Chapter 5: Cast Out

“Wait… don’t tell me you’re infected?” Martha said, her voice rising in panic.

“Stop, Mom. What are you talking about?” Josh cut in quickly, trying to shut her down. Even as he spoke, he understood what she meant, and that made his chest tighten.

Natasha forced herself to stay calm. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, keeping her tone steady. “I think your fever hasn’t gone away. You should rest.”

Without waiting for a response, she pushed back her chair and stood up. The room felt too tight, she needed some air. She walked out and closed the door behind her, shutting them all out.

For a moment, no one spoke. Then Evelyn’s voice broke the silence. “I know what I saw,” she said quietly.

Josh glanced at her, wanting to believe she was wrong, but he did not argue with her. Instead, he stood up and followed Natasha outside.

He found her standing on top of the wall that overlooked the compound. The street beyond was quiet, almost eerily still, with abandoned cars and broken debris scattered across it. He climbed up and stood beside her, his eyes fixed ahead. Neither of them spoke at first.

Finally, Natasha broke the silence. “Don’t tell me you believe them too,” she said, her voice tight. “Do you think I’m infected?”

Josh let out a slow breath and turned to look at her. His hands slipped into his pockets, a habit he had when he felt unsure. “I don’t know what to believe, Nat,” he admitted. “But I know Evelyn. She wouldn’t say something like that for no reason. She must have seen something.” He paused, then added, “So tell me… what are you hiding?”

Natasha did not answer. She did not even look at him. Her jaw tightened, and anger flickered across her face. It hurt that he believed Evelyn over her. It hurt more than she wanted to admit.

“I want to be alone,” she said finally.

She sounded tired, like she had no strength left to argue.

Josh was about to respond, but a sudden scream cut through the air. It echoed across the compound, sharp and full of fear. Both of them turned at once. People were running in different directions, panic spreading even though there was no clear danger in sight.

Josh jumped down from the wall and rushed toward the noise. Natasha stayed where she was for a second before following more slowly.

By the time Josh reached the stairs, a group of armed men was already climbing up toward the wall. Everything happened so fast that no one had time to react.

A shot rang out. The sound echoed loudly, and for a moment, everything seemed to freeze.

Natasha gasped as something struck her. It wasn’t a regular bullet—it was a specialized dart, the kind they used to weaken zombies without killing them.

The effect was immediate. Her body reacted as if all her strength had been drained at once. Her vision blurred, and her knees buckled as the drug spread through her system. She tried to steady herself, but her limbs felt heavy and unresponsive.

Then it happened. The serum inside her reacted.

Her veins lit up beneath her skin, glowing faintly but clearly enough for everyone to see. The glow spread along her arms like thin lines of light, unnatural and impossible to ignore.

A horrified voice broke the silence. “Oh my God… the doctor is turning into a zombie!” a young boy shouted, pointing at her.

Natasha tried to speak, but no words came out. Her body gave out, and she collapsed onto the wall.

“Natasha!” Josh shouted, his voice filled with shock. He ran toward her, his heart pounding.

Before he could reach her, someone grabbed his arm and pulled him back. “You can’t touch her,” the man said firmly. “She’s infected. She has to be cast out.”

Josh turned sharply, anger flashing in his eyes, only to find his mother holding him now. Martha shook her head, her expression hard but fearful. “No,” she said quietly.

Josh looked back at Natasha, but it was already too late. The men had wrapped her body in a plastic bag. They worked quickly, and were fast about it, as if she were no longer a person.

They began dragging her away.

“Stop right there!” Josh’s voice rang out, sharp and commanding.

The men froze.

“That is my wife,” he said, his voice low but firm. “You don’t move her without my permission.”

“Joshua!” Martha called, trying to stop him.

He pulled his arm free from her grip and walked straight toward the men. His steps were steady, even though his chest felt like it was about to collapse.

“Unzip the bag,” he ordered. “I want to see her.”

The men hesitated for a moment, exchanging uncertain glances, but then one of them obeyed. He crouched down and unzipped the bag.

Josh looked down at Natasha. Her face was pale, her eyes closed. The faint glow of her veins was still visible beneath her skin, pulsing softly. It was undeniable now. It was real.

Evelyn stepped forward and gently placed a hand on Josh’s arm. “It’s too late,” she said softly. “There’s nothing we can do for her now. She hid it from all of us, but now… it’s over.”

Her words sank deep into him.

He wanted to argue. He wanted to say she was wrong, that there had to be a way to save Natasha. He wanted to believe that this was not the end.

But the truth was right in front of him.

Natasha had hidden it. And now it was too late.

Tears filled his eyes and slipped down his face before he could stop them. He clenched his jaw, trying to hold himself together, but the pain was too much.

Slowly, he turned away from her. He could not look any longer. “You don’t need to burn her,” he said, his voice breaking despite his effort to stay calm. “Just… take her far away from here.”

One of the men nodded. “Understood.”

They zipped the bag closed again and carried her away.

Josh stood there, unmoving, as they loaded her into a van. The engine started, and the vehicle pulled away from the compound, taking Natasha with it. Taking her away from her home.

From the place she had built with him.

Josh turned and walked out of the compound without looking back. Each step felt heavier than the last, but he did not stop.

Evelyn took a step forward, as if she wanted to follow him, but Martha reached out and shook her head.

“Let him be,” Martha said quietly.

Evelyn paused, then nodded. “Okay.”

She stayed where she was, watching the gate long after Josh had disappeared.

Then, slowly, a small smile appeared on her lips.

Her eyes moved across the compound until they landed on a copper haired woman standing at a distance. Evelyn gave her a slight nod.

The woman nodded back. It was subtle, almost unnoticeable, but it was clear enough. They both knew something no one else did.

And now, Natasha was gone—cast out of her own home.