Chapter 3

The moment dawn broke, I burst out of the isolation room.

The gray-white veins on my right arm now covered half my shoulder.

Overnight, the stench of decay in the air seemed to have thickened.

I could feel the zombies closing in. Without my primary combat strength, the camp would fall, sooner or later.

Chloe's room door was ajar.

I pushed it open.

And froze.

Chloe was curled up on a simple cot, and Brandon was lying beside her, both covered by the same blanket.

Brandon's arm was around Chloe's waist, and she was nestled in his embrace, sleeping soundly.

My mind went blank for three seconds.

Then it exploded.

"Chloe!"

I roared, then charged in, yanking Brandon up and slamming my fist into his face.

Brandon shrieked, tumbled off the bed, and his nose instantly gushed blood.

Chloe jolted awake, her face turning ashen at the sight. "Alex! What are you doing?!"

I pointed at Brandon, my voice trembling. "What am I doing?"

"You're asking me what I'm doing?! Chloe, look at what you two are doing!"

Brandon scrambled up, clutching his face, and hid behind Chloe.

"I just... last night, I suddenly had symptoms of infection, and I was scared, so I came to talk to the captain about the antidote..."

I laughed, a humorless sound. "And that required you to be in the same bed? To be hugging someone else's girlfriend?"

Chloe shielded Brandon, her eyes showing a flicker of panic, but mostly anger.

"Alex, that's enough! Brandon did show early infection symptoms last night. Is it wrong for me, as captain, to look after a team member?"

"We didn't do anything!"

I stared at her disheveled collar. "Chloe, do you take me for a fool?"

Chloe's voice suddenly sharpened.

"Look at yourself right now! Paranoid, impulsive, violent! Do you even remember you're the deputy captain?!"

I froze.

I remembered, before the apocalypse, in the military academy infirmary. I'd pushed myself too hard in training, aggravating an old injury, and spiked a fever of 102.2 degrees Fahrenheit.

Chloe skipped an entire afternoon of classes, staying by my bedside, changing my compresses, giving me water, finally falling asleep curled up beside my bed.

When she woke, she said:

"Alex, if you dare die before me, I'll chase you to hell and beat you back to life."

Back then, her eyes held tenderness, and the raw fear of losing me.

Now?

She looked at me, her eyes icy.

"Today's mission is crucial. I don't have time to argue with you. Brandon, prepare to move out."

Brandon immediately nodded, wiping the blood from his nose as he walked out. As he passed me, he shot me a triumphant, taunting look.

I grabbed Chloe's wrist. "You're taking him?"

Chloe pulled her arm away. "He knows the West District terrain."

"Alex, in your current state, how can I trust you with the team?"

"You just wait here at camp. I'll bring back the antidote."

She adjusted her gear and left without a backward glance.

I stood rooted to the spot, looking at the empty room, at the blanket still warm with their body heat.

The power within me suddenly surged violently, and the gray-white veins instantly spread to my chest.

My skin felt like it was tearing apart, the burning sensation threatening to consume me.

But I held on.

I clenched my fists, my nails digging deep into my palms, blood dripping from between my fingers.

Chloe, you chose him again.

Then this is where we end.

I stumbled back to the isolation room, leaning against the wall, gasping for air.

I was now absolutely certain this infection was not normal.

From outside the window, I heard the sound of an engine starting.

I walked to the window and saw three modified SUVs drive out of the camp gate.

Chloe sat in the passenger seat of the lead vehicle. Brandon was next to her in the back.

Brandon leaned over, talking to Chloe. She laughed – a relaxed, unguarded laugh.

It had been a long time since I'd seen her laugh like that.

The convoy disappeared at the end of the ruins.

I closed my eyes.

Chloe, if you don't return before sunset today,

You will regret your choice today.