Chapter 5: Fading Edges

The city was silent, but silence in the apocalypse was never a good thing.

We stayed in the ruined office overnight. The girl—her name was Mei—slept fitfully, wrapped in a tattered blanket Zhao Yue had given her. The cop was still trying to play protector.

I sat near the window, watching the streets. The infected shuffled in the distance, their numbers growing. We wouldn't be able to stay long.

Zhao Yue approached, her footsteps light. She crouched next to me, arms folded. "You really don't feel anything for people, do you?"

I didn't answer.

She sighed. "She's just a kid."

"She's a weakness," I corrected. "One more mouth to feed. One more body to slow us down."

Zhao Yue shook her head. "You weren't always like this."

I tensed. No, I wasn't.

The past clawed at me, flashing images of a life where I trusted, where I protected, where I cared too much. It had gotten me betrayed. Sacrificed. Left to rot while those I loved walked away unscathed.

I exhaled slowly, forcing the memories down. Not anymore.

"Get some rest," I muttered. "We move at first light."

She studied me for a moment longer before standing and walking back to Mei.

Morning came, and we slipped through the broken city. Staying meant death. Moving meant survival.

Zhao Yue kept close to the girl. I took the lead, cutting down stray infected that wandered too close. Routine. Efficient. No hesitation.

Then, I heard it.

A scream.

Zhao Yue reacted first, running ahead before I could stop her. Damn it.

I followed, rounding the corner to find her standing in the middle of the street. A woman was trapped beneath a collapsed wall, her leg pinned.

Zhao Yue rushed forward, kneeling beside her. "It's okay! We'll get you out."

"No, we won't," I said coldly.

Zhao Yue snapped her head up. "We can't leave her here!"

I glanced around. Too open. Too many places for infected to lurk.

"We don't have time."

The woman sobbed, eyes pleading. "Please…"

Zhao Yue gritted her teeth, hands pressing against the rubble. "Help me move this!"

I stared at her, then at the woman. She wouldn't survive long with that injury. Dead weight.

But then I saw it—the way Mei clung to Zhao Yue's arm, the way she trembled but still reached forward, trying to help.

She reminded me of someone.

For a split second, I hesitated.

Then, with a grunt, I stepped forward and grabbed the rubble. What the hell was I doing?

"On three," I said. "One… two… three."

We lifted, and the woman screamed as we pulled her free. Her leg was twisted. Useless.

I exhaled sharply, shaking off the feeling. "She won't make it far."

Zhao Yue glared at me. "We'll carry her."

I let out a humorless laugh. "And slow ourselves down?"

Zhao Yue's fists clenched. "Then why did you help?"

I didn't answer.

Because I didn't know.

We carried the woman into an abandoned pharmacy. I scavenged quickly, finding an old splint and some painkillers. She wouldn't survive long, but at least she wouldn't suffer as much.

Zhao Yue looked at me as I tied the splint around the woman's leg. Something shifted in her eyes.

"You act like you don't care," she murmured, "but you do."

I tied the bandage tighter. "I don't."

She smiled—small, almost knowing. Like she didn't believe me.

I scowled and stood. "We leave in ten."

Zhao Yue stayed with the woman, whispering reassurances. Mei clung to her side, watching me with wide eyes. Like she was trying to figure me out.

I sighed, rubbing a hand over my face. Damn it.

Maybe I wasn't as heartless as I thought.

The woman's breathing had slowed by nightfall. She wouldn't make it to morning.

Zhao Yue sat beside her, holding her hand. Mei stayed close, curling up beside the officer. It was a pathetic sight.

I watched from the doorway, arms crossed. Every second wasted on the dying was a second closer to death.

"She's not going to survive," I said.

Zhao Yue's jaw tightened. "I know."

"Then let's go."

She didn't move.

I sighed and turned away. It wasn't my problem.

Then, a weak voice rasped, "Thank you… for stopping."

I paused.

The woman's eyes met mine. Tired. Dull. But grateful.

I gritted my teeth and walked away. I didn't need to hear that.

By dawn, she was dead.

Zhao Yue buried her behind the pharmacy. Mei helped, small hands scraping at the dirt. A pointless waste of energy.

I stood watch, gripping my machete. The infected had moved on, but they'd be back.

When they finished, Zhao Yue wiped her hands on her torn uniform and looked at me. Something about her expression made my chest tighten.

"Let's go," she said.

I nodded and took the lead.

Mei clung to Zhao Yue's side, but she looked at me differently now.

Like I wasn't just a survivor.

Like I was still human.