The morning sun crept through the narrow window in Zara’s cell, casting slanted beams of light across the floor. She blinked against the brightness, rubbing sleep from her eyes. Sitting up, Zara stretched, her muscles a bit sore but grateful for the real bed under her, a luxury she hadn’t known in so long that she barely remembered what it felt like. Her hand brushed through her hair, catching in tangles as she remembered how bad it had been yesterday. With a sigh, she made a mental note to ask for some basic hygiene supplies—she was running low on toothpaste, deodorant, everything, really.
Sliding the sheet over her cell door, she waited, knowing Kai would be by soon to let her out. She didn’t wait long. Moments later, his silhouette appeared through the small window, and he opened the door with a smile, his face flushed as if he’d rushed to get there.
“Morning, Zara,” he greeted, his voice light and warm.
“Good morning,” she replied, noting the excitement sparking in his eyes. “So, what’s the plan for today?”
Kai chuckled. “Since you’re supposed to be taking it easy, I thought you could just shadow me, see what all needs to be done around here. A low-key day, if you’re up for it.”
A hint of relief relaxed her shoulders. “Does that mean I’m allowed to stay?” She couldn’t hide the glimmer of hope in her voice.
Kai’s brows knitted together, genuinely puzzled. “Why wouldn’t you be allowed to stay?”
Zara shrugged, casting her gaze down. “I know how much you and… others want to protect the compound. I thought maybe I’d be too much of a risk for you all.”
Kai smiled, a flicker of admiration in his eyes. “You’ve already eased my mind about the samples. They’re safe—locked up for peace of mind.” Zara felt a surge of warmth and gratitude, and her smile grew so bright that Kai’s cheeks flushed a deeper pink.
She felt her own cheeks warm at the look he gave her. Here, standing before her, was someone her age, someone who carried responsibilities as vast as her lost memories. Kai was just twenty, and Zara could see the weight of protecting his sister and the compound in his eyes. She caught him staring, and when she tilted her head, he quickly looked away, clearing his throat.
She gave him a quizzical look. “Kai? Did you hear my question?”
His gaze snapped back to her, and he blinked, embarrassed. “Sorry, what was that?”
She laughed softly, a genuine sound that seemed to catch him off guard. “I asked how all of this started—the virus, the creatures, everything.”
A shadow passed over his face. “I’ll explain over breakfast,” he said with a nod, and she followed him down the hall.
As they walked, they traded questions about their lives before everything changed. Kai asked about her family, her friends, if she remembered anyone at all. She told him about the few glimpses she had of Elen, the only person from her past she could recall with any clarity. Elen had been… close, maybe family, or something even more, but she didn’t remember enough to be certain.
When they arrived at the cafeteria, the room fell silent. Eyes tracked Zara, the curious glances from yesterday replaced by wary, almost hostile looks. She felt her stomach twist uncomfortably, and she instinctively moved closer to Kai. Sensing her unease, he raised an eyebrow at the room, looking for answers.
“What’s up with everyone?” he asked, attempting a lighthearted tone.
For a moment, there was silence, then Amelia stepped forward from a corner of the room, her face set in a disapproving frown. “I told everyone what Zara brought with her. The bag—the samples. No one wants it here.”
A murmur of agreement rippled through the crowd, and others began voicing their own concerns. Some raised their voices, shouting about safety and distrust. Zara felt a pang of hurt, her hopes of acceptance quickly dimming.
Kai’s expression hardened. “Really, Amelia?” He looked between his sister and the gathered crowd, disappointment written clearly on his face. Turning back to Zara, he murmured an apology, then addressed the compound.
“I’m disappointed that none of you came to me first,” he said, his voice steady but firm. “Zara is a guest here, and we owe her respect.”
One voice rang out above the others, “She’s just a stranger—a stranger with no memory and dangerous plants. Why should we trust her?”
Kai squared his shoulders, meeting the gaze of the crowd. “Because it’s one of our core rules—everyone deserves respect. Zara willingly offered to lock her samples away with me for your peace of mind, something I didn’t even ask her to do.” His gaze settled on Amelia, who shifted uncomfortably under his stare. “She put our safety above her own.”
Amelia’s cheeks reddened, caught off guard, and the crowd’s agitation wavered, a few even glancing at each other sheepishly.
Seeing the crowd begin to turn on Amelia, Zara quickly stepped forward. “Please, don’t be upset with her,” she urged, her voice soft but clear. “Amelia acted out of concern for all of you, not just herself. She cares about you all, and that’s something admirable, not something to frown upon.”
For a moment, Amelia seemed ready to soften, her eyes darting between the crowd and Zara. But then, with a huff, she turned on her heel and stormed out, leaving a silence in her wake. Kai glanced between Zara and the door, visibly torn. But Zara gave him a small, reassuring smile. “Go talk to her, Kai. I’ll be fine.”
He gave her an appreciative look, relieved. “Thanks, Zara.” And with that, he left to find Amelia.
Zara made her way through the food line, feeling the weight of lingering eyes on her. Some compounders offered her apologetic glances, and a few even came over, expressing regret for jumping to conclusions. A couple of young women introduced themselves, sharing stories of Amelia’s protectiveness over Kai and apologizing for her actions. Each time Zara responded with a patient nod, hiding her lingering unease.
Once she finished her breakfast, she excused herself from the table, eager to explore the compound and gain her bearings. She wandered through the old prison complex, offering to help wherever she could. Her ankle felt noticeably better, and each step grew lighter as she lent a hand to those in need.
In one corridor, she met Maris, a middle-aged woman who had recently sprained her wrist. Maris thanked her profusely for the help with carrying supplies, her gentle demeanor bringing comfort to Zara. In another corner of the compound, she found Viko, a wiry man with a sharp wit, who showed her the ropes of crop rotation in the compact fields they’d established outside the main building.
With each task, Zara began to feel a part of the community, their everyday routines grounding her in a way she hadn’t experienced in years. She even made a few friends, most of whom were quick to apologize for their coldness that morning, all citing Amelia’s overprotective nature as the cause of the unrest.
Despite this, a nagging feeling grew as she wondered how she could go about studying the flora samples safely. She asked each person she met if there was any lab equipment around, but most shrugged, and a few suggested she ask Kai.
After hours of wandering and working alongside others, she finally felt it was time to find him. One of the compounders pointed her in the direction of the fields out back. The sun was starting to dip, casting the compound in a warm, golden light. She made her way toward the fields, weaving between makeshift greenhouses and irrigation systems, the chatter of voices growing louder.
As she rounded a corner, she heard her name, and she stopped, concealed by the wall, her pulse quickening.
“...She thinks she can save the world,” Amelia’s voice echoed. Her tone was mocking, laced with bitterness. “Kai, you’re a fool for trusting her. She’s a stranger, and you know it.”
There was a scoff, a third voice joining the conversation. “She’s an Aurian, Kai. They’re unpredictable. For all we know, she’s part of the reason these creatures exist.”
Zara clenched her fists, hurt twisting inside her as she listened. She knew she was an outsider, but she hadn’t realized how deeply that distrust ran. But Kai’s voice broke through, firm and unyielding.
“You don’t get it, Amelia. She’s not like that. Zara is… she’s different. And yeah, maybe I do trust her. Maybe I even like her. She’s been through hell, and she still put us above herself.”
Amelia’s voice was sharp. “You’re really falling for her, aren’t you? A girl you met two days ago?”
Kai’s stammered response was met with laughter from both Amelia and the other man. Zara felt her chest tighten, and she took a shaky breath, trying to keep her emotions in check. But Amelia’s words cut deeper, a coldness creeping into her voice.
“If she’s so special, then maybe she’ll be willing to do something useful. You need to persuade her to give us her blood. If she’s an Aurian, she might have the key to an antidote. If she’s here, she should be doing something of real value.”
Zara’s heart pounded, anger and hurt flooding her as she heard Amelia’s callous suggestion. Kai’s voice held a note of defiance. “That’s exactly the kind of thinking that led to this mess—the Vanguard’s thinking.”
With a surge of courage, Zara rounded the corner, stepping into their view. Her gaze burned with defiance, her presence silencing the trio instantly. Amelia’s expression shifted, caught in her anger, but the man’s eyes lingered on her with an unpleasant mix of intrigue and disdain.
“Amelia,” she addressed her coldly, “I didn’t expect gratitude. But I didn’t expect betrayal either.”
A heavy silence hung between them, the tension stretching until finally, Amelia turned and left, her steps brisk, shoulders squared.