The Line He’s Losing

Follow pls

Chapter 3: The Line He’s Losing

The first body hit the ground with a dull, sickening thud.

Aya didn’t move.

Couldn’t.

Her eyes were locked on him.

The way he moved—

It wasn’t normal.

It wasn’t human.

The second zombie barely had time to react before he twisted its neck with a sharp crack. The sound echoed through the narrow chamber, followed by the heavy collapse of lifeless flesh.

Silence.

Just for a second.

Then—

More growls.

Aya’s stomach dropped.

“They’re still coming,” she said, her voice tight.

“I know.”

He didn’t look at her.

Didn’t even breathe heavily.

That was the worst part.

Anyone else would be exhausted.

Anyone else would be struggling.

But him?

He looked… steady.

Too steady.

Another shadow moved in the tunnel.

Aya snapped out of it.

“Behind you!”

The zombie lunged.

This one faster.

More aggressive.

But he was faster.

He sidestepped it, grabbing its arm mid-lunge and slamming it down onto the concrete. The force alone made Aya flinch.

Before it could move again—

He drove his hand straight through its skull.

Aya froze.

Her breath caught in her throat.

That—

That wasn’t possible.

Not like that.

Not with bare hands.

The zombie twitched once.

Then went still.

Aya took a step back.

Then another.

Her grip on the knife tightened so hard her knuckles turned white.

“…You’re not human.”

The words slipped out before she could stop them.

This time—

He heard it.

Slowly, he turned toward her.

There was something different in his eyes now.

Something darker.

Aya’s pulse spiked.

“I told you,” he said quietly. “I don’t know what I am.”

Another growl cut through the tension.

But it was distant.

Fading.

The rest were gone.

For now.

Silence settled again.

Heavy.

Oppressive.

Aya swallowed hard, trying to steady her breathing.

“Say something,” she demanded.

“About what?”

“About that!” she snapped, pointing at the bodies. “You just— you just—”

“I killed them.”

“That’s not what I meant!”

Her voice cracked.

Frustration.

Fear.

Something else she didn’t want to name.

“That wasn’t normal!”

“I know.”

“You didn’t even hesitate!”

“I couldn’t.”

Aya stared at him.

“What does that mean?”

He didn’t answer right away.

Instead, he looked down at his hands.

At the blood.

At the dark veins still crawling faintly under his skin.

“…It means,” he said slowly, “when they get close…”

He clenched his fist.

“…something in me responds.”

Aya’s stomach twisted.

“Responds how?”

His jaw tightened.

“Like I’m one of them.”

The words hung in the air.

Heavy.

Unsettling.

Aya shook her head immediately.

“No.”

“It’s true.”

“No, it’s not,” she insisted, taking another step back. “You’re not like them.”

His gaze flickered toward her.

For a moment—

Something almost human returned.

“Then why does it feel like I am?”

Aya didn’t have an answer.

Didn’t want to think about it.

Didn’t want to accept it.

Because if that was true—

Then staying with him was a mistake.

A dangerous one.

Silence stretched again.

Then—

“You should leave.”

Aya blinked.

“What?”

“Take the supplies. Go.”

Her expression hardened instantly.

“And what? Just walk away?”

“Yes.”

“Are you serious right now?”

“It’s safer.”

“For who?” she shot back.

“For you.”

Aya let out a sharp laugh.

“You don’t get to decide that.”

“I already did.”

Her jaw clenched.

“Of course you did,” she muttered bitterly. “You always do.”

That hit something.

She saw it.

A flicker.

Gone just as quickly.

“Nothing’s changed,” she added coldly.

“That’s where you’re wrong.”

Aya looked at him.

Really looked.

At the exhaustion hidden behind his calm.

At the tension in his shoulders.

At the way he kept his distance now.

Like he was the one afraid.

“…Then prove it,” she said.

His brow furrowed slightly.

“Prove what?”

“That you’re not the same person who left everyone behind.”

The words landed harder than anything else she’d said.

For a second—

He didn’t move.

Didn’t breathe.

Then—

“I didn’t have a choice.”

“Everyone always says that.”

“This time it’s true.”

Aya shook her head.

“I don’t believe you.”

“Then don’t.”

Silence.

Sharp.

Cutting.

Aya looked away first.

“…Fine.”

She walked past him, grabbing one of the water bottles and stuffing it into her bag.

“Good,” she said flatly. “Less talking, more surviving.”

He watched her for a moment.

Then—

“Stay here tonight.”

Aya paused.

Her grip tightened slightly.

“I just told you I don’t trust you.”

“You don’t have to.”

“…Then why?”

He glanced toward the tunnel.

Then back at her.

“Because they’ll come back.”

Aya followed his gaze.

Her stomach tightened.

She knew he was right.

And she hated it.

“…One night,” she said finally.

“That’s all.”

He nodded once.

“Fine.”

But neither of them relaxed.

Not really.

Because the truth was—

They weren’t just sharing a space.

They were sharing a line.

A fragile, dangerous line between human…

…and something far worse.

And Aya could already feel it.

He was getting closer to crossing it.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***