Sara, Robbie, and Anna stood at the edge of the ruined path leading toward the hospital.
“We’re going,” Sara said, already moving.
Anna hesitated, tightening her hold on Samantha. “Maybe… me and her should stay back. It’s too dangerous.”
“No.” Robbie’s voice was firm. “You’re not safe here. They could come back anytime. You’re safer with us.”
Anna frowned. “Robbie—”
“I’m not letting you out of my sight,” he cut in. “Not unless you’re with Sara.”
A brief silence.
Sara stepped between them. “Anna… stay close. If things go bad, we’ll tell you to run. Until then, you’re safer with us.”
Anna looked down at Samantha… then nodded. “Okay.”
Robbie exhaled. “Let’s move.”
—-
The island felt wrong.
Too quiet.
Sara led them through broken paths until the abandoned hospital came into view—dark and hollow.
“This place had the most vessels,” Sara said quietly. “Even the juggernauts.”
Robbie nodded. “Stay close.”
They stepped inside.
Rotting beds. Cracked walls. Silence that didn’t feel empty.
A vessel moved—
Robbie struck first.
Sara followed.
They moved carefully…
Until—
They were surrounded.
More vessels.
And Ark.
“Run!” Robbie shouted.
Anna turned and ran without hesitation.
Behind her—
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
Steel clashed. Sara vanished, reappearing behind Ark—
But he caught her.
Threw her.
She slammed into Robbie, knocking him down.
Before he could recover—
They were on him.
Holding him.
Forcing him down.
Sara struggled, restrained.
Ark stepped forward, smiling. “Get rid of him… then I’ll deal with his family.”
Robbie roared, trying to break free—
A heavy strike slammed him down.
The change began.
—-
Sara broke free.
She cut through one vessel—
Then another—
“Robbie!”
He forced himself up, grabbing his sword.
“Sara—hold them off!”
And he ran.
—-
“Anna!”
Her voice.
He followed—
Too late.
Ark stood between them.
“You really thought you could win?” Ark said calmly.
Before Robbie could react—
Pain.
His legs gave out as Ark’s blade cut through him.
Again.
Again.
Anna screamed. “STOP!”
Ark didn’t even look at her. “You’re next.”
Robbie collapsed.
Blood pooling beneath him.
Vessels surrounded him.
Holding him.
Changing him.
“No…” he whispered.
Not like this.
“Sara…” he called weakly. “Your blood…”
A pause—
Then she was there.
Cutting them down.
She reached him.
He took it.
Everything changed.
—-
Robbie stood.
Different.
Stronger.
But fading.
He walked toward Ark.
Grabbed him—
Crushed him—
Until he vanished.
—-
Silence.
Then—
“You don’t have long.”
Robbie turned.
Sara stood there.
Calm.
Still.
Not afraid.
“Sara…” he said quietly.
She gave a small smile.
“You did what you had to,” she said. “Now she has to do the same.”
Robbie’s jaw tightened.
He understood.
Sara’s eyes drifted past him.
Her expression softened.
“…Dad?” she whispered.
Her body relaxed.
Like years of pain had finally left her.
Tears filled her eyes—but she was smiling.
“I kept fighting,” she said softly. “Just like you told me to.”
A breath.
“I’m not scared anymore.”
Robbie watched her.
Silent.
Sara looked back at him.
“Don’t hesitate,” she said gently. “If you do… it’ll all be for nothing.”
Robbie nodded.
She stepped closer.
“Thank you,” she said. “For giving me something to fight for… at the end.”
“You gave me that too,” Robbie replied.
Her smile grew faintly.
“Then it was worth it.”
A moment passed.
“I’m ready.”
Robbie swallowed.
“…Thank you, Sara.”
She didn’t move.
Didn’t flinch.
She just stood there—
at peace.
Robbie stepped forward—
and in one clean motion—
he struck.
Sara fell.
A faint smile still on her face.
Free.
—-
Robbie turned.
His body shaking now.
Time was running out.
He walked toward Anna.
He kissed Samantha’s head. “Daddy loves you.”
Then looked at Anna.
And cupped her curls.
“You have to do it.”
She shook her head immediately. “No—”
“If you don’t… I won’t be me anymore.”
Her hands trembled.
“I can’t…”
“You can,” he whispered. “You’re stronger than me.”
His body began to break.
“Please…”
Tears streamed down her face.
“I love you…”
“I love you too.”
Silence.
Then—
She screamed as she swung.
The blade went through him.
Robbie’s body went still—
Then collapsed.
“No… no, no…”
Anna dropped beside him, shaking—
But he was gone.
—-
The island trembled.
Green ooze bled from the walls.
Anna grabbed Samantha and ran.
Through halls.
Through memories.
Through everything they were—
Until—
The exit.
She burst through—
And fell into the ocean.
—-
Darkness.
“Robbie…” she whispered—
Then nothing.
—-
Liam froze.
The scream echoed across the water.
He grabbed the binoculars—
His heart dropped.
“Anna…”
He ran.
Jumped.
Swam.
He reached Samantha first—
Then Anna.
“Stay with me!”
No response.
Others jumped in to help.
They made it back.
—-
Three hours later—
Anna woke with a gasp.
“Samantha!”
“I’m here,” Liam said, steadying her. “She’s okay.”
He pointed.
Samantha slept peacefully nearby.
Anna’s breathing slowed.
“How is her fever?”
“She’s okay. No fever.”
“You’re sure?”
“I’m sure. She woke up earlier… ate… kept asking for you.”
Anna nodded—
Until—
“An…”
She looked up.
“Where’s Robbie?”
Everything broke.
Anna collapsed into him, a sob tearing out of her.
Liam held her tightly.
He didn’t need an answer.
He already knew.
And all he could do…
was hold his sister as she fell apart.