---
The lobby of Building 7 had become a grim waypoint. Survivors passed through in hurried silence, clutching whatever supplies they'd managed to scavenge. Frank sat on a folding chair near the entrance, a cigarette dangling from his lips, eyes fixed on the fog-shrouded doors. His rifle was propped beside him—useless against monsters, but the weight of it still felt like authority.
Zack was supposed to be on watch with him, but the kid had wandered off ten minutes ago to check the perimeter. Frank didn't blame him. Two days of staring at nothing would drive anyone stir-crazy.
He was reaching for another cigarette when a shadow detached itself from the hallway.
Frank's hand moved instinctively toward the rifle, then stopped. "Simon? The hell are you doing down here?"
The big man's face was flushed, nervous. He kept glancing over his shoulder like he expected someone to jump out of the walls.
"I need to see Wade," Simon said, voice low. "Where is he?"
Frank's eyes narrowed. "What for?"
"None of your business. Just tell me where he is."
Frank studied him for a long moment. Simon was sweating, despite the chill. His hands were shoved deep in his pockets, but Frank could see the tremor in his shoulders.
Interesting.
"He was in the bathroom last I saw," Frank said, jerking his thumb toward the corridor. "Second door on the left. But I'd check the third floor if I were you. Josh's group has been holed up there all morning."
Simon's jaw tightened, but he didn't thank Frank. He just turned and walked away, his heavy footsteps echoing off the tile.
Frank watched him go, then reached for his radio. Nathan needed to hear about this.
---
The third floor hallway was quiet, the air thick with dust and the faint sour smell of unwashed bodies. Simon moved slowly, deliberately, his heart pounding against his ribs. Every instinct told him to turn back, to report to Jin and let the younger man handle the scheming. But Jin had asked him to do this. Trusted him.
He wouldn't let Jin down. Not after everything.
The door at the far end was the one he'd been told about. Simon paused outside, listening. Muffled voices, laughter. He raised his hand and knocked.
The laughter stopped. A moment later, the door cracked open. Chen Jun's face appeared, sharp and suspicious. His gaze landed on Simon, and something flickered in his eyes.
"What do you want?"
"I want to talk to Josh."
"He's busy."
Simon put his hand on the doorframe, leaning in. "Then he'll want to hear what I have to say. It's about Jin. About how he's getting so strong."
Chen Jun's expression shifted. He glanced back into the room, then stepped aside. "Wait here."
Simon stood in the doorway, letting them see him—a big man, alone, unarmed except for the Summon he could call at any moment. He wanted them to see the nervousness, too, the way his hands kept clenching and unclenching. Let them think he was scared. Let them think he was here because he had nowhere else to go.
A moment later, Chen Jun reappeared. "Come in."
The room was larger than most—Josh had claimed it early, when the building was still in chaos. A table had been pushed against the far wall, covered with maps and notes. Josh sat at the head, his Summon crouched in the corner like a pale, emaciated dog. Its eyes tracked Simon with predatory stillness.
Wade was there too, lounging on a couch with a knife in his hand, cleaning his nails. He looked up when Simon entered, a slow smile spreading across his face.
"Simon. To what do we owe the pleasure?"
Simon ignored him, keeping his eyes on Josh. "I know how Jin's doing it. The evolution. The skills. All of it."
The room went very still.
Josh leaned forward, elbows on the table. "That's a bold claim."
"It's not a claim. It's a fact." Simon's voice was rougher than he intended. "I've been with him since the beginning. I've seen what he hides. And I'm tired of being treated like a second-class citizen while he plays king."
Wade snorted. "And now you want to play traitor? Convenient timing."
"Wade." Josh's voice was soft, but it cut like a blade. He didn't look away from Simon. "Go on."
Simon took a breath. This was the moment. Jin's plan—the lie they'd crafted together.
"He wears a ring around his neck. Under his shirt. I saw it once, by accident. The second he noticed me looking, he hid it. Sent me away right after. Wouldn't talk about it, wouldn't explain. Just told me to keep training my Summon and wait."
"A ring," Josh repeated, voice flat.
"That's what I said." Simon's face reddened. "You think I'm lying? Fine. I'll take my information somewhere else. Nathan's always asking questions—"
"Sit down." Josh's voice hardened. Simon stopped.
Josh studied him for a long, uncomfortable moment. Then he smiled, broader this time. "A ring. Of course. It's always the simple things, isn't it?"
He stood, walking around the table until he was face to face with Simon. "You came to me because you want something. What is it?"
Simon met his gaze. "A cut. And I want to use the ring first. Before anyone else."
Wade laughed. "First? Who the hell do you think—"
"Wade." Josh raised a hand, silencing him. His eyes never left Simon's. "You want to use it first. That's… ambitious."
"Jin's been hiding it for a week. If I'm going to betray him, I want something for it. Something real."
Josh nodded slowly, as if weighing the request. Then he smiled again. "Fair enough. But we need to get it first. And for that, I need your help."
Simon's expression soured. "What kind of help?"
"There's a rumor going around that there are monsters on the seventh floor. Something big. Nathan's people are worried—they don't have the strength to clear it." Josh's eyes glittered. "Tomorrow night, I'm going to ask Jin to help. He's strong. He'll say yes. He always does."
"And when he gets there?"
"Then he finds nothing. But we'll be waiting." Josh's voice dropped to a whisper. "His people will be with him—the girl, the programmer. We'll hit them all at once. Jin first. Without him, his Summon falls. Then we take the ring. And whatever else he's been hiding."
Simon's face had gone pale. "That's insane. His Summon is First Order High. It'll tear through you like paper."
"His Summon will be nothing without him. And we won't give it time to fight." Josh's smile was thin. "Gasoline. A match. A few seconds, and it's over. No matter how many arms it has."
The silence stretched. Wade was grinning. Chen Jun's expression was unreadable. Simon's hands were fists at his sides, but he forced himself to nod, slow and reluctant.
"After midnight. I'll get them up there."
"Good." Josh clapped him on the shoulder. "You've made the right choice, Simon. Once this is done, we'll share everything. The ring, the power, all of it."
Simon didn't answer. He just turned and walked out, shoulders hunched, face unreadable.
Wade moved to follow, but Josh caught his arm. "Keep an eye on him. If he's lying—if he goes to Jin instead—"
"He won't." Wade's voice was certain. "He's in too deep now. No way back."
Josh released him. "We'll see."
When the door closed, Josh stood alone in the center of the room, looking at the space Simon had occupied.
A ring. Hidden around Jin's neck.
He had suspected Jin was hiding something. But a physical object—something that could be taken, used, controlled…
Josh smiled.
Tomorrow night, everything changed.