The group set up an improvised space to rest, staying alert for any sign of hostiles.
With effort and Ander’s strength, they managed to move a wagon and position it as part of their defenses.
Ander couldn’t stop staring at his mother’s neckce, clinging to the hope of finding her alive.
He looked at the small refuge they had built, while in the distance the corpses piled to one side reminded them of the cruelty of this world.
As night fell, everyone gathered around the fire to eat their meager rations.
"Since we’re all here…" Luke began.
Rogelio paused mid-bite.
"What is it?" he asked.
"We’ll have to continue on foot to the city of Zafarí…" Luke expined.
Fear showed on their faces, but they all knew it was the only option.
"It sounds crazy, dangerous even, but if we all work together, we’ll make it," Néstor affirmed.
"We’re a team now. We’ll protect each other," Luke added.
Ander stood.
"I swear I’ll give my best so we all stay safe."
"Thank you, Ander. We know this won’t be easy, but we’ve made it this far together. I trust each of you," Italia said, her voice emotional.
The group nodded, holding onto hope.
As Ander sat by the fire, the white puppy they had found at the outer base approached him.
"Hey, little friend. Did anyone give you a name yet?" Ander asked, petting him.
"Not yet. Walce hasn’t thought of one," Natasha replied.
Walce plucked grass with his hand.
"I can’t think of anything," he said, thoughtful.
"Balto… He looks like a Balto," Alicia suggested, freshly awake after the devastating loss of her grandmother.
"Balto? Yes! I like it," Natasha excimed, smiling.
The puppy, now named Balto, became the group’s mascot—a small breath of joy in the darkness.
"All right then. Your name is Balto now," Ander said, stroking the pup.
The dog wagged his tail and stuck out his tongue, brimming with excitement.
Night deepened, and though the fire offered temporary refuge, everyone knew they had to stay alert.
Most of the group decided to rest, except those on watch.
Unable to sleep, Ander rose and walked. His steps carried him to the pile of corpses.
All those defenseless people… they shouldn’t have died, he thought, heart racing.
"Can’t sleep either?" Carlo asked, appearing behind him.
Ander turned.
"Hey. Just watching," he replied.
"It’s a harsh sight. Why do you do it?"
"I’m waiting… for someone to return, like I did."
Carlo rested his rifle against the ground.
"You shouldn’t feel guilty."
"I don’t understand why I came back. Why not Alicia’s grandmother, Dante, or the others?"
"Stop thinking about why they didn’t. Think about why you did."
Ander lowered his gaze.
"I didn’t deserve it… I’m just a kid looking for his mom…"
"Hey, did you forget you saved us all in that building?" Carlo reminded him.
The camp was quiet, the only sound the chirping of crickets, as Carlo kept talking with Ander.
He wanted Ander to see how important he was to the group, how many times he had helped them.
"The problem is I don’t even know how I did it," Ander admitted, looking down.
He told Carlo about the moment he resurrected.
"I just… woke up," he whispered, remembering.
***
Ander rose as the ceiling colpsed.
Felicia’s corpse y on the floor beside a knife.
Hostiles pounded the door, trying to break into the room where the others were.
His eyes glowed a deep golden hue as he picked up the knife.
The hostiles noticed and attacked instantly.
Ander stood firm, and when one leapt at him, he drove the bde deep into its stomach, making it shriek.
With a single motion, he slid the knife upward, splitting the creature open.
Two more lunged, but he grabbed each by the throat, driving his fingers into their necks and smashing their heads together so hard they colpsed lifeless.
He kept killing hostiles one after another, until he hurled one against the door.
Finally, a hostile attacked from behind, but Ander spun with blinding speed, stabbing it and kicking it so hard the wall shattered.
***
"It was like my body moved on its own, driven by fury," Ander expined.
Carlo was stunned by what he heard.
"I wish I could help more…" Ander said sadly.
"All in time, friend. Don’t pressure yourself," Carlo replied.
Ander looked at the corpses.
"These people didn’t deserve to die."
"No one deserves to die like that. Life is unpredictable. What matters is what we do with the time we have. You have the chance to make a difference, to help those who remain."
"That’s what I want. It’s my duty."
Carlo pced a hand on Ander’s shoulder.
"I have no doubt you will. You’re strong, brave, and you have a good heart. Those qualities will take you far, Ander."
"Thank you, Carlo. I’ll try to focus on what I can do now."
"That’s all any of us can do. One step at a time. And remember, you’re not alone. We’re all in this together," Carlo said, bumping his fist against Ander’s.
Both lifted their eyes to the sky.
The full moon and countless stars lit the night, a stark contrast between the beautiful heavens and the hell the earth had become.
Unbeknownst to them, something watched from afar…
