[Win – Forest Trail Toward Nexus Spire – 10:35 a.m.]
The trail felt different now that we were nine instead of three.
Palm walked on my left, our arms brushing every few steps like neither of us wanted to drift apart after everything. Mali stayed close on my right, her pack lighter now that she had given most of the gauze to Best's shoulder. Kao moved a little ahead, her axe resting easily on her shoulder, her steps so quiet it still made the back of my neck tense. Vitcha led with a calm, steady stride, her gun low but ready. Jay and Jane flanked her, camera and phone in hand but pointed down—not filming yet. Best brought up the rear, rifle ready, eyes moving constantly like he expected the camp to follow us all the way here.
We had been walking for fifteen minutes in near silence. Just boots against cracked pavement, distant moans, and the occasional rustle of leaves that made all of us tense.
Palm broke it first, his voice low but clear.
"So… you really saw Dean just walking through the horde like they were old friends?"
Best exhaled sharply behind us. "Yeah. Smiling. The zombies parted around him. He looked straight at me and smiled like it was funny. Like he knew exactly what he was doing."
Palm's hand brushed mine again, tighter this time.
"Dean," he muttered. "The kid we tried to protect on the rooftop. The one who jumped and just… disappeared. He was always watching Kao. Always waiting for something."
Kao didn't turn, but her shoulders tightened. "He called it 'Him.' Said he was waiting for Kao. Whatever that means."
Mali's voice stayed even. "Whatever he is now, he's dangerous. We treat him like a Locust—fast, smart, and not to be trusted."
Vitcha spoke without looking back.
"We've seen worse on the streets. But if he's controlling them—or if they're letting him walk—that changes things. We stay tighter from here on."
Jay lifted his camera just enough to check the battery. "This is going to be one hell of a vlog when we finally hit record. 'Reunion Special: Everyone's Traumatized But Still Hot.'"
Jane elbowed him lightly. "Not the time, Jay. But yeah… we're all a little messed up. Welcome to the club."
Best let out a short, tired laugh. "I thought the rooftop was bad. Camp was worse. Rattanakorn held the line so I could run. I owe him if he's still alive. But right now… I'm just glad I found you guys. I wasn't leaving you behind again. Not after what happened with Kao."
Kao glanced back at him. For a moment, that old tension hung between them, but she only gave a small nod.
"You didn't push me. That's what matters."
I looked at Palm. He was quieter than usual, his fingers flexing at his side like he was testing something. The bandage on his arm was still clean, but I caught him pressing it once when he thought no one was looking.
He noticed me watching and gave me a grin.
"Don't worry. I'm still me. Just… a little more durable now, I guess."
Mali's eyes flicked toward him, then away. She hadn't said anything about the transfusion, and neither had we. Not here. Not yet.
The trail curved downward, the cracked pavement giving way to moss and fallen leaves. Sunlight filtered through the trees in uneven patches, turning the ground into a mix of gold and shadow. Every sound made us alert. Every distant moan tightened our grip on our weapons. The air smelled damp, with something metallic underneath it.
Palm moved a step ahead, then another. His stride was smoother than it should have been. He stepped over roots without looking, turned his head toward sounds before any of us reacted.
A low branch scraped his forearm as he passed.
For a split second, a thin line of black fluid surfaced—
Then it sealed.
No blood. No wound.
He wiped it off on his shirt without even noticing.
I saw it.
My stomach tightened, but I said nothing. Not here. Not in front of everyone. He had already been through enough. If something was wrong, we would deal with it later.
For now, he was walking. He was breathing.
That was enough.
A low moan drifted from the left.
Then another.
Then more.
"Contact," Vitcha called, calm and sharp.
Four Basics stumbled out of the undergrowth, jaws working, eyes empty. Behind them, a Locust clung to a tree trunk, joints clicking as it prepared to drop.
Best reacted first. "I've got the Locust."
Kao moved without hesitation. Her axe came down in a clean arc, taking the head off the nearest Basic. It dropped instantly.
Palm stepped in beside her, crowbar flashing. He drove it through another zombie's eye socket with force that made me pause. The body fell, but Palm didn't even slow down. His movements were too smooth. Too precise.
I swung my pipe at the third Basic, cracking its skull.
Mali stepped in and finished the last one with a quick slash across the throat. Black fluid sprayed across the leaves.
The Locust dropped.
Two shots from Best.
It hit the ground twitching.
Silence followed.
We stood there for a second, breathing hard, weapons still raised.
Palm wiped the crowbar on his pants and glanced at me. For a moment, his eyes looked darker than usual, the pupils just a little too wide.
Then he blinked, and it was gone.
"You good?" I asked quietly.
He grinned. "Never better. Let's keep moving before more show up."
Mali gave him a quick look—the same kind of look she had given him earlier—but said nothing.
We moved again.
The tower rose higher in the distance, its silver frame catching the midday sun. Drones circled its upper levels like quiet guardians. The forest thinned, giving way to broken park structures and rusted fences.
Palm drifted back to my side. His hand brushed mine again, warm and steady. Whatever was happening inside him, he was still here.
Still Palm.
Still the one who could make me breathe easier even now.
I squeezed his fingers once and kept walking.
We would reach the tower soon.
And whatever waited inside—answers, a cure, or something worse—
We would face it together.