Bells felt a hot surge of protective rage—a primal, almost feral instinct that demanded she keep him alive no matter what.
Her gaze darted to the crumbling buildings around them, calculating every potential obstacle, every path forward.
The ruined city had become a labyrinth of danger.
Collapsed overpasses, splintered beams, piles of rubble, and jagged metal all threatened to ensnare her, slow her down, or worse.
The child's laughter echoed off the broken walls—a high, playful sound twisted with malice that sent shivers down Bella's spine.
Every echo reminded her that the zombie girl was still there, still pursuing them, still moving impossibly fast.
Bella's lungs burned as she ran, her heartbeat hammering in her ears, yet she pushed onward.
Every step was a balancing act between speed and caution, every motion a delicate negotiation with the terrain.
