The sun was already at its highest point when the groups began to mobilize to continue on their way. Koen, looking a little lost, adjusted his backpack on his shoulders as he approached Ethan.
—How were you after everything exploded? —he asked quietly, though the concern was evident in his tone—. What exactly happened?
Ethan paused for a second, as if it took effort to find the words. Scratching his head, he sighed and began:
—After the call got cut off... everything was chaos. Those things... started coming into the building. People were screaming, running... some were trying to fight, others just...—he trailed off, looking down—. I just wanted to get out of there.
—Sure... —Koen murmured, urging him to continue.
—I ran to the parking lot, thinking I'd use my car. —Ethan let out a bitter laugh—. But there were several of those monsters lurking around. I hid between the cars and, when I saw an opportunity, I tried to start my car... but it wouldn't start. —he clicked his tongue in frustration—. Then I remembered I had the keys to yours.
—Mine? —Koen narrowed his eyes but said nothing more.
—Yes... —Ethan continued—. Ethan continued. "I took it and managed to get out of the building, but I didn't get very far. A landslide blocked the entire street. I had no choice: I left the car and went on foot... I ended up hiding in a nearby grocery store. —he paused, then added, more seriously—. There wasn't much food... and what little there was, was almost rotten. I couldn't stay there long. I saw your message... and followed your location.
Koen crossed his arms, processing everything. Finally, he blurted out:
—You should have found another way... or gone back.
—Go back? —Ethan let out an incredulous laugh—. I was alone, Koen. And believe me, every minute counted. —then, in a lower tone—. I didn't think about the car. I just wanted to survive.
There was a moment of tense silence. Then Koen sighed, letting his shoulders drop.
—I guess I can't blame you. —he finally said—. It took me a lot of effort to get that car... but if it means you're still alive... then it was worth it.
—Thanks, Koen. —Ethan smiled slightly, relieved.
—Don't thank me yet, you'll have to pay me back somehow. —Koen added with a half-smile, gently punching his arm—. One of these days.
—How about I buy you dinner if we ever find a decent place to eat? —than joked, and they both laughed softly.
Without further ado, they resumed their journey, cheered up by the little joke amid the tension.
Meanwhile, Arika and Reize had also gotten up early. After a quick meal, they set off, knowing that the danger of the infected could return at any moment.
They walked in silence until a huge landslide blocked their path. An entire building had collapsed in front of them, turning the road into a maze of rubble and dust.
—Great... —Reize muttered, stopping in front of the wall of ruins—. Now what?
Arika cautiously scanned the surroundings.
—We could go around it —she suggested—. Find a safer route.
—Go around it? —Reize looked at her as if she had said something crazy —. It would take us hours. Maybe days. And we don't know what we might find further on.
—But... —Arika looked at the collapsed building, unsure—. It looks very unstable. I don't know if it's a good idea to cross it.
Reize narrowed her eyes, studying the collapse. Then she pointed to an area where the rubble formed a kind of makeshift passageway.
—There —she said —. We can get through if we're careful. It doesn't look too bad.
Arika hesitated, crossing her arms.
—I don't like it, Reize. I feel like it could all come crashing down at any moment.
—I know. —Reize moved closer to her, lowering her voice slightly —. But I also know that wasting time here could put us in even more danger. Do you trust me?
Arika looked up, meeting Reize's determined eyes. Finally, she sighed and nodded.
—I trust you... —she said quietly —. But if something goes wrong, we run.
— Promise —sonrió Reize Reize smiled, giving her a thumbs up.
They both entered the collapsed building, moving with extreme caution. Each step was a small battle against the dust rising in the air and the crunching sound of twisted metal.
They advanced slowly, dodging beams and concrete blocks. From time to time, they exchanged nervous glances. The silence was so thick that any small noise seemed like a roar.
Then, a tremor shook the structure. The beams groaned, and dust fell like thick rain.
—Hurry! — Reize shouted, moving ahead.
But at that moment, Arika stopped. A fleeting image flashed before her eyes: Reize, lying on the ground, a huge piece of glass piercing her leg, bleeding as she screamed her name.
Arika stood frozen, trembling.
—Arika? —Reize turned around when she noticed she wasn't following—. What are you doing? Come on!
Arika's heart was pounding. Her hands were shaking. She wanted to move, to scream, to warn Reize... but her legs wouldn't respond.
Then, as if everything fell into place, she heard a crack above them.
She looked up. A huge piece of glass was slowly coming loose from its frame.
—Reize, get back! — Arika shouted, running toward her.
Confused, Reize barely had time to react when Arika pushed her roughly aside.
The glass fell with a terrifying crash, grazing Arika's arm and leaving a deep cut. Blood spurted out almost immediately.
Arika fell to her knees, gasping for breath, while Reize quickly got to her feet.
—Arika! — she ran toward her, her eyes filled with terror —. What the hell was that?! You're bleeding!
Arika could barely stand, but she smiled weakly.
—I... I saw what was going to happen. —she gasped—. I saw you getting hurt... I couldn't let it happen again.
—Again? —Reize held her tightly, trying to stop the bleeding with his jacket—. What are you talking about, Arika?!
—It doesn't matter... —Arika whispered, her voice weakening—. This time... you're okay.
—Of course it matters! —Reize almost shouted, fighting back tears as she pressed on the wound—. You're not going to pass out on me now, Arika! Don't you dare!
Arika let out a weak laugh, looking into her eyes.
—I saved you...—she murmured—. That's enough for me.
And then her eyes slowly closed, falling unconscious into Reize's arms.
—Arika! —Reize cried, holding her tightly—. Hang in there! Damn it, don't do this to me!
Reize held Arika tightly, feeling the blood stain her hands. The shaking of the structure had not stopped; in fact, it seemed to be getting worse.
—Damn it, Arika... —she whispered, her voice breaking—. I'm not leaving you here.
He hurriedly pulled makeshift bandages from his backpack: pieces of clean cloth, part of an old shirt he had saved for emergencies. With movements clumsy from adrenaline, he wrapped Arika's wounded arm, tightening it enough to stop the bleeding.
—Just hang on a little longer, okay? —she murmured as she secured the knot—. You can't leave me alone... Not now.
The building creaked menacingly again. Dust and fragments of concrete began to fall around them. Reize looked ahead: they still had half the rubble to cross.
—It's okay... I can do this. —she said to herself, as if trying to convince herself would give her strength.
He slung the backpack onto his back, then swung one of Arika's arms over his shoulders and, with great effort, lifted her up.
Arika was lighter than he expected, but carrying her while dodging debris would not be easy.
—Don't worry... —he said quietly as he moved forward—. You'll be fine. We're going to get out of here together.
Every step was a battle. Reize panted, dodging fallen beams, ducking under slanted walls, and jumping over puddles of dirty water seeping from broken pipes. The ground shook beneath her feet, and more than once she was about to fall, but she didn't let go of Arika.
Halfway there, she heard another crack, much louder.
—No, no, no! — she moaned, quickening her pace.
Beams began to give way behind them. Without thinking, Reize started running as fast as she could, dragging Arika with her.
—We're almost there, Arika! —she shouted—. Almost!
In the distance, among the rubble, she spotted an opening: the exit. Sunlight streamed through the remains of the building like a beacon of hope.
—There! —she gasped, his strength renewed.
Reize gritted his teeth, fighting against exhaustion and fear. The exit was so close... but the building wouldn't let them leave so easily.
A beam fell right next to her, kicking up a cloud of dust. She coughed, almost losing her balance, but she didn't stop. With one last desperate effort, she leaped through the opening, rolling with Arika out of the building just as another rumble shook the air behind them.
Reize fell to the ground, coughing violently, protecting Arika's body with his own as chunks of concrete rained down on them.
When the shaking stopped, he raised his head.
—We... did it... —she whispered, hardly believing it.
Carefully, he pulled Arika away from his body and laid her down on the dirt floor, away from the debris. He checked her quickly: she was still breathing, albeit weakly.
—You're incredibly stubborn...—she murmured, smiling with tears in his eyes—. Always protecting me... even when you should be thinking more about yourself.
He took off his backpack, pulled out a bottle of water, and gently moistened Arika's dry lips.
—I'm not going to let this end like this —she promised softly, stroking his friend's cheek—. I swear, Arika... I'll keep you safe. Always.
She stayed with her for a moment, watching her breathe, regaining strength.
When she was ready, she carried her again, though more carefully this time, and began to look for nearby shelter.
She knew she had to find a safe place, bandage the wound properly, and keep her warm.
She knew Arika had risked everything to protect her.
Now it was her turn to protect her.
Whatever it took.