We followed the others aboard one of the ferries. Shalltear, for once, looked genuinely impressed as she stared at the floating city. "I must admit, my lord… this human fortress is quite fascinating."
"Fascinating, yes," I said quietly. "But fragile."
When we docked, we were greeted by a patchwork community—soldiers, engineers, and scavengers working to maintain order. Despite the harsh world outside, there was laughter here. Music even. It was almost surreal.
For the first time in days, I felt impressed by Zemo.
Zemo's people showed us to a temporary housing block, an old converted cell chamber with makeshift beds.
Shalltear sat by the window, looking out at the moonlit waves. "It's strange," she said softly. "This world burns, and yet they still find ways to cling to life. For maggots this must be heaven."
I didn't answer. Instead, I lay back on the bed—an actual bed, after weeks of hard ground and blood—and exhaled slowly.
Outside, the sea lapped gently against the hull. The faint hum of generators filled the air.
"This kind of peace is good." I murmur.
•••
The Raft was alive that night with a dim glow—soft lights swaying on the makeshift ceiling, the hum of machinery echoing through the hollow corridors, and the soft sound of waves brushing against the steel exterior. Zemo stood at the center of the large hall, a repurposed aircraft hangar, now decorated with flickering candles and makeshift memorials crafted from old helmets, badges, and even dog tags.
His voice carried through the air, calm but heavy with meaning.
"Tonight, we remember those who fought for the living," Zemo began, his accent sharp and deliberate. "Those who stood when the world fell apart. The ones who gave us this chance—this fragile peace in a sea of monsters."
Around him, the survivors gathered—soldiers, refugees, scientists, and wanderers like us. The scent of salt and metal mixed with burning wax. Kamala held her candle close to her chest, her face somber as she muttered a quiet prayer. Kate stood beside her, her bow slung over her shoulder, eyes distant. Yelena didn't say anything. She just stared into the flame, the reflection dancing across her tired eyes.
Shang-Chi's group stood a few meters away. Death Dealer's arms were crossed, Jimmy Woo looked down, and Katy Chen held tightly to her friend's sleeve. Even Zemo, the ever-calm tactician, had a moment of silence, his eyes flickering toward the wall where hundreds of names had been etched into the metal.
When the ceremony ended, Zemo gave a simple nod and walked off toward the upper decks. "We dive in five minutes," one of the guards called out.
And then, with a low, mechanical groan, the Raft began its descent. The ocean swallowed the lights above as the platform dove beneath the surface, the glass viewing ports glowing faintly blue. Schools of fish scattered as the massive engines engaged, sealing the world outside.
Kamala took a deep breath, watching bubbles float past the glass. "So this is it… below the sea. Guess it's safer down here than up there."
"Safer," Kate muttered, leaning against the wall. "But not peaceful."
"Peace died with the world," Yelena said quietly.
•••
Later that night, everyone gathered in the central dining hall. It was one of the few brightly lit places on the Raft—filled with the smell of cooked fish and recycled air. The long metal tables were lined with both soldiers and civilians. Despite the scars of war and infection, laughter echoed here and there, faint but real.
Our group—me, Shalltear, Kamala, Yelena, Kate, and Blade Knight—sat near the back, joined by Shang-Chi's group: Shang-Chi himself, Death Dealer, Katy Chen, and Jimmy Woo.
It was awkward at first. After all, earlier that day, Kate had nearly shot Shang-Chi when she spotted the infection marks on his arm. The tension still lingered faintly, but now that the truth was clear—that it wasn't a zombie infection but a remnant from a battle—everyone tried to ease into conversation.
Kamala broke the silence first. "So… this is what dinner looks like in the apocalypse," she said with a nervous laugh, poking her spoon into a bowl of stew.
Shang-Chi smiled faintly. "Could be worse. I once had to eat canned beans for three straight months."
Kate snorted. "Luxury. We had to live on dried protein bars and instant noodles. Until this guy arrived." She said as she pointed in my direction.
That earned a small laugh around the table. Even Yelena cracked a tiny smile.
~~~
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