The Endgame Chronicles (by Hugh White) novel Chapter 523

Chapter 523

The white–masked hosts took the wreath and nodded politely at the group in green masks.

“Please, come in.”

The Ark Two group followed behind, carrying their own gifts. However, the welcome they received was noticeably colder.

“You’re here, too,” one of the white masks said flatly.

“We came to see Mr. Clayton off,” someone from Ark Two replied, keeping their tone civil.

“Go on.” The white mask didn’t say anything more. He took their offerings and waved them inside.

Good timing.

If they hadn’t shown up, Ark Three would’ve gone looking for them anyway.

Hayley moved with the crowd into Ark Three.

It reminded her a little of Ark One: sleek, metallic, and heavy on tech.

The layout was inverted.

The first three levels housed regular civilians.

The powerful lived on the top two levels.

Security was tight to the point of suffocation. Only elevators led upward, and every ride required a card swipe.

Your card decided how far you went. Even if you managed to sneak up with someone else’s card, you would get caught the moment you tried to leave. Alarms would blare, guards would swarm, and that would be it.

Everyone was boxed in by their own clearance.

The group split into several elevators and headed up.

With every floor they passed, the decor got noticeably more upscale.

At the same time, the higher they went, the fewer people there were.

They stopped at Level Four.

“Please rest here tonight,” the white–masked man said. “Tomorrow, we’ll escort you to the memorial.”

“Alright.”

Everyone agreed.

Temporary access cards were handed out, one per group.

They allowed movement anywhere below Level Four. Nothing sensitive, of course, but wandering was fine.

Hayley went to her private room. Griffin, Thomas, and Leonard shared another. She had barely settled in when there was a knock.

“Yeah?”

She checked the door camera. Nathaniel stood outside in a green mask.

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“What’s up?”

“I said I’d show you around properly. Never had the chance. Let’s take a walk.”

“Sure,” Hayley answered instantly. “Let me grab my people.”

“No need.” Nathaniel lifted the access card in his hand. “I took care of it. Just us.”

Only one card per group.

Finally, he had an excuse to walk with her alone.

Hayley looked at the card, then broke into a wide grin. “Works for me. Let’s go.”

The elevator descended toward Level One.

“You don’t have elevators at Base K1, do you?” Nathaniel asked casually.

Hayley sighed. “Of course not. We’re broke. We walk everywhere. Communication’s mostly yelling.”

Nathaniel laughed. “Life outside really is rough.”

“It’s okay,” Hayley said. “Just our luck. Can’t blame anyone.”

He turned to her. “You’re interesting.”

Hayley stared at him.

Then he spoke again, his tone calm and lofty, like a savior looking down from the clouds. “No matter how hard your life was before, meeting me is when your fate changes.”

Hayley nearly choked on air. Her brain shorted out for a full second.

Right then, the elevator chimed.

Ding!

The doors slid open.

Level One.