With the Fallen Star Squad joining the fray, the horde of over a thousand zombies didn't last long—they were wiped out in no time.

The squad, it seemed, had inherited Ethan's bandit-like philosophy to the letter. Just six of them managed to snatch up the majority of the Tier 4 crystal cores from a crowd of over two hundred survivors. Vivian's team was left fuming, especially Vivian herself, who looked like she was about to explode.

Soon enough, everyone regrouped around Ethan.

Henry snuck a glance at Vivian.

Some things don't mean much at first—until people won't shut up about them. Then suddenly, they start to mean everything.

That's exactly what happened to Henry. He'd only ever had a mild crush on Vivian, nothing serious. But after Ethan and the others kept teasing him, calling her his secret love, something shifted. Now, seeing her again, he actually felt... something.

Ethan clapped a hand on Henry's shoulder. "Henry, good news—Vivian said you can go ahead and chase her. Said if you don't, you're not a real man."

"..."

Vivian's eyes went wide. She stared at Ethan like he'd grown a second head. Was that what she'd said?

Henry blinked, then caught the look on Vivian's face. Yeah, Ethan was full of it.

He took a breath, then turned to face her properly for the first time. "Don't mind him. Ethan's always like that. Honestly, I don't have any... intentions toward you."

He paused, then added, voice steady, "It's the apocalypse. No one's got time for romance. But if one day we survive this hell and find a way to stand tall in it—if we meet again after that—I'll chase you then. Just to prove I'm a man."

Vivian looked at him, really looked, then gave a small nod.

"Alright."

"That's more like it," Ethan said with a grin.

"Alright, time to move. This is where we part ways," he added, already turning to lead his group away.

"Wait—Mr. Cole, hold on!" a voice called out behind them. Thomas came jogging up, clearly in a hurry.

He'd already heard the name Ethan Cole from the others. And now that he was face-to-face with the man, he looked like he was trying to choose his words carefully.

Ethan turned, a cold smirk tugging at his lips. "Mr. Jennings. Something you need?"

"Yes, actually. Mayor Marks would like to meet you. The Safe Zone Authority's vehicle will be here shortly. I'd like you to come back with me to the Safe Zone."

"Not interested."

"..."

"That's Mayor Jonathan Marks of Starlight City," Thomas said, stressing each word like it was supposed to mean something.

Ethan's smile vanished. "And? He wants to see me, so I'm supposed to jump? Who the hell does he think he is?"

Thomas's polite mask cracked. His smile faltered. "Watch your tone. Some things are better left unsaid."

Ethan's eyes narrowed. "And some things are better left undone—unless you're looking to get yourself killed."

"Was that a threat?" Thomas asked, voice dropping to a chill.

"No," Ethan said, stepping forward. "I don't make threats."

He swung the barbell bar in his hand in one smooth motion. Before Thomas could even flinch, the steel crashed into his skull with a sickening crunch, caving it in like a melon. Blood sprayed. Thomas dropped like a sack of meat, eyes wide in frozen terror.

The scene stunned everyone into silence.

Except for Vivian—she'd known this was coming. But the rest stood frozen, staring at Ethan like he'd just torn a hole in the sky.

He'd just killed a government official. A Safe Zone Authority envoy. In broad daylight. With a barbell.

How the hell did he dare?

Especially the defectors from Vivian's team—the ones Thomas had quietly turned. Their faces went slack with disbelief, like the ground had just dropped out from under them.

Ethan, meanwhile, looked like he'd just swatted a fly. He gave a casual wave to Vivian and the others, then turned and walked off with the Fallen Star Squad, not even glancing back.

Vivian watched them go, exhaling slowly. She hadn't expected him to be that decisive. No hesitation, no second thoughts—just kill and move on.

"Vivian! What do we do now?" Nate's voice cracked with panic. "Thomas is dead. Mayor Marks is gonna lose his mind!"

"Which is why we need to leave. Now," Vivian said, already turning.

"But if we run, won't that make us look guilty? Like we're the ones who killed him?"

"And if we stay, what—wait around to be arrested? He died with us. Doesn't matter who swung the weapon, we'll all be held responsible."

"..."

"I told you we should've kept our distance from them," Nate muttered. "Nothing good ever happens when they're around."

"Vivian, maybe we should just stay," someone else piped up. "We tell them who did it, give them Ethan's name, agree to join the Safe Zone Authority—they'll let us off."

He didn't get to finish.

Vivian's tactical machete flashed through the air, and his head flew clean off his shoulders, arcing high before thudding to the ground.

"!!"

The entire group went dead quiet. Eyes wide. No one moved.

Vivian's voice was ice. "Anyone else want to suggest joining the Safe Zone Authority?"

No one answered.

In that moment, she showed her hand—steel and thunder. She knew this was a turning point. If she didn't lock down her team now, she'd lose control completely.

"I know some of you are still thinking about it," she said, scanning their faces. "So here's your chance. If you want to join the Safe Zone Authority, step forward. I won't stop you. When their people arrive, you can go with them."

She paused, letting the silence stretch.

"But if you don't step forward now, and I find out later you were still thinking about it—I won't be so forgiving."

Eyes flicked around. Some filled with doubt. Others with fear. A few with resolve.

Then, finally, someone stepped out.

"Sorry, Vivian."

Thomas had told him the Safe Zone Authority was safe. Food, shelter, crystal cores—hell, even promotions if you had the skills. He figured he'd be better off with them than running through ruins with Vivian, always one step from death.

And once the first moved, the rest followed.

One by one, the ones Thomas had swayed stepped forward. In the end, sixty-three people stood apart from the group.

Vivian waited a beat longer.

"Anyone else? This is your last chance. There won't be another."

No one moved.

The ones who remained met her gaze, eyes steady. Loyal.

"Good," she said, nodding. Then she turned to the sixty-three. "Take care of yourselves. Next time we meet, we're enemies."

"Move out!" she barked, and led the rest of her team away without another word.

The ones left behind watched them go, expressions mixed—some relieved, some uneasy.

"Are we doing the right thing?" someone asked quietly.

"What's wrong with it? Joining the Safe Zone Authority is the smart move. I don't get why she's so against it. Probably just wants to be queen of her own little kingdom."

"Exactly. People like her never last. The Authority will crush them eventually. Better we got out when we did."

"Yeah. No regrets."

Not long after, a military FMTV truck roared up and skidded to a stop nearby.

A squad of soldiers jumped down, M4 carbines at the ready, followed by two middle-aged men in suits.

The men approached the group, frowning.

"This is it? Where's Vivian?"

The survivors rushed to explain, voices tumbling over each other. When they got to the part about Thomas getting his skull caved in, the two men's faces darkened with fury.

"They killed a government envoy?" one spat. "Unbelievable."

"Completely lawless. That kind of scum needs to be dealt with."

"And Vivian—she's siding with them? Thinks the government's powerless just because the world's gone to hell?"

"Put both groups on the wanted list. If they're spotted, bring them in. Fast."

"Understood."

...

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