Apocalypse Queen: My Space, My Rules Chapter 12: It's You Again

Mariella drove the pickup truck at top speed, racing up toward Celestine Ridge.

Without slowing down, she blared the horn sharply as she sped straight toward Brightcastle Kindergarten.

Masked attackers wearing black face coverings were holding several children at knifepoint, preparing to escape in a vehicle.

A preschool teacher lay on the ground, blood spreading beneath her in a horrifying sight.

"Anyone tired of living can step forward! I'll stab you dead!" one of the attackers shouted wildly, brandishing his knife.

Chaos filled the kindergarten. Children cried loudly, teachers were pale with fear, and the security guards had retreated into the guard booth, too terrified to move.

Several attackers tried to shove the kidnapped children into the vehicle when a little girl suddenly bit down hard on the hand gripping her.

"Damn it!" The attacker hadn't expected such sharp teeth and shook his hand violently in pain.

The little girl was flung aside and hit the ground hard.

She pouted, but she bravely held back her tears and scrambled to her feet, trying to run.

"You brat! I'll kill you!" The bitten attacker flew into a rage and chased after her with his knife.

In her previous life, Serena had been stabbed to death at that exact moment.

"Stop!" Mariella slammed on the brakes, lowered the window, and pulled out a nail gun from her storage space.

The attacker looked up at the sound, then suddenly cried out in agony as pain shot through his eye. He collapsed.

Mariella shoved open the door and rushed toward Serena, who had fallen to the ground.

Serena lifted her little head, eyes wide. "Mariella!"

Before Mariella could pick Serena up, two more attackers charged at her.

They were strong and fierce, knives raised, ready to stab the woman who had appeared out of nowhere to death.

Mariella raised her hand and fired the nail gun repeatedly.

Her shooting and knife skills had been honed over four years in the apocalypse. She never missed a shot.

The two attackers screamed, clutching their eyes as blood seeped through their fingers. But it only made them more vicious.

Wounded, they prepared to go on a killing spree. Killing one would be worth it; killing two would be a bonus.

After all, they were desperate men with nowhere left to run.

Seeing the kidnapped children still in danger, Mariella decisively threw aside the nail gun and drew the combat knife she carried.

She rushed forward, taking on three attackers alone and refusing to give them any chance to harm the children.

"Run! Serena, take the others and get far away!" Mariella shouted while fighting the three wounded attackers.

Serena scrambled to her feet and called to the other children, "Guys, follow me! Run!"

The kidnapped children cried as they followed Serena.

A few brave teachers ran forward to help them, but Serena turned her head to look at Mariella, who was still locked in combat with the attackers.

The teachers rescued the children and quickly led Serena back into the classroom, locking the door behind them.

"Mariella!" Serena cried, pounding on the glass in a panic.

Mariella had saved her, but she could only watch helplessly as those vicious attackers surrounded her. But soon, her eyes widened in amazement.

Wow, Mariella is incredible!

...

By the time the police arrived, Mariella had already subdued the three attackers.

An ambulance soon followed and took the injured teacher to the hospital.

Two officers stepped forward and handcuffed the half-dead attackers. Another officer approached Mariella and asked, "Who are you—"

Before he finished speaking, he stared at her in surprise. "It's you again!"

Mariella took a closer look and found the young officer familiar. After thinking for a moment, she realized he had been one of the officers responding to the previous incident.

Donald Abbott shot her an admiring look. She had fought a mastiff alone the day before yesterday, and now she had taken on three attackers by herself. She was unbelievably fierce.

Not only were the police shocked, but the residents who rushed over after hearing the news were equally stunned.

Mariella once again provided her identity information to Donald, and the onlookers began buzzing with excitement.

Several recognized her as the woman who had fought the mastiff two days earlier, and whispers spread.

"Isn't she the daughter that the Shepherds kicked out?"

"She's that skilled?"

"She saved the children in the kindergarten. Who knows what would've happened otherwise!"

The kindergarten principal and teachers had the children thank Mariella together. Serena rushed forward excitedly, throwing herself into Mariella's arms.

"Mariella!"

Mariella was about to pick Serena up and comfort her when Matthew arrived.

"Serena!" Matthew rushed over and scooped his daughter into his arms.

He quickly checked her over. Seeing that she wasn't injured, he finally let out a breath of relief.

"Daddy, Mariella saved me," Serena said.

Holding his daughter, Matthew looked at Mariella gratefully. "Ms. Townsend, thank you so much."

Mariella smiled slightly. "Serena stayed calm when facing danger. She led the other children out of danger in time. She's a smart and brave little girl."