"What did you just say?!"
A woman with long hair neatly tied behind her head stood there, dressed in a tracksuit meant for mobility, though it still failed to conceal her alluring figure.
Her blue eyes, wide with disbelief, were locked on the man standing before her.
The place was a makeshift army tent, with only a few people inside.
If Rover had been present, he would have recognized them immediately.
"Catrina, what I said is the truth," the man replied.
He was rather slim, his handsome face combined with his carefully styled brown hair giving him the look of a professional model.
But now that brown hair was a little disheveled, and his hand bore a wound that was being carefully bandaged by a youthful girl beside him.
"Kaito, say it again…" Catrina's voice trembled, her disbelief palpable. "Rover… where is he?"
Kaito pressed his lips together and let out a weary sigh, his expression showing both exhaustion and frustration. "Catrina, every word I said is true."
"When the escort unit was ambushed by zombies, everything descended into chaos. I tried to run, but he took advantage of the thick fog, when no one was paying attention… and tried to kill me."
"He even said… that because I appeared, you only paid attention to me and not to him. He said you and I were secretly seeing each other behind his back."
"I tried to explain." Kaito lowered his head as he spoke, his words choked as if on the verge of tears. "You and I are just friends. It had simply been so long since we last met, so… I… I got carried away, stealing the time you would've spent with him."
"But he wouldn't listen to me. He picked up a knife, and then…"
Kaito's voice trailed off. His head remained bowed, shoulders trembling as if he were crying. Because of that, neither the girl tending his wound nor Catrina could see his expression.
"No way…" Catrina shook her head, her face turning pale. "Where exactly is he?"
"That…" Kaito stammered. "During the struggle, he was attacked by zombies from behind. I was so scared, so… I… I ran away."
"What?!" Catrina cried out, her face filling with horror and despair. "Are you saying… he… he's dead?!"
"No… maybe…" Kaito faltered. "Maybe he isn't dead. Maybe he was lucky enough to survive. Perhaps he's wandering outside right now, and he'll make his way here soon."
Catrina staggered backward, nearly falling. Kaito hurried forward to catch her, but she quickly pulled away from his reaching hand.
"Catrina…" At that moment, the girl bandaging Kaito's hand suddenly snapped.
Golden hair, fair skin, a high nose bridge, and eyes like two crystal gems full of liveliness.
"Are you still grieving over a man like that?"
"Meika, don't say such things." Kaito pretended to scold her in anger.
"Am I wrong?" Meika pouted, her face full of disdain. "It serves him right to die, he deserved it."
"I never liked the way he kept trying to control you, Catrina."
"You and Kaito are old friends. What's wrong with chatting a little after meeting again? What right did he have to forbid you from talking to Kaito?"
Inside, Kaito smirked, but outwardly he kept up the act, speaking with restraint: "Meika, this was my fault. After all, Catrina is Rover's wife. How could she get too close to another man?"
He turned to Catrina, his gaze full of false sincerity. "Catrina, it's all my fault. When I saw you, I just couldn't control my heart, and so…"
"Hahaha…" Suddenly, Meika burst out laughing. "Catrina, why don't you just marry Kaito instead? Rover's already dead anyway."
"You and Kaito were the couple everyone admired back in university. Even the professors considered you two the perfect pair. What a pity…"
"Catrina, this is your chance to correct the mistake of your youth. Kaito—"
"Enough!" Catrina's voice rang out sharply. She pressed her lips tightly together, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Kaito, you said Rover tried to kill you. Do you have any proof?"
Kaito's face trembled as if with deep frustration, though he tried to remain calm as he answered, "Catrina, I know it's hard for you to believe Rover could be that kind of man, but I think—"
Meika cut in impatiently: "Catrina, isn't the wound on Kaito's hand proof enough?"
"Or do you think he injured himself just to frame Rover?"
Catrina glanced at Meika, then back at Kaito, gritting her teeth. "I believe he's not that kind of person. I've lived with him for over two years. I know him better than anyone."
"Catrina…" Meika said bitterly. "You still don't see Rover for what he truly is?"
"No… he—"
Catrina tried to speak, but Meika interrupted again: "Catrina, do you remember the project Rover and Kaito competed for back then?"
"If Kaito had won it, this city would've had a new low-income housing district for poor families."
"But Rover stole it and turned it into a luxury commercial complex worth a fortune. Catrina, doesn't that tell you exactly what kind of bastard he really was?"
Kaito stood to the side, secretly laughing in his heart, yet on the surface he wore an expression of worry and discomfort, as though he disliked hearing Meika speak ill of Rover.
"That's enough, Meika." Kaito raised his voice. "You shouldn't slander Rover like that. I believe in Catrina—he isn't that kind of person."
"Catrina, don't worry…" Kaito's eyes softened as he looked at her with warmth. "I'm certain Rover is still alive. If you wish, I'll go and find him."
"Catrina…" Meika's patience seemed to snap, her tone sharp and impatient. "All because you spoke to Kaito a little too much, Rover tried to kill him. Think about it—if things continue like this, the next person he tries to kill might be you."
"No!" Catrina snapped, her brows furrowing. "He's not that kind of man."
Meika's face flushed red with anger. "Not that kind of man? Can't you see? Look at what he's already done to Kaito. Why won't you accept the truth—that he's nothing but a bastard?"
Kaito wore a mask of guilt and unease, his voice soft and regretful. "No, Meika. This is my fault. I shouldn't have gotten close to Catrina. I'm sorry… the feelings I still have for her were too strong, and I caused Rover to misunderstand."
"All of this is my sin. I… I'll take responsibility for his death."
"Death?!" Catrina's expression tightened. "Kaito, you said Rover attacked you and was then swarmed by zombies. How do you know he's dead?"
"That…" Kaito froze, stammering in shock.
Meika, unable to hold back, stomped her foot hard against the ground and shouted, "AGH! Catrina, why are you so stubborn?"
"Even the military can't win against zombies. How could a man like him possibly survive?"
Catrina glanced at Kaito, sighed, and shook her head. Without another word, she turned and walked out of the military tent.
"Ah!" Meika pouted. "Kaito, don't worry. I'll persuade Catrina. I won't let her life be ruined by that bastard Rover."
Kaito sighed and shook his head. "Meika… it seems your sister doesn't like me."
"No! She likes you very much." Meika immediately refuted. "If she didn't, then why would she keep talking to you so happily the moment she saw you again?"
"To outsiders, you and she might even look more like husband and wife than she and Rover ever did."
"That…" Kaito hesitated, but deep inside, his heart leapt with joy.
"Enough." Meika patted his shoulder, her smile full of confidence. "Leave it to me. I'm certain she'll forget that bastard Rover and choose you instead."
"Well then…" Kaito stammered, "If she and I become a couple, I promise I'll never let you suffer any loss."
"Hehehe…" Meika covered her mouth with a sly smile, then quickly ran after Catrina.
Outside, Catrina walked to a deserted spot and collapsed onto the ground, her back leaning against a supply crate. Her hand clutched at her chest, and suddenly, tears streamed down like heavy rain.
"Rover…" Catrina whispered, her trembling voice filled with regret. "I believe you're still alive. You… you must still be alive, right?"
She bit down hard on her lip, trying to suppress her sobs, but her body refused to obey.
Dang! Dang! Dang!
"Ah!" Catrina jolted at the sound of gunfire. "Gunshots? Could it be…"
"Zombies! Zombies are coming!" someone shouted, and immediately the camp fell into chaos as people began scattering in every direction.
Dang! Dang! Dang!
BAM! BAM!
"Reinforcements! Call for reinforcements now!"
"Hurry! Evacuate the civilians!"
"Bring more weapons!"
Dang! Dang! Dang!
"Help!"
"AGH!"
"Help me! Somebody help me!"
Screams of agony and desperation echoed through the fog.
Catrina spun around in panic, but all she could see was thick mist and shifting dark shapes moving past her.
"The fog? There wasn't any fog here before… why is it suddenly everywhere now?" she muttered under her breath.
She clamped both hands tightly over her mouth, trying her best to stay silent.
Then she froze—because a shadow emerged before her.
Her entire body trembled uncontrollably, her eyes wide and filled with sheer terror.
"That's… a… monster…"