Chapter 4
640 Words
"Evelyn," Austin finally spoke, his voice rough.
He straightened his back. "You're the deputy leader. You know the rules. Before an infected person mutates, they must leave the base—or be handled personally by the captain."
'Personally handled.'
Four words so light, yet they felt like four blades stabbing into my heart.
The team began to stir. Some looked away in discomfort, some stepped back, some already had their hands on their weapons.
Heather stayed close to Austin and whispered, "Austin, you have to think of the whole team... in her condition, if she suddenly..."
"Shut up," I said, staring at her.
Heather flinched and hid behind Austin again.
Austin took a deep breath. "I'll give you two choices. First, leave now. Second," his hand moved toward the dagger at his waist, "I help you."
'Help me die.'
I looked at his hand. That hand had once held mine along the academy pathways, once refused to let go of me on the first night of the apocalypse. Now it was ready to end me.
The power inside me raged, gray-white patterns spreading across half my face. I took a deep breath, the pain making me unusually clear-headed.
"I choose the first. I'll leave." My voice was so calm it surprised even me.
Austin clearly sighed in relief.
But Heather spoke again, louder this time. "Austin, we can't just let her go! Her gear and supplies belong to the team! What if she takes them and they fall into zombie hands..."
"Enough, Heather!" Austin snapped.
But she raised her voice. "I'm telling the truth! She's no longer the deputy leader. She's an infected person! How can we let her take the team's resources?"
Several team members exchanged looks. Some nodded, some hesitated.
At that moment, a short, sharp scream came from outside the perimeter. Everyone turned toward the sound in panic.
Austin immediately sent several members to investigate. Then he looked back at me, his expression complicated. He spoke with difficulty. "Evelyn, your equipment... must stay."
I smiled, a smile so sharp it brought tears to my eyes. I nodded. "Fine. Take it all."
I began removing my gear. Tactical vest, knife, backpack, food, water. With each piece, I threw it onto the ground. Metal clanged loudly in the silence.
Austin looked away, unable to watch. Heather's eyes lit up, like a starving wolf seeing meat.
When I finished, I was left wearing only a standard combat uniform.
"Enough?" I asked.
Austin's lips trembled, but no words came out.
Heather rushed in. "Enough! Enough! Austin, let her go already!"
Austin finally looked at me again, something flickering in his eyes. "Evelyn, I'm sorry, but I have to—"
"No need," I cut him off. "From today on, we're even. Austin, you'd better think carefully about how you're going to manage your base and your team without me."
His body jolted.
I didn't look at him again. I turned and walked toward the gate.
Gray-white patterns had already spread across the left side of my face. The force inside me raged violently, tearing at me from within. Each step felt like walking on blades, but I walked straight ahead without turning back.
Behind me, Heather's excited voice rang out. "Austin, these supplies can be redistributed..."
Then Austin's suppressed roar, "Shut up!"
I left the base and entered the ruins I had identified as relatively safe. The force inside me finally broke free.
Pain exploded through my body as if my bones were being shattered and rebuilt. I collapsed, curling into myself. Gray-white patterns surged under my skin, cracking it open, bleeding, sealing, then cracking again.
Distant zombie roars grew closer. But I couldn't move. My consciousness sank as my body burned.
'Austin, Heather... I will wait for the day you come begging to me.'
Then I fell into endless darkness.
- Writer
