My gaze turned to the armored vehicle rolling toward me, dust swirling in its wake. It screeched to a stop just meters ahead, the door swinging open before the dust could settle.
Joeress jumped down, his voice cutting through the morning air.
"I knew he was okay!"
He ran toward me, arms wide, and before I could react, I was wrapped in his crushing embrace. His grip was tight, almost desperate, as if letting go would somehow make me disappear again.
I didn't speak. I couldn't. Over his shoulder, I saw my other teammates approaching, their faces blurred behind the dust.
"Joeress, let go of him," Marcos called out, his tone firm.
Joeress stepped back looking over his shoulder, grinning. "See? I told you he was fine."
"You shouldn't just run up to him," Marcos snapped. "We don't know if he's infected."
Joeress turned back to me, his expression faltering. "You're not… infected, right?"
For a moment, I couldn't answer. My throat felt tight. Eventually, I shook my head.
"See?"Joeress gestured to me. "He's fine."
"Just to be sure," Sean chimed in, stepping forward. "We cuff him. Base can examine him."
Joeress frowned but didn't argue.
"Fine," he muttered.
Sean moved behind me, cold metal snapping around my wrists. I didn't resist — I didn't want to.
The ride back to base felt longer than it should have. The cuffs kept me anchored to one of the beds, metal biting into my skin whenever the vehicle jolted. I laid back, fingers fumbling absently with the ring Lae had given me. Its crystal-like surface glimmered faintly under the flickering cabin lights, the carvings delicate and intricate.
I closed my eyes, my thoughts swimming. Before long, I drifted into uneasy sleep.
The sound of water dripping broke the silence — a slow, steady rhythm echoing from the ceiling. The scent of burning embers lingered in the air. I opened my eyes to the familiar sight of the cave's stone walls.
I sat up. The fire had burned low, glowing faintly beneath a bed of ash. The air was cold. Quiet.
Turning toward the cave entrance, I froze. A crystal butterfly flitted inside, its wings scattering fragments of colored light across the walls.
I raised my hand, watching as it fluttered toward me, landing gently on my finger. Its wings moved in slow, delicate pulses. Something about it made my chest ache — these butterflies were said to carry the souls of the innocent, those who had been turned into those... things.
The thought left me hollow.
Then I heard footsteps.
I turned, and there — standing just inside the cave — was Neal.
I shot to my feet. His arms were open, an invitation I couldn't refuse.
Before I knew it, I was moving toward him, closing the distance. My hands reached out, grasping at his shirt as I pressed myself into his chest. His arms wrapped around me, holding me close. I felt his heartbeat — steady, real.
"Please," I whispered, voice breaking. "Tell me where you are."
The warmth of his skin shifted. The fabric beneath my fingers felt smoother — colder.
I looked up and saw Lae's face instead. His eyes were softer than I'd ever seen them — warm and calm. His hand tightened around my waist, firm but not painful.
His lips moved, but no sound came out.
"What?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
His gaze darkened.
"Wake up,"he said.
The warmth began to fade.
" Wake up."
His voice grew louder. Urgent.
" Wake up!"
I woke to the weight of a hand over my mouth. My eyes snapped open.
Sean's face hovered above me, his breath heavy with alcohol.
"Oh… you're awake," he slurred, a twisted grin curling his lips.
The pressure on my mouth tightened as his free hand moved to his belt. Metal clinked faintly as he unbuckled it.
I thrashed, pulling against the cuffs. The cold steel dug into my wrists.
"Stop squirming," Sean muttered. "They're too drunk to hear you." His grin widened. "Relax... you might even like it."
Panic surged through me. I bucked harder, trying to twist away, but his weight kept me pinned.
"You're just being difficult," he growled, yanking my shirt up. "Haven't had a chance to touch myself in days. You're not a woman but you look like one, you'll do fine."
I froze. My body locked up, trembling violently. Tears blurred my vision as his fingers moved lower, fumbling at my belt.
Then a voice — sharp, furious — cut through the haze.
"What the hell is this?"
Sean barely had time to turn before Joeress grabbed him by the collar. In one swift motion, he wrenched Sean off me and drove him face-first into the nearest bed frame. The impact was brutal — the metal groaned under the force, and Sean crumpled to the floor.
"Are you okay?" Joeress knelt beside me, his hands shaking as he reached for the cuffs. His voice wavered. "Did he hurt you?"
I shook my head — barely.
Joeress watched me for a long moment before turning back to Sean's unconscious form. His hand clenched into a fist.
"I'm not letting this slide," he muttered. "When we get back… I'm handing him over to the police."
He grabbed Sean by the collar and dragged him from the room.
Later that night, Joeress returned with a bowl in his hands. He sat down beside me, stirring the spoon slowly.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I should've kept a closer watch on him."
"It's not your fault," I murmured. "He was drunk."
"Doesn't matter." His gaze stayed fixed on the bowl. "I'm the team captain… I'm supposed to protect you."
I swallowed thickly. "Where did you take him?"
"I cuffed him in the fourth compartment," he said. His tone was colder now. "He's not going anywhere."
There was nothing else to say.
"Here," Joeress muttered, handing me the bowl. "Eat. It's still warm."
The steam rose in lazy curls, carrying the scent of potato soup. Simple, but comforting.
"Thanks," I whispered.
Joeress stood, pausing at the doorway. "We'll be back at base soon," he said. "Try to get some rest."
I ate quietly, letting the warmth of the soup calm my shaking hands.
When I finally lay down, exhaustion weighed heavy on my body. My fingers curled around Lae's ring, clutching it tightly against my palm.
I closed my eyes.
This time, no dreams came.