After the meeting with Olivier, we took a spot at one of the corners in the cavern to use as our resting place, speak privately and finalise our decision.

  We ourselves were tight on food and water. We have around 14 or 21 days, depending on our consumption.

  If we reduce our provisions to 12 days’ worth, we’d give them 24 portions if we spare enough for my team to have three meals a day or 96 portions if we have two meals.

  The soldiers numbered 15 and it has been required of us to spare at least three meals or a day and a half for them. Therefore, we need to spare them 45 portions.

  It looks like we’d need to eat twice a day to achieve this.

  If we do spare them that amount, we'd be left with 12 days’ worth plus 51 portions or around another four days of rations for my team.

  Our superiority in provisions might lead to the soldiers distrusting us, as they currently have provisions for 10 days and giving them another day and a half is still below the bare minimum they need.

  If we spare them supplies for two days, it would be 60 portions and we’d be left with meals for 14 days, which I find a better solution.

  I desire to make a good impression on the soldiers, but I know that my teammates are more important than the soldiers.

  I’m willing to spare this amount of provisions if it would benefit us in the near future.

  To ensure that my calculations are correct, I should speak with the rest. They might even have a better idea than mine.

  “After long deliberation, I decided to enact our plan to eat twice a day as of right now,” I said after thinking and calculating.

  All eyes are on me and no one spoke. Evan Raven had his full attention on me.

  “I have decided that we should help them by giving them an additional two days’ worth of supplies, leaving us with around 14 days’ worth for our consumption.”

  Raven clicked his tongue but didn’t object further. The others thought about my words and considered different options, but in the end, they agreed with me.

  However, Raven’s subtle objection was worrying me. He has been a valuable advisor so far and anything that concerns him is also a concern of mine.

  “Raven, mind sharing your opinion with us? Do you think I’m about to do something wrong?” I asked him to make sure my goodwill wasn’t a mistake.

  “Whether it is a mistake or not, I cannot know for certain. The way I would have handled this situation is different from the one you chose. Only in the future would we know if it was right or wrong.”

  “What is your plan? What would have you done in my stead?”

  “Do you know the difference between soldiers and Mercenaries?”

  “What is it?”

  “Soldiers belittle Mercenaries and their lives, using them for the most dull or life-threatening jobs, whereas Mercenaries despise how easy the life of a soldier is.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Mercenaries are just that – a simple gun for hire. The soldiers believe that if they use money for our services, we must complete the mission even if it costs us our lives. On the other hand, soldiers have their regular salaries with or without being forced to experience life and death situations daily and often have relatively easy-going lives compared to the average Mercenary, most of whom die before the age of 25.”

  “But aren’t there Mercenaries in the military?”

  “Yes, but they either work like dogs, undertaking hell of a tasks in small elite units or have been given the qualification of becoming a Mercenary after already winning the respect of the army they served. Being a Mercenary is more than it seems. The truth behind Mercenaries is darker than you think.”

  “Do you know it?”

  “I wonder. Do I know it or not? Even I am unsure about it. Anyway, what I tried to tell you is that soldiers in a desperate situation such as this one are not people we can trust with our lives. Yet, the situation is one for which cooperation is needed for the time being.”

  “I will keep your warning in mind, but I would like to continue with my initial idea. People aren’t bad by nature.”

  “I look forward to your solution, but I will let you know in advance that I will take action if I determine that it is needed. With soldiers, I cannot be lenient, else they end us before we know it.”

  “I permit you, but, if possible, make sure you act as a last resort to my incompetence. I would like to have amiable cooperation with them.”

  “Will do my best, but no promises.”

  After the discussion was over, I allowed us to take a half-hour rest. My legs have been hurting me for a while now. Afterwards, we prepared the supplies we would be sharing.

  When we were ready, we looked for Olivier or Charlotte.

  We found Charlotte and after telling her that we were ready, she replied that the preparations on her side were almost complete. She needed a quarter of an hour to inform her subordinates of our agreement.

  20 minutes later, before us were most of the soldiers

  “The two entrances to the cavern require constant monitoring. I am ordered to take mine, the Captain’s and the four soldiers’ on guard share and bring them to them.”

  “Sure. Here you are.”

  She looked at what we gave her and put it in her backpack.

  “That’s more than we asked for. Thank you. It’s a great help for us,” she said, her tone sounding sincere and left us.

  The nine soldiers before us waited patiently for us to begin.

  “Greetings, everyone. We scraped the barrel and found a few portions we could spare with you. Everyone may take four.”

  We divided the portions and displayed them, allowing everyone to see them.

  I thought that having the soldiers line up and personally distribute provisions to them one by one would be a waste of time.

  They are trained soldiers, their discipline and virtue something that cannot be denied. I didn’t think they would make this an ordeal.

  Raven also didn’t warn me about this being a mistake. Maybe even he didn’t think my goodwill would be taken advantage of.

  While the soldiers were taking a small part of our supplies, a problem occurred.

  Although we kept a close eye on them, some managed to take more than two days’ worth without us noticing.

  One of the military personnel decided that rushing the supplies and being pushed away due to her small frame was unnecessary. She stood on the sidelines until the rest took their shares.

  After all, no one would touch the portions that were supposed to be hers. I bet she thought something of the sort. I did.

  That girl looked like she was no older than 17 and her rough features hinted at her life up until now.

  She has short dark hair and dark brown eyes. Her frame was small and she looked fragile.

  It pained me to see a child like her in a place like this, fighting for her life.

  After waiting for the rest of her brothers- and sisters-in-arms to disperse, she went to take her portions. However, nothing was left for her. She was the only one who got nothing.

  She looked at the now-empty rock we had used to display the provisions, looking dejected. It must have been a hard betrayal for her.

  The comrades she had risked her life with left nothing for her.

  Thinking about it and seeing her with her puppy eyes, my heart was breaking. I couldn’t just leave her be.

  She has a bandage on her head and her hair is tied into a ponytail. She also has cute freckles.

  I started to take out more supplies. I could at least spare her a day’s worth if nothing else.

  Raven, who stayed half an arm's reach to my left, whispered to me.

  “Bad idea.”

  What was so bad about it? Yes, I would give more than I initially planned, but my nature wouldn’t allow me to leave her be. Just look at her!

  I didn’t even manage to give her anything before I realised why Ravan was against it.

  “What the hell? You are giving more food to others! Weren’t we all comrades who are in hardship together? Why are you discriminating between us?!” someone roared.

  I was staggered by the unexpected shout. Were my actions really that bad? Wasn’t the act of letting one of your comrades get nothing the real villainy? Why was I the bad one?

  After the commotion he made, more people followed and complained.

  It overwhelmed me and I didn’t know what to do. The position they forced me into didn’t allow me to ask for help and I was forced to calm the situation down by myself.

  The only way I could think of at the moment to pacify them was to give more of my food. While I was in panic and about to get out more …

  ‘Bang.’

  Someone fired behind me. The bullet went past the man who started all this, inches from his cheek.

  If the man hadn’t tilted his head, the bullet would have grazed his side, maybe even wounding him.

  “What the hell?! Why did you shoot me?!” the man shouted, his bravery reduced by the unexpected happening, looking with pure anger at the one who slowly walked next to me.

  He stopped walking a few steps before me while speaking in a way that I knew meant something bad would play before my eyes.

  “Oops. My trembling hand managed to press the trigger too hard. My bad, my bad,” Raven said, his voice cold as ice and even from where I was, I saw partially his fake smile.

  I could feel the malice he emitted. The hostility he showed. And the readiness to put the soldiers in their place, regardless of the consequences that might follow.

  His hand was close to his knife, ready to pull it without delay if it came to it.

  “What do you think you're doing?!”

  “Weren’t we on the same side?!”

  And such protests were heard. Some even put their arms on their guns, ready to pull them if things escalated even further.

  “Anyway. We have more important things to discuss with you all, rather than you keep blabbering nonstop,” he said as if the thing he did seconds ago was a minor warning.

  No, knowing him, it was a minor warning. This might end with someone losing their life…

  What was he going to do? Both my friends and I were asking ourselves that.

  “You first shot us and now you say what?” they continued to speak, disregarding his warning.

  “For fuck sake, shut your mouth or I’ll make you so!” Raven roared – his final warning before taking up a stronger response.

  I feared what would happen and tried to get hold of him in an attempt to stop him. To stop the inevitable confrontation that was about to happen before my eyes.

  “How will you do… that?” the one who almost got his cheek scratched by a gunshot continued, but Raven was already before him.

  This won’t go well for him… He was the closest one and the one to start all this… And the worst, I couldn’t use my frame to stop Raven’s sudden movements.

  Raven acted fast. In fact, I have yet to see him move this fast.

  In seconds, he closed the distance of 16 feet that they had between them.

  He feinted a punch to the face with his left hand. The real attack occurred when the soldier defended, obscuring his own vision and allowing Raven to grab one of his defending arms. In the next moment, a loud thud echoed and the soldier was on the ground.

  This was the same move Roosevelt demonstrated long ago in the guild – the place where we met with Raven during the same day it was decided that he was to join us. He slightly adjusted the move to the situation at hand with an additional kick to the backside of the leg, where the joints were.

  Raven wasn’t done yet. He mercilessly used his body’s weight to immobilise the soldier and started pummelling his face. Blood gushed from every one of his hits. Some teeth flew.

  Raven had some blood on his face. His eyes were cold with no emotion. It’s as if he had done this thousands of times before. As if human life had no value for him. As if he were a merciless beast.

  The rest of the soldiers looked gobsmacked, unable to realise how Raven did this in mere seconds.

  I also had no idea. I knew he killed someone possessing red rank, but I have yet to see the full extent of his combat abilities.

  I could imagine Raven beating a normal soldier easily, but what he showed against one of the best fighting forces in the Canadian army… The rest’s inability to understand what was happening…

  On the eighth hit, Olivier came to check up on the commotion. Just in time, as the rest of the soldiers realised what Raven was doing to one of theirs and pointed their guns, ready to challenge Raven and make him pay for the brutality.

  I don’t know if the rest of the soldiers and Raven fought, who would win, but for a reason unknown to me, I felt like Raven would be the winner.

  Seeing the tense situation, Olivier raised his hand with an open palm and spoke, his tone serene yet assertive.

  “What are you doing?!” his face couldn’t hide perfectly his shock and surprise from seeing his highly skilled soldier being destroyed so one-sidedly.

  When the rest of the soldiers saw him, they continued to point their guns, but neither of them dared to make a sound, only awaiting orders.

  In contrast, both my friends and I were indecisive – we couldn’t stop Raven, but neither of us aimed our weaponry at the soldiers to back him up.

  “He was disrupting the order…”

  ‘Smack’

  “… so I was forced to make him stop.”

  ‘Smack’

  “With this, I am done. As I was saying, a mistake occurred while we were distributing the rations. Some of you took more than we had permitted. For that, we will ask you to return all you have taken thus far. The distribution will be done anew. This time, with stricter monitoring.”

  He said all that while everyone else, including us, watched him gobsmacked.

  “I am asking you, why is one of my men lying on the ground, half-beaten to death?!” Olivier asked, his tone showing his annoyance.

  “Insubordination.”

  “Insubordination?”

  “Yes. One of your trained dogs decided to overstep its boundaries. As a result, I took it upon myself to discipline it for you.”

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  “You should have gone and told me! I would have punished him!”

  “Punished? I didn’t punish him. I disciplined him. My punishments are way worse than this.”

  “Do you have any idea what your actions just now meant?!”

  Raven made a deep sigh and spoke, his tone chilly, with a subtle hint of a threat.

  “In the past, when I served a country, the simple act of one of my subordinates refusing to undress to be inspected for bite marks was a good enough reason to terminate him on the spot, regarding him as an infected.”

  “Humans adapted to the virus more than 30 years ago! When and where did you serve?”

  Raven disregarded Olivier's inquiry and continued, almost roaring.

  “Do you have an idea of how many people I fought side by side with I had to kill for such a simple reason?”

  “You led your men and I lead mine. I am the one to punish them. How dare you do this to my men?!”

  “So annoying.”

  Raven pulled something out while his movements were monitored. He threw something at Olivier. The object hit the stone wall next to him and got stuck in it.

  It was a small red metal.

  Everyone was shocked. Even Oliver couldn’t hide his amazement.

  “Red… rank?” he mumbled, unable to believe what he saw.

  “Shut your trap and listen!” Ravan roared as he stomped the ground, inches from the man whom he had just beaten.

  The sudden movement made cracks in the hard stone.

  “Who was begging us for help? The least you could have done was to restrain your dogs! If you have complaints, remember the position you put yourselves in! If it were not for the Stalkers, I would have killed him by now!”

  “…”

  “Is this good enough for you to behave?”

  “…”

  “Or should I be stricter and make the half-beaten to death fully dead?”

  “…”

  “Make sure they listen and obey.”

  He was done talking and took the supplies that the one on the ground under him got from us. In fact, he retrieved a bit too much. What was he doing?

  “All of you. Line up! After you are done giving back what you took, you will be allowed to heal the one on the ground. Make haste before he dies.”

  And who’s at fault if he were to die?!

  “If any of you try to give us less than we already distributed… You saw what will happen to you, right?” he continued while his index finger was pointing at the one on the ground as if he were pointing at a bug.

  Olivier didn’t dare retort.

  “Soldiers! Do as he says!”

  After their superior ordered them to behave, the soldiers lined up while Raven went to retrieve his rank.

  By the time all the supplies were returned to us, we had more than we started with. His intimidation did wonders. Sadly, in a bad way.

  Everyone looked at us with hostility and distrust.

  Raven, why did you do something like this?!

  When we returned to the spot we decided to make our temporary camp, I exploded.

  “The hell was that?” I let the rage flow in private when no one could hear us.

  “I repaired the huge mistake you were about to make. Where is my “thank you” kiss?”

  Now’s not the time for jokes!

  “Now they will hate you!” Lily exclaimed.

  “I would rather be hated and have the ability to survive rather than be liked by all and be forced to rely on their kindness to survive. If things continued, Mary would have run out of supplies. We would have been done for if that were to happen.”

  “We’d have stopped her if she went overboard!” Leo joined the fray, accusing Raven’s actions.

  “And when would you have done so? When she had nothing? Even if you did, you saw how they reacted when I stopped them. I had to nearly kill one to make them understand the position they were in.”

  He did all of this for us. Yet, I couldn’t back down. His actions destroyed the fragile trust they had in us!

  “What if they were to attack us while we weren’t watching them? What if they did so in our sleep? What if they betrayed us?”

  “Until we get out of the cave and escape the horde, they will not dare to do so. In my humble opinion, they would have sacrificed us either way if the need arose,” he gave his reasoning.

  “Then tell me, what would have happened if Olivier didn’t stop them? Would you have been shot to death or killed them? Maybe some of us may have died in the crossfire?”

  “Yes, thanks to you standing idly, they took you for weaklings.”

  “Our inaction should have been more than enough of a hint for you to know we didn’t support your action!”

  “I had no need for your support. I asked for your permission to act on my behalf for a reason.”

  “Were you certain they wouldn’t attack you?” Lily asked.

  “Yes. Every single one of them was wounded, sleep-deprived and at the end of their strength. I knew that overwhelming them in such a weakened state would have been within my capabilities.”

  “What if Olivier decided you were a threat and ordered his subordinates to kill you?” I asked.

  “The possibility existed, but the moment I showed the rank, they knew a fight with me would have been costly. Having me as an ally was more beneficial for them. My worth is more than half of them combined in their current state.”

  “I disagree with your actions…”

  “I saw no better approach.”

  “I have to agree with Raven,” Lily said, taking his side, “We are also largely at fault. We should have thought things better.”

  “You did the right thing,” Roosevelt also supported him.

  Rich couldn’t take a side and said nothing during all this.

  “As for the girl you pitied and the reason for all that babble, you should be wary of strangers,” he was now starting to scold me.

  “…”

  “I cannot say for certain that it was intentional, and I cannot prove it. But try to be less “kind” towards unknown people. If you continue as you are now, it will not be long before it backfires. The world is not such a good place to let kind people live for long. Who knows? She might be the reason for your death later on.”

  “Were it not for my kindness, you wouldn’t have been here with us!” I retorted.

  “You just managed to become acquainted with me in a relatively calm position while I was in a decent mood. Had my existence been in danger during our first meeting, I would not have hesitated to use you for all you were worth. Were I to be in the same position we are in, but from the other side, I would use the most out of you before discarding you.”

  “Were you always like this? Were you thinking the same way even back then?”

  “Were you not?” he asked, looking me in the eyes with his cold, dark pupils.

  “No, I never did think of that! Never like that…”

  “Then tell me, dear Mary, why were you taking your sweet time seeing as I was fighting for my life back then?”

  I was shocked and couldn’t talk back. I thought he didn’t know anything about that. How does he know about it? Why keep it hidden until now?

  Lily was also surprised, whereas the rest made no reaction. They must’ve forgotten about our side in the retrieval of the “thing”.

  No, on closer look, all of them showed signs of guilt or attempted to pretend they knew nothing.

  “I suppose you are wondering how I know about it. I knew from the beginning. But worry not. Were I in your position, I would probably have watched too and waited for the best opportunity to finish everything in one strike. That is why I could not hold a grudge for long.”

  “Sorry,” I apologised, my guilt making me evade his piercing gaze.

  I have lost this argument.

  “No need. If you really want to apologise, show it to me with your actions. Do not make such mistakes out of kindness again.”

  Lily made a fake cough. She was coming to rescue me.

  Raven looked at her interruption with annoyance, yet allowed it.

  “I know that what you are talking about is important and all, but could you continue after we decide about the food distribution? It became a bigger problem than we thought. They are also awaiting our decision. This time, we cannot make a blunder.”

  With a cold look, he gave us his decision.

  I dislike this Raven. He scares me and is forceful.

  “As of now, our 21-day supplies have become 23. We will use 84 portions overall. That will leave us with 16 days. We will give the Captain two days' worth. The other 80 you give to those whom you like. As for the one I beat, he will die along the way, so you do not need to give him more than for one day.”

  Our survival over theirs. That was Raven’s goal.

  “Fine… To tell you the truth, the real reason why I was ready to help them this much was because after we arrive at the stronghold they are stationed at, we would need their approval to embark with one of their convoys and travel to the safer inner sides of Canada.”

  However, even without having such a scheme in mind, I didn’t want to see other people for nothing.

  He made a sigh.

  “I just gave you some advice and a possible solution. You make the last call. Your words are orders for me. As long as I think you will survive, I will let you do whatever you want. If you still decide to give all your food, feel free to. We will spare you some of ours, but do not give them to others willy-nilly. This time, we will distribute the supplies with our two hands. We cannot make another blunder.”

  During the entire talk, Raven’s mood didn’t improve.

  During the entire talk, Raven suggested ways to use the rest for our survival.

  During the entire talk, Raven’s only goal was…

  “… What if trying to protect me costs you your life?” I asked aloud before realising.

  His fervent attempts at helping us, of using the others for our survival… Was it his way to save his own skin? Would he discard us when the time is right?

  After asking my question, heavy silence followed. No one expected me to say something like this.

  Deny it, Raven. Please, deny my accusation. Get mad at me, scold me for my insolence. Please, don’t affirm my fears. Please, let your inability to answer be due to the rage you are experiencing from my inquiry!

  My pleas were unanswered.

  Raven wasn’t angry anymore. There was only the calm, cold, nonchalant demeanour he expressed the first time we met. He spoke, his icy words mercilessly piercing my hopes.

  “… As long as protecting you would not put my life in danger, I would do my best to keep you alive. However, if I were forced to choose between my life and yours, I would have to pick mine. I am unlike you. I am not dumb enough to sacrifice myself for others.”

  I was silent, unable to speak.

  Any word that came to mind was stuck in my throat.

  In truth, I never did expect him to risk his life for me. However, hearing him say so aloud… It hurts.

  I thought I meant something to him. That I had a part in his life. That a future where we live together, side by side, exists. I was ready to give him my all… I was prepared to be his for the rest of my life…

  I was willing to have him be the father of my children… To allow him to use me to satisfy all of his desires…

  “I will agree with you. I didn’t like what you did back then, but I will cooperate with you. As long as you promise that it will lead to the best outcome,” I finally gave up, realising he was never a friend.

  “Promise? All I can say is that I am doing my best according to my way of thinking. I cannot say that it is the best or right way. That is why I am willing to bend if you were to have a different solution.”

  “Anyway…”

  Lily intervened, trying to stop us from going further. She realised the two of us were in a bad mood.

  “… we will be distributing the food soon. Let’s get ready!”

  I should stop agitating him for a while. It would only make us hurt one another more.

  “Wait, could you repeat that?” Leo asked.

  “Let’s get ready?”

  “Not that! Before!”

  “Distribute the food?”

  “Yes, that is! Why did I not think of that before? You gave me an idea!” Leo said with excitement and walked to Raven.

  He whispered something for a while. Raven kept his grumpy face, but the longer he listened, the brighter he became. Most of the dark expression was dispelled at the end.

  Lily was speechless. I was dumbfounded.

  What has Leo thought of to improve even Raven’s mood?

  “You remember what I said earlier? Scratch that! Get all of your provisions out! Someone has found a possible solution. I will do my best to follow up with the execution.”

  Raven’s words were in a loud voice. Then he whispered to us.

  “Someone might be listening to our conversation. Leave food and water for six days. Hide it well. When you are done, we can go and “distribute” everything. Leo’s idea is decent, but too kind-hearted. Therefore, I modified it. Our survival before theirs.”

  We did as he told us, despite Raven and Leo being the only ones who knew the plan.

  Given the additional modifications Raven planned, what he was about to do, even Leo wasn’t certain. Either way, we will all see it soon.

  Sometime later, we had all the soldiers prepared for our second attempt at distributing the supplies. This time, both Captain Olivier and his deputy, Second Lieutenant Charlotte, were there. To keep watch both on the soldiers and us.

  Raven would be the only one speaking; the rest of us would stay behind, holding the rations.

  “Due to certain unforeseen obstacles, we had to delay our “charity”. I mean, supply giveaway,” he said as if to make fun of the soldiers and to underline that we are doing them a favour.

  They didn’t like the way he spoke, but kept their mouths shut.

  “Thanks to said delay, we managed to understand our errors and think of countermeasures. For that, we would like all of you to show all of your supplies. We will then put them in backpacks. We will take half and you the other half. Any objections?”

  Silence followed. Some were about to protest, but they remembered the merciless beatdown he inflicted just less than an hour ago. No one from the soldiers would dare to speak.

  Olivier was one of the few who dared to ask questions. He was wary of Raven and who could blame him?

  “What will happen if we were to lose those who carry the provision? Die from starvation or? What countermeasures are there?”

  “First, cannibalism is an option on its own, you know?”

  Please, even as a joke, don’t ever say that again.

  “Secondly, if you burn the zombies very good, they are edible… probably. You may try sometime and tell me.”

  Forget what I said. Keep going about cannibalism. I’d rather eat a human than an undead.

  “As for what we will do in case the one who is carrying the supplies dies, it is quite simple. We, first and foremost, protect those holding the supplies. As for how we know who has them, the bags will be marked in some way. Were the holders to die, we would do our utmost to retrieve them. If it comes to it, you could even ditch your current backpack and take the marked one. Any more questions?”

  “How can we trust that you gave all of your provisions?” Charlotte asked.

  “You are free to check us. However, doing so would require valuable time. Time we might not have. Time that your men have already forced us to waste. Still, if you think that checking us to see if we have something hidden will make you die happy, then sure, go ahead and have fun checking us for days if you want. If not, then you should prepare yourselves and do that fast. We already did our best. Here.”

  He snapped his fingers and we all moved forward, displaying most of our supplies for all to see.

  “We only require a free backpack or two to put them in.”

  Olivier and Charlotte looked at one another and nodded.

  She took two empty backpacks and gave them to us. We started filling them with rations.

  After we were done, we showed the two backpacks. One was full of provisions from bottom to top, while the other barely had anything at the bottom.

  After no more objections in the form of questions, the soldiers showed all of their provisions. They might have left something hidden, but that was no problem for us.

  As for who should carry them… The ones for the soldiers, we had no say in. In our group, Raven was a prime candidate as Lily, Roosevelt or Leo would be. Those four could hold one if the need arose, as they had the superior strength in my group.

  “Something important to know. Those carrying the backpacks would be the most protected from zombies and the most at risk from other humans. Wearing one means you declare yourself as a target. That is why we should choose those who can defend themselves from zombies and humans. I can take one, if you allow me to. The other one… I would really have liked it if Mary were to have it, but her muscle strength is lacking,” Raven whispered.

  We were discussing this quietly while the soldiers followed our suggestion, with some already putting their supplies into backpacks.

  “In that case, either Roosevelt or Lily will do. They are our best combatants,” Rich suggested.

  “Lily, you should take it. In raw strength, I may be superior to you, but your movements are more agile than mine,” Roosevelt was ready to give up the honour.

  A shout from the soldiers interrupted us before we made a final decision.

  “The supplies are all out!”

  “Time to stuff them into the bags,” Raven replied and went near the soldiers, but not without whispering another thing.

  “I consider beginning our march out of the cave after we are done with this.”

  We were left to think about it. In the meantime, his sole presence made a few of the soldiers uncomfortable.

  After the “stuffing”, the result was four full backpacks.

  As for marking which is which, we used bandages wrapped around the upper and lower ends of the shoulder straps.

  It wasn’t the best way, but we’d be able to recognise them after a deeper glance.

  Now, seeing the plan in action, I was speechless at how only Leo saw this solution.

  I had little time to think about what Raven added at the end, but if he wanted to go, then it should be fine to listen to him.

  As he was about to propose that we should leave now, I realised something.

  It was already midnight! We’ve been awake for more than 16 hours!

  We might continue to be awake for a while longer, but our bodies would eventually get tired and succumb to exhaustion.

  All the darkness in this cave and the events that happened made me forget about the time and my sleepiness. The adrenaline also made me ignore my desire for rest, but I knew my body wouldn’t mind a few hours of sleep.

  Given the dark circles under the eyes of all the soldiers, they also required rest.

  Now that I think about it, how much time for rest could they even get?

  I didn’t have to think about it as I had to change Raven’s plan at the last moment.

  Raven was currently in the lead role, with everyone awaiting his next words. I had to get his attention somehow.

  Although it was a bit embarrassing, what better way than the way he often used on me?

  I playfully bit his ear~

  “Hour. Late. Sleep.”

  “Noted,” he replied, removed my lips from his ear and kissed me!

  It was unexpected and I couldn’t move! I wanted this to continue, but the situation we were in made such an interaction inappropriate!

  I had a full view of the soldiers. A few of them were agape, while the rest were too tired to consider us.

  We stopped kissing, Raven dropping my staggering self and prepared to talk.

  Although the kiss was light and lasted for a few seconds, it felt so lewd and long when so many people were watching us!

  I put my fingers on my lips, contemplating his bold move in front of everyone.

  I considered looking backwards, towards my friends, but I doubt I wanted to know what expressions they were making.

  “As this journey may be your last, it might be better to take a rest. For those who have their lover, spend the night as if it will be your last with them. As for those who do not, use your hands or something. I do not really care. I will be taking on this cutie next to me.”

  My face turned red. How could you say something like this so bravely!

  “Now, I will let you off. Have sweet dreams or a hardcore mating session. Just don’t forget to sleep. Be ready by 8:00. Also…” he changed his joking tone to a cold one.

  “…you better not disrupt me during my “last” time.”

  What? When did I say something like this? Hey, can you only come up with such perverted excuses? Are you a pervert by profession? How come my desire to rest has been interrupted in such a way?

  I was wondering with a dumbfounded look, but I couldn’t deny that it made me feel butterflies in my stomach.

  You are the only one who could use this and similar lewd excuses so much and always make me speechless. Yet, I cannot deny its effectiveness again, as no one made any objections.

  I was starting to feel as if the “Captain” here was actually you.

  The moment they knew of your rank, they all became more obedient and enduring to your violent methods.

  I could even feel that with those few sentences of yours, you managed to get close to most of the male soldiers. As for the female ones… Yes, look of disgust and worry, maybe slight sighs of fear.

  Their soldiers' admiration was only temporary. They remembered what you had done to one of them and … yes, they weren’t pleased with it, but what could they do? Fight you? They might think that scuffling with a Stalker was the better choice.

  We took two backpacks and left the other two at their disposal.

  “Do we need someone to guard the backpacks?” Rich asked.

  “I doubt it, but we cannot deny the possibility of the soldiers trying to steal them and run off in our sleep,” Raven replied.

  “You always look at the bad side. Try being more positive!” I said, still feeling a bit excited from the kiss.

  Now that I think about it, why hasn’t anyone denounced him for it?

  My remark only provoked him to roll his eyes.

  “Who will be staying watch first?” Leo asked.

  “Is anyone from you a light sleeper?” Raven inquired.

  No one said that they were.

  “It was a tiring day. I wouldn’t be surprised if we slept until noon,” Lily replied.

  “In that case, if you are fine with it, I could be the one to guard them. Alternatively, two of you could lie your heads on them to rest, using them as pillows. That will make it even harder for someone to take anything from them.”

  “What if we combine both ideas? Someone would sleep on them next to you. That would be the strongest countermeasure!” I proposed.

  “It is a possibility, yes.”

  “If you are asking for someone to sleep next to you, then I don’t mind taking on that role,” Lily made the move before I finished mine.

  Way to go, girl! I’ll not lose, however!

  We all looked at her, never expecting her to say something like this.

  “What? It’s to protect the supplies!”

  “I will take the left side then,” I said.

  “Won’t Stalkers come if we let our guard down?” Roosevelt asked.

  Yes, they were a major concern.

  “As long as the light is on, we should be fine. If someone does detect something, he should wake us up.”

  “With them, it might be too late before we wake up.”

  “Worry not. I have ways to detect hostile intentions. If something that desires to end us is nearby, I will wake you up.”

  “Okay. I will put my trust in you.”

  “As would I,” Richard said.

  Leo nodded in agreement and Lily gave a slight smile as a sign of her approval.

  We prepared to sleep. This time, we didn’t make a fire. We relied on our sleeping bags to keep us warm.

  Before we called it a night, I made a bold move.

  I went close to Raven and kissed him out of nowhere. This time, it was his turn to be speechless.

  Unlike his mild kiss, I made sure mine was showing my intention.

  After I let him go and pulled away, I spoke.

  “Next time, kiss me like this~”

  I waited for him to make a move, kiss me or at the very least hug me, but he didn’t.

  Instead, he hurt my feelings!

  “Next time, kiss me after brushing your teeth.”

  “Pfff… HAHAHA!”

  I looked and saw Lily laughing out loud so brazenly.

  What’s so funny, you? Want to get punished?

  “Sorry, Mary!” she apologised, but her continuous giggle made it quite hard to believe in her sincerity.

  The others either looked away, giggled lightly or covered their mouth.

  “Meanies…” I lamented and sulked.

  Even after the rude comment Raven made, I still decided to rest next to him.

  He could be described as the luckiest man in the entire world. He had two beauties sleeping next to him, on both sides.

  If that wasn’t something to be proud of, I didn’t know what would be.

  Maybe sleeping in an actual bed would have felt better?

  Anyway, life is long and things might happen. Who knows? Maybe next time he will be in bed with said beauties? With fewer clothes?

  What am I saying?! Lewd thoughts, go away!

  I fell asleep.

  I had a dream about my mother.

  When I woke up, I had red eyes. I must have cried in my sleep.

  Yet, I could not remember anything about my dream.

  What did I dream about?

  Would something bad happen to us?

  Will we meet with the Princess?

  Why were they carrying me?

  Are those sounds… gunshots?