Chapter 4

I endured the burning pain and waited until nightfall.

Whispers spread that unusual, large-scale zombie movements had been sighted.

And I could only watch, helplessly, hoping Chloe would bring back the antidote soon.

The sun dipped below the horizon, and scattered emergency lights flickered on in the camp.

Finally, engine roars echoed from the distance.

Three vehicles, not one missing.

My heart pounded.

She was back.

I rushed downstairs, hurrying to the center of the camp.

The car doors opened. Chloe was the first to jump out, then the other team members, and finally, Brandon.

My gaze was fixed on their hands.

Chloe's hands were empty. Brandon's were too.

Team members unloaded several supply crates, but there was no antidote.

My breath hitched.

"Where's the antidote?"

My voice sounded raw, barely a whisper.

The area instantly fell silent.

Chloe's eyes flickered, then she avoided my gaze.

"The antidote... we... we found it."

My heart lifted.

She bit her lip.

"But on the way back, we ran into a zombie horde. Brandon, protecting the supply vehicle, accidentally got scratched."

"It was an emergency, so I had to use the antidote on him first."

I looked at Brandon.

He immediately raised his bandaged hand, a look of profound guilt on his face.

"Alex, I'm so sorry, I really didn't mean to..."

"Which hand?" I asked.

Brandon froze. "Wh-what?"

I took a step closer. "How deep is the wound? How much blood did you lose?"

"Are there any signs of infection?"

Brandon's eyes darted frantically to Chloe.

Chloe stepped in front of Brandon. "Alex! He's already hurt, and you're still interrogating him?"

I ripped open my collar, revealing the gray-white veins that now covered my chest.

"Chloe, look at me. I can barely last until midnight."

"And your 'injured' Brandon? His voice is strong, his eyes are clear. Does that look like an infection?"

Several team members lowered their heads.

Marcus, a team member, muttered quietly, "Actually, Brandon could have easily dodged that..."

"Marcus!" Chloe snapped, sharply.

But it was too late.

I understood everything.

Brandon did it on purpose.

Chloe had given the antidote to him again, choosing Brandon once more, right in front of the entire team.

I spoke softly. "Chloe, you abandoned me for him again."

Chloe's face went white. "I didn't abandon you! I just..."

I smiled, a tired, bitter smile, and spoke softly, my exhaustion overriding my anger.

"Just because, as captain, you have to be responsible for every team member? Just because you have to be fair?"

"Or is it just that I was never truly in your heart at all?"

She opened her mouth, but no words came out.

Brandon grabbed her arm.

"Chloe, does Alex not believe me? I really am infected, look..."

He made to remove his bandage.

Chloe pressed his hand down. "Don't move!"

Then she turned to me, her eyes filled with disappointment.

"Alex, you disappoint me so much. Brandon is a team member, he was hurt. Was I wrong to save him?"

"Were you expecting me to just let him die before you'd be satisfied?"

"Exactly. You did the right thing. A captain should be like that. Fair. Just."

Chloe stared at me, dumbfounded.

I watched her protect Brandon, watched Brandon's triumphant sneer from behind her, watched the other team members' glances – some pitying, some evasive.

The power within me suddenly thrashed.

But I held it back.

I continued, my voice flat, like stagnant water.

"So, now that this 'team member' is about to turn, Captain, how do you plan to take responsibility?"

A deathly silence fell over the camp.

All eyes were on Chloe.

Her face cycled through several emotions, finally settling on a grim resolve as she gritted her teeth.

"I'll keep looking. There's another one in the North District..."

"Too late," I cut her off.

She fell silent.

Brandon spoke softly, just loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Chloe, Alex is too dangerous like this. What if he suddenly turns..."

Chloe's body stiffened.

I looked into her eyes, those eyes that once held so much love, now filled with struggle and hesitation.

The power within me surged again.

This time, I could barely suppress it.