Chen didn't lower his gun.
His arm remained steady, the weapon pointed toward the injured man while his eyes carefully followed every small movement he made. The stranger's shoulders were hunched, his back pressed against the wall as though he wanted to make himself as small as possible. His injured arm was held tightly against his chest, and every few seconds his fingers nervously tightened around it.
The wound looked like a slash rather than a bite, but Chen wasn't willing to take the man's word for it. A frightened face and a believable story didn't mean much in a world where one mistake could get someone killed. He had seen people lie for food, medicine, and shelter before. He had also seen people turn into monsters within minutes of being bitten.
"Who are you?" Chen asked.
The man swallowed hard. His eyes flicked toward the gun before quickly returning to Chen's face.
"I... I'm nobody. I was just looking for supplies."
"That's not what I asked."
