Outside, the city felt even colder and emptier than before. The wind swept through the streets, whipping up dust and damp pieces of paper, while the distant echo of growls reverberated among the abandoned buildings. Arika and Delma moved cautiously through the alleys, trying not to make a sound. Every so often, they had to stop to avoid small groups of infected people wandering aimlessly.
The silence between them was strange.
Not uncomfortable… but heavy.
After several minutes, they had to hide behind a rusty bus. A large group of infected was slowly crossing the avenue in front of them, blocking their path.
Delma rested a hand on the vehicle and watched silently as those creatures gradually moved away.
Arika, for her part, stood still a few steps away.
Then she spoke
—Maybe… I scare you now.
Arika's voice sounded calm, but there was something strange behind her words. As if she really wanted to understand it.
Delma turned toward her in surprise.
It was the first time they'd spoken since they'd left the house.
—Scared? —she repeated.
Arika lowered her gaze slightly.
—After what you saw…
Delma was silent for a few seconds before sighing.
—It's not that.
Arika looked up slowly.
—No…?
Delma hesitated for a moment, searching for the right words.
—It is strange… that's for sure. I'm still trying to process it.
She glanced sideways at Arika's arm, hidden beneath her jacket.
—But I'm not afraid.
Arika seemed a little surprised by that answer.
Delma let out a small, weary laugh.
—Besides… throughout my life, I've seen things much stranger than what's happening to you.
For the first time since they'd left, a small, gentle smile appeared on Arika's face.
It was barely visible.
But it was there.
Koen would probably have been the only one able to notice it easily.
The infected finally moved away, and the two of them continued on their way.
Delma seemed to have a rough idea of how to get to the auto shop.
—If they managed to get here… they must still be somewhere nearby —she murmured as she scanned the streets —. Or at least they left some kind of trail.
Arika nodded silently.
They continued moving through the ruined buildings and abandoned cars until, suddenly, a metallic clang echoed from a narrow alley.
Both of them tensed immediately.
Delma raised her weapon, and Arika narrowed her eyes slightly.
With slow, cautious steps, they approached the alley. The sound seemed to be coming from behind a huge, rusty dumpster.
Delma took a deep breath.
—It's probably just a cat, or—
A figure staggered out from behind the dumpster.
Arika's eyes widened in surprise.
—Reize!
Without thinking, she ran toward her.
Reize looked up in shock and barely had time to react before Arika hugged her tightly.
For a moment, Reize stood motionless.
Then she clutched Arika's clothes desperately.
—Arika… —she murmured, her voice breaking.
Delma let out a sigh of relief upon seeing her alive.
Reize was dirty, exhausted, and her arm was covered in dried blood. Her breathing was ragged, and her eyes clearly showed the exhaustion and fear she had endured alone.
Arika pulled back slightly to look at her.
—Are you hurt?
—It's just a cut… I'm fine —Reize lied, trying to stay steady on her feet.
But as soon as she took a step, she staggered.
Delma caught her before she fell.
—Sure… 'you're fine.'
The three of them hid in the alley for a few minutes while Delma cleaned and bandaged the wound on Reize's arm using some of the supplies she had brought.
During that time, Reize told them everything that had happened.
The armed group, the ambush, the tranquilizer darts, how they had taken Ethan, Elion, and Koen, and how she had narrowly escaped.
As she spoke, her hands trembled slightly.
—I'm sorry… —she murmured, lowering her gaze—. I couldn't do anything.
Arika shook her head slowly.
—You survived. That's enough.
Reize pressed her lips together tightly.
After resting for a few minutes, he led them to where the trucks were.
The place was still deserted.
All that remained were the marks of the fight, blood on the ground, and several bodies of the infected scattered around the alley.
Arika quickly scanned the area while Delma and Reize kept watch.
The trucks were still there, but the keys were gone.
Arika stood there, deep in thought, for a few seconds.
Then she spoke:
—No… if they'd found the keys, they would've taken the trucks too."
They both looked at her.
Arika thought for a moment. Something didn't add up.
If Koen was still conscious when Reize escaped, he probably would've tried to stop those men from taking the vehicles.
But how?
Then an idea crossed her mind.
Without wasting any time, she began searching around the trucks. She crouched down next to one of the wheels and ran her hand under the chassis.
Delma and Reize watched in silence.
Suddenly, Arika stopped.
—Here they are.
She pulled out the two keys that had been hidden in the inner folds of one of the tires.
Reize's eyes widened in surprise.
—That idiot…
A sad smile appeared on her face.
—I knew he'd try something like that.
Arika stood up and handed one of the keys to Delma.
—Here… take it back.
Reize looked up immediately.
—What?
Arika gazed into the darkness.
—I'll go get them.
Reize closed the distance between them, and before Arika could react, she gripped her wrist tightly.
—No!
Her eyes were filled with anguish.
The last part came out barely as a broken whisper.
Arika looked down at the hand holding hers and gently placed her own on top of it.
—You haven't lost him yet.
Reize pressed her lips together.
—Arika...
—And you're not going to lose me either.
Her voice was calm, almost serene, as if she were speaking of something inevitable.
—I'm going to find them. Then we'll come back here and leave together.
A brief shadow crossed Reize's face.
—You can't promise that.
Arika's silence lasted only a few seconds, but it was enough.
Reize let out a bitter laugh.
—See?
She took a step back, moving away from her.
—Not even you can promise that.
For the first time, the fear that had been building up for days began to turn into anger.
—Then stop acting like nothing could go wrong.
—Reize…
—Have you forgotten that you're injured? —she interrupted her—. Just a few days ago, you couldn't even walk properly. You had trouble standing up.
—I'm fine.
—No, you're not.
The reply was immediate.
—And even if you were, you're still just one person. How do you plan to face them all by yourself?
Arika fell silent.
That only increased Reize's frustration.
—I'm not going to let you throw yourself into a suicide mission.
A few steps away, Delma stood motionless. She had followed the argument without intervening, but the tension in her shoulders was evident.
Reize turned to her.
—Delma, say something to her.
Delma startled.
—I…
She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. After a few awkward seconds, she simply looked down.
Reize felt a chill. Something was wrong—very wrong.
She turned her gaze back to Arika.
—What's going on?
Arika remained silent for a few moments. Then she stepped closer and took both of Reize's hands in hers.
The gesture was so unexpected that it left her frozen in place.
—It's not something you need to worry about right now.
—Arika...
—And if it keeps bothering you, I'll explain it to you later.
Her eyes remained locked on Arika's.
—But for now, I need you to trust me.
Reize held that gaze for several seconds.
She wanted to argue. She wanted to force her to stay. She wanted to demand explanations.
But she also knew Arika.
She knew that when she made a decision of that magnitude, it was practically impossible to make her back down.
Finally, she let out a long sigh and closed her eyes for a moment.
—All right.
The tension in Arika's shoulders seemed to ease slightly.
However, Reize raised a finger in front of her.
—But listen carefully.
Arika raised an eyebrow.
—Yeah?
—If you come back with another serious injury, I'm not going to heal you.
She tried to sound stern, though the moisture welling up in her eyes ruined much of the effect.
—I'm going to let you fend for yourself.
For the first time, a faint smile appeared on Arika's face.
—Understood.
—I mean it.
—Me too.
The reply was so serious that Reize couldn't help but let out a small laugh.
It was brief and shaky, but for a moment it managed to lift the weight that had been crushing their chests.
Arika handed her the second key.
—Go with Delma.
Reize looked at the object for a few seconds before taking it.
Then he turned and walked toward one of the trucks.
Delma stayed by Arika's side for a few more moments. Finally, she raised a hand and placed it on her shoulder.
—Take care.
—I will.
Delma nodded and climbed into the other vehicle.
As the engine roared to life, Reize opened the van door and looked back once more.
Arika was still there, alone in the middle of the empty avenue.
The grayish light of dawn was just beginning to filter through the ruined buildings.
—You have to go back.
Arika watched her, never taking her eyes off her.
—I'll be back.
Reize stood there for a few more seconds, gazing at her, before nodding and getting into the vehicle.
The engines roared loudly, and the trucks began to slowly drive away down the deserted street.
Arika didn't move until the taillights disappeared into the fog.
Only then did she let out a slow sigh.
The wind swept down the avenue, ruffling strands of her hair and stirring up dust among the rubble.
Before her lay the vast darkness of the city.
Without hesitation, she took the first step. And she began to walk toward it.