Visitors?-1

"I can't hold him like this. "Set the laser to the lowest setting so I can cut his armor off," Theo replied, shifting his grip on Veer's limp corpse.

"Aren't you worried he'll be pissed when he wakes up to find his armor destroyed?" Ariella spoke with a seductive lilt.

Theo exhaled. "He should be grateful that I came and saved his life.Can we now shift our emphasis to more serious issues? I am starving."

He directed his weapon, which he had just used to slash through undead, at Veer's armor. It featured a rudimentary, almost archaic design, with no traces of modern technology. Theo had no idea how the man could move like that. With a few perfect flicks of his wrist, the thick metal coating fell away, revealing Veer's half-naked body beneath.

The man was built like a warrior. His muscles, sculpted and powerful, would have made him famous in a world that still cared about such things. At over six feet tall, he was slightly taller than Theo, making the task of carrying him a real pain—especially considering he'd have to hold him like a damn princess to avoid obstructing the main thrusters on his back.

"Another one for my collection," Ariella whispered in his ear the moment he lifted Veer.

Theo nearly dropped the unconscious man right then and there. Gritting his teeth, he muttered under his breath. Sometimes, he wished they had chosen someone more… normal to map the human brain for artificial intelligence. A moody eighteen-year-old girl? Really?

Shaking off the thought, he activated his flight thrusters, taking off into the sky. The coordinates Ariella fed him indicated a clear path home, but Theo couldn't shake the feeling that another attack could come at any moment.

Lately, it appeared that everyone—living or dead—was out to murder him.

Meanwhile…

Shrihan sprinted, his breath ragged and his body throbbing. He had just escaped the zombie attack, and by the time he reached the others, he resembled a ghost of himself.

A few runner zombies had followed him, but his people quickly took them down. He had just crossed the boundary of the city's influence—the point where, supposedly, the stronger variants of zombies didn't roam.

Shrihan collapsed onto the ground, sweat pouring down his face.

Someone offered him a bottle of water, which he took in desperate gulps without saying a word.

The others stood silently around him, surveying the horizon and waiting.

Waiting for their leader. But as the minutes passed with no sign of Veer, reality began to sink in.

"Let's go," Shrihan eventually muttered, his voice empty. He didn't dare to look anyone in the eyes for fear of breaking right there.

"Shree…" Someone paused before speaking again. "Shouldn't we wait for your father?" Shrihan froze in mid-step.

He clinched his hands, the nails cutting into his palms.

Without turning around, he said, "I don't think he'll be here anytime soon. Please listen to me and go home. I have already lost someone today. I do not want to lose anyone else."

Silence ensued.

That's when they realized it: the man who had always led from the front, treated everyone like family, and was the closest thing they had to an invincible force was no longer there.

They had never considered that such an event could occur. Veer was a mythological character to them, an unwavering tower of strength.

But now, truth has settled in like a slow-moving avalanche, smothering and unstoppable. They understood now why he had yelled at them to run and why he had remained behind.

He had chosen to act as bait.

And they had obeyed, fleeing for their lives.

No one spoke another word as they walked home in silence. The journey took half an hour, the sun dipping lower in the sky. By the time the heavy metal gates of the compound came into view, a small crowd had already gathered.

People stood eagerly at the entryway, inspecting the returning group for recognizable faces. The expedition had been risky—far beyond anything they had ever attempted before—and every second of waiting had been excruciating for those left behind.

As soon as they saw their loved ones return, relieved shouts rang out. Families rushed forward, embracing the survivors. But amid the joyous reunions, Shrihan's mother stood still, her sharp, observant gaze sweeping the group.

She saw her son at the front.

But not her spouse.

Her breath caught. Veer was always in front, the first person through the gates, his towering form impossible to miss. His distinctive metal armor made him stand out like a sore thumb. But today, there was only empty space where he was supposed to be.

Then she noticed it—the crestfallen expressions, the way some of the soldiers averted their eyes.

Dread filled her chest like ice.

Shrihan looked up, meeting her gaze. For a moment, he held it. Then, slowly, he lowered his head.

Her fingers curled into fists at her sides. But she said nothing.

But she didn't say anything. Without saying anything, she turned and walked back inside.

---

Shrihan followed her. He knew what was coming.

His mother was among the strongest people he knew. As a former army doctor, she had spent years ministering to the wounded, making tough decisions, and keeping people alive over overwhelming odds. However, no amount of experience can prepare you for this.

She had always known a day like this might come. She and Veer had discussed it before, countless times, preparing for the possibility.

Yet, all the preparation in the world couldn't stop the grief from breaking her.

The dam burst when she entered into their private chambers.

A heartbreaking howl burst from her throat.

Shrihan barely made it through the door before collapsing into his arms, gripping him as if he were the last thing keeping her in this world.

Tears ran down her cheeks, soaking into his shirt. Shrihan gripped her tightly, his body quivering.

He wanted to be strong for her. He wanted to tell her that everything would be fine.

But he could not. Because, for the first time in his life, he was unsure whether that was true. Did he make a mistake by running away? His mind was filled with despair!

Outside, the compound remained eerily quiet.

The people gave Shrihan and his mother space to grieve.

But not everyone in the crowd was mourning.

Some, the ones who had always lurked in the shadows, were already whispering among themselves.

The so-called 'elders'—too elderly to battle yet powerful enough to command others—began to gather in small groups.

They were already plotting while pretending to talk about the day's catastrophe.

India has traditionally honored its elders. But respect was meaningless when those elders had long abandoned their morality, waiting like vultures for the perfect opportunity to strike.

Veer had spent years establishing this community and insuring its survival.

However, he had no idea that the biggest threat to his people would not be the zombies outside the gates.

They would have been standing right beside him the entire time.