Lenz's face was a mix of confusion and concern as he stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. "Woah, Jackie, what's wrong with you?"
Jackie's head snapped toward Lenz, his eyes blazing with anger. "You stay out of this, Lenz!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the room.
Mother Charmine stepped forward, her voice sharp but filled with worry. "Seriously, Jackie, what is wrong with you? Didn't you say you wanted to be a preacher on Lenz's birthday? Didn't you say this was your dream?"
Jackie paused, his chest heaving as he stared at her. For a moment, it seemed like he might break, but then his anger flared again. "For all my life," he said, his voice low and trembling, "for *all* my life, I've been looked down upon. I'm not like Lenz. I'm not even like Paulie. I can't fight to protect myself. I don't even have a job. I'm just… a piece of shit for the world to step on."
Lenz's expression softened, but his voice remained steady. "Jackie, cut it out, man. You know none of us think like that about you. I mean, you can read and write. Isn't that something? You're smarter than most of us."
Jackie let out a bitter laugh, his voice rising again. "Yeah, easy for you to say! You know what? I'm not a fucking idiot. I know the times you and Paulie spoke behind my back. But I didn't care, did I? And you guys knew that. Because I don't have the power to be upset about it. I'm just… nothing."
Lenz's eyes widened, his voice rising in defense. "Jackie, that's not true—"
"And speaking of Paulie," Jackie interrupted, his voice cutting through Lenz's like a knife, "where is he, huh? Why didn't he come to rescue me too? Oh, I know why! Because I'm nothing but a tool for him to use. That's all I've ever been!"
Lenz's fists clenched at his sides, his jaw tightening as he stepped closer to Jackie. "How dare you talk like that about Paulie," he said, his voice low but filled with intensity. "Do you even know what he did to—"
Mother Charmine stepped between them, her hand raised sharply to silence Lenz. "Enough!" she said, her voice firm but filled with emotion.
Jackie's chest heaved as he struggled to catch his breath, his voice trembling as he continued. "That's why… that's why I wanted to escape this shithole. I wanted to go to the Capitol. But the problem was… I didn't have any money." His voice grew quieter, almost a whisper, as he looked down at the floor, his hands clenched into fists. "I knew about the Saint Eldric book. I knew how old it was, how valuable it could be. It was worth just enough money for me to travel to the Capitol. That's why I did it…"
He paused, his voice breaking as he swallowed hard. "On Lenz's birthday… when I asked you to bring me the book… I lied to you. I lied about wanting to become a preacher. My only intention… was to sell it. To get out of here."
The room fell silent, the weight of Jackie's confession hanging heavily in the air. Mother Charmine stared at him, her face pale, her hands trembling. Lenz's expression was unreadable, his eyes locked on Jackie as he processed the words.
Jackie's knees gave out, and he collapsed to the floor, his hands pressing into the ground as tears streamed down his face. "I betrayed the only person who cared about me the most," he said, his voice choked with emotion. "I betrayed *you*, Mother. And I… I can't take it back."
The room was heavy with tension, everyone still reeling from Jackie's confession. Mother Charmine, her face pale and her hands trembling, walked to the other side of the room where a lone chair faced the window. She sat down, her back to the group, her shoulders slumped as she stared out into the distance. Jackie remained on the floor, wiping his tears with the back of his hand, his face a mix of shame and exhaustion.
Just as Mother Charmine opened her mouth to speak, her voice soft but filled with emotion, the sound of frantic banging on the door cut through the silence. Everyone froze, their heads snapping toward the door. Bart, the closest to it, hurried over and yanked it open.
It was Zuck. His face was pale, his clothes torn and stained with dirt and blood. He stumbled inside, his chest heaving as he leaned against the doorframe. "Damn it," he gasped, his voice ragged. "Sorry, guys… I couldn't bring any food. Those damn things are *everywhere*."
He paused, his eyes scanning the room. His gaze landed on Lenz, Jackie, and Ted, who were still standing near the center of the room. Ted gave him a weak wave, his face pale but relieved. Zuck raised an eyebrow, his voice tinged with confusion. "Did I… interrupt something?"
Bart stepped forward, clapping Zuck on the shoulder. "Not at all," he said, his tone reassuring. "It's just good that you're back."
Mother Charmine rose from her chair, her expression serious as she approached Zuck. "Is there any way we can escape this place?" she asked, her voice steady but urgent.
Zuck shook his head, his breathing still uneven. "Not now," he said, his tone grim. "The third floor is the safest place in the orphanage for now. We just need to wait a little longer, think of a plan until things calm down."
He slumped to the floor, leaning against the wall as he tried to catch his breath. But as he settled, Anna's eyes narrowed. She had noticed something strange—something off about Zuck's arm. Her voice trembled as she spoke, her words cutting through the room like a knife. "Zuck… what's wrong with your arm?"
_____
The room fell silent as all eyes turned to Zuck, their expressions a mix of confusion and unease. Anna's face, however, was pale with terror. Her wide eyes locked onto Zuck's arm, and she pointed a trembling finger, her voice rising in a panicked shout. "It's… it's a bite mark!"
A collective gasp rippled through the group, their faces now etched with worry and fear. Mother Charmine moved quickly, But before she could reach him, Zuck jerked his arm away, tucking it tightly under his shirt. His voice was sharp, defensive. "Quit spouting nonsense! I just grazed it on some wood, that's all. It's nothing."
Charmine's brow furrowed, her voice firm but calm. "Zuck, let me see it. If it's nothing, then there's no harm in showing me."
Zuck shook his head, his jaw tightening. "No. It's fine. Leave it alone."
Behind Charmine, Lenz stood frozen, his eyes darting between Zuck and Anna. Henry, however, had no patience for Zuck's defiance. He grabbed his knife, his voice low and venomous. "I fucking told you he'd be a problem," he snarled, his grip tightening on the blade. "Let's just throw him out the window and be done with it."
Charmine spun around, her eyes blazing. "No one is throwing anyone out!" she snapped, her voice cutting through the tension like a whip. "We're here to help each other. To survive. Together." She turned back to Zuck, her tone softening but still firm. "Please, Zuck. Let me see your arm. Maybe we can help."
Anna's voice cut through the tension like a blade, sharp and urgent. "Mother, did you forget what happened to Mister Gregor? Before he turned… he was bitten by one of those things!"
The mention of Gregor sent a chill through the room. Lenz's grip tightened on his axe, his stance shifting as he raised his guard. His eyes, sharp and unyielding, never left Zuck. The air grew heavier, the weight of Anna's words pressing down on everyone.
Zuck's face twisted, a mix of frustration and desperation. "Look, I told you, nothing is wrong with me!" he snapped, his voice rising. "The bite happened three hours ago. There's no way I'm—" His words were cut short as a violent cough wracked his body. Blood spilled from his lips, dark and ominous, splattering onto the floor.
Before anyone could react, Zuck's legs gave out, and he crumpled to the ground. Mother Charmine stumbled back, her hands flying to her mouth as she watched in horror. Zuck's body began to convulse, his limbs thrashing uncontrollably, as if possessed by some unseen force. The sight was unnatural, his movements too fast, too erratic—like a puppet jerked by invisible strings.
Anna turned away, her hands covering her face. "I can't look at this!" she cried, her voice trembling with fear.
The others stood frozen, their faces a mixture of shock and dread. Zuck's veins began to bulge, rising to the surface of his skin like blackened roots. They were dark as obsidian, spreading rapidly across his body, a grotesque web of corruption. His eyes, once sharp and human, now glazed over, clouded with something inhuman.
Ted stepped forward, his voice urgent but steady. "Mother Charmine, we need to go. This room isn't safe anymore." His eyes darted to Zuck's convulsing form, the blackened veins spreading like a plague across his skin. The sight was enough to make his stomach churn, but he forced himself to stay focused. "We can't stay here."
Lenz turned to the group, his voice sharp and commanding, cutting through the frozen silence. "Everyone, grab your weapons! We're moving—now!" His axe was already in hand, his stance ready for whatever came next. The others hesitated for a moment, their eyes still locked on Zuck, but Lenz's tone left no room for argument. "Move!"
Jackie, ever resourceful, sprang into action. He grabbed a nearby table, his muscles straining as he flipped it onto its side. "Bart, help me with this!" he barked, his voice tight with urgency. Bart didn't hesitate, rushing to Jackie's side. Together, they broke off the table's legs, creating a makeshift shield. Jackie hefted it, testing its weight, before nodding to himself. It wasn't perfect, but it would do.
Anna and Ted moved to Mother Charmine, each taking one of her hands. "Come on, Mother," Anna pleaded, her voice trembling. "We have to go. Please!"
But Mother Charmine resisted, her eyes filled with tears as she stared at Zuck's writhing form. "I can't leave him like this," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I need to pray for him. If I don't… if I don't, his soul won't find peace. He won't go to heaven."
Ted's grip tightened on her hand, his voice firm but gentle. "Mother, there's no time. If we don't leave now, we'll all end up like him. Zuck wouldn't want that. He'd want us to survive."
Mother Charmine nodded, her face pale but resolute. She clasped her hands together, her lips moving in a whispered prayer. The words were ancient, a chant passed down through generations, meant to guide the souls of the departed to peace. For a moment, the room seemed to hold its breath, the air thick with the weight of her plea.
Then, Zuck's convulsions stopped.
His body went still, unnaturally so, and his eyes snapped open. They were no longer human—pitch black, like voids, with veins spidering out around them, dark as ink and pulsing with a grotesque, unnatural life. His head turned slowly, mechanically, until his gaze locked onto Mother Charmine. A low, guttural snarl escaped his throat, and before anyone could react, he lunged at her, his movements unnervingly fast.
Mother Charmine froze, her prayer cut short as Zuck's snarling form hurtled toward her. She didn't have time to react, but Jackie did.
"Move!" he shouted, throwing himself between Zuck and Mother Charmine. He slammed the makeshift table shield down, the wood groaning under the force of Zuck's impact. The creature—no longer Zuck—snarled and at the barrier, its blackened fingers scraping against the surface. Jackie gritted his teeth, his arms trembling as he held the shield in place. "Run! Now!"
Lenz and Ted sprang into action. Lenz grabbed Mother Charmine by the arm, pulling her toward the door, while Ted covered their retreat, his knife glinting in the dim light. Anna hesitated at the doorway, her eyes wide with fear. "What about you guys?" she cried, her voice trembling.
Lenz didn't look back, his voice sharp and commanding. "We're buying time! Just focus on getting to the kitchen—go!"
Anna nodded, her face pale but determined, and she turned to follow Mother Charmine and Ted as they fled down the hallway. The sound of their footsteps echoed faintly, fading into the distance.
Now, the room was empty except for Jackie, Lenz, and Ted. The air was thick with tension, the only sounds the guttural snarls of the creature and the creak of the table shield as it strained under the relentless assault. Lenz tightened his grip on his axe, his knuckles white, his eyes locked on Zuck's twisted form.
Lenz's voice cut through the chaos, sharp and commanding. "Ted, hold him in place! I need a clean shot!" His grip on the axe tightened, his knuckles white as he steadied himself for what came next.
Ted nodded, his face pale but determined. "Got it!" He darted to the right side of the room, his movements quick and deliberate. Zuck—no, the *thing* that had once been Zuck—snarled, its blackened eyes locking onto Ted. It lunged toward him, its movements jerky but terrifyingly fast.
"Now!" Ted shouted, grabbing a heavy vase from the counter. With a grunt, he swung it with all his might, the ceramic shattering against Zuck's head. The creature stumbled, its snarls turning into a guttural growl as it fell to the floor.
Jackie didn't waste a second. He shoved the table forward, slamming it down onto Zuck's back with a loud *thud*. The creature thrashed beneath the weight, its claws scraping against the floor, but Jackie held firm. "Ted, help me!" he yelled, his voice strained.
Ted rushed to Jackie's side, adding his weight to the table as they pressed down with all their strength. Zuck's snarls grew louder, more frantic, but the table held him in place—for now.
"Come on, Lenz!" Jackie shouted, his voice cracking under the strain. "Do it! Cut his head off!"
Lenz stood frozen, his axe raised but trembling in his hands. Sweat dripped down his forehead, his breath coming in short, ragged gasps. His eyes were locked on Zuck's twisted form, his mind racing. He had never done this before. He had never killed someone—or something—like this. The weight of the moment pressed down on him, his stomach churning with a mix of fear and revulsion.
"Lenz!" Jackie's voice was desperate now. "He's not a person anymore! Remember what these things have done to others! Remember what they'll do to us if we don't stop them!"
Lenz's jaw tightened, his grip on the axe steadying as Jackie's words cut through the fog in his mind. He thought of the horrors they'd witnessed, the lives torn apart by these creatures. Zuck was gone. What remained was a monster—a threat to everyone he cared about.
Lenz's hands trembled, the axe shaking in his grip as he stared down at Zuck's thrashing form. His voice was barely a whisper, choked with emotion. "He's… he's still a human. I can't… I can't kill a person…"
The infected snarled and writhed beneath the table, its blackened claws scraping against the floor as it fought to break free. Ted and Jackie strained against the weight, their muscles burning as they struggled to hold it down. "Shit!" Jackie yelled, his voice cracking under the pressure. "Lenz, we can't hold him much longer! Do something!"
Lenz's vision blurred, his breath coming in shallow gasps. His mind was a storm of doubt and fear, the weight of what he was about to do crushing him. But then, Jackie's voice cut through the chaos, sharp and desperate. "Lenz! He's not a person anymore! He's the *devil*!"
The word struck Lenz like a lightning bolt. *Devil.* It echoed in his mind, unlocking something deep within him—a memory, a resolve, a fire he hadn't felt in years. His hands stopped shaking. His vision cleared. His breath steadied. In that moment, everything else faded away—the fear, the doubt, the guilt. All that remained was the task before him.
With a roar that seemed to shake the very walls of the room, Lenz swung the axe. The blade arced through the air, gleaming in the dim light, and struck true. The sound was sickening—a wet, heavy *thunk*—as the axe cleaved through Zuck's neck in one clean swing. The creature's snarls cut off abruptly, its body going still as its head rolled away.
The room was suddenly, eerily quiet. Lenz stood over the body, his chest heaving, the axe still gripped tightly in his hands. Blood dripped from the blade, pooling on the floor beneath him. His face was a mask of grim resolve, his eyes hard but haunted.
Jackie and Ted slowly released their hold on the table, their breaths ragged as they stared at the scene before them. No one spoke. There were no words for what had just happened—for what Lenz had just done. The weight of it hung heavy in the air, a grim reminder of the world they now lived in.
Finally, Jackie broke the silence, his voice quiet but firm. "It's done," he said, his eyes meeting Lenz's. "You did what you had to do."
Lenz didn't respond. He just stood there, his gaze fixed on the lifeless body at his feet, the axe still clutched in his hands.
Ted pushed himself to his feet, his legs still shaky from the ordeal. "Come on, guys," he said, his voice hoarse but steady. "Let's go and join the others. We've done what we needed to do here."
Jackie groaned, clutching his stomach as he leaned against the wall. "Right… I feel like throwing up. That was… too much." His face was pale, his hands trembling as he tried to steady his breathing.
Lenz didn't move. He sat on the floor, his back against the wall, his axe resting across his lap. His chest rose and fell with heavy, exhausted breaths, his eyes staring blankly at the floor. The weight of what he had just done—what they had all just witnessed—was written plainly on his face.
Jackie glanced at Lenz, then turned to Ted. "Hey, Ted," he said, his voice quieter now. "Can you grab the holy book? I want to give it back to Mother Charmine and… ask her to forgive me. I shouldn't have thrown it like that."
Ted nodded, his expression softening. "Yeah, I'll get it." He walked over to where the book lay among the shattered remains of the vase, its pages splayed open. He bent down to pick it up, brushing off the dust and glass. As he straightened, he turned to face Jackie, the book in his hands. "Is this the bo—"
His voice cut off abruptly, his eyes widening in horror as they locked onto something behind Jackie. The book slipped from his hands, hitting the floor with a dull *thud*. Ted stumbled backward, his legs giving out as he fell to the ground. A scream tore from his throat, raw and primal, filled with pure terror.
Lenz's head snapped up at the sound, his exhaustion forgotten as he turned to see what had caused Ted's reaction. His eyes widened, his breath catching in his throat. "Impo… impossible," he muttered, his voice barely audible. "This is… this is impossible."
Jackie, still leaning against the wall, frowned in confusion. "What? What's wrong?" he asked, his voice tinged with unease. Slowly, he turned his head, following Ted and Lenz's horrified gazes.
And there he was.
Zuck.
Somehow, impossibly, he was standing. His head, which had been cleanly severed moments ago, was now in his hands. With slow, deliberate movements, he lifted it and placed it back onto his neck. There was a series of sickening *clicks* and *pops*, like bones snapping into place, and then… it was as if nothing had happened. The black veins reappeared on his face, spreading like ink across his skin.
The room seemed to freeze, time itself holding its breath as Zuck's blackened eyes locked onto them. The air was thick with the stench of decay and the metallic tang of blood. For a moment, no one moved—no one *could* move. The sheer impossibility of what they were witnessing rooted them to the spot.
Then, Zuck took a step forward, his movements jerky but deliberate. The sound of his foot hitting the floor snapped them out of their stupor.
"Run!" Lenz shouted, his voice cracking with panic. He scrambled to his feet, his axe forgotten as he grabbed Ted by the arm and yanked him up. Ted's face was pale, his eyes wide with terror, but he didn't hesitate. He bolted toward the door, his legs moving on pure instinct.
Jackie was already ahead of them, his earlier exhaustion replaced by a surge of adrenaline. He slammed into the door, fumbling with the handle as Zuck's guttural snarls grew louder behind them. "Move, move, move!" Jackie screamed, his voice high-pitched with fear.
Lenz and Ted reached the door just as Jackie finally got it open. They spilled into the hallway, their breaths coming in ragged gasps. Jackie turned back, his eyes widening as Zuck lunged toward them, his movements unnervingly fast. "Close it! Close it now!"
Lenz and Ted threw their weight against the door, slamming it shut just as Zuck's clawed hands reached the threshold. The door shuddered under the impact, the sound of Zuck's snarls and the scrape of his nails against the wood echoing through the hallway.
Ted collapsed to the floor, his legs giving out as Jackie strained to hold the door against Zuck's relentless pounding. Ted's hands clawed at his hair, his voice rising in a desperate, broken scream. "This isn't real! It can't be! I must be having a nightmare—a really bad nightmare!"
Lenz's voice cut through the chaos, sharp and urgent. "Shut up, Ted! I can hear footsteps in the hallway! We don't have time for this!"
But Ted wasn't listening. His face was twisted with despair, his eyes wild as he shouted, "I can't take it anymore! Just kill me already! I don't have any hope left—fuck all of this!"
Lenz dropped to his knees beside Ted, grabbing him by the shoulders and shaking him hard. "Get up!" he hissed, his voice low but fierce. "We don't have time for this! If you want to live, you need to move *now*!"
Jackie, still holding the door, glanced over his shoulder and froze. His eyes widened as he saw figures emerging from the shadows of the hallway—infected, their blackened eyes gleaming, their movements jerky but fast. "Lenz!" Jackie shouted.
Lenz didn't hesitate. He yanked Ted to his feet, his grip iron-tight as he dragged him forward. "Move your ass, Ted! Now!"
The three of them bolted down the hallway, their footsteps pounding against the floor as the infected's guttural snarls echoed behind them. The sound was deafening, a cacophony of hunger and rage that sent chills down their spines.
Jackie led the way, his voice breathless but urgent. "Come on! There's a room up ahead—it connects to the kitchen with the balcony! We can make it if we move fast!"
They ran, their footsteps echoing through the narrow hallway as the guttural snarls of the infected followed close behind. The sound was relentless, a constant reminder of the danger chasing them, but for now, they had a good distance between them. Jackie led the way, his voice sharp and urgent as he shouted, "Here! This way!"
He veered to the right, pulling them into another hallway. The infected's snarls grew fainter as they put more distance between themselves and their pursuers. Jackie skidded to a stop in front of a door, his hand fumbling with the handle before yanking it open. "In here! Quick!"
They stumbled into the room, slamming the door shut behind them. The three of them stood there for a moment, their chests heaving, their breaths coming in ragged gasps. Lenz leaned against the wall, his face pale but relieved. "I think… I think we lost them," he said, his voice shaky.
The room was small and dimly lit, with ten beds neatly arranged in rows. It looked like a children's bedroom, the walls adorned with faded drawings and the faint scent of dust lingering in the air. Jackie glanced around, his eyes scanning the room before he nodded. "We're safe here. For a little while, at least."
He moved to the far end of the room, where it led to a balcony. Jackie stepped outside, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed their surroundings. But his relief was short-lived. "Shit!" he cursed, his voice sharp with frustration.
Ted and Lenz exchanged a worried glance before joining him on the balcony. "What now?" Ted asked, his voice tinged with exhaustion.
Jackie pointed to the iron bars that sealed off the balcony, their thick metal frames bolted firmly into the stone. "We're locked in," he said, his tone grim. But then, a faint smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Don't worry, though. I know how to pick locks. Me and Ramsey used to do it all the time when we were little."
Lenz and Ted nodded, their faces grim but determined. "We'll watch out and cover you," Lenz said, his voice low and steady. Jackie gave a quick nod in return, already crouching down to work on the lock with the small tool he had pulled from his pocket.
Lenz and Ted stepped back into the room, their eyes scanning the door as they prepared to stand guard. Ted leaned against the wall, his face pale and his breathing uneven. He turned to Lenz, his voice trembling as he asked, "Do you really think the temple is a safe place? With things like Zuck around… in the whole town?"
Lenz hesitated, his jaw tightening as he tried to form an answer. But before he could speak, he froze, his eyes narrowing. He raised a hand to silence Ted, pressing his ear against the door. The faint sound of footsteps echoed from the hallway outside—slow, deliberate, and unmistakably not human.
Ted's face paled further, his hand clutching his chest as he slid down the wall. "My heart…" he whispered, his voice strained. "It's hurting. I can't control it—it's racing like crazy."
Lenz turned to him, his expression softening with concern. He started to move toward Ted, but the footsteps outside suddenly stopped. For a moment, the room was eerily silent. Then, without warning, the footsteps returned, louder and faster this time. The door shuddered as something heavy slammed against it, the wood groaning under the force.
Lenz's eyes widened, and he quickly grabbed his axe, his voice sharp with urgency. "Stay behind me, Ted! We need to buy time for Jackie!"
The door splintered, the sound of cracking wood filling the room as the infected crashed through.
Ted's jaw dropped, his face pale as he stared at the infected that had crashed through the door. His voice was barely a whisper, trembling with disbelief. "Finn…"
Lenz's eyes snapped to Ted, his grip tightening on the axe. "Who is it? Do you know him?" he asked, his voice sharp with urgency.
Ted fell to his knees, his hands clutching his head as a choked cry escaped his lips. "He's… he's my brother!"
Lenz's jaw dropped, his heart sinking as the weight of Ted's words hit him. He glanced at the infected—Finn—his blackened eyes and snarling mouth a grotesque distortion of the person Ted once knew. Lenz tightened his grip on the axe, his mind racing. There was no shield, no barrier—this was going to be a one-on-one fight, and he wasn't sure he was ready for it.
Without warning, Finn lunged forward, his movements unnervingly fast. Lenz swung the axe, the blade connecting with Finn's face in a sickening *thud*. But it was no use. Finn barely flinched, his strength inhuman as he grabbed Lenz and slammed him into the corner of the wall. The axe clattered to the floor, out of reach.
Lenz grunted, his arms straining as he fought to keep Finn's snapping jaws away from his face. The infected's saliva dripped onto his skin, hot and foul, as its guttural snarls filled the air. Lenz's muscles burned, his strength fading as Finn's relentless assault continued. "Ted!" Lenz shouted, his voice desperate. "I need some help right now!"
But Ted didn't move. He was still on his knees, his eyes wide and unfocused, his mind seemingly lost in a haze of shock and grief. He was zoning out, unable to process what was happening—unable to help.
Lenz's heart pounded as he struggled to hold Finn back, his mind racing for a way out. He was running out of time.
Lenz's voice cut through the chaos, sharp and urgent. "Ted! Doesn't this look familiar to you?!" His arms trembled as he fought to hold Finn back, the infected's snarling face inches from his own. "This is exactly the situation with your brother and the other infected!"
Ted's head snapped up, his eyes wide but unfocused, as if he were caught in a nightmare. Lenz gritted his teeth, his muscles burning as Finn's strength threatened to overpower him. But he held his ground, his voice rising above the guttural snarls. "Ted! There's one difference now!"
Ted's gaze locked onto Lenz, his face pale but his eyes flickering with something—recognition, maybe even determination. Lenz's voice was a roar, filled with both desperation and conviction. "You're not weak anymore!"
For a moment, the room seemed to hold its breath. Then, something in Ted's eyes changed. A spark ignited, burning away the haze of shock and fear. His jaw tightened, his hands clenched into fists, and with a sudden, fierce cry, he lunged forward.
Ted threw himself at Finn, his movements fueled by a mix of grief, anger, and newfound resolve. He grabbed his brother's shoulders, pulling him away from Lenz with a strength he didn't know he had.
Ted and Finn tumbled to the ground, their bodies locked in a desperate struggle. Ted grunted, his muscles straining as he fought to hold his brother back, but Finn's unnatural strength was overwhelming. Ted's face was red with effort, his veins bulging as he shouted at Lenz, his voice cracking under the strain. "Come on, Lenz! Hit him while I'm holding him! Come on! Lenz! Lenz…?"
But Lenz didn't move. He stood frozen, his chest heaving as he caught his breath, his silver hair plastered to his forehead with sweat. Droplets fell from his face, hitting the floor with soft, almost deafening *plinks* in the tense silence. His eyes were wide, his expression unreadable as he stared at the scene before him. It was as if time itself had stopped, the world narrowing to this single, horrifying moment.
Ted's voice grew more desperate, his arms trembling as Finn's snarling face inched closer to his neck. "Lenz, please! I'm giving out! Help me! HELP ME!"
Lenz's jaw tightened, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides. His mind raced, weighing the situation, the future, the consequences of what he was about to do—or not do. His breath came in shallow gasps, his body dripping with sweat as the weight of the decision pressed down on him like a physical force.
Ted, his strength nearly gone, managed to free one hand and slammed it against the floor, his fingers outstretched toward Lenz. Lenz! Help me!"
But Lenz didn't step forward. Instead, he took a step back, his face hardening with a grim, heartbreaking realization. His eyes, once filled with determination, now held a cold, distant resolve.
Ted's eyes widened in disbelief, his voice rising to a scream. "Lenz! What the fuck are you doing?! We're friends, for God's sake! Don't do this! PLEASE!" Tears streamed down his face, his voice raw with betrayal and fear. "LENZ!"
But Lenz didn't respond. He just stood there, his face a mask of sorrow and resolve, as Ted's cries echoed through the room.
Ted's cries had shifted from desperate screams to broken, pleading sobs. He wasn't shouting Lenz's name anymore—he was begging, his voice trembling with fear and despair. "Oh, I know… I know you're going to call Jackie here, right? RIGHT?" His voice cracked, tears streaming down his face as he struggled to hold Finn back. "Please… please don't leave me here…"
But Lenz didn't answer. He stood frozen for a moment, his eyes closed, his face a mask of anguish. Ted's strength was fading fast, his arms shaking as Finn's snarling face inched closer, his blackened eyes gleaming with hunger. It was only a matter of seconds now.
"Please,please, please …" Ted whispered, his voice barely audible over the guttural snarls of his brother. "I don't wanna die…" His words were like daggers, stabbing into Lenz's ears, his heart, his soul. But Lenz couldn't stay. He couldn't help.
With a shuddering breath, Lenz turned and ran toward the balcony, his footsteps echoing in the room. Ted's voice followed him, broken and pleading. "Please, don't leave me here…" His words were a whisper now, filled with a heart-wrenching finality. "I don't wanna die…"
Lenz's heart pounded in his chest, his vision blurring as he reached the balcony. Behind him, Ted's voice rose one last time, sharp and filled with pain.
"YOU HEARTLESS MONSTER!"
And then it happened. The sound echoed through the room, a sickening, wet *crunch* . Ted's scream of agony was cut short, replaced by the sound of tearing flesh and guttural snarls. Lenz's ears rang, the sound of Ted's final moments searing into his mind like a brand.
But he didn't look back. He couldn't. His eyes were wide, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he stumbled forward, his hands gripping the balcony railing. The world around him seemed to fade, the only sound the pounding of his own heart and the distant, haunting echoes of Ted's last words.