After hiding out in the office for two days, Kael Voss and Scout Finch finally regained their strength, returning to peak condition.
Of course, they hadn't spent those two days idle. First, Kael had insisted Scout stay behind while he made a solo trip to Monkey Hill. She was still recovering from her injuries, and besides, going alone meant he could retreat more easily if things went sideways.
Compared to the aquarium, Monkey Hill had long since lost its former vitality under the weight of the apocalypse. What remained was a brooding desolation.
There, following Lyra Solis's tip, Kael located the ring she had mentioned, confirming her suspicions were indeed accurate.
Meanwhile, Lyra had returned to the capital and used the continuous lightning storms to her advantage, transmitting more supplies, along with a stock of crossbow bolts and steel pellets, to Kael via her satellite phone.
It helped that the storms had barely let up the past few days—almost as if the heavens themselves wept for the tragic fate of humankind.
That morning, with her wounds mostly healed, Scout could no longer resist her restless nature. She insisted on getting some fresh air. Kael eventually gave in. After breakfast, the two loaded up on crossbow bolts and steel shot, grabbed their high-beam flashlights, and stepped out of the office into the hallway.
The typhoon had passed. The sky above the dome stretched out in a clear, brilliant blue. Occasionally, birds darted across the sky. Through the transparent corridor glass, the view of the deeper areas of the aquarium remained as murky and ominous as ever.
Peering out over the murky waters, Scout frowned at the floating corpses of zombies. "Those crocodiles killed the infected," she murmured. "Why didn't they eat them?"
Kael stroked his chin, thoughtful. "Maybe the rotten flesh is just too disgusting, even for them."
Scout nodded. That explanation made sense. But then her brow furrowed in concern. "Kael… if the crocs and the python aren't eating the zombies, what are they eating?"
Kael moved to a nearby glass wall and shone his flashlight down toward the lower level. The answer quickly revealed itself—floating among the infected corpses were mangled remains of sharks and other sea creatures.
"Well, that answers that," Kael muttered. "They've been feasting on dead marine life."
"They're picky bastards," he added with a scoff.
Suddenly, Scout shivered and shot Kael a worried glance. "What if they run out of fish? What if they come after us next?"
Kael chuckled and raised his crossbow. "You know why I didn't bring you to Monkey Hill? Because back then, we only had enough gear for me. But now? We're fully armed. Even if they come out of the water—we're ready. There's nothing to be afraid of anymore."
Scout visibly perked up at that. She spotted a crocodile sprawled on a large rock below, half-hidden behind a broken pane of glass. "In that case, I'm taking that one out first."
She raised her crossbow, but Kael gently pushed it down, grinning. "Not so fast."
"Why not?"
She turned to him, puzzled.
Kael pointed toward the floating carcasses. "Let them be our janitors for now. Think about it—how many rotting fish do you think are down there in a place this size? If we kill those crocs now, the stench alone will murder us."
Scout wrinkled her nose at the thought. She backed off.
Most of the crocodiles and the giant python had taken up residence in the aquarium's pools and tanks. So far, they hadn't caused any trouble for Kael and Scout, who were safely stationed in the office zone on the second floor.
Kael figured they'd be stuck here another couple of days anyway—no point in picking a fight with apex predators. His last water encounter had taught him a hard lesson: even with Lyra resupplying their gear, wasting resources recklessly was a luxury they couldn't afford.
Run out of supplies during a crisis, and it wouldn't just be inconvenient—it could be deadly.
…
"Kael," Scout began hesitantly.
Kael looked at her, confused. She wasn't the type to hold back.
"What's wrong?" he asked, ruffling her hair. "You usually blurt out whatever's on your mind. When did you get shy?"
She hesitated, then met his gaze. "Kael… I'm healed now. I want to go to the Henglong Tower. I want to find my mum."
Kael sighed and looked at her, voice gentle but firm. "Scout… I know you don't want to hear this, but she won't be there."
Scout didn't respond. Her lips pressed into a thin line, and she looked away. She didn't want to believe it—couldn't.
Kael shook his head and tried to reason with her. "Look at the streets. The rain from the last few days has left floodwaters waist-high. Give it two more days. Once the water recedes, we'll go together. Alright?"
Outside, most of the infected had dispersed across the adjacent wildlife reserve. Kael calculated that within forty-eight hours, the flood would drain enough for them to travel safely.
They explored for a while longer before returning to the office. Kael switched on the camp lantern Lyra had sent them, illuminating the entire room. Thanks to the office's reinforced security door, the place was sealed tight, and they didn't have to worry about the light leaking out.
Unfortunately, the lantern ran on lithium batteries—not something they could afford to waste. Power had been out across most of the region since the apocalypse began half a year ago.
Lyra could have sent a generator, sure—but this was a temporary shelter. No need to complicate things.
Kael looked at the supplies stacked on the table, then turned to Scout with a grin. "How about hotpot for dinner tonight?"
Lyra had gone to great lengths to prepare this resupply. There was everything from fresh vegetables and bean sprouts to various meats, sausages, and tinned lunch meats.
If they'd had more storage space, Lyra would've probably cleared out an entire supermarket and transmitted the contents to them.
Scout merely nodded. "Mm." She seemed distracted.
Kael didn't push. He knew her thoughts were still with her mother. There was no easy comfort to offer—not in this world. Time was the only cure for some wounds.
After dinner, with nothing better to do, they passed the time playing cards Lyra had sent over. It was well past midnight before they finally stopped.
The next day, Kael awoke from a deep sleep and glanced at his wrist. The luminous watch—one Lyra had specially picked for him—was waterproof and packed with features. Supposedly a world-famous brand.
When he saw the time, he blinked in disbelief. It was already 2 p.m.
"Scout?"
Kael stretched, yawning, and called out into the darkness, "You up yet?"
Silence.
He called again, louder. Still nothing.
He grumbled under his breath. "Girl sleeps like a damn corpse…"
Fumbling in the dark, Kael flipped the switch on the camp lantern. Light flooded the room.
He froze.
The sofa in the corner was empty.
Only a single sheet of white stationery sat on the cushion.
A chill ran through him.
"This is bad," he muttered.
He grabbed the note. Just a few words, scribbled in hasty handwriting:
"Kael, I've gone to Henglong Tower to find my mum. Don't worry, I'll be back in three days—promise."
His jaw clenched. Crumpling the note in one fist, he hurled it to the ground and cursed. "Damn fool girl. Just because you've killed a few zombies, you think you're invincible? This isn't a game—this is the bloody apocalypse!"