Aditya left first.
Outside, everything functioned like a normal hospital—lights on, generators humming, staff moving with quiet purpose. The yard was calm. The moon hung low in the sky, pale and distant. He was standing on real ground again, with no zombies in sight.
He took a deep breath.
Normally, he would have smiled at that.
He didn't. He wouldn't allow himself to.
He walked the perimeter of the hospital—past the solar panels, the small farms, the water storage tanks. One round. Then another. Then another. His feet followed the same path his mind was trapped in.
The satellite phone in his hand vibrated.
Signal found.
Home.
He stopped walking.
Slowly, he lifted the phone and pressed it to his ear.
"Hello! Are we talking to Malisha Ramaniya, captain of Bus Eight?"
Four voices, overlapping. Laughing. Excited.
"No," Aditya said. "But you're talking to the first mate."
"Adi bhaiya!" Aayu's voice cut in. "Tanishka, it's for you—it's your brother!"
"And when will Mal didi call?" Tanishka added eagerly. "We have to cut her birthday cake!"
The words hit him like a collision.
Even now—after everything—he knew he couldn't tell them. Not a word. Not even a crack of truth. And it wasn't because of Raj.
It was because he couldn't.
"Why do you all sound like you're interrogating me?" Aditya said, forcing a laugh.
"We do that every day," Divya replied lightly. "But today is her birthday. She told us to have a party. Bring her on the call, will you?"
"Bhaiya, when are you coming back?" Tanishka asked. "I topped my class. You still owe me my gift."
"We're trying," Aditya said. "But… things keep coming up."
His voice wavered. He hated that it did.
"Are you okay?" Riya asked softly. "Where are you? Where is Malisha di?"
"Call her," she added. "Raj uncle is here too."
Aditya's grip tightened around the phone.
Raj being there was normal.
This situation wasn't.
"She—she's…" Aditya stalled. "She went out. Walking her dogs. You know how she is. And about the party… she doesn't like it. She even yelled at me today, like she always does. So—no need to wait."
There was a pause.
"That doesn't sound like her," Divya said. "Come on, we'll talk her into it. Just walk up to her and let us speak."
"No," Aditya said.
"Why not?" Riya asked.
"We had a fight this afternoon," he replied. "We're not talking. And—it's her fault."
"But it's her birthday," Tanishka said quietly.
"You don't get it," Aditya snapped, then softened. "I'll see what I can do. I can't promise anything."
"She'll call anyway," Aayu said. "She does every night. Even if you don't tell her."
Right. She does.
His chest tightened.
"She won't," Aditya said. "Because I won't let her."
Silence.
"She took my position," he continued, words spilling out before he could stop them. "She disowned me in front of everyone. And this is how she wanted her birthday anyway, right? She scolded you all every year for making a fuss. So—yes. She deserves it."
He sank onto the nearest step, one hand pressed to his forehead, forcing his voice to stay steady.
The last words destroyed him from the inside.
She deserves it.
No.
She doesn't.
But he had to say it.
"She—she what? But… no—what happened?" Tanishka asked, panic breaking through his voice.
"Are you okay?"
"All I know," Aditya said evenly, "is that she will not call today. And Raj sir is there, right? Give him the phone. I'll submit my resignation now—good thing I don't need to call the office for it."
He chose to cut the problem at its root.
Raj wanted them dead so the children would stay unaware. Fine. Nothing proved a lie stronger than a direct confrontation.
The joy in the children's voices vanished.
But that was better than tears.
They didn't argue. They didn't ask more questions. They simply handed the phone over.
"Hello," Raj said. "What happened, Aditya? Where are you?"
"I'll tell you," Aditya replied, "once you step out of wherever you are."
There was a pause.
Footsteps echoed through the call.
A door closed.
"Well?" Raj said. "Now talk."
"She's not fine," Aditya said. "She's in the ICU. And she's in danger."
"What are you talking about—who?" Raj snapped.
"Malisha," Aditya replied. "And no, we are not bringing her to you. I'm not sharing the location."
"Why not?" Raj asked.
"Because she—and I—want my crew to live," Aditya said. "And we care about her more than your tactics."
Raj exhaled slowly. "If you're so aware, then why was the checkpoint compromised? Why were you in charge and not her? How were you taken? And I had to send people to handle her dogs."
Aditya laughed—short, bitter.
"We weren't 'allowed' to be upset with our friend, apparently. We did everything we could to protect the checkpoint. Rank Eight wasn't invited. And dogs?" He scoffed. "Really?"
"Yes," Raj said coldly. "People don't keep her dogs. They're not… manageable. Now answer me this—are you, or anyone with you, including the survivors, any kind of threat to Malisha or her family?"
"No," Aditya said without hesitation. "No one. And if I find one—"
His voice hardened.
"—I'll report after termination."
Silence followed.
"You won't," Raj said quietly. "You can't. You're not her. You won't kill anyone—I know that."
"Then your knowledge has a gap," Aditya replied. "Because I killed someone today. Clean shot. A rank. So yes—I can do it again."
Raj cleared his throat. "What… what did Rank Eight do to her?"
"He didn't do anything," Aditya said sharply. "Nothing she hadn't already done to him—and to herself."
Another pause.
"Take care of her," Raj said finally. "And yourself. And your crew. I'll handle the children here. You've left me a big lie to maintain—don't let it collapse, soldier."
"I'm not a soldier," Aditya said.
"I'm an OG."
He cut the call
.He sat on the hospital's entrance steps, head buried in his knees.
The satellite phone lay an arm's length away, abandoned.
Alone—
or so he thought.
"I don't think that's how someone looks after calling home at the end of a long day," a voice said quietly.
"Mayank—sorry. Aditya." A brief pause. "Don't mind me. It takes time."
Aditya looked up sharply.
Ashish stood near the gate, hands in his coat pockets, posture relaxed but eyes observant.
Aditya wiped his face quickly and turned away.
"Bhaiya… I didn't know you were here," he said. "I was just—nothing."
"Yes," Ashish replied mildly. "It does look like nothing—after everything you went through today."
He took a few steps closer. "I didn't know you killed a rank. Which one was it? Eighth?"
"Yes," Aditya said.
Silence followed.
Not the awkward kind. The heavy one.
Aditya swallowed. "How… how is she now?"
He almost wished he hadn't asked. Not knowing felt safer than hearing she was worse.
Ashish didn't change his expression. He stepped down the stairs, stopping beside Aditya.
Aditya straightened instantly, breath caught halfway in his chest.
"What—what is it?" he asked.
"You know," Ashish said calmly, "the condition we brought her in… it wasn't survivable."
Aditya's throat tightened. He said nothing. Couldn't.
"Just like the last time," Ashish continued. "And the time before that. Every time, she comes in after nearly killing me."
A faint smile touched his lips.
"And every time, she stays alive."
Aditya's hands clenched.
"She's out of danger," Ashish said. "Stable. God knows how—but just in time."
A pause.
"She might even wake up soon."
Aditya finally let the breath leave his lungs.
Not a sob.
Not a laugh.
Just relief—raw, quiet, and exhausting.
At the same time, Neha came running—no, sprinting—out of the gate, straight toward Ashish. It was close to eleven at night.
"What happened?" Ashish asked immediately.
"Did you find the caller?" Aditya cut in, sharp and urgent.
Neha slowed only when she reached them, bending slightly as she caught her breath. Then she looked up—at both of them.
"She's awake," she said.
"Malisha woke up."
For the first time that night, Ashish exhaled fully. A faint—almost invisible—smile crossed his face.
"Dr. Tiwari is with her now," Neha added.
Aditya didn't know how to react.
So he didn't. He just stood there, frozen between relief and fear.
"Good," Ashish said, steady again. "Make sure he runs every check. Properly."
Neha nodded.
"Can I see her?" Aditya asked quietly.
He knew the rules. No visitors. No exceptions.
Still, he asked.
Ashish studied him for a brief second.
"Yes," he said. "Go with Neha. She'll take you."
Neha looked at Ashish, surprised, but said nothing.
"Okay. Yes. Thank you," Aditya said, already moving toward the stairs.
Neha turned to lead him inside.
But Aditya stopped at the door. He turned back.
"Aren't you coming?" he asked. "You said you haven't seen her in a long time, so—"
"No," Ashish said calmly. "I won't."
Aditya frowned. "Why not? What happened?"
Ashish exhaled sharply.
"The same thing that made you take charge of the crew," he said.
"The same thing that made you angry with her."
He paused.
"Her secret hasn't been easy on anyone, Aditya. Including me."
"But she's your sister," Aditya said.
"She's Rank Two," Ashish replied, not looking at him.
"She's Conquera."
Silence stretched between them.
"You can go if you want," Ashish added. "And if you don't—that's fine too."
"I'll go," Aditya said softly.
He turned and followed Neha, catching up to her in the corridor. His steps were quick now, restless, as she led him deeper into the hospital—toward Malisha's room.
Neha slowed briefly at the canteen.
"I need a light meal for Room 255," she said.
Aditya caught up to her almost immediately.
"For Malisha?" he asked.
"Yes," Neha confirmed.
"Wait—let me take it," he said quickly. "Please."
Neha hesitated. "Alright, but nothing heavy. She's still—"
Aditya was already ordering.
When the tray arrived, he picked up two items. Neha glanced at the combination, visibly judging it. Then she shook her head and let out a small laugh.
"You're old friends," she said. "I'm not sure this will work—but I won't interfere."
Aditya nodded once.
They continued down the corridor.
Outside Room 255, Neha hurried ahead, pushing the door open to check on Malisha and speak to the doctor. Aditya stopped short.
The steady beep of the monitor reached him through the doorway.
He stood there, frozen.
He wasn't sure how long he stayed like that—seconds, minutes—until the door opened again. Neha stepped out with the doctor, quietly relaying Ashish's instructions. The doctor nodded and walked away.
Neha looked at Aditya, who still hadn't moved.
"You can go in," she said gently.
Then she left.
Aditya remained where he was for one more breath.
Then another.
Finally, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Aditya stood just inside the room.
Malisha was awake.
She sat upright on the hospital bed, the blanket folded carelessly over her legs, IV still attached to her arm. Her gaze was fixed on the window—on the thin slice of night beyond it. Not searching. Not waiting. Just… looking.
Bored, almost.
Absent-minded in the way only someone who had survived too much could be.
She didn't turn.
Didn't flinch.
Didn't acknowledge him at all.
The monitor beeped steadily, filling the space where words refused to exist.
Aditya took a step forward. Then stopped.
Malisha finally looked at him.
He placed the tray on the side table, carefully, as if sudden movement might shatter something fragile between them.
She smiled.
That familiar, casual smile—the one she wore like armor.
Aditya knew instantly. He didn't buy it.
"Are you okay?" Malisha asked, as if she were the visitor and he the one lying in bed.
Aditya let out a short smirk. Bitter. Sharp.
"Well," he said, "I didn't pass out for hours, almost die, and wake up in a hospital bed. So yeah—take a guess."
Malisha laughed softly.
"Fair," she said. "But you weren't out there handling things, were you? I was basically chilling here." She glanced around. "Nice room, don't you think?"
Aditya flinched.
"Do you think this is funny?" he asked, looking straight at her now.
The smile faltered.
Just for a second.
Malisha swallowed.
No—she didn't think it was funny.
But this was how she survived.
Aditya reached for the tray, lifted a bowl, and placed a spoon inside it.
He didn't wait for her answer.
She didn't give one.
She didn't have it.
He held the bowl out to her.
Every expression on Malisha's face shifted.
She stared at the soup.
Then at Aditya—who stood there with his arms folded, unmoving.
"Broccoli soup," she said flatly. "You do know I hate it."
"Well," Aditya replied calmly, "I figured if you can drug yourself on purpose and spike your adrenaline until your heart nearly gives out, you can manage this too."
He tilted the bowl slightly toward her.
"It'll help you recover," he added. "And honestly—it smells better than that gas."
He smiled.
The same smile she always used.
Malisha's smile disappeared completely.
"I don't think that's what I meant," Malisha said.
"What?" Aditya asked.
She turned fully toward him.
"I'm still going to ask you what I asked before. Are you okay?"
Her eyes searched his face. "Look at me, Adi."
He didn't.
"You killed someone," she said quietly. "And I don't think you've told anyone about it. Have you?"
Silence.
"What does that have to do with being a hero?" Aditya finally said.
She paused, then added lightly, almost conversationally,
"But you know the rule, right?"
He stiffened.
"If you kill a rank," she said, "you take the rank. And the title."
Aditya's heartbeat stumbled.
"I didn't— I didn't kill him because I—"
His voice broke. He couldn't stop it.
Tears rolled down before he even realized they were there.
Malisha didn't interrupt.
"I didn't do it as a rank," he whispered. "I didn't choose it."
She exhaled slowly.
"I know," Malisha said.
Her voice was steady. Certain.
"And that's exactly why it's eating you alive."
He looked at her then—eyes red, jaw tight.
"You didn't do it for power," she continued. "You didn't do it for a title. You did it because there was no other way."
She shifted slightly; the IV line tugged as she leaned closer.
"That matters, Adi. More than you think."
She hesitated, then added, softer,
"You didn't act like a rank. You acted like an OG."
A faint smile flickered. "You don't have to become anything. You don't have to carry this alone. I'll take care of it."
"What all are you going to take care of, Mal?" Aditya said, voice breaking.
"I hate myself for it."
"I know you don't like it," Malisha said gently. "But you don't have to hate yourself for saving me."
"Shut up," Aditya snapped. "Just— how can you joke right now? I—"
"You're right," Malisha said.
He stopped.
She looked straight at him.
"You know what I should be doing."
A pause.
Then, slowly,
"Apologizing."
Her throat tightened.
"I… am… sorry."
Aditya froze.
Malisha had done everything since the moment her secret came out.
Everything.
Except this.
She had never apologized before.
She really did now.
Aditya looked at her.
Malisha didn't look away.
She stayed still—open, braced—ready for whatever would come next.
Nothing did.
Except—
"I was scared," Aditya said.
His voice cracked before he could stop it.
"I was so scared… for you. All the time."
Malisha didn't joke.
Didn't smile.
"I wasn't dying," she said quietly. "Not really. I wouldn't leave everything on you like that. I'm not that stupid."
Then, softer—careful now—
"But that doesn't mean you weren't alone."
Aditya swallowed.
She exhaled and leaned back slightly, eyes flicking to the ceiling.
"And about Rank Eight," she continued. "He was a killer. A slave trader. What happened to him was coming—if not today, then someday."
She looked back at Aditya.
"You didn't just save me. You saved the entire crew."
He shook his head faintly. "I still—"
"The rank," she interrupted gently, not sharply. "It only transfers if you're lower-ranked or rankless."
A pause.
"I'm Rank Two," she said. "I'll take it under my name."
She met his eyes again—steady, deliberate.
"You don't have to carry that. Not the title. Not the weight."
"How do you do it?" Aditya asked.
His voice barely made it past his throat.
"How did this happen to you, Malisha? How… why did you become this—Rank Two?"
Malisha's jaw tightened.
"Adi," she said quietly.
Then, after a pause,
"I can't."
She looked away—not sharply, not defensively. Just… away.
"I'm tired," she added.
"Not the kind that sleep fixes."
Her fingers curled slightly into the blanket.
"I don't want to talk about it. Not tonight."
"Speaking of tonight," Aditya said.
He stood up, crossed to the tray, and picked up two glasses. His eyes were still red when he returned, but his hands were steady. He passed one glass to Malisha.
"It's not midnight yet," he said. "Here."
Malisha took it cautiously. After the soup incident, she clearly didn't trust him.
She sniffed it. Then raised an eyebrow.
"Hot chocolate?" she said. "Adi, I don't think you're okay. But now I'm curious—what was the canteen staff's reaction?"
She took a careful sip.
A genuine smile spread across her face.
"…Okay. This is good," she admitted. "So. Dare I ask—what's this for?"
"For your birthday," Aditya said, taking a sip from his own glass.
"Or—making it up till nineteen."
She studied him for a second, then looked away, hiding the softness in her expression.
"By the way," he added, "everyone judged me hard. But don't worry—I ordered proper food too. It'll be here soon."
Something clicked in her mind.
Her body went still.
"The children called," Malisha said.
Aditya choked on his drink.
He turned away, coughing hard, buying himself time—just enough to decide how much truth he could afford.
"…Yeah," he said finally. "They did."
Malisha took another sip, slower this time.
The tightness in her throat had nothing to do with the kids.
Raj would've been there.
And she knew Aditya—he wouldn't have taken that call if Siya or Raghav were around. Which meant he'd handled it alone.
She didn't know how much he knew.
Didn't know how to ask without giving herself away.
The monitor beside the bed stuttered—just for a second. An uneven beat.
Both of them noticed.
Malisha adjusted her grip on the glass, breathing evenly until the rhythm settled again.
But that second was enough.
Aditya had seen it.
And he didn't look away this time.
"I had to lie to them," Aditya said quickly.
"I told them we fought—because I couldn't put you on the call. They don't know anything. The lie can be fixed later. You don't have to worry."
"Oh," Malisha said, taking another sip.
"Yeah. That's fine."
She stared into the glass for a second longer than necessary.
"Was anyone else there?" she asked, deliberately casual.
"Yes," Aditya said. "Raj was there."
Malisha lowered her head slightly, letting the rim of the glass hide her face. She focused on her breathing—slow, controlled. On keeping the monitor steady.
"Oh," she said evenly.
"So… did you talk to him too?"
Aditya exhaled and looked straight at her.
"What are you really asking me?" he said.
"Siya told me everything about Raj. I spoke to him. And I handled it."
He took a calm sip of his hot chocolate.
"You're not the only one here who can handle things."
For a moment, Malisha had no expression at all.
"…You handled it," she repeated. "How, exactly?"
"By assuring him the crew is loyal," Aditya said.
"That no one is a threat. That everyone will do everything necessary to keep your secret safe from the zones."
A pause.
"Especially me."
Malisha finished her drink in one slow motion.
Relief settled in her chest—but not completely. She didn't know the full shape of what Aditya had done. But she knew him well enough now to trust that he wouldn't break her.
Not tonight.
And she was too tired to interrogate him anyway.
Aditya set his empty glass aside.
"So," Malisha said, handing him hers, voice quieter now.
"How's the rest of the crew? No one's injured, right?"
She hesitated, just slightly.
"Did help reach you all in time?"
Yes… um—yes," Aditya said, looking away.
"Good," Malisha replied. Her tone was calm—too calm.
But the monitor spiked. Just once. Just enough.
"So Ashu did pick up," she continued.
"Yes," Aditya said quickly. "He did. And he treated you too. He must be somewhere outside—he'll come in—"
"I doubt it," Malisha interrupted, that familiar half-smile slipping back into place. "I'm sure he's somewhere in his hospital. But I don't think he'll come here."
Aditya fell quiet.
"You must've been surprised," she added, her voice steady, almost casual. "I wonder how you explained everything to him. I don't think he would've recognized Malisha as me."
"No," Aditya said softly. "I wasn't surprised. I was too worried to be surprised. You were literally dying, Mal."
He paused.
"And yes—he still knows you as Kavya."
"Hm."
She looked down. Then back up.
"But the crew?" Malisha asked. "They've been through a lot. Seen too much. They could be in shock."
Aditya stared at her.
"This coming from you sounds weird," he said slowly. "You were the one dying an hour ago. I don't think anyone had a bigger shock than that."
"I'm not talking about you, Adi," she replied. "I'm talking about them."
"They're fine," he said. "Mentally and physically. And if someone isn't, they're being treated here."
Malisha tilted her head, studying him.
"Then why are you still here?" she asked lightly. "You should go get whatever's wrong with your brain diagnosed."
Aditya's jaw tightened.
The irritation on his face said what he didn't.
"Anything else I should catch up on? I think I was out for hours," Malisha said.
The unknown caller crossed his mind—but he knew this wasn't the time.
He swallowed hard.
"No, of course not. It's a boring place anyway," Aditya said, quietly turning the ring on his finger.
Malisha noticed. Of course she did.
"Well," she said with a faint smile, "I wonder what makes that ring of yours so interesting every time you lie."
Aditya's jaw tightened. He stopped turning the ring.
Now he knew that she knew.
And he also knew this—Malisha was nothing like her siblings. She wasn't someone who could be softened by emotion or distracted by a story.
"Well then…" Malisha said, her eyes settling on Aditya.
"Nothing important," Aditya replied. "You see, there's always something going on."
He stood up, picked up the soup bowl, and placed it back on the tray, trying his hardest not to meet her eyes.
"I hope it's not something," Malisha said, her gaze fixed on the window instead of him, "that turns into such a big problem in the future that even I can't handle it."
A storm raged inside Aditya's mind. He knew the call wasn't normal. He knew the hospital staff hadn't been able to trace it—and probably never would.
And he knew this too: Malisha would already have a sense of it. If not the answer, then at least the shape of the truth.
The longer he waited, the greater the risk.
But he wasn't sure if she was truly out of danger. Because while Malisha was ready—he had no doubt about that—her body might not be.
Silence settled over the room, sharp and fragile.
In the end, Aditya thought only this:
if anyone could handle what was coming, it was Malisha.
But there was a but.
He knew she was already aware that something was wrong.
And he knew something else just as well—she wouldn't let it go.
She would find out what it was.
She always did.
If not now, then later.
And later meant tomorrow, before dawn.
That was just… her.
So he decided to tell her.
Mal," Aditya said, taking the seat beside her again.
Malisha looked at him.
"So there is something big," she said.
"No. Not that much," Aditya replied. Malisha nodded slightly.
"I got a call. An unknown one. As soon as we reached the hospital. Someone asked if you were okay, and I—" he swallowed, "—I was out of my mind enough to say you weren't."
Malisha's reaction was blank.
"Well then, did you find out who it was?" she asked casually. "I'm sure the hospital staff would've traced it."
"No. It's untraceable. Unknown. They said a frequency breach like that is impossible."
A subtle beep cut through the air—so quick it was gone before Aditya could fully register it.
"Well," Malisha exhaled slowly, "frequency breaches are impossible for lower ranks. If I wanted to, I could breach any frequency I wanted."
She paused. "Can you show me the number?"
Aditya hesitated. But he had already told her this much. Holding back now felt pointless.
After all, they were already in a hospital—though he didn't truly believe that meant safety.
"Here," he said, handing her the phone.
Malisha snatched it.
The moment her eyes landed on the screen, the little color she had left drained away. She stared at it—jaw tightening, teeth grinding together. Her expression was unreadable.
The monitor, however, wasn't.
It spiked. Uneven. Sharp.
Her gaze stayed fixed on the number—especially the first digit.
1.
She handed the phone back.
Calmly, she said, "What did he ask again?"
"He just asked if you were okay. That's all." Aditya paused. "Is something wrong?"
Malisha smiled faintly. "No. That's fine. Nothing wrong. What's possibly wrong with asking about someone's health?"
Then it hit him.
"I never said it was a he."
Malisha looked out the window. "But I know who called," she said quietly. "And it's fine. It's not important for you to know."
Aditya opened his mouth to argue—but the monitor started beeping faster now. Too fast.
Her breathing turned uneven. Shallow.
He stood up immediately, grabbing the tray.
"I'll check on the food," he said quickly. "It should've arrived by now."
She might've said something—maybe to stop him, maybe to reassure him—but he didn't hear it. Or maybe he chose not to.
He walked normally until the end of the corridor.
Then he ran.
Straight toward the first nurse or doctor he could find.
And then—
He collided with neha.