They didn't make it far before night began to close in.
Darkness crept over the road, swallowing the broken buildings one by one. The air cooled fast, and the distant sounds grew louder—moans, scraping, things moving where they shouldn't.
Mara raised a fist. "We stop here."
They slipped into a small roadside clinic, its sign hanging loose, windows boarded from the inside long ago. Ben forced the door quietly, and they moved in, blocking it behind them with old chairs and a cabinet.
Inside, it smelled like dust and medicine.
They settled in separate corners of the room. No one relaxed. No one slept.
Phileo sat near the far wall, his back against cold tiles. His head still ached, a dull pulse that came and went. He rubbed his temples, trying to ignore it.
Jax watched him from across the room. "You okay?"
Phileo looked up, surprised by the question. "I think so."
"That didn't sound convincing," Jax said.
"Nothing is anymore."
Silence fell again.
Hours passed. The building creaked as the wind pushed against it. Somewhere outside, something slammed into metal, then dragged itself away.
Ben shifted closer to Mara. "We need to talk about him."
"I'm right here," Phileo said quietly.
Ben met his eyes. "That's the problem."
Mara sighed. "We already agreed."
"We agreed to watch him," Ben replied. "Not to ignore what he is."
Phileo's chest tightened. "I didn't choose this."
"I know," Mara said softly. "But choices don't matter much anymore."
A sudden thud hit the clinic wall.
Everyone froze.
Another thud.
Then scratching.
The sound was close. Too close.
Ben raised his weapon. "Don't move."
The scratching stopped.
Footsteps shuffled outside the door.
Phileo felt it again—that pressure, stronger now. His heart raced, but not from fear. From something else. Awareness.
He could sense them.
Not clearly. Just… presence. Like shadows pressing against his thoughts.
"They're here," he whispered.
Mara shot him a look. "How do you know?"
"I don't know how," Phileo said, his voice shaking. "I just—feel it."
The door rattled as something leaned against it.
Jax's breathing sped up. "I don't like this."
Phileo stood slowly.
Ben raised his weapon. "Sit down."
"They're not focused on me," Phileo said. "If I move, they'll follow the noise instead."
Mara stared at him, weighing the risk.
Outside, a low moan rose.
Phileo swallowed. "Let me help."
For a long moment, no one spoke.
Then Mara nodded once. "Slow. Careful."
Phileo stepped forward, every sense sharp. He moved across the room, deliberately brushing his hand against a metal tray.
Clang.
Outside, the scratching rushed toward the sound.
The pressure in his head eased.
Silence followed.
Minutes passed.
Nothing came through the door.
Phileo exhaled shakily.
Jax stared at him. "You just saved us."
Phileo didn't feel relieved.
He felt scared.
Because helping them felt… natural.
And he didn't know what that meant for how much of him was still human.