The scent of blood pulsed in a red haze across the boy's body—though not a single wound was visible.
From the very beginning, Zach had been repelled by the boy's presence. But now, his unease had deepened into suspicion.
A fire flickered in the golden shimmer of his eyes—no reason, no explanation. It was as if the boy was a shadow torn from a forgotten nightmare.
Even Zach himself couldn't understand the intensity of hatred he felt toward someone he'd never met.
"Ugh... This is unbearable. Why do I hate him so much?"
Just then, Karina approached with a bowl of medicinal roots. She looked curious, her eyes flickering with quiet resolve.
More than anything, she didn't want to remain just another sheltered soul in the hideout. She longed for the day she could join the patrol group.
If her abilities had awakened earlier, things might have turned out differently. But Zach and Aylin had told her to be patient—her time would come.
So she did everything she could to be helpful, even with the smallest tasks.
In her small hands, she carried a round clay bowl, its rim cracked and chipped.
Inside lay a few fern-like herbs with a purple hue—plants known to soothe internal injuries and aid recovery.
Karina had spent most of her time studying such herbs.
Though only ten years old, she was strikingly intelligent—and had, somehow, begun to accept the cruelty of the world around her.
"Big brother, I brought some medicine. Do you think this boy will be okay?" she asked gently, her voice innocent and warm.
Her eyes gleamed like a forest glimmering in the darkness.
Because of her presence, Zach's tension eased. The burning hatred inside him dimmed.
"Ah… Karina, there you are. Thank you. Well… it depends on how resilient he is.
Thankfully, there are no wounds on him. Maybe he'll regain consciousness soon."
Karina's heart flickered with joy at the possibility.
She felt strangely drawn to the boy. As if pulled by something beyond logic, she moved closer and gently touched his hand.
In that moment, a shiver raced through her tiny body.
It was as though a cold force from a realm unseen coiled around her soul. She recoiled instantly, gasping for breath, shaken to the core.
Zach rushed to her side and held her tight.
"It's alright… You're okay. I'm here. I promise."
Karina sobbed uncontrollably, her cries echoing through the frozen walls of the shelter.
The place, lifeless until now, seemed to mourn with her.
The reverberating sound reached Aylin and the others, who had gone to rest.
They followed the cries and gathered around, worried and confused.
Aylin turned to Zach, her eyes full of concern, though her voice remained calm and steady.
"Zach, what happened here? Why is Karina crying?"
Zach, still bewildered, replied, "I don't know. She touched the boy's hand… and then just started crying."
He hesitated, unsure whether to speak. But in that moment, transparency felt necessary.
So he told the group:
"There's something wrong with this boy. I'm sure of it.
Can't you feel it? The scent of blood pours from him, thick and suffocating…
Yet his body is untouched. Not a single trace of bleeding."
His words stunned the group. Silence fell.
They now faced a decision—accept the boy, or reject him.
Aylin knelt beside Karina. She'd calmed down, though the tremble in her throat hadn't entirely faded.
Aylin embraced her like both sister and mother.
"It's alright, my sweet Karina. You don't have to say anything. I'm here—you're safe."
The warmth of Aylin's arms reminded Karina of her mother.
Tears returned, rolling like pearls down her cheeks.
"I… I want my mom."
It was the first time the group had seen Karina act her age—speaking of loss, longing for home.
Aylin's heart wavered.
Had I made a mistake? Was I wrong to bring this boy here?
She didn't know the answer. He hadn't harmed them, but with Karina's sobs and Zach's doubts… her faith in the decision weakened.
She let go, deciding to leave the judgment to Zach.
Zach, too, looked furious—though beneath it, something more.
Before Aylin could speak, a voice interrupted.
Joshua, still sitting beside the boy, pointed.
"Hey! Look! His finger moved… I think he's waking up."
---
Distorted sounds—like broken instruments grinding in a storm—filled his ears.
A crease formed on his brow.
Pure darkness. No light. No hope.
A memory—sharp and horrific—flashed through his mind: his own death.
He didn't dare open his eyes.
He feared waking to that cursed field again.
"No… No… I don't want to die…"
Wild, fractured whispers spilled from his lips.
Everyone around him went quiet.
The strange voices… quieted, too—waiting for the boy to awaken.
His chest ached.
Still trembling, he clutched it tightly and forced himself to open his eyes.
His pupils darted in every direction, scanning the dimly lit surroundings.
A flickering light glowed faintly.
Beside him, a few shadows—alive, watching—stood silently.
He parted his lips to speak.
But swallowed the words.
He was afraid.
And yet, glad—glad he wasn't back in that cursed wasteland.
"I'm… alive. But how? That death… it was real.
How did I survive?"
His heartbeat pulsed in his ears like thunder.
Was this… a miracle? Or a curse?
He wasn't fully conscious yet.
Fear and confusion galloped through his soul, until he saw a shape approaching.
A girl—her hair golden, her face unknown.
---
After the boy awakened, the group fell silent.
Caution filled the air.
Because of Zach's words, suspicion had already crept in.
But someone had to reach out.
Aylin stepped forward and sat beside him.
"Hello. Are you feeling okay? I'm the one who found you.
Can you tell me your name?"
The boy blinked, lost in a fog.
"I… Where is this? I… Who am I…? I don't know…"
"I… who am I… Ugh…"
The question tore through his thoughts over and over.
Everyone froze.
Then Aylin noticed something horrifying.
The boy's mouth foamed.
His body trembled.
She cried out, panicked.
"Zach—quick! Help me! He's convulsing! Damn it—what's happening?!"