Chapter 2

I felt exhausted. "This isn't the first time you've made such a promise."

She grabbed my hand, her gaze both pleading and earnest. "I swear I'll do it this time, Zack! Just like before, you always had my back on missions. Zack, please, trust me one last time."

I looked at her hand that had once gripped mine through gunfire and danger. Then, I heard myself say, "Fine. One last time."

Emilia sighed in relief. "You should rest. I'll go make plans for the personnel and the route we'll take for tomorrow. Everything will be fine."

I turned and walked away without looking back.

Just as I stepped outside, I heard Dustin's low voice.

"Em, he was terrifying just now. Do you think he's already..."

Emilia's voice was soothing. "Don't worry, he's fine for now."

I returned to the isolation room and leaned against the wall, then slowly slid to the floor.

The burning sensation in my right arm was getting worse.

This was the second day since I was infected by the zombie virus.

According to the normal infection timeline, I should start showing signs of muscle stiffness and sensory decay by now.

But I wasn't.

Aside from the burning and occasional jolts of pain, my mind remained incredibly sharp.

The strangest thing was that I could feel something inside me stirring.

In the distance, roars of zombies echoed through the ruins.

The magnitude of it showed that it wasn't a small horde.

Without my mutative abilities to reinforce the camp's defenses, they wouldn't hold up much longer.

I clenched my fist, my nails digging into my palm.

Tomorrow would be day three.

Emilia, this would be your last chance.

The first light of dawn barely touched the horizon when I stormed out of the isolation room.

Those gray-white streaks on my right arm had already spread halfway up my shoulder.

A night had passed, and the air smelled even more rancid now.

I could feel the zombies closing in. Without me as the primary fighter, the camp wouldn't last much longer.

Emilia's door was slightly ajar.

I pushed it open and froze at the sight.

Emilia was curled up on the makeshift bed with Dustin lying beside her. Both of them were covered by the same blanket.

Dustin had his hand around her waist, while Emilia was resting within his arms in peaceful slumber.

For three seconds, my brain went blank.

Then, I exploded.

"Emilia!"

I rushed in and grabbed Dustin by the collar, landing a punch squarely on his face.

Screaming, Dustin rolled off the bed, blood gushing from his nose.

Emilia shot up, her face pale as she saw the scene unfold. "Zack! What the hell are you doing?"

I pointed at Dustin, my voice shaking. "What was he doing?"

Then, I continued shouting, my voice filled with rage. "You're really asking me that? Emilia, just look at the two of you!"

Dustin, clutching his face, scrambled to his feet and hid behind Emilia.

"I suddenly showed early symptoms of infection last night. I was scared, so I came to Captain Campbell to discuss the antidote..."

I laughed bitterly. "Did that require you two to share a bed? Did you need to hold someone else's girlfriend?"

Emilia stepped in front of Dustin. She was panicked, but mostly angry.

"Zack, enough! Dustin showed early signs of infection last night, and as the captain, isn't it my duty to take care of my team? We didn't do anything!"

I glared at her disheveled pajamas. "Emilia, do you think I'm a fool?"

Suddenly, her voice rose. "Look at you! You're paranoid and acting all violent! Do you even remember that you're vice-captain?"

I froze.

I remembered one time before the outbreak, in the infirmary at the military academy. My previous injury had flared up during a tough training session, and I ran a high fever.

Emilia skipped all her classes that day to stay by my side. She changed my towels, fed me water, and eventually fell asleep beside me.