Nathan made his way back up to the holding area, his movements heavy with the weight of what he’d just done. With a single, forceful pull, he tore the door to Giselle’s cell right off its hinges.​"We can't stay here," Nathan said, his voice sounding hollow. "Grab whatever supplies you can find—food, medkits, gear. We’re stripping this place and moving out."​Giselle didn't move toward the supplies. Instead, she stepped closer to him, her eyes searching his. She could see the lingering shadows in his gaze, the quiet grief of a man forced to play the role of an executioner for people who just wanted peace.​She reached out, cupping his face before pulling him into a soft, lingering kiss. "You don't have to carry that alone anymore," she whispered against his lips. "I’m here. I’m staying with you, Nathan. Wherever this path leads, I’m right behind you."​Nathan let out a long breath, leaning into her touch for a brief moment. "I need to find answers, Giselle. I need to understand what t

Nathan leaned in, the heat from his palm pressing against Giselle's cold cheek. "Stay here and don't make a sound," he whispered, his voice low and jagged. "I'm going to take out the trash." ​Giselle’s hand shot up, her fingers trembling as she gripped his forearm. "Nathan, please—there’s an entire army down there. You saw the headcount." ​"Relax," Nathan replied, a faint, blue hum of energy starting to pulse beneath his skin. "I’m back at full capacity, and I’m itching for a fight." ​"But it’s too many!" Giselle hissed, her eyes darting toward the door as the sounds of heavy boots echoed from the floor below. "We should just run while we still can." ​Nathan offered a slow, predatory smile that didn't quite reach his glowing eyes. "I’m done running, Giselle. Nobody lays a finger on you today—I promise." ​He gave her cheek one last lingering brush, his touch steady as a rock, before he vanished into the hallway shadows. Nathan moved like a shadow, slipping through the darke

Nathan exhaled, his chest rising and falling slowly as he fought to keep his patience from fraying. He didn't want a bloodbath in the middle of nowhere, not with Giselle shivering in his arms. ​"Look, if you're too spooked to let me in, at least take her," Nathan said, his voice a low, gravelly hum. "She needs a bed and a roof. I'll stay out here on the porch and pull guard duty in the dirt." ​The officer didn't lower the hammer; instead, her eyes narrowed into slits as she tried to read his face. "In a world this far gone, nobody just survives a headshot. Talk. Tell me what the hell you are before I decide to finish the job." ​Nathan tilted his head, the moonlight catching the jagged, unhealed crater near his temple. "Before this plague turned the world into a graveyard, I was a walking corpse—terminal brain cancer, end stage." ​He shifted his weight, his boots groaning against the wooden floorboards. "Something bit me on the back of the neck, and instead of turning me into a

Nathan kept his eyes locked on Alice for a long moment, his gaze unblinking. The word "Mutant" echoed in his mind, sharp and cold, like a scalpel. "Who the hell are you?" he asked, his voice a low, dangerous rumble that seemed to vibrate in the small room. ​Alice didn't flinch. Instead, a thin, mysterious smile played on her lips. She flicked her hand at the guards behind her. "Leave us," she commanded without looking back. "I want to talk to our guest in private." ​Once the heavy steel door thudded shut, leaving them in a suffocating silence, Alice leaned back against her desk. She pulled out a cigarette, the flare of her lighter momentarily illuminating the sharp lines of her face. ​"I’m the person who predicted this whole nightmare long before the first drop of blood hit the pavement," she said, exhaling a long, grey cloud of smoke. "That’s why I built this place—why I’m still standing while the world outside is rotting. And you?" She leaned in, her eyes scanning his face wit

Nathan leaned toward Liana, his expression turning dead serious. "Liana, after we leave here, I’m planning to head to the island across the water. The one the military used to control."Liana frowned, looking genuinely shocked. "The island? That’s a forbidden zone, Nathan. Word is that place has been a red zone since the outbreak started.""I know," Nathan replied calmly. "That’s why I want you to come with me. I need someone who can always stay by Giselle’s side. That way, if enemies or those creatures attack, I can focus on fighting without having to split my attention to protect you both at once."Giselle watched Nathan with a worried gaze, while Liana stayed silent for a moment, weighing the risks she had just heard."What’s your real goal there?" Liana asked sharply. "You wouldn't risk your life heading to a ruined military base just for a stroll."Nathan took a deep breath, his eyes staring blankly at the cold concrete floor. "There’s something I need to find and check out there