"Why is your blood violet?"
Vincent's heart skipped a beat.
He didn't know how to reply. No, he didn't want to reply.
He couldn't admit he carried the zombie virus.
He caused everything.
She was crazy. He could tell.
She would kill him.
Vincent lowered his head.
"I-I don't know,"
Tears welled in his eyes.
"A monster attacked me...I was in a dire situation...But I don't know what happened after that. I lost consciousness."
His face twitched in confusion.
Tears streamed down his face.
"When I woke up, I had become like this. I feel strange. But I'm stronger than before."
Vincent feigned ignorance.
He provided the hints, guiding her to his desired conclusion.
He has awakened.
"Hmmm..."
She backed away.
Her eyes narrowed. Expression turned serious.
'Did she not fall for it?'
Vincent's heart trembled.
The memory of the scalper placed on Varlo's neck resurfaced in his mind.
It left a lasting impression.
He was weak.
If she had ill intentions, he couldn't protect himself at the moment.
"Don't worry,"
Livia's face brightened.
A warm smile.
"You might have awakened a unique ability."
"Awakened?"
Vincent tilted his head.
"What does it mean?"
"Hmm..." She placed her index finger on her chin. "How do I explain this to you?"
"I heard you say you all have mutated. What does that mean?"
Vincent hurriedly added.
"Mutated or awakened, it's the same. I prefer the word mutated."
Livia smiled warmly.
'What a unique woman.'
Seeing her cheerful smile, Vincent's mind wandered.
He forgot about the apocalypse for a moment.
"The world changed when the zombie virus broke out."
She started explaining, snapping him out of his thoughts.
"The virus brought mutation."
Her expression darkened.
"Those infected either turn into zombies or the virus triggers a mutation. They awaken a special ability,"
Vincent's eyes widened.
'The virus is the reason humans awaken?'
His mind descended into chaos.
"Well, that's all I know."
She smiled again.
"You should rest now. I'll come bring you food later."
With a smile, Livia left the room.
Clack!
Her expression turned deadly.
Eyes sharp. Threatening.
She glanced around.
No one in sight.
Livia walked down the corridor, entering another room.
"How is he?!"
Varlo jumped.
"Will he infect everyone?"
People stood behind him.
Their expression full of fear.
"Don't worry,"
She smiled warmly.
"He is not infected. His blood is violet due to his awakened ability. And fortunately, the blood transfusion works. We can save him."
The people around sighed. Stones fell off their chest.
"Thank God, "
An elderly man patted his chest.
He held his granddaughter's delicate hand.
"We got scared for nothing."
"Big Sister Livia would never put us in danger,"
The little girl ran at her.
Her smile illuminated the room.
A carefree, innocent smile.
Despite the rotting world, the little girl still smiled.
Livia crouched, hugging the girl.
"Of course," She patted the fir's golden hair. "I would never put my little angel in danger,"
Their little angel.
The only thing giving hope to those survivors.
Cheering their days. Sheltering them from despair. Giving them a reason to keep persevering.
"Later, I'll bring you all to meet him," Livia stood up. "After all, he'll be part of us."
"That's good." Varlo forced a smile. "We should greet him."
Deadly stares landed on him.
Everyone understood him. They understood his heart. And why he had a sudden change of heart.
"What?"
He looked at them, confused.
"I was only concerned for you."
Thick-skinned. Shameless.
Livia shook her head.
In the future, Vincent would accompany him and Livia to search for resources.
The danger will decrease.
...
'The virus triggers a mutation?'
Vincent's mind raced.
'But Marin had an ability before the virus. The ability should awaken when in extreme danger. What is she saying now?'
He looked at the door.
'She is kind.'
His brows furrowed.
'Too kind. I have a bad feeling.'
In this rotting world, how could she still smile? Had she already gotten used to it? Or is she not right in the head?
"Sighhh..."
He let out a long sigh.
"Forget it, she did save me after all,"
He glanced around.
Beep! Beep!
The devices continuously let out sounds.
He lay in bed, his upper body naked.
Electrodes stuck to his chest, transmitting information to the vital signs monitor.
His left arm had been bandaged with new, clean bandages.
The blood transfusion device directly supplied blood into his vein.
The bleeding had stopped.
His condition has stabilized.
Vincent glanced out the window.
The night slowly brightened; soon, a new day will rise.
[Notice]
Vincent's heart sank.
His pupils trembled; his mouth opened, then closed. No words came out.
[The zombie virus successfully spreads]
[5000 beings successfully infected]
[You received: 2 attribute points]
"Impossible,"
He jumped, almost tearing the electordes off.
"How did the number of infected jump so much?! Why didn't I get a notification?"
Anger reignited.
His heart pounded.
A lump rose in his throat.
The anger slowly transformed into guilt.
A rash of emotions.
But ultimately, helplessness remained.
He couldn't stop it. He couldn't undo his sin.
His body collapsed back on the bed.
'It's your fault. Your fault,'
His mind screamed.
He placed his right forearm across his eyes.
Tears streamed down
Scenes haunted his mind. Scenes his imagination made up.
Scenes of innocent people turning into horrendous zombies
The guilt weighed on his chest.
The room fell into silence.
Only the machines worked.
Vincent's mind buzzed.
He lay, oblivious to the passage of time.
Unaware, almost two hours passed.
His heart calmed down.
He accepted reality.
[Notice]
[The zombie virus spreads]
[10,000 beings successfully infected]
[You received: 2 attribute points]
His eyes snapped.
"How?"
His weak voice escaped his lips.
"Why is this happening?"
His body trembled.
"How do I stop this? Somebody... please help me."
Vincent grabbed his throat, drowning in tears.
He couldn't swallow.
As if a mountain blocked his throat. Guilt.
"The infection speed has become so much faster."
He clenched his fist.
"The number doubled in just a few hours,"
He couldn't stand himself. He couldn't stand his existence. His sin.
It made him puke.
Knock! Knock!
A knock tore the air.
Vincent froze.
Despair had invaded his heart.
But he quickly wiped his tears.
"Enter,"
The red around his eyes remained. But he kept a straight face.
The door opened.
"How are you?"
Livia walked in.
She carried bread and a water bottle.
Varlo walked behind her.
And following them, fifteen people walked in.
They stood before his bed.
"You all..."
Vincent's eyes widened.
An inexplicable warmth shrouded his heart.
Family.
He didn't know those people.
But they looked like a family.
A big, warm family.
And they all greeted him with warm smiles.
With kind eyes.
"I...I..."
His voice cracked.
Tears streamed out uncontrollably.
They were all accepting him into their family.
"B-Big sister,"
The little girl tugged Livia's cloak, hiding behind her leg.
"Why is the big brother crying?"
"Auri, come; don't be shy,"
The elderly man's warm smile deepened.
The young man's tears caught them off guard.
But they had all experienced life. They could tell what he felt.
The little girl showed her face, stealing glances at Vincent.
"Huh..."
A smile.
He didn't know how to smile anymore...but somehow, she made him.
The cute little girl made him smile.
'I can still smile?'
He touched his face.
His first smile since the start of the madness.
Livia approached and handed him the water and bread.
"Little angel, come and meet this brother,"
The little girl ran into her arms, burying her face in Livia's chest, shy.
"Little Girl,"
Vincent called gently.
He extended his hand.
"I'm Vincent. What's your name?"
The girl turned her head and looked at him.
She gave her small, delicate hand into his palm.
Vincent held her hand gently.
'So fragile,'
His heart fluttered.
He forgot everything.
Everything disintegrated from his mind.
Hope. He felt hope for the first time.
So they could still live a normal life.
He could still see smiles. Genuine smiles.
"I-I'm Aurielle. But everyone calls me Auri."
Auri introduced herself.
"Then, can I call you Auri?"
"Mmm." She nodded.
"Big brother..." She called.
"What is it?"
His smile refused to go down.
He couldn't remember the last time he felt happy - even before the madness. He never felt this happy. His life was a pile of worries.
"Will you take big sister Livia away?"
She asked worriedly.
"Wha..."
Vincent's expression froze.
And so did Livia's.
"Y-You won't take her away, will you? She cares for you...But we also need her. I...I...I love her too!" Auri shouted.
Livia blushed for a second.
"Hahahaha..."
The room burst into laughter.
Truly, the innocence of a child.
Vincent glanced at Livia.
"Don't worry, I won't take her away,"
He reassured her warmly.
Tap! Tap!
Livia knocked on Auri's head. "I can't believe what you're thinking. I won't be going anywhere,"
Auri just buried her head in her chest.
"Vincent, you should eat. You'll need energy,"
Livia said.
Vincent nodded.
He started eating.
The people in the room introduced themselves.
Their lives since the towers descended; their fear of getting infected, Vincent listened to it all.
'Those people live in fear because of me,'
Vincent's heart weighed.
Now, even more than before.
'Yet they can still smile.'
'Even in times like those, they can still smile. Humans...can be so strong. Can I be as strong as them?'
Secretly, his heart filled with admiration.
"Aghh..."
A man grabbed his throat.
Thud!
He collapsed on his knees.
"What's the matter?"
"Are you alright?"
Everyone rushed at him.
"Aghhhh!"
The man groaned in pain.
Confusion spread like wildfire.,
But the answer became clear.
Thud! Thud!
The man's body twitched. It slammed off the ground.
"H-He is infected!"
A cry tore the air.
Thud!
Thud!
The people collapsed one by one.
Their veins bulged.
Blood splashed from their mouth.
"No...no...no..."
Vincent shook his head, staring blankly. Disbelief.
He realized it.
Once again, he brought forth destruction.