The rescue helicopter closed its hatch at that moment and lifted off with some of the evacuees.

Those left behind erupted in rage. "Noah Black, you're out of your fucking mind! You just cut off our only way out!

"And that jinx over there! Who the hell runs home the night before the evacuation just to get a guitar? Who are you planning to play it for, the Grim Reaper?"

Shouts and curses filled the helipad. The blood drained from Esmeralda's face. "I-I'm sorry. This guitar is my most treasured possession. I had no idea I would delay everyone's evacuation…"

Feeling everyone's hostile stares, she hastily hugged the instrument to her chest and ducked behind Noah.

Even my teammates looked at me with resentment. "You're the one who kept dragging us out of near death, Skyla. We chose you as our captain because we believed in you. How could you… lose your head this time?"

I gave them an apologetic look and patted their shoulders. "It's my fault. I shouldn't have let my feelings cloud my judgment. But it's no use arguing about it now.

"Let's stay calm. I know a shelter close by where we can take cover for now."

Holding Esmeralda by the arm, Noah scoffed. "What a bunch of scaredy-cats! We've still got Skyla, don't we? She's already led us safely through three waves of the undead.

"So what if we missed this flight? We'll just catch the next one."

His words fanned the others' anger, yet the looming threat kept them from wasting breath on him.

…

Half an hour later, we finally reached the temporary shelter.

The heavy blast doors slid shut, cutting off the zombies' roars outside.

"At last… We're safe!" Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and collapsed to the ground, exhausted.

Just then, a teammate gasped, "Oh no... I just received word that that was the last helicopter for the day. The military… is abandoning this entire zone!"

"Are you saying the military has ended the evacuation and we're stuck in this hellhole for good?" Everyone's faces went pale, and their voices quivered.

Noah, on the other hand, shrugged. "Relax. There's enough food here to last three months. Even if the military bails on us, we can still move out on our own later."

I powered on the encrypted military comms and keyed in the password with ease. "Everyone, stay calm. I've already contacted high command. They'll dispatch a special unit to pick us up in three days. Until then, rest up."

As soon as my words sank in, relief washed over the group.

Noah lit up with joy, clasping Esmeralda's hand. "Hear that, Esme? We'll be rescued in three days!"

As the two rejoiced, the rest of the team's expressions hardened.

"Skyla," the deputy whispered, pulling me aside. "Did you secure enough seats? Counting those two, there are eight of us."

I nodded lightly. "Right, but I only applied for seven spots."

He looked puzzled when he heard that. Then, realization dawned on him, and he asked quietly, "Doesn't that mean one of us won't be able to get on the helicopter?"

I glanced at Noah, who was feeding Esmeralda water, and a cold smile tugged at my lips. "Don't worry, your spots are guaranteed. As for the extra… We'll see who she chooses when the time comes."

The deputy and I exchanged a knowing look, while Noah, who was oblivious, gently wiped the sweat from Esmeralda's forehead. "Don't worry, Esme. I'll make sure you reach the safe zone unharmed."

As I watched him fuss over her, a quiet anticipation stirred in me. What would he do when the next rescue arrived? Would he keep his promise to Esmeralda, or would the fight to survive lay bare the darkest side of his nature?

The promise of rescue and the stockpile of supplies quickly dulled everyone's fear.

In the days that followed, Noah completely relaxed and indulged himself with Esmeralda—washing clothes with purified water, popping the emergency antibiotics like daily vitamins, and even stripping batteries from devices to power their music player.

On the third evening, barely half an hour before the rescue team arrived, Noah burst through the door, interrupting my meeting with the others. "Skyla, quick, give me the serum!" he demanded.

I frowned and looked up. "What do you need the serum for? Did someone get infected?"

Yet, Noah's response made everyone's jaw drop. "No, but Esme's running a high fever! I've given her fever medication, but it isn't doing a thing. Enough chatter—give me the serum so I can give her the injection right now!"

I slowly rose from my feet and inquired coldly, "Do you understand what you're asking for? This serum is the result of three years of research! It can halt the zombie virus within five minutes of infection.

"It's still experimental, but it's humanity's last hope… and I only have one dose left!"

"I know that!" he snapped. "But that serum kills all viruses, doesn't it? Esmeralda's in pain. Quit stalling and give it to me already!"

The conference room went dead silent.

The deputy leader couldn't take it anymore. He slammed the table and spat out, "Are you out of your mind, Noah? She just has a fever! You'd waste humanity's last hope for that?"

"How is it a waste?" Noah seethed. "Esme's always been frail! What if her condition worsens? Besides, isn't the serum meant to save lives?"

When I didn't budge, his gaze hardened. He abruptly raised his gun and aimed at my forehead. "Hand it over. Don't make me shoot you!"

"Have you lost your shit, Noah? How could you—" One of my teammates was just about to intervene, yet Noah's gun went off, narrowly missing him.

Gazing at the man I had once loved, the sheer absurdity of it all hit me hard. In my previous life, I had brushed shoulders with death countless times to protect him. Yet now, he was ready to kill me for Esmeralda.

Reluctantly, my teammates surrendered the last vial and watched helplessly as Noah injected it into Esmeralda. Within minutes, her fever broke.

Noticing the color return to Esmeralda's face, I laughed bitterly inside. She pretended to be weak as she pushed herself up, eyes glistening as she looked at everyone. "I'm sorry… It's all my fault! I used such a precious serum. I'm so useless, always dragging everyone down…"

One by one, my teammates looked away, unwilling to watch her performance.

"Don't say that, Esme. Nothing matters more than your life!" Holding her hand, Noah had tears in his eyes.

Esmeralda gazed at him affectionately. "You're so good to me, Noah… I promise I'll protect you with my life for as long as I live!"

The way the two of them clung to each other made my stomach turn.

In my previous life, I had risked my life for Noah more times than I can count, only to hear him brush it off with, "Isn't that what you were supposed to do?"

Yet, Esmeralda's empty promise had moved him to tears. How pathetic.

…

Before long, the heavy thrum of helicopter blades filled the air outside the shelter. Realizing the rescue team had arrived, we quickly packed our gear and went out.

Noah tugged Esmeralda toward the aircraft, brimming with excitement, but a soldier stepped in front of them. "Hold on. We need to confirm your identities."

As the rest of the team filed onto the chopper, the smile on Noah's face ebbed away.

"Noah, Esmeralda…" The soldier scanned the list, his brows knitting. "I'm sorry, but your names aren't on it."