It had been nearly two weeks since Zara overheard Amelia and the others talking about her, and though the raw sting of their words had faded, an ache still lingered. She’d held herself back from confrontation, hoping the distance would ease her frustration and protect whatever peace she had left. But as each day passed, she found herself slipping further away from Kai, pulling into herself and giving him only dry, one-word responses when he tried to talk.
Still, she could tell her silence bothered him. She’d caught his expression tightening when she brushed him off or his quick glances of disappointment whenever she redirected their conversations. The frustration he now felt wasn’t just because of her indifference; she could see that Amelia’s attitude was beginning to gnaw at him too, though he hadn’t yet confronted his sister directly. And while Zara remained careful to avoid Amelia herself, she couldn’t avoid the ripple effect Amelia had throughout the compound.
Gradually, Zara branched out and found friends among the other compounders—people who welcomed her without any baggage or judgment, who listened to her with curiosity rather than skepticism. It was a relief, especially after days of hearing rumors and enduring the sideways glances some had thrown her way since that night. She didn’t dwell on the samples she’d collected, finding that she didn’t have the equipment to examine them properly anyway. She’d asked around, but the tools she needed weren’t here. And though Kai likely knew where she could get what she needed, she refused to involve him, choosing her independence over proximity to him.
But when news of a scavenging trip reached her, Zara knew she had no choice but to ask Kai if she wanted a shot at finding the tools.
"Hey, Kai," she called, forcing her voice into a steady, neutral tone as she approached the list of volunteers.
The way his eyes lit up at her voice made her pause, her expression softening despite herself. He didn’t hesitate to add his name to the list, right next to hers.
Zara watched as he penciled in his name. “You… you need anything specific out there?” he asked, hopeful.
“Yes,” she said stiffly. “Lab equipment to study my samples.” Her gaze shifted as she added, almost as an afterthought, “I’ll be bringing the bag, in case there’s anything worth collecting.”
Kai’s expression brightened even more. “Good idea,” he said warmly. “We’ll find what you need.”
They headed toward the cell where Zara kept her collection bag and samples. As they walked, he glanced at her, hesitation clouding his expression. “Listen… I owe you an apology. For Amelia.”
Zara let out a quiet breath, her eyes fixed ahead. “It’s not a big deal, Kai,” she said evenly, though the tightness in her voice betrayed her. “It’s really fine.”
“No,” he insisted, voice softer. “It feels like a big deal to me.” He cast her a worried glance. “You haven’t really talked to me in almost two weeks.”
Zara looked down, shrugging. “I’m just trying to keep my distance. She’s your sister, and I don’t want her thinking I’m… intruding. I know how protective she is of you.”
Kai let out a frustrated breath, stopping mid-step. He reached out, gently resting a hand on her arm. Zara turned to him, brows raised in surprise. “Look, Amelia might be overprotective, but she doesn’t get to decide who I talk to.” He leaned closer, his expression sincere. “I’m the elder here, Zara. I make my own decisions.”
A small, bitter laugh escaped her. “But she seems to think otherwise.” She shook her head, her voice low and wary. “What exactly is it you want from me, Kai? Why would you even like someone like me—someone who can’t even remember her past?”
He looked at her for a long moment, his gaze unyielding. Without saying a word, Kai’s hand slipped around her back, drawing her closer. And then, his lips met hers, firm yet gentle, sparking a warmth so intense it silenced every lingering doubt and fear within her. Her heart raced as she leaned into him, her hands hesitating before sliding up his arms. The world around them dissolved, leaving only the two of them standing together in a moment she hadn’t dared dream of. When he finally pulled away, she opened her eyes, catching her breath as she looked into his gaze—his expression as vulnerable and hopeful as her own.
“I just want to get to know you, Zara,” he murmured, voice barely above a whisper. “And see where this goes.”
Her gaze softened, emotions swirling as she tried to ground herself. “We’ll… see,” she murmured, her voice shaky yet resolute. Clearing her throat, she stepped back, breaking the spell between them as she continued toward the cell.
Kai followed her, a quiet but determined smile lingering on his face. He unlocked the door to her cell, where her samples were kept, and they gathered her bag in silence. Thoughts of the kiss filled her mind, yet Zara pushed them aside, forcing herself to focus.
Back at the compound entrance, Kai slipped into a more authoritative tone, briefing the volunteers and ensuring everyone knew their roles and partners. Zara stayed near the back, casting a cautious glance his way every so often. Just as she started to feel more collected, Amelia appeared, packed and ready, her eyes darting toward Kai expectantly.
“You’re not coming on this trip,” Kai informed her, his voice steady but firm.
Amelia’s eyes narrowed, her expression twisting in hurt and anger. “Why not?”
Kai’s gaze didn’t waver. “You didn’t volunteer, and all the spots are filled.”
Amelia’s gaze flicked to Zara, and the resentment simmering in her eyes sharpened into something harsher. Her lips curled in a sneer as she scoffed. “Oh, I get it. It’s because your little girlfriend doesn’t want me around.”
Zara rolled her eyes and shot Kai an exasperated look. “This,” she said tiredly, “is exactly why I’ve kept my distance. You know no one wants to deal with this, Kai. Hardly anyone even likes her. From what I’ve heard, Amelia has been making herself a problem here for a long time.”
The compounders around them shifted uncomfortably, casting awkward glances at each other. But several nodded, clearly tired of Amelia’s constant meddling and hostility. Zara’s patience, stretched thin for weeks, finally snapped.
“Listen here, Amelia,” Zara began, her tone calm yet edged with restrained anger. “I’ve tried to be polite. I’m truly grateful for being here, I am. But having to deal with you day in and day out is exhausting. I don’t remember much of my past, but I know you’re the worst thing I’ve ever had to put up with.” She took a breath, steadying herself. “And I’ve heard about everything you’ve done these last two weeks. The rumors you’ve spread about me, your attempts to turn the compound against me—you’ve made things miserable for everyone. And I’ve had enough.”
The crowd fell silent as Zara spoke, her voice unwavering. Amelia’s face flushed, anger contorting her features as she tried to hold her ground.
“You think you’re so high and mighty, don’t you?” Amelia shot back, her voice trembling. “You think you can just walk in here and change everything? I don’t trust you, Zara. And I don’t think anyone should.”
Zara squared her shoulders, her eyes narrowing. “I’m not here to make Kai choose between you and me, Amelia. I don’t want a choice, and I don’t want your drama. But if you can’t act like a decent human being, then maybe it’s you who shouldn’t be here.” She glanced at Kai, her tone softening. “Take me back to the cell to lock up my samples. This whole trip just isn’t worth it.”
Kai opened his mouth as if to protest, but her resolute expression silenced him. They walked back toward the sample cell in silence, his presence beside her a mix of regret and resignation. At the cell door, Zara handed over her bag, and Kai stowed it away before turning back to face her.
“Please try to find me some lab equipment,” she said, a bit more gently. “I need to start working again. It’s… important to me.”
Without waiting for his response, she turned and began her walk back to her own cell, her mind racing with a tangle of thoughts. She couldn’t shake the intensity of the kiss, the anger she’d felt toward Amelia, or the way Kai looked at her with such vulnerability and hope. She found herself wondering if she’d been too harsh—wondering if things could really work between her and Kai with so much hostility around them.
But as she walked, another feeling crept into her heart: a nagging sense that her time at the compound might be running out. The tension between her and Amelia felt irreconcilable, and despite the friendships she’d formed, Zara couldn’t shake the sense that she didn’t truly belong here. Her fingers brushed her lips, still warm from the kiss, and she closed her eyes, wondering if Kai would understand her choice when the time came—when she had to tell him goodbye.