Walking Dead: Unlock the Umbrella Corporation Hive Begins with Hunting Chapter 22 22: 22

The convoy rolled slowly toward the CDC.

At the intersection, two ard guards stepped forward and raised their hands, signaling for the vehicles to halt.

Sandra leaned out of the Humvee and handed over a manifest. The guard scanned it quickly, then nodded and waved them through.

"Let them in!"

One by one, the convoy entered and ca to a stop in the parking lot.

The survivors from the mine climbed down and gathered in uneasy clusters, eyes sweeping across their surroundings.

A towering wire fence, more than two ters high, enclosed the entire CDC. Coiled barbed wire lined its top. Every few dozen ters stood a guard post, each manned by soldiers in black uniforms, rifles resting at the ready under the sunlight.

"This… place…"

T-boy opened his mouth, but no words followed.

Dell placed a hand on his RV, reluctance flickering in his eyes, though it was quickly overtaken by relief.

"At least it's safer than the mine," he muttered.

Morales held his wife and children close. The children peered out cautiously, taking in everything with wide, uncertain eyes.

"Don't just stand there," Sandra said briskly. "Follow Andrea. Shower, disinfect, change clothes. Then report for quarantine assignnt."

Andrea stepped forward. "Follow . Everyone will receive clean clothes, soap, and shampoo. No one enters the base until they've been washed and disinfected. That's the rule."

The group followed her toward the temporary tents.

Inside, hot water poured steadily from overhead pipes. Steam filled the air, softening the harsh edges of exhaustion and fear.

Lori stood beneath the shower, letting the heat wash over her. Dirt, fatigue, and the weight of survival seed to dissolve bit by bit. She closed her eyes.

She was still alive.

That alone was enough.

After changing into clean clothes, she stepped out, speaking quietly with several other won who had finished showering as well.

Then—

"Lori!"

A voice called out.

She froze.

Ahead of her stood a man in a gray T-shirt. He was thinner than she rembered, his cheekbones sharper—but those gray-blue eyes were unchanged.

Rick.

The towel slipped from Lori's fingers and fell unnoticed.

For a brief mont, she simply stared.

Then she ran.

They collided in an embrace, holding each other as if afraid the other might disappear again.

Rick buried his face in her hair, his voice breaking.

"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry I wasn't there…"

Lori shook her head, unable to speak, her arms tightening around him as tears stread down her face.

After a long silence, Rick finally pulled back, resting his forehead against hers.

"I missed you."

Lori nodded through tears. " too…"

A small voice broke through the mont.

"Dad?"

Carl stood a few steps away.

Rick turned instantly.

"Carl."

He knelt and opened his arms.

Carl rushed forward and buried himself in his father's embrace.

Rick held him tightly, closing his eyes as a faint smile surfaced.

"I'm here now," he said softly. "I'm here."

Nearby, Sean stood in silence, watching the reunion unfold. His expression shifted faintly—relief tangled with sothing heavier he could not quite na.

Rick rose and clapped him on the shoulder.

"Didn't think you'd make it," he said with a faint grin.

Sean forced a smile. "Sa goes for you."

They embraced briefly.

Rick, too relieved to notice, missed the stiffness in Sean's posture.

"Quarantine lasts three days," Rick explained afterward. "You can move around during the day, but you return to your rooms at night. No exceptions."

"That's fine," Lori said softly.

"The rules used to be stricter," Rick added. "You got in after they eased things. Consider yourselves lucky."

They walked together, speaking in lighter tones now, as though the world outside had never existed.

For a mont, everything felt almost normal.

At the edge of the gathering, rle leaned against a wall, chewing on a blade of dry grass as he scanned the base.

"Not bad," he muttered. "Better than that mine. Food, shelter, hot water… even won."

A voice cut in.

"Welco to Umbrella Corporation."

Amy descended the stairs.

She wore a tailored business suit, her hair neatly arranged, high heels clicking sharply against the floor. A folder rested in her hand. Her expression was composed, professional—distant.

rle's grin widened. "Well, well. Look at you, Amy. Cleaned up nice."

She glanced at him briefly.

Then, without a word, she looked away as if he were no more significant than dust on the road.

rle's smile stiffened.

Amy stepped forward and addressed the group.

"I am Amy, personal secretary to the BOSS. I will be briefing you on rules and assignnts."

Her voice was calm, precise, and carried an undeniable authority.

"During quarantine, you will receive three als a day delivered to your rooms. After quarantine, assignnts will be distributed based on skills and suitability. Work generates points, which can be exchanged for supplies, improved accommodation, or access to deeper levels of the Hive facility."

She paused, letting her gaze sweep across the crowd.

"This is not rely a refuge. It is humanity's last hope. Research teams are currently working on a vaccine in the lower laboratories. Everything here exists to support that effort."

Silence followed.

One by one, people turned their eyes toward rle.

He frowned.

"What are you all looking at?"

No one answered.

Amy closed her folder and turned away, her heels striking the ground with steady precision.

rle exhaled sharply. "For the record, I'm not a problem."

T-boy muttered under his breath, "We'll see…"

Jim nodded faintly. "We'll see."

rle shot them a glare. "I heard that."

They imdiately looked elsewhere.

Outside the fence, a lone walker staggered into view.

A soldier raised his rifle.

A single shot rang out.

The walker's head exploded, and it collapsed without another sound.

Silence returned to the base.

rle watched for a long mont, then spoke more quietly than before.

"At least here… we're not the ones killing them."

No one responded.

But none of them disagreed.