Two days had passed since Rafe joined the group. While his skills had clearly proven useful, something about his presence created a subtle tension in the air—like a tightly wound string, moments away from snapping.
The school's power grid was now partially restored, thanks to Rafe's rewiring. A few hallway lights flickered to life for the first time in weeks. Everyone was grateful—except Arden. He'd seen too many people use kindness as camouflage.
Late Afternoon
Nina and Rafe worked together near the east building, repairing an old communications panel. Their voices occasionally carried through the hallway.
"You know," Rafe said with a smirk, "you're too smart to be just surviving. You should be leading something."
"I don't care about leading," Nina replied, brushing dust from her hands. "I care about making this place work."
Rafe tilted his head. "That's exactly what a leader would say."
She rolled her eyes. "Flattery's not gonna work."
"Who said I was flattering?"
Meanwhile, Leo and Mia were sorting supplies in the kitchen. The mood was lighter, but Leo kept glancing toward the window.
"What's wrong?" Mia asked.
Leo hesitated. "I keep having these… weird dreams about Rafe. Always outside. Always watching. He looks different in them."
Mia offered a soft smile. "It's probably just stress. He hasn't done anything wrong yet."
"Yet," Leo repeated under his breath.
That Night – Rooftop
Arden and Kyra sat on the rooftop, keeping watch. Cold wind swept through the city ruins below, carrying distant moans of the infected.
"He's gaining their trust fast," Kyra muttered.
"I know."
"You planning something?"
Arden nodded slightly. "I want you to follow him next time he leaves a room alone. Don't confront him. Just watch."
Kyra's face hardened. "You think he's a mole?"
"I think he's too clean. Too precise. And I've seen men like him before."
"Where?"
"Warzones," Arden said quietly. "They walk in with a smile and walk out with your last supply run. Or your life."
Midnight
Mia was on her shift when she noticed a faint red light blinking in the communication room. Something that wasn't supposed to be active. She walked in slowly, only to find Rafe sitting in the dark.
He didn't notice her at first.
"Mia," he said, startled. "Couldn't sleep either?"
"I thought this panel was off-limits."
"I was just checking the battery flow. Signal strength seems stronger at night. We might be able to reach beyond the city."
"You were sending something?"
He smiled, but his eyes weren't warm. "No. Just listening."
Mia forced a nod and stepped back. "Right. Goodnight."
"Goodnight," he echoed, eyes following her out.
The Next Morning
The team gathered early for a scouting mission. Tom, Kyra, Arden, and Rafe. The plan was to clear out an old gas station and retrieve medical supplies from the pharmacy next to it.
Everything went smoothly at first. But on the way back, as they passed a collapsed overpass, Arden stopped suddenly. Footprints. Not theirs. Fresh ones.
Kyra knelt. "Two people. One heavy, one lighter. Headed toward our school."
They exchanged looks.
"No infected could walk that straight," Arden muttered. "Someone's tracking us."
"And we didn't trigger any alarms," Tom added.
Arden's eyes slid over to Rafe, who was crouched beside a bush, silent. Watching. Calm.
"We need to get back. Now."