Ronan Kendrick found Taylor Vance and told him about discovering the pond. Taylor Vance was thrilled, his face lighting up.

"Ronan Kendrick, you take me and Zion Lowell up the mountain first. We’ll go take a look at the pond."

Ronan Kendrick agreed. Before they headed up the mountain, Evelyn Ford came over and slipped him a jar of water purification tablets.

An hour later, the three of them returned.

"Everyone, quiet down and listen to me! Ronan Kendrick found a cave in the mountains with a pond inside, but the water flow is very weak. Anyone with a pickaxe, grab it. I need twenty people to come up the mountain with me. We’re going to dig the pond bigger so everyone will have water to drink!"

Everyone was stunned by Taylor Vance’s announcement. No one dared to believe they had really found a water source. It had been over twenty days since they left the safe zone, the water they’d brought with them was nearly gone, and despair had begun to set in for many.

"Mr. Vance, you’re not kidding, are you? Is there really water?"

"Yes. Zion Lowell and I both drank from it. The water is cool and clear, but the flow is very weak. Now, young folks, grab your pickaxes and come up the mountain with me."

"Alright!"

Everyone shouted in unison. Many pulled out pickaxes and other tools, eager to head up the mountain and dig for water. Quincy and Chase Underwood went along as well.

When Ronan Kendrick returned to their tent, Evelyn Ford pulled him aside. "Did you put the purification tablets in?" 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"I put in half. I’ll go add the rest after they finish digging."

Evelyn Ford nodded. "This should ease our water shortage. I figure we’ll be camped here for two or three days. Let’s go get some firewood."

"Okay."

The people digging on the mountain worked tirelessly. In just three hours, they had expanded the pond to several times its original size. Since the cave was very small, Taylor Vance worried they might damage the source, so once they’d dug enough, he had everyone stop.

"We’ll wait a few hours for the sediment to settle and the water to clear before we start fetching any. I’ll post guards here. Don’t try to sneak up and get water. Anyone caught will be severely punished."

Taylor Vance was highly respected within the group, so everyone followed his orders to the letter.

Back at the camp, everyone waited nervously. Even though Taylor Vance had told them the pond was now very murky and needed a few hours to settle, some people couldn’t contain themselves and just had to go up for a look.

"Evelyn Ford, I need your help with something." Serena Lynch came to find Evelyn, but when she saw Ronan Kendrick was also there, she grew flustered. Noticing her discomfort, Evelyn quickly stepped outside with her.

"What is it?" The two of them walked a little ways off, and Evelyn asked in a hushed voice.

"Do you have a way to delay a period? Or make it stop coming forever?"

"I can delay it, but only for a month or two at most. It’s impossible to make it stop forever, not unless your body has some kind of problem."

Serena Lynch sighed. "Then please, help me delay it for two months. I think I’m due in a couple of days."

"Alright. I’ll prepare a dose of medicine for you. Take it for two days. Now that we have water, brewing it will be easier. But be warned, it will cause severe stomach pain. Can you endure that?"

"I can."

Seeing Serena Lynch’s determination, Evelyn Ford returned to the tent to prepare a packet of medicine for her. After handing it over, she gave her another warning.

"Your next one might be very painful, too, and the flow will be heavy."

"Evelyn, don’t worry. I’m the one who insisted on getting this medicine from you; it has nothing to do with you. Don’t feel burdened by it. In fact, I’m happy I can delay it for two months."

Serena Lynch took the medicine and went back to brew it. Evelyn Ford went into the tent and flopped onto her back.

’Being a woman is so exhausting.’

"We can switch, then," Ronan Kendrick said, sitting beside her with a serious expression.

"How would we switch?"

"Just act like you’re the man, and you can treat me like the woman."

Evelyn Ford couldn’t help but burst out laughing. "Ronan, I can picture myself as a man—after all, there are plenty of men who are five-foot-eight—but I really can’t picture you as a woman. I’ve never seen a woman as tall as you."

Evelyn Ford pictured it for a moment—a delicate, petite Ronan Kendrick cuddling up to her—and goosebumps instantly erupted on her skin.

"I really wish we’d get to Danver soon."

"Are you tired?" Ronan Kendrick patted her on the head, soothing her like a child.

"Not really tired, no. I’m just wondering if there are any survivors left in Danver. Ronan, I have a feeling... now that we’ve found water, some people might want to stay here."

Ronan Kendrick nodded. "There are plenty of mountains here. They can build houses with wood, and with water, they might even be able to grow crops. Some people will definitely want to stay."

And indeed, many people were already pondering this very question, including Quincy and his friends. Even though they could reach Danver in just a few more days, would they be able to find water there?

The choice—to stay or to leave—once again lay before them.

A few hours later, Taylor Vance announced that the water on the mountain had cleared. Everyone could go fetch some, but there was to be no rushing, no pushing, and no polluting the water source. They had to form an orderly line, and anyone who disrupted the peace would be severely punished.

Wendy came over to tell Evelyn Ford it was her turn to get water. Evelyn only took a small bucket. ’I have water in my space, so I just need to make it look good,’ she thought. ’It’s better to leave this water for everyone else.’

After waiting in line for half an hour, Evelyn Ford returned with her water. Some people had already started boiling water to cook their Dried Meat.

Evelyn Ford also took out a pork rib, chopped it up, and tossed it into her iron pot to boil.

Before long, all sorts of aromas filled the camp. Someone even took out pumpkin seeds and began to crack them open leisurely.

At first, everyone was careful with the water they’d fetched, afraid to waste a single drop. Later, they grew bolder and started washing their faces and hair.

With their hunger sated and their thirst quenched, people began taking every bottle and jar they had up the mountain to fill with water. The line of people waiting stretched from the cave entrance all the way to the foot of the mountain.

Just as Evelyn Ford had predicted, quite a few people decided they didn’t want to leave. They informed Taylor Vance of their desire to stay, and he didn’t try to force them otherwise.

With water came a chance to survive. Everyone had the right to make their own choice.

Those who chose to leave continued on their journey, while those who stayed behind had to begin a new life.

When they set out again, everyone’s spirits were completely different. The temperature had also dropped to thirty-three degrees, and the wind was much cooler, allowing them to quicken their pace.

Now, everyone was pushing forward with a single-minded focus, waiting until they reached Danver to get a proper rest.

Fortunately, during the next leg of their journey, someone spotted three wild oxen, adding to the group’s food supply.

By the time they reached Danver, many people’s feet were too swollen to walk. But as they gazed upon the ruined city, their hope turned to disappointment.

The city had been ravaged by a great fire; not a single clean patch of ground could be found.

Black ash filled the air. All around them were collapsed buildings, a cracked and broken ground, shattered glass, and rusted car doors.

"Looks like this place is empty, too."

"SCREE! SCREE!" An Eagle soared over Danver. Evelyn Ford looked up and noticed something dense and dark appearing in the sky.

"Ronan, look to your right! What is that?"

"Insects! Quick, cover your head!" Ronan Kendrick whipped off his jacket and threw it over Evelyn Ford’s head as the others quickly reacted.

In an instant, the group descended into chaos.