Everyone was gathered in the same building, securing the door once more.
Andrew led them down the hallway to where the others were.
"Is everyone all right? No one injured?" Italia asked with concern.
"Seems not, but there’s a pregnant woman," Luke replied.
Ander’s group still didn’t understand who these new people were that had rescued them from the hostiles. Yet they were deeply grateful and knew they could trust them.
"The boy Ander has a bite. The rest of us are unhurt," Carlo said.
Néstor and Luke exchanged looks, knowing what that meant.
"How long ago was the bite?" Luke asked.
"Since yesterday, when it all began…" Ander answered weakly.
Dante stepped forward, leaning close to Luke. "The twenty-four hours will soon be up," he murmured.
Italia offered Ander a chair.
"And you’ve been running from those things in that condition? Ander, would you like to rest here?"
"Go ahead, make yourself comfortable," Mabel added kindly.
Cody looked at the sisters curiously, his cheeks flushing. "You’re the president’s daughters, aren’t you?"
"That’s right," Mabel replied.
Ander’s group was stunned.
"He… managed to escape?" Cody asked hopefully.
"No… he sacrificed himself," Mabel said, lowering her gaze.
Adriano relaxed and lowered his rifle. "Well, looks like our family is growing little by little," he commented, trying to ease the tension.
"I’m not washing anyone’s dishes, I’ll tell you that," Andrew added with humor.
After such a grueling day, a bit of humor was welcome.
Gradually, they settled into the building, finding corners to sit or lie down and recover some energy.
Carlo spoke seriously. "Excuse me… do you know anything about the evacuation zone?"
Néstor and Luke exchanged glances.
"The train was gone, and there were no vehicles left to flee the city. The area was destroyed and swarming with hostiles. We barely escaped," Néstor explained.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
"Did you cause the explosion?" Wallace asked curiously.
Adriano and Tobias burst out laughing.
"That was my fault, kid," Tobias admitted, raising his hand.
For the first time, Wallace’s eyes widened in astonishment.
"Didn’t you see anyone else there?" Martin asked.
Néstor pointed with his right hand. "We only ran into Andrew."
"You’re the only people I’ve met," Andrew added.
Luke spoke up. "Analyzing the situation, and the fact that neither group has encountered anyone else, it’s possible we’re the last survivors."
Silence filled the room.
"Are you saying the only ones left alive in the city are in this building?" Josh asked.
The weight of those words hit like a bucket of cold water.
Everyone looked at each other, stunned by the possibility they were the last living in the city. The reality was harsh, but undeniable.
"What matters now is getting out of this infested city," Luke said.
"Leaving this building is suicide. How do you expect us to escape the city?" Noah countered.
"We have to find a way… First we need ammunition, since we’re running low," Luke replied.
Cody checked his magazine. "We barely have any bullets left."
Most of the group echoed Cody’s words: they were down to their last rounds and exhausted from fleeing.
Fatigue showed on every face in the room. Hands trembled holding weapons, feet barely obeyed after so many hours of running.
Luke clenched his teeth, aware of the gravity. "Looks like we have to go back to the carriages."
Worry spread through the group. The decision was risky, but there was no other choice.
"Carriages?" Noah asked.
"We were traveling in two carriages with plenty of supplies, but we were ambushed and had to escape," Italia explained.
Ander showed interest. "Where are those carriages?" he asked weakly.
"That’s a very good question," Andrew added, cracking his knuckles.
"They’re right in the evacuation zone," Luke answered.
Fermín, the butcher, looked at the group in confusion.
"The same place you said was swarming with hostiles, where you barely escaped?"
"Yes, that same place," Adriano confirmed, sharpening his knife.
Luke looked at everyone seriously.
"If we stay here and those things break in, we won’t even be able to defend ourselves."
The magnitude of the situation was overwhelming. The harsh truth was they would die if they didn’t plan quickly.
"I’ll volunteer to go," Andrew said.
"I’ll go too," Luke added.
Néstor placed a hand on Luke’s shoulder. "Me as well, to cover your back."
"I’ll join you," Carlo said.
"I’ll go too," Noah added.
"We’re in as well," Dante, Tobias, Adriano, Lix, and Iván replied.
Luke raised his hand to impose order.
"I need at least two to stay and protect Italia and Mabel."
"I’ll go," Cody said firmly.
Josh glared at him, anger simmering. "You can’t be serious. You can’t leave me. It was luck we found each other."
"Don’t worry, Josh. I’ll be back, they need my help."
"We haven’t had thirty minutes of peace, but… I get it. Just take care of yourself, all right?" Josh said, resigned.
"I always do, little brother," Cody replied with a smile.
Luke, analyzing the situation, had to decide who would stay.
"Iván and Adriano, stay and guard the building," he ordered. "Before we leave, we need to plan how to get out of the city, in case something happens on the way to the carriages."
They placed a table and spread out a map of Zarco.
Everyone gathered in a circle around it, analyzing the streets, access points, and infested zones. The tension was palpable: every decision could mean the difference between life and death.
Meanwhile, Ander had less and less energy, keeping himself apart from the group. His breathing was heavy, and the bite continued to consume his body little by little.
He sat in the chair, trying to hide his weakness so as not to worry the others.
But deep down, his mind wasn’t on himself or the escape… it was on his mother.
Luke observed the map. If we fail… no one will leave Zarco alive, he thought, without daring to say it aloud.
