Uncertain Cure

“Something wrong, love?” Victor’s voice was soft, yet it carried enough weight to snap Azumi out of her spiraling thoughts.

She gasped faintly, startled by his question. Her lips parted, ready to form some kind of response, but the words tangled in her throat. Instead, she offered a smile—forced, hesitant, brittle at the edges. She shook her head, hoping the movement alone would be enough to convince him.

“Nothing, love," she murmured, though the weight of her unspoken kept hanging on her chest.

Nothing. It was a lie so fragile it felt like it would shatter the moment he looked too closely. And Victor, ever perceptive, did exactly that. His dark eyes studied her with quiet intensity, as if he could peel back the layers of her hesitation and see the turmoil she desperately tried to conceal.

The air between them felt heavier than usual, thick with unsaid things. It had been four days since her conversation with Adelina.

Four days since the past she thought she had shrugged off to stay sane had clawed its way back to the surface. Since she learned the truth—about them, about the nightmare that bound them together in ways she could barely comprehend.

She hadn’t told him. She shouldn't, right?

And the knowledge sat in her chest like a lead weight, suffocating and unmoving. Every time she looked at him, at the warmth in his gaze, the easy way he trusted her, the burden of silence felt like a betrayal.

Victor reached out, his fingers brushing against hers in a simple, grounding touch. “Azumi,” he said, her name carrying an unspoken plea.

She swallowed hard, her pulse quickening. The more she stared at him, the more she got anxious. Any moment, she might snap.

Not telling Victor felt wrong—unnatural. He was her rock, her partner in survival, and yet, she was bound by Adelina’s warning. The less he knew, the safer he’d be.

Azumi cleared her throat, trying to push down the lump that had formed there. She shuffled closer to Victor, who sat beside her on their modest bed.

They had just finished dinner with Hiroshi and Adelina, both of whom were now asleep in the living room. The small space was quiet, save for the faint crackle of dying embers in the hearth and the soft, rhythmic ticking of an old clock on the wall.

Victor moved even closer to her, sensing her unease, but he said nothing, waiting for her to speak. His patience had always been his strongest trait, but tonight, it felt like a test she wasn’t sure she could pass.

“Love,” she finally began, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Yes?” he replied, his tone calm and patient.

Azumi hesitated for a moment before resting her head gently on his bicep. Her height made it awkward to reach his shoulder, but she nestled close, finding comfort in his warmth. The scent of pine and a faint trace of smoke clung to his shirt, grounding her in the moment.

“When we go outside,” she said softly, her words trailing off as if the mere thought of finishing the sentence was too heavy to bear.

Victor’s arm tensed slightly, but he didn’t interrupt. He simply waited, letting her take her time.

Azumi closed her eyes, steadying her breath. She could hear the muffled wind pressing against the walls, the night whispering secrets she wasn’t ready to hear.

“When we go outside, can you promise me you’ll trust me?” Her voice was soft, but there was an edge to it that Victor didn’t miss.

He moved slightly back to get a better look at her face. In the dim light, shadows flickered over her delicate features, accentuating the worry etched into her furrowed brows. She met his gaze, her eyes searching his as if trying to gauge his reaction.

Victor exhaled slowly, considering her words. “I always trust you,” he murmured, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. “But why does it sound like you think I won’t?”

Azumi bit her lip, hesitating. “Because, perhaps, that time… it might not make sense. And I may have no time to explain, because I might not be able to.”

Victor studied her for a long moment before nodding, his expression unreadable. “Then I won’t ask questions,” he said finally. “I’ll just follow your lead.”

Relief flooded her chest, but it was tinged with guilt. She wanted to believe that would be enough—that his trust would be enough.

But deep down, she knew it wouldn’t be.

“I trust you, love,” he said quickly, his voice steady and sure.

“No matter what choices I make?” she pressed, her tone quieter but filled with something unspoken.

Victor hesitated, his brows furrowing as he studied her. There was more to her words than she was letting on. “Love, what is this about?”

Azumi took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling as though the air itself was heavy. “Nothing. I'm just anxious probably,” she said finally, forcing a small smile. “So, I just need you to trust me on this journey. Besides…” She trailed off for a moment, glancing toward the darkened window.

“It’s only a matter of days before we’re out of here, and maybe, just maybe, we’ll get our lives back once Adelina and I figure things out.”

Victor’s lips curved into a small smile, and he reached over to pinch her nose playfully. “Oh, love,” he said with a chuckle, “it won’t be that easy. But I’ll be here to protect you. Don’t worry.”

Azumi let out a short giggle, though the sarcasm in it didn’t go unnoticed. “Sure, I’ll just count on you for everything, then.”

“Get some sleep now,” Victor said, his tone shifting to something practical as he leaned over to the bedside table, grabbing a notebook. “Me and Hiroshi will be heading out again tomorrow to gather supplies for this big ‘journey’ of yours.”

He turned back to her, flipping the notebook open and holding it out. “Do you need to add anything to the list? Maybe sunscreen? I don’t want my girlfriend’s skin getting damaged out there.”

Azumi chuckled, touched by the gesture. “Oh, that’s sweet of you—”

“And gloves,” Victor added, cutting her off with a teasing smirk. “Your hands are too soft to handle weapons properly.”

Azumi blinked. “Weapons?”

Victor shrugged as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “There’s an eighty—probably ninety percent chance we’ll run into something dangerous out there. I’ll have to teach you some basics before we leave.”

Her face twisted into a grimace. “I-Is that really necessary?”

Victor raised an eyebrow. “Going out there was your plan, my love. You handle the plan, I handle the strategy. That’s the deal.” He reached over to place a gentle kiss on her forehead. “Don’t worry. I love you.”

Azumi’s brows knitted together, but before she could argue, Victor added with a grin, “And I’m not taking no for an answer.”

She fixed her gaze on him for a lingering moment, her dark eyes searching his as if gauging his sincerity. Finally, with an exaggerated roll of her eyes, she sighed dramatically. "Whatever you say, Mr. Kim," she muttered with a hiss, her voice dripping with sarcasm. Despite her grumbling, she relented, flopping onto the mattress with an almost childlike pout.

Victor chuckled softly, the sound low and amused, his amusement evident in the crinkle at the corners of his eyes. Without a word, he leaned closer, brushing his lips against her forehead in a fleeting, tender kiss—a silent reassurance, a gesture of unspoken affection. His warmth lingered on her skin even as he pulled away and settled beside her. Within moments, his breathing evened out, and he slipped into a deep, untroubled sleep.

Azumi, on the other hand, remained awake for a while, staring at the ceiling. The warmth of Victor’s presence beside her was oddly comforting, a contrast to the chaos and exhaustion of the past few days. Eventually, her eyelids grew heavy, and she, too, drifted off into slumber.

The next morning, a mouthwatering aroma pulled her from her dreams. Her nose twitched at the rich, savory scent filling the air—something warm, something familiar. She blinked groggily, stretching her arms before jolting upright as her curiosity got the better of her. With renewed energy, she hopped out of bed, rubbing the sleep from her eyes as she padded barefoot out of the room.

Stepping into the main area, she paused, her gaze locking onto an unexpected sight.

Adelina stood upright, her posture surprisingly steady. The once-weakened woman, whom Azumi had worried over just the night before, now seemed almost… normal. Hiroshi hovered nearby, his hands poised as if ready to catch her at the slightest stumble, but his assistance proved unnecessary.

Azumi’s breath caught in her throat. “H-How are you standing already?” she blurted out, her voice carrying a mix of shock and disbelief.

The room fell silent as everyone turned to face her, blinking at the question Victor, Hiroshi, and Adeline kinda expected already.

"Good morning, love," Victor said, walking over to plant a kiss on her lips. The aroma of freshly brewed rice coffee and sizzling bird eggs filled the air, wrapping the kitchen in a comforting warmth.

Azumi leaned into Victor's touch for a fleeting moment before pulling away, her gaze fixed on Adelina. The very woman, who had been gravely injured just yesterday, now sat on the couch stretching her arms as if nothing had happened. Azumi’s brows furrowed in disbelief.

"How is she even moving like that?" she murmured, her voice tinged with astonishment.

Victor chuckled, stirring the pot on the stove before setting the ladle down. "It seems she has an extraordinary healing speed. Remarkable, isn't it?" He glanced at Adelina, his expression a mix of curiosity and admiration.

Azumi tapped his arm lightly before moving toward Adelina, who greeted her with a radiant smile. Hiroshi sat beside her, arms crossed, looking equally baffled but clearly amused.

"You have this kind of ability?" Azumi whispered, crouching slightly so only Adelina could hear. Her tone was so soft and incredulous that even Hiroshi, standing just a few steps away, couldn't catch her words.

Adelina leaned in, her voice just as hushed. "I didn’t know I had it either," she admitted, a flicker of excitement in her eyes.

Azumi straightened abruptly, her voice rising so the others could hear. "But your wound should take at least two weeks to heal completely!"

Adelina grinned, her expression teetering on cocky as she flexed her fingers experimentally. "Pretty cool, huh?"

"Pretty cool indeed!" Hiroshi chimed in, visibly impressed. He tilted his head, studying her with newfound interest. "Looks like I won’t even need to assist her anymore. That takes a load off my shoulders."

Victor walked over with a steaming cup of coffee, handing it to Azumi before giving Adelina a scrutinizing look. "Are you sure you feel completely fine?" His voice held a note of concern beneath the curiosity.

Adelina stood up abruptly, stretching her arms above her head. "Never better," she declared, rolling her shoulders as if testing her body’s limits. "Honestly, I feel... stronger."

Victor chuckled from his spot at the stove as he stirred a fragrant pot of chicken adobo. "That makes things easier for all of us. We can leave sooner than expected."

Azumi nodded eagerly. "Yes! Definitely."

As the group sat down for breakfast, Azumi found her thoughts drifting. The realization struck her suddenly, like lightning. Could I have this kind of ability too? It might be some kind of specimen thing...

After they finished eating, Victor and Hiroshi prepared to head out and gather supplies for their journey. The moment the door closed behind them, Azumi wasted no time.

"Adelina," she began, her tone urgent as she leaned in far too close. "Do you think I might have the same ability as you?"

Adelina recoiled slightly, grimacing at the sudden proximity. "I-I have no idea," she admitted hesitantly.

"Can I check your wound?" Azumi asked, her curiosity blazing.

Adelina nodded, turning her back to Azumi and shrugging off the jacket she wore loosely to accommodate her healing injuries.

Azumi leaned in, peeling back the gauze with meticulous care. Her breath caught as she observed the wound. It was healing at an astonishing rate—edges that had been raw and angry yesterday were now scarred and fading, and the length of the injury had visibly shortened by at least a centimeter.

In a matter of hours, what should have taken weeks was nearly closed. "This is... incredible," Azumi murmured, her voice low with awe. She traced the outline of the wound with a tentative finger, careful not to touch the tender flesh directly.

Adelina glanced over her shoulder, her expression a mixture of curiosity and unease. "What does it mean?" she asked.

Azumi carefully pressed the gauze down over Adelina's wound, securing it with the plaster. Her hands moved with precision, but her mind raced with possibilities.

When she finished, Adelina turned to face her, a questioning look in her eyes. "Why are you staring at me like that?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.

Azumi didn’t hesitate. "What if we can cure the zombies?" she blurted out.

Adelina blinked, then tilted her head as a skeptical grin tugged at her lips. "Cure the zombies? That’s a bold leap, Azumi."

"No, hear me out," Azumi said, her tone more urgent. "Think about it. Someone caused this apocalypse—someone had to create this virus, right?"

Adelina chuckled dryly, shaking her head. "Oh, you mean us? The specimens? You’re looking at the culprits, my friend."

Azumi gave her a pointed look. "Yes, we’re part of it. But aside from us, there are people—scientists, masterminds—who orchestrated this whole thing. The same people who experimented on us."

Adelina’s grin faltered, and she leaned forward slightly. "And you think they’re still out there?"

Azumi nodded, her eyes sharp with thought. "I don’t just think they’re out there. I think they’ve been working behind the scenes this whole time. Maybe, they separated the specimens on purpose."

Adelina folded her arms, intrigued but unconvinced. "Okay, I’ll bite. Why do you think they separated us?"

Azumi exhaled, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. "If we were kept apart, it must have been for a reason. Maybe they were afraid of what would happen if we found each other. What if we’re not just victims or experiments? What if we’re the solution? The key to undoing all of this?"

Adelina’s expression hardened as she absorbed Azumi’s words. She leaned closer now, her voice lowering. "You're saying, we could be the cure?"

"Exactly," Azumi whispered. "Whoever is behind this didn’t just release us into the wild by accident. They wanted to see what we would do. How we would adapt. And if they’re still out there..." Her voice trailed off, her eyes glinting with determination.

Adelina smirked, but it didn’t reach her eyes. "And you hope they are? That’s a dangerous gamble, Azumi. If they’re still alive, they’re not going to be happy to see us."

Azumi shrugged, her expression unyielding. "Maybe not. But if they’re still alive, it means we can find them. And if we find them, we can find answers. Maybe even a way to end this nightmare."

Adelina sat back, her smirk replaced by a thoughtful frown. "You’re talking about going straight into the lion’s den."

Azumi leaned forward, her voice resolute. "We’ve been running for long enough. If there’s even a chance that we can stop this, we have to try. We owe it to ourselves—and to everyone who’s been caught in the crossfire."

The two women locked eyes, a quiet understanding passing between them. The weight of the conversation hung heavy in the air, but neither flinched from it.

Adelina finally sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Well, if we’re doing this, we’d better be ready. Because I don’t think the people behind this are just going to welcome us with open arms."

Azumi allowed a small smile to break through her serious demeanor. "Good. Let them try to stop us. They created this mess. Now it’s time they face the consequences."

Adelina chuckled, the sound dry but genuine. "You’re one hell of a gamble, Azumi. But I think I’m in."

Azumi nodded, her heart racing. "Then we start with what we know—and we figure out the rest as we go."

The conversation ended, but the spark of resolve remained between them. The battle ahead would be treacherous, but for the first time in a long time, Azumi felt like they had a chance.