Lenz reached the balcony, his chest heaving as he stumbled toward Jackie, who was crouched by the now-open lock. Jackie turned, his face lighting up with relief—until he saw Lenz's expression. His smile faded, replaced by confusion and concern. "It's open," Jackie said, his voice hesitant. "But… where's Ted? I heard some noise. What's going on?"
Lenz hesitated, his eyes dropping to the ground. His voice was quiet, almost hollow. "Ted… he didn't make it."
Jackie's face went blank, his mind struggling to process the words. "What?" he said, his voice rising. "What do you mean he didn't make it? Where is he?!"
Lenz's jaw tightened, his fists clenching at his sides. "The thing… it was too strong. It got Ted pinned to the ground, and I… I couldn't do anything." He paused, his voice breaking slightly. "So I… I left him there."
Jackie's face turned white, his eyes widening in disbelief. "What the *fuck* is wrong with you, Lenz?!" he shouted, his voice trembling with anger and horror. He turned sharply, his body tense as he moved toward the door. "I'm going to save him. We're getting out of here together."
Lenz lunged forward, grabbing Jackie's shoulder. "It's too late, Jackie!" he said, his voice desperate. "You can't go back there!"
Jackie yanked his arm free, his eyes blazing. "Don't touch me!" he snapped, his voice cracking. "I'm not leaving him behind! I'm going to save him, and we're going to escape together!"
Lenz's face twisted with rage, his patience snapping like a taut wire. In one swift motion, he grabbed Jackie by the shirt and slammed him against the iron bars of the balcony. The loud *thud* echoed through the air as Jackie's back hit the metal, his breath knocked out of him. Lenz's voice was a low, furious growl, his eyes blazing. "Don't you get it, you goddamn fool?!"
Jackie winced, his hands instinctively gripping Lenz's wrists as he tried to push him off. But Lenz didn't let go. His voice rose, raw and filled with frustration. "I left him because I couldn't save him! Because I was weak! And how do you think you're any different from me? You would've done the same!"
Jackie's eyes widened, his face flushing with anger. "I wouldn't have done the same!" he shouted, his voice cracking. "I would've stayed! I would've fought for him!"
Lenz's grip tightened, his face inches from Jackie's. "Look," he said, his voice low and urgent, "if I had stayed to help him, we *both* would've died. And I know for damn sure you would've died too if you'd been in my place. That's why I made the call. I understood the situation. I predicted what could've happened." His eyes widened, his voice softening but no less intense. "I did it for *us*, Jackie. For us."
Jackie stared at him, his chest heaving, his face a mix of anger, disbelief, and something else—something that looked almost like betrayal. But he didn't say anything. He just stood there, pressed against the bars, his hands still gripping Lenz's wrists as the weight of Lenz's words settled over them like a suffocating blanket.
Lenz let go of Jackie's shirt, his hands trembling as he stepped back. "We need to get the hell out of this room and—" He stopped abruptly, his face pale as a wave of nausea hit him. The overwhelming pressure of everything that had happened—Ted's screams, the guilt, the horror—threatened to crush him. He clenched his jaw, forcing the bile back down, and swallowed hard. Jackie didn't say a word. He didn't even look Lenz in the eye. Instead, he turned and ran toward the kitchen, his movements stiff and mechanical.
Lenz followed, his legs heavy but moving on autopilot. As they reached the kitchen, Lenz quickly closed the iron bars behind them, the metallic clang echoing through the room. He glanced around, his chest heaving, and frowned. "They're not here," he muttered, his voice tinged with frustration. "What is taking them so long?"
Jackie didn't respond. He walked over to the counter, his movements slow and deliberate, and poured himself a glass of water. His hands shook as he lifted the glass to his lips, his eyes distant. Lenz, meanwhile, grabbed a basket of fruits and began eating ravenously, his body desperate for sustenance after the ordeal.
The silence between them was heavy, broken only by the sound of Lenz chewing and Jackie's shallow breaths. Minutes passed, the tension thickening with every second. Finally, Jackie broke the silence, his voice quiet but piercing. "Just tell me this, Lenz." He paused, his eyes finally meeting Lenz's, filled with a mix of anger, fear, and something deeper—something vulnerable. "Would you have left me if I was in Ted's place?"
Lenz froze, a piece of fruit halfway to his mouth. He set it down slowly, his eyes locking onto Jackie's. For a moment, he didn't speak, his face unreadable. Then, his voice came, low and steady, filled with a raw honesty that surprised even himself. "No, Jackie. I wouldn't have left you." He took a step closer, his gaze unwavering. "The connection we've had since we were kids… don't think it was all for nothing. You and Paulie… you're like brothers to me."
Jackie stood up abruptly, the sound of his chair scraping against the stone floor echoing through the kitchen. His eyes burned with anger and pain as he stared at Lenz. "Then tell me why you didn't save Ted," he demanded, his voice low but sharp.
Lenz paused, his gaze dropping to the floor. He couldn't meet Jackie's eyes.
Jackie's voice rose, cracking with emotion. "Why, Lenz?!"
Lenz's hands clenched into fists, his voice trembling as he finally answered. "I don't know! My body… as soon as I saw him pinned, with no other option but me to potentially save him, I was about to hit the thing with my axe. But every cell in my body stopped, Jackie. The realization hit me—they don't die."
He paused, his breath shaky, his words spilling out in a rush. "At that moment, I realized there was no chance we both could've escaped alive. Someone had to die."
Lenz's hands began to shake uncontrollably, his voice breaking as he continued. "Jackie… I felt something I've never felt before in my life. The urge to survive—whatever it took, whatever it cost. Everything else blurred. The only thing in focus was me. Me and only me surviving."
Jackie stared at him, his face a mix of disbelief and heartbreak. The room fell silent, the weight of Lenz's confession hanging heavy in the air.
Jackie's voice was low, almost a whisper, but it carried a weight that made Lenz flinch. "Still… it's not a good excuse, Lenz."
Lenz didn't respond. He slid down the wall, his back pressing against the cold stone as he sat heavily on the floor. His head hung low, his hands resting on his knees, trembling slightly. The weight of his actions—or inaction—was crushing him.
Jackie stepped closer, his tone softer now, though no less intense. "What you experienced… what you felt… it's called
flow state. It's something that happens when your body is flooded with adrenaline. Your mind narrows, your instincts take over, and everything else… fades away."
Lenz closed his eyes, his face a mask of exhaustion and guilt. "I don't give a damn what it's called," he muttered, his voice hollow. "I just… I just don't want that to happen again."
______
Paulie, Lili, and Marcus sprinted down the cobblestone street, their footsteps echoing in the eerie silence of the abandoned town. Paulie's eyes darted left and right, scanning the buildings for any sign of the temple. "It must be around here," he panted, his voice urgent. "We need to turn to the left!"
They skidded around the corner, their breaths coming in ragged gasps, and there it was—the temple. Its towering stone walls and arched gates loomed ahead, a beacon of hope. But that hope was quickly dashed as they saw the horde of infected swarming the entrance. Dozens of them, their blackened eyes hollow and lifeless, clawed at the gates, piling on top of each other in a grotesque, writhing mass as they tried to force their way inside.
Paulie's heart sank. "Oh, shit," he muttered, his voice tight with frustration.
Lili's face paled, her eyes wide with fear. "What do we do now?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Marcus stepped forward, his brow furrowed in thought. "Is there any other way in? Maybe behind the temple?"
Paulie opened his mouth to respond, but before he could say anything, Lili grabbed his arm, her grip tight. "Paulie!" she whispered urgently, her voice barely audible. He turned to follow her gaze, and his stomach dropped. A group of infected had spotted them, their heads snapping in unison as their hollow, black eyes locked onto the trio. A low, guttural snarl rose from their throats.
Marcus's voice was sharp with panic. "We don't have time!"
Paulie's mind raced, his eyes scanning their surroundings. Then he saw it—a narrow alleyway across the street, partially hidden by a crumbling wall. "This way!" he shouted, grabbing Lili's hand and pulling her toward the alley. "Through the alley! Move!"
They bolted across the street, their footsteps pounding against the cobblestones. The infected behind them let out a chorus of snarls, their movements jerky but fast as they gave chase. Paulie shoved Lili and Marcus into the alley first, then followed, his heart racing as the sound of the infected grew louder.
The alley was a dead end. Paulie's heart sank as he realized there was no way out—just a towering stone building on one side and a crumbling wall on the other. The infected were closing in, their snarls growing louder, their blackened eyes gleaming with hunger. Paulie's mind raced, his eyes darting around for any possible escape. Then he saw it—a wooden ladder leaning against the building, leading up to the roof.
"The only way to safety is up!" Paulie shouted, pointing to the ladder. "We climb to the roof—they can't follow us there!"
Lili's face paled, her eyes wide with fear. "But what about them?" she asked, her voice trembling as she glanced back at the approaching horde.
Marcus stepped forward, his expression grim but resolute. He was Lili's guard, sworn to protect her at all costs. Without hesitation, he handed Paulie his crossbow, the weapon heavy and cold in Paulie's hands. "Take this," Marcus said, his voice steady. "I'll hold them off. You two get to the roof."
Paulie's eyes widened. "Marcus, You can't—"
"There's no time to argue!" Marcus snapped, cutting him off. His voice softened as he turned to Lili. "Go. Now. I'll buy you time."
Lili's eyes filled with tears, but she nodded, her voice barely a whisper. "Thank you, Marcus."
Paulie hesitated for a moment, his grip tightening on the crossbow. Then he grabbed Lili's hand and pulled her toward the ladder. "Climb!" he ordered, his voice sharp with urgency.
Lili scrambled up the ladder, her hands shaking but her movements quick. Paulie followed close behind, his heart pounding as he glanced back at Marcus. The guard stood at the mouth of the alley, his spear drawn, his stance steady as the infected closed in.
"Marcus!" Paulie shouted.
Marcus didn't look back. "Just go!" he yelled, his voice firm. "Keep her safe!"
Paulie's chest tightened, but he forced himself to keep climbing. As he reached the rooftop, he turned to see Marcus charging into the horde, his spear flashing in the dim light. The infected swarmed him, their snarls drowning out his battle cry. Paulie's stomach churned, but he knew there was no time to mourn. He pulled Lili away from the edge, his voice low and urgent. "We need to move. Now."
Lili nodded, her face pale but determined.
The sound of Marcus's screams echoed through the alley, sharp and agonizing, cutting through the air like a knife. Lili froze, her body instinctively turning to look back, her face pale with horror. But before she could, Paulie's voice cut through the chaos, sharp and commanding. "Don't look behind!" he shouted, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Whatever you do, don't look!"
Lili's hands trembled, but she nodded, her eyes wide with fear as she forced herself to keep moving. Paulie grabbed her arm, pulling her up the ladder as it shook violently under their weight. The infected were clawing at the bottom, their guttural snarls growing louder as they tried to follow. Paulie's heart pounded, his muscles burning as he pushed himself and Lili onto the rooftop.
They collapsed onto the flat, stone surface of the inn's roof, their breaths coming in ragged gasps. The rooftop was vast, almost the size of a garden, with a small square-shaped hole in the center where a ladder led down into the building. Paulie's eyes darted around, scanning their surroundings for any sign of danger—or safety.
But what he saw made his stomach drop.
Sitting against the far wall, leaning casually as if they hadn't a care in the world, were familiar faces. Furio and his gang—Ramsey, Joe, and Michael—were sprawled out on the rooftop, their expressions shifting from boredom to shock as they noticed Paulie and Lili.
Paulie muttered under his breath, his voice low and filled with disbelief. "Why here? Why now?"
Furio was the first to speak, his voice dripping with mockery. "Well, well, well. Look who decided to join us." His lips curled into a smirk, but his eyes were cold and calculating.
Ramsey stood up slowly, his expression unreadable as he stared at Paulie. Joe and Michael exchanged glances, their hands instinctively reaching for their weapons.
Lili's grip tightened on Paulie's arm, her voice barely a whisper. "Paulie… what do we do?"
Paulie's jaw tightened, his mind racing. They had just escaped one nightmare, only to walk straight into another.
_______
Jackie paced the kitchen, his head down, his boots scuffing against the stone floor. His lips moved silently, murmuring words too soft for Lenz to hear. It had been going on for what felt like an eternity, and Lenz's patience was wearing thin.
"You've been whispering for 15 minutes straight," Lenz snapped, his voice sharp with irritation. "Knock it off already."
Jackie stopped in his tracks, his head snapping up. His eyes were distant, his expression troubled. "I'm just thinking of what to say to Mother Charmine when I… y'know, see her."
Lenz raised an eyebrow, his tone dry. "So you're thinking of how to say sorry?"
"It's not that simple!" Jackie shouted, his voice cracking with frustration. He ran a hand through his hair, his agitation palpable. "By the way, what's taking them so long? I thought the third floor was supposed to be safer."
Lenz leaned against the wall, his arms crossed. "Don't worry. They know how to handle themselves."
Jackie's pacing resumed, his steps quick and restless. "Maybe we should just leave them here and go to the temple ourselves," he said abruptly, his voice low but sharp. "Isn't that what you're thinking?"
Lenz sighed heavily, his hands dragging down his face. "Look," he said, his voice tired but firm, "you know there was no other way, right? It was either we both die, or only one survives. I chose the most logical possibility."
Jackie stopped pacing again, his back to Lenz. His voice was barely audible, but the bitterness in his tone was unmistakable. "I just wish you had created a third option."
Lenz froze, his eyes widening as Jackie's words hit him like a punch to the gut. A third option? How could i not have thought of another way? How could i have been such a… coward? The weight of Jackie's words settled over him, heavy and suffocating.
Before Lenz could reflect further, Jackie interrupted, his voice low and thoughtful. "Isn't that guy with the scar on his neck familiar? Y'know… the guy with the bad attitude."
Lenz frowned, then nodded slowly. "Oh… right. You mean Henry." He cracked his knuckles, his expression darkening. "I actually know him. He used to hang out with Furio's group before… well, before *that* incident, at least."
Jackie's eyes narrowed. "You mean the incident that happened at the orphanage three years ago?" He paused, his voice dropping. "That's why he was familiar…"
Lenz tilted his head, confusion flickering across his face. "Wait, what incident? Didn't Furio get kicked out because he was just too much of a troublemaker?"
Jackie stared at Lenz, his expression shifting from surprise to disbelief. "Wait… do you actually believe that's what happened?" He let out a short, bitter laugh. "That story was made up to keep the younger kids from worrying. Oh, right… now that I think about it, you weren't even at the orphanage that night."
Lenz nodded, his brow furrowed. "Yeah, I only heard about it from Mother Charmine."
Jackie smirked, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "So that's why you don't know. Well, this is going to be a big shock for you, then."
Lenz leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. "What are you talking about?"
Jackie crossed his arms, his tone casual but his words heavy with meaning. "Have you ever wondered why Furio would get so pissed whenever someone mentioned or questioned who his mother was?"
Lenz chuckled, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah, I remember. He'd lose his mind over it."
Jackie's smirk widened. "Well, only me, Paulie, and a handful of others know the truth about that. But…" He paused.
Jackie's smirk faded, his expression turning serious as he leaned in closer. His voice dropped to a low, almost conspiratorial tone, the kind of voice that carried secrets too heavy to speak aloud.
"Furio's mother's name is… "
Eve Roose.