Chapter 33: Life & Death (Part 3 Final)
Smoke curled lazily from the barrel of the revolver clenched in Merek’s hand as the Type Two staggered, its head pierced by a clean, smoking hole. The zombie pitched forward, falling head first onto the blood-soaked ground.
Merek swayed unsteadily from side to side, his vision swimming in dizzy waves. He’d had to use telekinesis to empower the bullet—just a slight boost, but enough to make it impossible for the Type Two to block or dodge the fatal shot.
Yuki caught him swiftly, steadying his trembling frame as he closed his eyes and shook his head repeatedly, trying desperately to clear the haze that blurred his sight.
Nero came running over, urgency thick in his voice as he reached out to Felicity, who was slumped on the floor, her chest rising and falling with rapid, ragged breaths. "Are you okay?!" he asked, his eyes wide with concern.
Between gasps, Felicity gave a shaky nod.
Ignoring Nero, Merek forced himself past him, dropping to a squat beside Tevin and pulling out a small jar of healing balm. His limbs felt leaden, exhaustion creeping in like a dark fog, threatening to pull him under, but sheer will kept him anchored.
Every few moments, he shook his head again, causing Tevin, Felicity, and even Nero to exchange worried glances.
"I’m alright," Merek said firmly, his voice low but steady. He scooped a small amount of the thick, black balm and pressed it onto Tevin’s jagged wound. Tevin hissed sharply but quickly blinked in surprise as a cool, soothing sensation spread through the injury.
Felicity crawled closer and handed over her pristine white cloth. Merek took it and carefully wrapped it around Tevin’s abdomen, binding the wound with practiced care.
Then, he glanced over at Fred. The man lay crumpled on the ground like a coward, shaking from fear, but now that death had passed him by, he rose without so much as a glance, or a word of thanks, to the ones who had saved him.
As for Nero, Merek knew better than to expect him to throw fire in such close quarters with Tevin, Felicity and the Type Two, especially given how fast and close the enemy had been.