Laurel went downstairs, only to find out that Chris and Camile were already gone. She went back to her room.
She sat at the small desk in her room, a laptop open in front of her, the glow of the screen reflecting faintly in her eyes. Maps, land listings, and property records filled the screen in chaotic layers, along with their prices, locations.
Although she had some funds now, she knew it was far from enough for stockpiling before the apocalypse, she needed more money and she hoped she would be able to gain Chris's trust and find other alternatives to gain money.
All the land listings she found were not ideal places according to her. She knew the area that was affected most by the monsters, and the area that was secured.
Going out of the city was the best option, her eyes lingered on the map, just beyond the territory of the city was a deep forest to the south.
"Forest…" She muttered. The woods can save in terms of camouflaging, however, it makes death quicker without even knowing where it came from.
As she was about to scroll away, a small land caught her eye, it was very close to the territory of the city. The area was a valley, and the plot of land was for sale with a warehouse built on it.
The price was incredibly low compared to the others, which ranged from five hundred thousand dollars to two million dollars.
"400,000 dollars?" Laurel whistled faintly.
She clicked on the property, the place was supposed to be a research center but it was abandoned due to unknown reasons.
Laurel's hand hovered above the mouse. She had to save money, but that amount… "It's a little too much."
"That area is nice for attack and defense, the valley has two openings which is good in case we need to escape. Buy it, Laurel, the plot is big and we can easily turn it into a little fortress. It is hidden and can not be detected easily." Ling Xuan said.
Laurel paused contemplating Ling Xuan's words. The land was the cheapest of all and the location was also good for farming as there was a little stream passing beside the land.
"We should look for mountains, it would be safer and easier to protect. We don't even have the funds to build walls around it. Let's stick to realistic chances."
Laurel stood up and quickly changed her clothes.
"Don't forget I was once a general, and I'm telling you we should buy the plot of land, it has all the advantages we need. The soil is best for farming, if we go to the mountains, resources are scarce there, and there is a high chance that we might fail for some farming missions." Ling Xuan argued.
Laurel inhaled sharply. "Fine, we will check it out first before we consider buying it."
The reason Laurel agreed was that it was a part of the safe zone during the apocalypse, and having water was more valuable than the worth of gold.
She wore a pair of black pants and a black T-shirt. When she got to the garage she took the red car, the waynes gifted her on her wedding day.
Laurel slid into the driver's seat and started the engine. The low hum of the car filled the quiet garage as the door slowly lifted. She drove out of the mansion without looking back.
The road out of the city was smoother than she expected. Tall buildings gradually gave way to sparse neighborhoods, then open land. As the scenery changed, Laurel's grip on the steering wheel tightened.
She lowered her window, inhaling the fresh breeze, the people had no idea what was to come and they had no idea how the fresh air they were taking for granted would become scarce.
She remembered this road. In her past life, convoys had passed through here more than ten times, yet none returned.
"Relax," Ling Xuan said lazily. "We're not dying today."
"That's not comforting," Laurel replied, keeping her eyes on the road.
The map on her phone blinked softly, guiding her toward the valley. The closer she got, the quieter the surroundings became. There were no people, just the sound of her tires against asphalt and the wind brushing past the windows.
After about forty minutes, the road narrowed into a worn path. Trees lined both sides, their branches stretching overhead like a loose canopy. Laurel slowed down instinctively.
"So this is it," she murmured.
The valley opened up suddenly, revealing a wide stretch of land nestled between two slopes, barbed wire surrounded it, and the entrance had a loose gate. The warehouse stood near the center, old but intact. Its metal exterior was dull, coated with rust, but the structure itself looked solid.
Laurel parked the car and stepped out.
The air felt cooler here and fresher, she could hear the faint sound of water running.
She walked toward the stream first. Clear water flowed quietly, and it was a little deep. Laurel crouched and dipped her fingers into it.
"This water wouldn't dry up easily," Ling Xuan said. "Good."
"Isn't it weird that someone would give up such a good piece of land? And if we acquire this land it might draw too much attention in the future." Laurel creased her brows in worry.
In the apocalypse, something too good usually brings death.