Chapter 3: "You… you saved me. Again."

The early light barely seeped through the thick clouds as Nate and Bella moved on, picking their way through the desolate streets. They had left the office building behind, heading north through the city’s maze of abandoned structures, ever aware of their surroundings. The chill of the morning air bit at their skin, and the silence felt unsettling, as if the world itself was holding its breath.

Their destination lay far off, but every step brought them closer — or so Nate hoped. Bella stayed close, her limp more pronounced today, but she kept pace, refusing to show any sign of weakness. He could sense the effort it took her to move through the rubble-strewn streets without a word of complaint.

“Hang in there,” Nate muttered as they turned a corner. The words were gruff, but in them lay a subtle encouragement. Bella gave a faint nod, her expression set with quiet determination.

They were in an area where buildings leaned together in strange, unnatural angles, as though they’d nearly collapsed but had somehow stayed upright. The ruins here formed a maze of sorts, with walls leaning over narrow alleyways and broken signs that cast long shadows on the ground. It would be easy to get lost if they weren’t careful, but the twisted paths also provided cover, helping them avoid being spotted by any Pale Ones that might be nearby.

As they made their way through, Bella broke the silence, her voice low. “What’s it like? The safe zones, I mean.”

Nate glanced at her, surprised. “Depends on the zone. Some are better fortified. Others… well, not so much. If we’re lucky, the one up north might have proper walls and guards.”

Bella nodded, digesting the information. “It sounds almost… normal,” she said, though her tone carried a mix of skepticism and hope.

Nate’s jaw tightened slightly. “Normal isn’t a word I’d use,” he replied. “But it’s better than out here.”

The silence was abruptly shattered by a loud crash somewhere ahead of them, followed by the unmistakable sound of shuffling footsteps. Nate’s hand shot out, pulling Bella against the side of a wall, out of sight. They pressed themselves into the shadows, their breaths barely audible, as the noise grew louder.

Around the corner came a small group of Pale Ones, stumbling over broken pavement, their hollow eyes scanning aimlessly. Nate’s heart hammered in his chest as he watched them, counting five in total. Too many to fight off with just his knife and their limited strength.

Bella’s grip on his arm tightened as they watched the creatures shuffle past, her breathing quick but controlled. Nate risked a glance, ensuring none had picked up on their presence. They held their position until the group of Pale Ones rounded a corner and vanished from sight, their groans fading into the distance.

“They’re heading the way we were going,” Bella whispered, her voice barely more than a breath.

Nate exhaled slowly. “We’ll find another route.”

They doubled back, cutting through a narrow alleyway that took them in the opposite direction before veering off to the north again. Nate couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. There had been more Pale Ones in the city lately — too many for comfort.

“Why are they all gathering here?” Bella asked, as though reading his mind.

“Hard to say,” Nate replied. “Maybe they’re sensing something. Hunger, maybe.” He looked at her, brow furrowed. “Whatever it is, we need to stay out of sight.”

After an hour of cautious progress, they came across a crumbling hotel, its walls plastered with peeling wallpaper and broken furniture scattered across the lobby. Nate scanned the area, his eyes taking in every shadow, every nook where a threat might be lurking. Satisfied that they were alone, he motioned for Bella to follow him inside.

They moved through the lobby, past overturned chairs and broken picture frames, until they found a stairwell that seemed stable enough to climb. Nate took the lead, stepping carefully as the stairs creaked underfoot, hoping they wouldn’t collapse. Bella followed closely, her hand lightly grazing the wall to steady herself.

On the second floor, they found a room with a heavy door still intact. Nate forced it open, and they stepped into a small but secure space, its single window overlooking the desolate street below.

“We’ll rest here for a while,” Nate said, setting his pack down and sitting against the wall. Bella sank to the floor across from him, massaging her injured leg with a grimace.

As they sat in silence, Nate caught himself watching her. She seemed exhausted, her face pale, but there was a fire in her eyes that hadn’t dimmed, even with everything they’d been through. It was strange, he thought, how quickly they’d fallen into this silent partnership. He barely knew her, yet he’d already risked his life for her — and she had followed him, trusting him more than anyone else in this broken world.

Bella looked up, catching his gaze. “What?” she asked, a hint of suspicion in her voice.

“Nothing,” he muttered, looking away. “Just thinking.”

She didn’t press him further, but he could tell she was curious. Instead of asking, she changed the subject. “How long have you been out here, alone?”

Nate hesitated, then shrugged. “Since the Collapse. Lost track of the years, honestly.”

Bella nodded, her expression unreadable. “Must’ve been hard.”

He gave a short, humorless laugh. “Everyone’s had it hard.”

She fell silent, but he saw the flicker of something in her eyes — empathy, perhaps, or a sense of shared understanding. Whatever it was, it didn’t need words.

Just as they were about to settle in, a noise from the hall caught their attention. It was faint, like someone dragging something across the floor. Nate held up a hand, signaling Bella to stay quiet, and crept toward the door. He peered through the crack, his heart racing.

A man stood in the hallway, his back to them. He looked disheveled, his clothes torn and his skin bruised, but he wasn’t a Pale One. At least, not yet. The man stumbled as he walked, one hand clutching his side. Nate took a cautious step back, unsure whether he should engage or let the stranger move on.

Bella joined him at the door, her brow furrowing. “Should we help him?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Nate shook his head. “We don’t know what’s wrong with him. He could be infected, or worse.”

But before he could stop her, Bella stepped into the hallway, her hand raised in a cautious greeting. “Hey… are you alright?”

The man turned, his face pale and drawn, and for a moment, his gaze locked onto Bella’s with a mix of relief and desperation. He took a staggering step forward, but as he did, a guttural groan escaped his lips. His eyes began to dull, a faint gray spreading across his skin.

Nate’s heart sank. “Bella… get back.”

The man’s expression contorted, the last trace of humanity fading from his eyes as he lunged toward her, arms outstretched. Nate reacted instantly, grabbing Bella’s arm and pulling her back into the room. He kicked the door shut, bracing it with his shoulder as the man — now a newly turned Pale One — banged against it, his groans filling the empty hall.

“Move!” Nate growled, forcing Bella toward the window. They had no choice but to climb down and hope they could escape before the Pale One broke through.

With a quick glance out the window, Nate estimated they could make it down if they used the exposed pipes on the side of the building. He pulled himself out first, gripping the pipe tightly as he descended, motioning for Bella to follow.

She hesitated for only a second before following him, her hands clutching the pipe with white-knuckled determination. They climbed down quickly, each heartbeat a countdown as the groans from above grew louder. Just as they reached the ground, the door above splintered, the Pale One’s face appearing at the broken frame, its eyes empty and ravenous.

They didn’t wait to see if it would follow. Nate grabbed Bella’s hand, and they ran, the hotel fading behind them as they moved through the streets. His pulse pounded in his ears, the weight of every moment pressing down on him.

They stopped in an alley a few blocks away, catching their breath. Bella’s eyes were wide, her chest heaving as she looked at him. “You… you saved me. Again.”

Nate met her gaze, trying to keep his expression neutral. “Didn’t have much of a choice,” he muttered, but the weight of his words hung between them. He could’ve let her go, let her handle herself, but he hadn’t. And he knew why.

Bella’s expression softened, and for a brief moment, the tension between them shifted, replaced by a quiet understanding. “Thanks, Nate,” she said, her voice steady but laced with sincerity. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

He looked away, uncomfortable with the gratitude in her eyes. “Don’t thank me yet,” he replied, his tone gruff. “We’re not safe until we reach the safe zone.”

She nodded, but something had changed between them. They both felt it — a new layer of trust, or perhaps something even deeper.