"Uh, are you the one who saved me?" I asked her.
The woman whipped her head around to face me, her purple eyes locking onto mine with a predatory glare. Her stare was intense, almost like she was sizing me up. This woman was anything but ordinary.
"Thank you," I said, trying to show my gratitude.
"Grrr…"
The woman let out a low, throaty growl that seemed to vibrate through the air. As I had suspected, she was infected, but she wasn't lunging at me or baring her teeth. Her demeanor was oddly calm compared to the other infected.
Jessica had been right. This woman might be humanity's hope. Jessica had seen it, and now I could too. Here was an infected who not only exhibited self-preservation but also demonstrated the capacity to save someone and resist the urge to devour human flesh. It was both eerie and intriguing.
"…Can you… understand me?" I asked carefully, my voice barely above a whisper. I didn't want to alarm her.
