Jose moved carefully, always a step behind the captain, gripping his sword tightly. His eyes darted from shadow to shadow, every rustling leaf and distant creak sharpening his focus. He wouldn't call himself a coward—just cautious. Fear had saved his life more than once, and he had no intention of letting it slip away now.
The air was thick with tension as the group approached a narrow trail leading to another part of the desolate village. The eerie silence of the abandoned settlement made every step feel heavier, and when the captain came to an abrupt stop, Jose nearly bumped into him. The man turned sharply, scanning the faces of his subordinates before calling out.
"Ezo, stop lurking at the back. Get over here."
From the shadows, a tall figure stepped forward. Ezo was unlike the rest of them—bigger, stronger, his long black hair hanging over his grayish skin. A mutant. He looked human enough at first glance, but everyone knew better. His body was a weapon; his skin could harden like armor, making him nearly invulnerable. It was said he could crush a man's skull with his bare hands.
Jose swallowed hard as Ezo approached. The captain usually avoided direct orders with him unless necessary. Mutants were unpredictable. Dangerous.
"Ezo, do not let anyone follow me. If they try, kill them."
The words were spoken with finality. No room for questioning. And then, without another glance, the captain disappeared down the trail, swallowed by the dense trees.
Ezo took his position at the center of the path, his sharp eyes sweeping over the group like they were nothing more than insects beneath his boots. When his gaze met Jose's, a shiver ran down the soldier's spine. He quickly averted his eyes and made his way toward his friend Jeremy, who stood a few meters away, arms crossed, a thoughtful frown on his face.
"Hey, Jeremy, you think the captain's gone mad?" Jose whispered.
Jeremy sighed, rubbing his chin. "You think he knows what happened here?"
Jose shrugged. "Who knows? No one's telling us anything. But if he does, he sure as hell isn't sharing."
A soft chuckle came from their left. Jose and Jeremy turned to see Dalia approaching. The only woman in their group, she was different from the others—not just because she was a woman in a world that rarely let them fight, but because she was an ability user. Her long wavy hair framed her sharp features, and while she wasn't the most beautiful woman Jose had ever seen, there was something about her that always caught his attention.
"Maybe he's just emotional," Dalia mused. "Maybe someone he knew lived here. He doesn't want us to see him cry, so he's hiding it behind all that stoic nonsense."
Jeremy snorted. "If it were that simple, he wouldn't have left Ezo as our babysitter."
Dalia folded her arms. "Exactly. He's hiding something."
Both of them turned to Jose. "What do you think?"
Jose exhaled. "I think I don't care what he's hiding. I just hope he hurries up. Because if night falls, we'll have to sleep in this corpse-ridden village."
At that, all three of them shuddered. The thought of spending the night surrounded by the dead was enough to make anyone uneasy.
Jeremy clapped his hands together. "Alright, let's at least clear out some of the bodies. If we do have to stay, I'd rather not sleep next to a rotting corpse."
The others agreed, and the group got to work. They moved the lifeless bodies out of the way and cleared a few houses, making sure they were free of anything—or anyone—that might pose a threat.
As time passed, the torches they carried began to dim. The bright red flames dulled into a sickly yellow, flickering uncertainly. It was a silent warning. The night was coming.
Jose tapped his foot impatiently. "He's taking his sweet time."
No one disagreed.
Then, finally, Ezo shifted. The group tensed, watching as the captain reemerged from the trail.
But he wasn't alone.
In his arms, he carried something small. As the torchlight flickered over him, the shape became clear. A child.
Jose immediately stepped forward, his mouth opening to demand an explanation, but the captain walked right past him as if he didn't exist. His face was unreadable as he headed toward one of the cleared houses.
"Dalia," he called.
She frowned but approached.
"You have younger brothers. You take care of this kid."
Dalia blinked, stunned. "Wait, what?"
Before anyone could question further, the captain cut them off. "We're staying here tonight. No point in moving. The darkness is coming."
And just like that, he left, Ezo following close behind.
Silence hung thick in the air. Everyone exchanged uncertain glances. The captain was always mysterious, but this was different. This was something else entirely.
A chuckle broke the tension. Hector, lounging on a bed they had dragged inside earlier, smirked. "Looks like you're a mother now, Dalia. Congrats."
Dalia shot him a glare so sharp it could have cut through steel. "Shut up, Hector."
Meanwhile, Jose couldn't tear his eyes away from the sleeping child. Something was… off. The captain had hidden them away, shielded them from seeing where he had found the kid. Why?
His curiosity got the better of him. He stepped closer as Dalia carefully removed the blanket covering the child.
Everyone gasped.
The first thing they noticed was the hair—white, like of an old man. An unnatural color for someone so young. But what was even stranger were the streaks of red, as if parts of the hair had been dyed in morning red flames.
Then there was the skin—pale, almost ghostly. Not the dark or tanned tones they were used to. It was smooth, unblemished… unnatural.
The final shock was the blood.
Red.
Not the black color of the blood they all knew.
Realization hit them like a hammer. This child was different. Foreign.
Jeremy broke the silence first. "What… the hell is this kid?"
No one had an answer.
But they all had the same unsettling thought.
Where had the captain found this child?
And why had he kept it a secret?