Jaxon had just begun to relax when a wave of howls rose from the streets below. The mont the variant fell, the infected around the area grew restless. Then the chaos began.
Hundreds of dark shapes poured out from buildings, crawling up walls, leaping across rooftops, and crashing down onto the streets like a living tide.
Jaxon watched from above, his brow tightening.
’Didn’t I just take out their leader? Why are they getting worse?’
He had no way of knowing that killing the variant was exactly what triggered them. Without it, the infected moved without order, driven only by rage and hunger.
The ground shook as more of them climbed higher, their wails growing louder.
Jaxon did not stay to test his luck. He pulled back from the edge and moved fast, keeping low as he retraced his path across the rooftops. The night had turned too dangerous. If they got any closer, there would be nowhere left to hide.
Silent and quick, Jaxon retreated, disappearing back into the safety of the hotel as the screeches continued to rise behind him.
But the night did not end with his retreat.
....
In the narrow space between two buildings, where Jaxon had once killed an infected, another presence stood in the shadows.
A large infected lood over the remains.
It was the sa kind as the variant Jaxon had killed, but not the sa. Its body was leaner, its fra tighter. Muscle pressed hard beneath stretched skin, built for strength rather than size.
It stared at the bodies on the ground. One lay still. The other was half eaten, torn apart by its own kind, but the creature did not rush to feed.
Its nose twitched.
Slowly, it lowered its head and breathed in the air. Seconds passed, the night was thick with the sll of rot and blood, yet the creature did not move, it found nothing.
Then its eyes shifted.
A dark trail caught its attention. Drops of black blood sared across the dirt and broken concrete.
The variant crouched and followed the trail, step by step, its movents quiet as it traced the path Jaxon had taken earlier. The blood led it through the empty streets, past broken cars and dark corners, until suddenly, it stopped.
The trail ended, the blood was gone.
The creature froze. Its head lifted slowly, eyes sweeping the empty streets, the walls, then the rooftops above.
Nothing.
For a long mont, it stood there, silent.
Then it threw its head back and let out a deep roar that echoed between the buildings, filled with rage and confusion. After that, it turned away and disappeared into the darkness, leaving the bodies behind.
But it had not forgotten the scent.
....
Inside the hotel’s second floor, Jaxon returned and switched on a small flashlight, keeping the beam low.
Hae-in spotted him at once. She rushed over and clung to his side as if afraid he might disappear again, ignoring Ryan, who had been trying to talk to her monts earlier.
"Jaxon, what were you doing on the rooftop?" she asked in a rush. "We heard a loud roar. And the howls after that. What’s happening outside?"
Elaine stepped closer as well, worry clear on her face. More questions followed, one after another, until Jaxon barely had ti to answer.
Jaxon raised a hand gently. "Easy. I’ll explain."
Not far away, Ryan sat against the wall, watching the scene. His brows slowly knit together.
"Ryan. Ryan."
He blinked and turned when he finally heard Bong-gu calling him.. "Yeah? What?"
"I’ve been calling you," Bong-gu said. "You alright?"
Ryan hesitated, then looked back at Hae-in, still standing close to Jaxon. "It’s nothing. Just... Hae-in’s been acting strange lately."
"Strange how? She looks fine to ."
"She ignores a lot now," Ryan muttered. "But... she’s getting closer to him." His eyes flicked toward Jaxon.
Bong-gu snorted, then waved it off. "Co on, man. Are you two even a thing? Don’t overthink it. Anyway, that ga I was telling you earlier..."
Ryan didn’t reply. His fingers curled into a tight fist.
anwhile, Jaxon lowered his voice and spoke to the group. "The infected outside are extrely restless right now. Sothing stirred them up. We need to stay quiet."
"Get so rest," he continued. "We move in the morning."
Slowly, the tension eased, but no one truly relaxed. Outside, the inhuman cries still echoed through the night, reminding them that danger had not passed.
.....
As Jaxon sat on the couch near the balcony window, resting while still keeping an eye on the restless streets below, a soft tap on his shoulder made him look up.
He turned, lighting his flashlight, and saw the quiet girl who had always left a strong impression on him. "Na-rin? Sothing you need?"
Na-rin shook her head slowly. "I... I just can’t stop thinking about one thing." She whispered.
"About what?"
"If eventually... everyone in the world turns into them too..."
"They won’t," Jaxon said, cutting her off.
Her eyes flicked up to et his, uncertain. "...But what if it actually happens? Do you think you could make it through?"
Jaxon remained quiet for a mont, then he looked into her eyes, steady and calm. "I would, if I’m with the people I care about. If not... then there’s no point living at all."
"I see..." Na-rin murmured, letting the silence settle between them. Minutes seed to stretch in the quiet room before she spoke again, her voice sharper this ti.
"Did you kiss Miss Elaine?"
Jaxon blinked, caught off guard, first that she knew, and second at how bluntly she asked. But he didn’t deny it. "Yes. Why do you ask?"
"Do you like her?" she pressed, her eyes fixed on his, searching for the truth.
Elaine’s image flashed through his mind. Strong, graceful and unyielding, that was the impression she left on him. He rembered their first kiss, though it had happened in the heat of the mont, he hadn’t disliked it.
"I don’t mind keeping her by my side," Jaxon said simply.
"I see..."
After a short pause, Jaxon spoke again. "Did she tell you?"
Na-rin shook her head. "No. I just figured it out. It’s the first ti I’ve seen her act that close to a man she just t."
"You have sharp eyes."
She hesitated, fingers tightening slightly at her side. "I don’t really understand it, but... I think I might feel the sa as her."
"What?" Jaxon turned to her, caught off guard.
"...I don’t mind being on your side either," Na-rin said, lifting her eyes to et his.
Jaxon froze. He knew Na-rin often said things without warning, but this was far beyond what he expected.
Before he could speak, Na-rin turned away. As she walked back toward her room, she spoke one last ti, her voice soft.
"I just wanted to say how I feel, before I die soday."
She continued walking, her steps calm. Though a faint blush ward her cheeks, unseen in the dim light.
Jaxon remained seated, staring ahead, stunned. "What was that about... is she making fun of ?" he muttered.
They had not known each other for long. He could not recall many monts between them either. The more he thought about it, the more confused he beca. In the end, he shook his head and leaned back.
There was no point trying to understand soone else’s mind right now. He closed his eyes and rested, letting the night pass.
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