmly in place. Miss Audrey sat quietly nearby, her face tired. Marie, unfamiliar but polite, gave him a nod.

"How are you all doing?" Ethan asked.

Eva answered immediately. "I’m okay!"

"We’re managing," Marie happened to respond.

But Miss Audrey couldn’t say a word.

Ethan’s gaze shifted to Teresa.

Her eyes looked dull.

Tired.

The Daily Intelligence warning flashed through his mind.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small sachet.

He handed it to her.

"Take this," he said. "Tylenol."

He had purchased it from the Store back in his room when no one was watching.

She stared at it, then at him. "What is it?"

"For fever," he said calmly. "You better take it."

She took it without arguing.

And then Ethan turned and gave Miss Audrey a reassuring look.

"Everything will be fine."

She nodded, though worry still lingered.

And with that, he walked back to the house.

When Ethan returned to his own quarters, he stopped short.

Mister Fred stood at the doorway and beside him was Karen Cassidy.

Recognition hit instantly.

Ethan’s face darkened.

His fists clenched.

"Hello, Ethan," Mister Fred said. "Say hi to your new housemate, Karen Cassidy. He’s also a survivor from New Land."

Karen smiled faintly. "Long time."

Mister Fred’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"Oh?" he said. "Do you two know each other?"

Silence stretched between them.

Ethan said nothing.

Karen’s smile widened just a little.

Mister Fred studied them closely.

Something was probably wrong with the way he saw things.

And they knew it...

The past had followed him here.

And it was far from over.