Chapter 2

I lay in this scavenger camp, "The Burrows," for half a month.

My burns healed agonizingly slowly, gnawing at me like a thousand ants every single day.

Old Man Reed and Grandma May, as everyone called them, were the ones who saved me.

One day, Dr. Hayes, the only one in the camp with medical knowledge, came to change my dressings.

He examined my wounds, shaking his head as he spoke to Grandma May: "Not healing well. The scorching poison outside is too potent; it's damaged her core. We need 'Fire Rat Oil,' but that stuff... you have to hunt for it deep in Mount Desolation. Too dangerous."

Mount Desolation was a ruin-strewn mountain formed from collapsed skyscrapers in the city center, a lair for mutated creatures.

Grandma May sighed, saying nothing further.

In those two weeks, the most frequent topic of conversation was Scarlett, the Ark's "savior."

"They say that Angel Scarlett stabilized the Ark's energy again! What a living saint she is!"

"If only we could get into the Ark! I hear it's like paradise inside, with clean water, endless food, and even air conditioning!"

Their clouded eyes were filled with yearning.

My heart twisted with a sharp pain.

That was supposed to be hope for *all* survivors, but it had become a paradise for a select few.

Before Dr. Hayes left, he looked at me, then at a young man standing awkwardly, rubbing his hands nearby. He suddenly smiled.

"May, I think Aurora's a good girl. My Ben is getting old enough to marry, what do you think..."

I followed his gaze. The young man named Ben instantly flushed, lowering his head, unable to meet my eyes.

He was Dr. Hayes' grandson. During my recovery, he'd quietly helped me with many things – bringing water, delivering medicine – never saying much.

Grandma May’s eyes lit up, and she slapped her thigh: "Oh, perfect! I always thought those two kids were meant to be!"

A few nights later, I was startled awake by a sound.

I saw Ben, with a hunting bow on his back, trying to slip quietly out of the burrow.

"Where are you going?" I asked.

He jumped, turning around, flustered: "I... I'm just going for a walk."

I stared at the bow on his back and the half-empty waterskin at his waist. I understood instantly.

"You're going to Mount Desolation?"

Ben's face reddened further. He lowered his head, whispering: "Grandpa Hayes said Fire Rat Oil could heal your wounds..."

My heart felt like it had been violently struck.

"It's too dangerous, don't go!"

"It's fine," he said, looking up and giving me a simple, honest smile. "I've been scavenging in the ruins my whole life, those beasts can't catch me. Just wait, I'll be back soon."

With that, he turned and disappeared into the dark tunnel.

That night, I stayed awake until dawn.

Old Man Reed, Grandma May, and Dr. Hayes also realized he was gone and began pacing frantically.

Two days passed. Ben didn't return.

Just when everyone feared the worst, on the evening of the third day, a blood-soaked figure stumbled into the burrow's entrance.

It was Ben.

One of his arms hung limp, clearly broken, and wounds large and small on his body were deep enough to show bone.

But in his other hand, he clutched a greasy little leather pouch.

"Aurora..." He saw me, grinned, and then collapsed to the ground.

He had bought the medicine that could heal me at the cost of his arm.

My tears streamed uncontrollably.

In this 'every man for himself' apocalypse, there was actually someone willing to risk his life for me, a person he’d known for less than a month.