Breddy is ordered by the camp doctor to stay off his feet for several days. His ribs are bruised, his left arm is stitched up, and the scar on his face is still fresh. Colonel Graves makes it clear:
"That's an order. You're no good to anyone dead."
The rest of the group is sent on supply runs and patrols, leaving Breddy behind to recover.
Raven volunteers to stay with him.
She claims she's "just making sure he doesn't do anything stupid," but everyone in the group smiles because they know the real reason.
The chapter focuses on Breddy and Raven.
Raven changes the bandages on his arm.
She gently cleans the scar on his face, making Breddy wince.
She teases him:
"For someone who says he's fine... you complain a lot."
Breddy jokes back:
"I've earned the right."
She laughs.
It's one of the few genuine laughs either of them has had since the outbreak.
Raven's Past
That evening, they sit outside the cabin watching the sunset.
Breddy quietly asks:
"Who were you... before all this?"
After a long silence, Raven finally answers.
She explains that she served in an elite military special operations unit. She completed missions she can never talk about and lost teammates she considered family.
She admits that's why she's so skilled with firearms and survival.
Then she looks at Breddy.
"Meeting you reminded me there was still something worth protecting."
Breddy doesn't know what to say.
So he simply reaches over...
...and takes her hand.
She doesn't pull away.
As night falls, Raven rests her head on Breddy's shoulder.
Neither of them speaks.
For a few peaceful minutes...
The war outside doesn't matter.
Then, in the distance...
A flare lights up the night sky.
One of the patrol teams has encountered something.
The peace they've found...
...won't last long.
– Just Us -
Morning sunlight filtered through the cabin windows.
For the first time in weeks...
Breddy woke up without the sound of gunfire.
He slowly sat up.
Pain shot through his ribs.
"...Still hurts."
"You shouldn't be moving."
Raven stood in the doorway carrying two steaming mugs.
"I made coffee."
Breddy smiled.
"You might be my favorite person."
She rolled her eyes.
"Drink first."
"Flirt later."
---
The camp was unusually quiet.
Colonel Graves had taken the others on patrol, leaving only a few guards behind.
For the first time since the outbreak...
Breddy and Raven had the day to themselves.
---
After breakfast, Raven insisted on changing his bandages.
"Sit."
"I'm fine."
She crossed her arms.
"Breddy."
He sighed dramatically.
"...Yes, ma'am."
She laughed.
"You really are impossible."
Carefully, she unwrapped the bandages around his left arm.
The deep claw wounds were healing, but not fast enough.
She gently cleaned them.
Breddy hissed.
"Easy..."
"I know."
"I'm trying."
When she finished, she reached toward the scar on his face.
Her fingertips lightly brushed it.
"It suits you."
Breddy blinked.
"A scar suits me?"
"It makes you look tougher."
"I was already handsome."
She smirked.
"Don't push your luck."
---
Later, they wandered through the edge of the forest surrounding the camp.
Breddy still carried no rifle.
Only Raven's combat knife rested on his belt.
The doctor had forbidden him from fighting.
For once...
He actually listened.
They found a small stream hidden between the trees.
The water was crystal clear.
Raven sat on a fallen log.
"I used to come to places like this after missions."
"It helped clear my head."
Breddy sat beside her.
"I would've probably been stocking frozen food right now."
She smiled.
"You really miss Walmart."
"I miss normal."
He skipped a small stone across the water.
"I miss hearing customers complain about prices."
"I miss coworkers arguing over whose turn it was to pull pallets."
"I even miss cleaning up spilled milk."
Raven looked at him.
"You don't miss the zombies?"
He laughed.
"I definitely don't miss them."
She leaned her head against his shoulder.
"You know..."
"I think that's why I like you."
"You still remember the little things."
Breddy looked at her.
"And what about you?"
"What do you miss?"
She stared at the flowing water.
"My little brother."
"I joined the military because I wanted him to grow up in a safer world."
Her voice cracked.
"He never got that chance."
Breddy quietly reached over.
He took her hand.
"You don't have to carry that alone anymore."
She squeezed his hand.
"I know."
---
The two stayed there until sunset.
No zombies.
No gunfire.
No missions.
Just silence.
Just peace.
As they walked back toward camp, Raven slipped her hand into Breddy's.
This time...
Neither of them let go.
Watching from a guard tower, Tyler nudged Mason with a grin.
"Told you those two would end up together."
Mason chuckled.
"About time."
Neither Breddy nor Raven noticed.
They were too busy enjoying something they hadn't felt in a long time.
Hope.
– One More Day -
The camp was peaceful.
The morning sun shone through the trees as Breddy sat outside the cabin, trying to button his black Walmart AP tactical vest with only one good arm.
"...This is impossible."
A voice behind him laughed.
"Need some help, hero?"
Raven walked over carrying two mugs of coffee.
Breddy smiled.
"I was hoping you'd ask."
She gently finished buckling the vest for him.
"There."
"All set."
Breddy looked down.
"I was definitely losing that battle."
"I noticed."
They wandered through the camp together.
For once, nobody stopped them.
Tyler saw them walking and nudged Mason.
"Leave them alone."
Mason nodded.
"They've earned a day off."
Even Colonel Graves pretended not to notice.
They reached a small hill overlooking the valley.
Breddy sat down with a groan.
"My ribs are reminding me I'm not twenty anymore."
Raven raised an eyebrow.
"You're acting like an old man."
"I feel like one."
She laughed.
"You fought a mutant monster underground."
"I think you're allowed to complain."
The conversation drifted to happier memories.
"So..." Raven asked.
"What was the weirdest thing that ever happened at Walmart?"
Breddy didn't even hesitate.
"A customer tried to return half a birthday cake."
Raven blinked.
"...Half?"
"He said it didn't taste good."
She burst into laughter.
"What did your manager do?"
"Accepted the return."
"No way."
"I swear."
She laughed so hard she had to wipe tears from her eyes.
"You people survived that place before surviving zombies."
"I keep telling everyone..."
"Walmart was the real training."
Raven decided it was her turn.
"I've got one."
"Oh?"
"During training..."
"A recruit accidentally threw a smoke grenade into the commander's office."
Breddy stared.
"...Seriously?"
She nodded.
"The commander walked out looking like a barbecue pit."
Breddy laughed until his ribs hurt.
"Oww..."
Raven covered her mouth.
"I'm sorry."
"No..."
He chuckled.
"Worth it."
They spent the afternoon skipping stones across the lake.
Raven's first stone skipped six times.
Breddy's skipped once...
...then sank.
He frowned.
"I demand a rematch."
She grinned.
"You're just a sore loser."
"I prefer 'highly competitive.'"
"Oh, is that what we're calling it now?"
She gently bumped his shoulder.
He bumped hers back.
As the sun began to set, they sat on an old wooden dock.
The water reflected the orange sky.
Neither of them spoke for a while.
Finally Raven broke the silence.
"You know..."
"I forgot what it felt like to laugh."
Breddy looked at her.
"I'm glad you remembered."
She smiled softly.
"And I'm glad I remembered it with you."
Breddy reached over.
Their fingers met.
This time...
Neither of them hesitated.
They intertwined their hands.
Raven looked down at them and smiled.
"I like this."
"So do I."
She turned toward him.
"So..."
"Are you always this stubborn?"
"Only on weekdays."
"And weekends?"
"I'm even worse."
She laughed.
"I figured."
For a moment...
The world disappeared.
No zombies.
No missions.
No Black Shield.
Just the two of them.
Raven gently cupped his cheek, careful not to touch the healing scar.
"I was really scared..."
"...when you didn't come back."
Breddy placed his hand over hers.
"I told you I would."
"I know."
"...I just didn't know if the world would let you."
They looked into each other's eyes.
Slowly...
Raven leaned in.
Breddy met her halfway.
Their first kiss was gentle and unhurried.
When they pulled back, they both smiled.
Breddy scratched the back of his neck.
"So..."
"Does this mean we're officially dating?"
Raven laughed.
"I think after fighting zombies together..."
"...we skipped a few steps."
They shared another quick kiss before resting their foreheads together, still holding hands as the last rays of sunlight disappeared beyond the trees.
For one perfect evening...
Hope felt stronger than fear.