"Last count was thirty seven infected. All during night hours. All completely vanished except for the blood evidence,"
"What about security cameras evidence?"
"We can't even see this maniac on camera, either it goes blurry when his face was facing the camera or either the camera is completely destroyed," she inhaled deeply. "When I saw you alone on the floor last night, alot went through my head."
Thirty seven people...I might have killed thirty seven people and not remembered any of it.
"You think I'm this Midnight Predator?" he asked. It wasn't a question.
"I don't know what to think." Natami's hand tightened on her blade. "The timing matches. Your blackouts, the Predator's activity. You just killed an infected man with your bare hands, bare claws, in the middle of the day. If you can do that now, what could you do at night when you have no memory of it at all?"
"If I'm killing infected people, isn't that a good thing?" He heard the desperation in his own voice. "They were going to turn anyway, right? They were going to become those things. I was just... accelerating the inevitable."
"Not when you're doing it without orders. Not when you're doing it in front of their families. Not when there might be a cure." She stepped closer, and he could see tears forming in her eyes. "The Shadow Cranes aren't executioners, Zenjiro. We're protectors. We contain threats. We save people when we can. We don't murder them in alleys while their children watch."
"Nah. I ran along with the crowd cowardly and failed to use the earpiece properly."
"You're out of control, Zenjiro. And out of control operatives get put down. That's protocol."
"Then what do I do?"
"I don't know." She looked away. "I want to help you. But I'm also scared of you. And I don't know which feeling is stronger right now."
They stood there in silence.
He had become a monster. And the person who might have helped him was now too terrified to get close.
"We should keep moving," Natami said finally. "Put more distance between us and that scene. Then we figure out what to do next."
"Where do we go?"
"I don't know. Somewhere we can think. Somewhere you can't hurt anyone if you lose control again."
She started walking. Keeping her distance from him. Her hand never left her blade.
He followed behind her. His bloodstained hands still shaking. His mind still reeling from the blackout.
He had almost killed Natami.
And he had no guarantee it would not happen again.
"We should head back to the community center," Natami said finally. "Make sure the civilians got evacuated properly. Then we figure out our next move."
He nodded. He did not trust his voice.
They made their way back through the alleys. Avoiding the main streets where operatives were still sweeping the area. The blood on his hands had dried completely now. Flaking off in dark pieces.
As they approached the community center, he could see the medical bus parked outside. Its lights flashed. Shadow Crane operatives were helping people board. Checking them for injuries. Offering water and blankets.
"Zenjiro!"
He turned just in time to see Miraza running toward him. Before he could react, she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him.
For a second, the world stopped. Her lips were warm and soft and tasted like salt from dried tears. His mind went completely blank. Overwhelmed by the sensation. By the fact that Miraza Nakamura was actually kissing him.
Then she pulled back and slapped him across the face.
"Ow! What was that for?"
"How dare you!" Her eyes were blazing with anger. "How dare you leave without me! I thought you were dead! I thought one of those things got you and I'd never see you again and you just left without saying anything!"
"I had to. It was dangerous and I couldn't risk you getting hurt."
"So you'd rather I sit here not knowing if you were alive or dead?" She hit his chest with both fists. Not hard enough to hurt. Just enough to make her point. "Do you have any idea what that was like? Waiting and wondering and imagining the worst?"
"I'm sorry. I just wanted to keep you safe."
"Well, I'm not some helpless damsel who needs protecting." She was still hitting his chest. Her voice was breaking. "I was terrified, you idiot. Absolutely terrified."
"I know. I'm sorry."
She stopped hitting him and just rested her forehead against his chest. Her shoulders were shaking. He wrapped his arms around her. Ignoring the blood still staining his hands.
"Don't do that again," she whispered.
"I won't. I promise."
He looked up and saw Natami standing a few feet away. Watching them. Her eyes were narrowed. Her expression unreadable.
"I didn't know you had a girlfriend," she muttered. She looked away.
"She's not my girlfriend," Zenjiro said quickly. Maybe too quickly.
But Miraza chose that exact moment to press closer. Her arm linked through his. Her breast rested against his arm in a way that made his brain short circuit.
Natami's jaw tightened. She looked at him. Then at Miraza. Then back at him.
"We should get moving," she said. Her voice was completely flat. "The operatives will finish the evacuation here. We need to figure out what to do about your situation before dark."
"Natami, wait."
But she had already turned and started walking away.
He had no idea if she was angry or not. Her face had given nothing away. But something about the way she had said your situation felt cold.
"Who was that?" Miraza asked. She looked after Natami.
"Just another Shadow Crane operative. She's been helping me."
"Helping you with what?"
He looked down at his bloodstained hands. At the evidence of what he had become. He realized he had no idea how to explain any of this to Miraza.
"It's complicated," he said finally.
Miraza followed his gaze to his hands. Her eyes widened. "Zenjiro, is that blood? Are you hurt?"
"No. I'm not hurt."
"Then whose blood is that?"
He could not answer that question.
"We should catch up with Natami," he said. Avoiding the question. "She knows where we can go to be safe."
Miraza looked like she wanted to press the issue. But something in his expression must have warned her not to. She just nodded and followed as he started after Natami.