Silence once again filled the room.

  Everyone was deep in thought, a wave of worry pressing down on them.

  Was Ander still one of them… or had he crossed over to the side of the hostiles?

  The boy lowered his gaze, sadness in his eyes.

  "You’re right…" he whispered.

  Josh looked at him, bewildered.

  "What? How can you say that?"

  "I don’t even know why I’m still alive," Ander replied, his voice trembling. "There’s no logical explanation for this. It’s best if you don’t stay too close to me right now."

  "But how can you think that way?" Alicia exclaimed, anguished.

  Carlo stood, looking directly at everyone.

  "Kid, you can’t go off alone. Come on, friend, we won’t let you leave."

  Italia nodded in agreement.

  "Carlo’s right, of course not, Ander. My father would never approve of that decision. We have to stay united."

  Luke looked thoughtful.

  Ander’s decision to distance himself seemed firm, but perhaps it was best for everyone’s safety.

  No one knew if, along with gaining hostile abilities, he might also inherit their hunger for human flesh.

  From the back of the room, Andrew broke the silence.

  "There’s no need to go to such extremes, kid."

  "Then what?" Ander asked, lifting his gaze.

  Andrew stepped closer and placed a hand on his shoulder.

  "Luke, how about I keep an eye on the boy? If I notice anything suspicious… I’ll take him out."

  Luke knew Andrew had the skill and training to subdue Ander if necessary. He had faced hostiles alone before and survived.

  "That sounds good, Andrew. We’ll do that."

  Andrew patted Ander’s back. "I’ll handle it, don’t worry."

  Luke approached and extended his hand.

  "Ander, I want you to know this isn’t personal. There are more people here we need to protect."

  Ander gripped his hand firmly.

  "I understand completely."

  He looked at everyone intently.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  "I don’t know what’s happened to me, but I’ll use these new abilities to protect us, to get out of here… and to find my mother."

  Andrew smiled.

  "I like your words, kid. Let’s see if you can live up to them…"

  Josh stepped closer to Ander.

  "I feel safer with you, friend."

  "Me too," Noah added. "I feel safer with Ander at our side."

  Most of them showed their support, and Ander felt motivation return to his chest.

  The sun was setting, and the certainty of nightfall forced them to resume their goal: reaching the locomotive maintenance yard.

  "It’s getting dark," Néstor warned.

  "We have to stick to the plan," Luke ordered. "Everyone get ready—we leave in five minutes."

  The group obeyed, distributing supplies and loading their weapons.

  Fear lingered, but with Ander at their side, a spark of hope lit the darkness.

  Lix approached Luke, worried.

  "Are you sure we should all go? Moving so many people at night is harder."

  "It’s the best option," Luke replied firmly.

  Adriano cut in.

  "Hey, Lix, don’t you remember the last time we split up? Everything got worse."

  Lix lowered his gaze, sorrowful.

  "Of course I remember, idiot. We lost Tobias."

  Luke clenched his fists.

  "Dante was bitten too… and we lost Mrs. Felicia and Fermín."

  "I understand," Lix sighed. "It’s best we stay together."

  Prepared, the group left the building toward their next destination.

  Night enveloped them as they moved toward the yard, guided by Don Saúl.

  They advanced in silence, leaving barely a trace in the darkness.

  Ander walked at the end of the line, accompanied closely by Andrew, who kept watch over him.

  "Thanks for earlier," Ander said quietly, breaking the silence.

  Andrew glanced at him.

  "We’re even now, kid. By the way… how’s your leg from that bite?"

  Ander lowered his gaze to check his leg. His eyes widened in shock.

  "It’s gone…" he murmured, stunned.

  Andrew studied him carefully.

  "Amazing. You heal fast."

  Ander thought aloud.

  "Yeah… just like a hostile."

  Josh, walking ahead, overheard and spun around immediately.

  "Come on, friend. Do you really think you’re one of those things?"

  Ander lowered his gaze.

  "The origin of the hostiles is completely unknown. After more than a hundred years, no one knows."

  "So what?" Josh shot back, frustrated.

  "It means we don’t know if they can turn others into them," Ander said seriously.

  Josh interrupted.

  "Ander, you’re the first person to survive a bite. Do you realize what that means?"

  Ander took a deep breath.

  "It gives me hope."

  Andrew chuckled softly.

  "You should feel lucky, kid. Stop lamenting so much."

  Josh remembered his friend’s words.

  "Don’t you remember what you told me not long ago? ‘Maybe someday we’ll be the ones protecting this city.’"

  Ander clenched his fists.

  "But the city fell…"

  "But hope remains," Josh replied. "For the first time, there’s a chance to find a cure for the infection."

  Andrew added thoughtfully.

  "Maybe you’re rushing too much about a cure, but it does show humanity might be starting to adapt to survive."

  Ander looked up, surprised.

  "I hadn’t thought of it that way."

  Suddenly, Andrew raised his hand in warning.

  "Quiet… wait."

  Three hostiles moved ahead on the path.

  The group tensed, but Luke spoke calmly.

  "We don’t need to start a fight."

  Don Saúl pointed to the side. "We can get through those houses."

  Luke accepted his suggestion.

  The group moved cautiously, passing through several houses until they reached the maintenance yard.

  Fortunately, the area was clear.

  They had reached their goal.

  Inside the yard, the sight was imposing: two locomotives rested, accompanied by several wagons.

  "You were absolutely right, Don Saúl," Néstor said, taking in the place.

  "Now we need to check if any are operational," the man replied seriously.

  Luke nodded and raised his voice.

  "Guardians, spread out and search the area."

  "Understood!" Adriano, Lix, Magnus, Dante, Néstor, and Iván responded.

  Luke turned to Dante.

  "You stay here, guard and protect Italia and Mabel."

  Dante lowered his gaze, feeling like a burden.

  "Mmm… understood."

  "Andrew, you and Ander can search the yard," Luke said. Andrew grinned.

  "You heard him, kid. Let’s go."

  "The rest of you, take the chance to rest and eat to regain energy. Don’t stray too far," Luke finished.

  The group was exhausted, but closer than ever to escaping Zarco—a city turned into a cage of hostiles.

  Reaching the yard was one more step toward freedom.