Kael followed the sound carefully.
Not running.Not hiding.
Just moving.
The scream had come from the left street, sharp and short. It had cut off too fast to be normal. That meant trouble.
His legs felt weak. Not pain—doubt. Every step felt like the wrong one.
You shouldn't be here, his head whispered.You're tired. You're broken.
Kael clenched his jaw and kept going.
The street opened up.
A single lantern burned near a closed shop. Its light shook in the wind.
Three figures stood under it.
Not guards.
They were tall. Thin. Their arms looked a little too long, like they'd been stretched. Skin pale and tight, pulled over sharp faces. Eyes yellow and bright, reflecting the lantern light like animals.
One of them crouched over a man on the ground.
The man was alive. Barely. His chest rose in shallow jerks. Blood pooled under his side.
"Hey," Kael said.
All three heads turned at once.
Too fast.
The one in the middle smiled. Its mouth opened wider than it should.
"Well look at that," it said. Its voice was rough, like it didn't use it often. "Another walker."
The one on the right sniffed the air.
"Not just a walker," it said. "He smells signed."
Kael stopped just outside the light.
"Step away from him," Kael said.
His voice didn't shake.His hands did.
The creature on the left laughed.
"You hear that?" it said. "He thinks he's in charge."
The middle one stood up fully.
Up close, Kael saw it clearly now.
Too many teeth.Fingers bent slightly backward.Its feet never stayed still, rocking like it was excited.
"What are you?" Kael asked.
The thing tilted its head.
"Collectors," it said. "Of scraps."
The man on the ground groaned.
Kael felt it then.
That pull again.
Not confidence.Not courage.
Responsibility.
"Leave," Kael said. "Now."
The creature took one step forward.
"Make us."
Kael's vision flickered.
⟪SIGN-IN WINDOW OPEN⟫⟪CONDITION: OUTNUMBERED⟫
"No," Kael muttered. "Not yet."
The middle creature rushed him.
Fast. Too fast.
Kael moved late.
Its shoulder slammed into his chest and knocked him back. He crashed into the wall, breath exploding out of him. Pain flared across his ribs.
"You're slow," the creature said, grinning.
The one on the right lunged next.
Kael ducked without thinking.
⟪PASSIVE TRIGGER⟫Duck Wrong, Live Anyway⟪COST: NECK — STIFF⟫
The strike passed over his head, missing by inches. Kael felt his neck twist painfully, but he stayed upright.
He slammed his elbow backward.
It hit bone.
The creature hissed and jumped away.
The third one grabbed Kael from behind.
Cold hands locked around his arms. Too strong. Fingers digging in.
"Got him," it said happily.
Kael struggled.
His arms felt weak. His head screamed you can't win.
The man on the ground coughed.
Kael looked at him.
The man's eyes were open now. Wide. Afraid.
"Please," the man whispered.
Something snapped tight inside Kael.
Not confidence.
Choice.
Kael leaned back hard.
His head smashed into the creature's face. There was a wet crack. The grip loosened.
Kael tore free and staggered forward.
The middle creature charged again.
Kael braced.
Too late.
The hit landed in his stomach. He folded, dropping to one knee, choking for air.
The world tilted.
⟪EMERGENCY SKILL⟫Stand Anyway⟪EFFECT: BODY MOVES DESPITE DOUBT⟫⟪COST: CONFIDENCE — PERMANENT CHIP⟫
Kael stood.
His legs shook. His head screamed wrong move.
He stood anyway.
The middle creature hesitated.
Just a blink.
That was enough.
Kael swung.
Bad angle. Bad timing.
It worked.
His fist smashed into the creature's jaw. Teeth flew. It hit the ground hard and didn't get back up.
The other two froze.
They stared at Kael like he was broken in a way they didn't like.
"He's burning himself," one of them said.
"Not worth it," the other replied.
They grabbed the injured one and dragged it into the dark.
Fast.
Silent.
Gone.
The lantern flickered.
Kael stood there, breathing hard.
⟪ENTRY COMPLETE⟫⟪TOTAL ENTRIES: 5⟫⟪BALANCE: FRACTURED⟫
"Fractured," Kael said. "Yeah. Feels right."
His legs gave out.
He dropped beside the wounded man.
The man's breathing was shallow. Weak.
"You saved me," the man whispered.
Kael didn't answer right away.
He waited for the feeling.
It came late.
Thin. Cracked. But real.
"…yeah," Kael said. "I did."
The man smiled and passed out.
Kael leaned back against the wall.
His chest felt heavy.
Not empty.Not numb.
Damaged.
Like something important had been bent and never set straight.
"That's how you do it," Kael said quietly. "You don't take it all. You just keep shaving."
The words flickered faintly.
⟪NOTE CONFIRMED⟫
Kael closed his eyes for half a breath.
When he opened them—
Someone stood across the street.
Human. Clean clothes. Calm posture.
Watching.
Kael pushed himself up.
"Let me guess," he said tiredly. "Log business."
The person smiled.
"All business," they said. "And you're getting expensive."
The night stayed tight around them.
No reset.No rest.
Kael rolled his shoulders and faced them anyway.