Beyond the Barricades

"Love! LOVE!" she shouted, her voice trembling with panic as she called for Victor, her eyes never leaving the alley below.

Victor came rushing to her side, his boots thudding heavily against the wooden floor. "W-WHAT HAPPENED?!" he demanded, his voice tight with concern. His hands immediately went to her shoulders, turning her this way and that, checking for injuries.

"Love! Someone's out there!" Azumi exclaimed, pointing toward the alley. But when Victor followed her gesture, there was no one. The woman was gone.

"Who?! Where?!" His tone was sharp, eyes scanning the empty street.

"S-She was there earlier!" Azumi protested, desperation creeping into her voice. "She had a banner! She said 'They’re coming, leave as soon as possible.' She was warning us!"

Victor’s eyes narrowed as he processed her words. "Coming who?!" he asked, his voice low, but the tension in it was unmistakable.

Before Azumi could answer, Hiroshi and Adelina burst out onto the balcony, alarmed by the commotion.

"What’s going on?" Hiroshi asked, his hand already resting on the rusty machete tucked in his belt.

"There was a woman out there," Azumi explained hurriedly, her voice rising with anxiety. "She said we need to leave! She said something—someone—is coming!"

Victor pulled her into his arms, holding her close to steady her trembling frame. "Love, calm down," he said gently but firmly. "We don’t know who that was. For all we know, she could be trying to scare us off so she can take this place for herself. We can't trust anyone out there."

"But what if she’s not?" Azumi interrupted, her voice cutting through his reasoning like a blade. "She even knows we're here—that there are still people living up here."

Azumi couldn’t even formulate the words to respond, not without betraying the secret she and Adelina had been keeping from Victor and Hiroshi. Her thoughts raced, tangling into a mess of fear and guilt.

How could she explain without revealing too much? They had just spoken about this—about the possibility that someone might be orchestrating everything: the collapse of cities, the hordes of zombies, the isolating chaos.

Victor couldn't dismiss the warning entirely, not in a world as cruel and unforgiving as theirs. But leaving without preparation was its own death sentence.

Victor glanced at Hiroshi and Adelina. Neither of them were fighters, and Azumi... she wasn’t built for survival out there, not like he was. If they abandoned their haven now, they would be vulnerable to whatever dangers lurked beyond the barricades.

He swallowed hard, his throat dry. "L-Love, I—I can’t protect you out there. Not yet," he admitted, his voice cracking with frustration.

Azumi looked up at him, her eyes shimmering with the same fear he felt but wouldn’t voice. She knew he was right. The risks were immense, but the alternative was equally grim. If the woman’s warning was genuine, staying might mean death for them all.

Victor’s fists clenched. He knew she was right. The odds were stacked against them either way, but he couldn’t bear the thought of losing her—or any of them. His mind churned, calculating their next move.

Finally, he exhaled, his voice steady despite the fear clawing at his chest. "Then we don’t leave blind. We prepare. Hiroshi and I will scout the area first and then we'll leave. You and Adelina pack the weapons and food—"

Victor halted mid-step, his gaze sharpening as he turned to Adelina. "Wait, are you sure your wounds don’t hurt anymore? This journey will push us hard. If we can’t keep up... we won’t make it."

Adelina’s lips curved into a reassuring smile. "Don’t worry about me," she said, her tone light but steady. "Azumi did a great job stitching me up, and the painkillers are working wonders. I’ll manage."

Satisfied, Victor gave her a curt nod before facing Azumi. "I’ve cleaned most of the daggers. Take your pick—whichever feels right in your hands."

Azumi smiled softly, reaching up to tap the hand still resting protectively on her shoulder. "Thank you for trusting me, love."

Victor’s expression softened, and without a word, he pulled her into a firm embrace, holding her close for a fleeting moment. Then, with a determined glance at Hiroshi, he turned and disappeared outside, leaving the women to their preparations.

As Azumi and Adelina packed, the air between them buzzed with unspoken tension. Adelina’s hands moved deftly, gathering the instant food Hiroshi had scavenged. "Did you get a good look at her face?" she asked suddenly, breaking the silence.

Azumi hesitated, carefully sliding the daggers into one of Victor’s worn hunting bags. "Not clearly," she admitted. "It was dark, and everything happened so fast. But if I see her again, I’ll know."

Adelina paused, her expression thoughtful. "Maybe," she murmured, her voice lowering. "Maybe she can lead us to the laboratory or better yet—" she gasped in realization. "What if she's one of us?"

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