Naethan was at the gate with everyone waiting for Emerys. He had a big grin on his face and looked happier than ever. Even when he saw A-Xuan and Emerys approaching hand in hand, his mood was still not affected.

When everyone was there Emerys explained:

"The weapons aren’t inside the factory, they are hidden behind in a hangar. We’ll first clean the surrounding area, then we’ll take care of the zombies inside of it. No one is to go on you’re own unless you want to find yourself base-less. We need to work as a team, that’s why we’re more than usual."

They were around 30 ability users. Even if they didn’t need as much, they would need people to help carry the crates of weapons. A-Xuan got in Emerys’ car and Naethan followed him.

He was quite annoyed, but he didn’t say anything. Before he opened the door, Emerys locked the doors and Naethan couldn’t open it.

He smiled, knocking on A-Xuan’s windows. A-Xuan rolled it down just a little, raising an eyebrow.

Naethan was starting to get irritated, even if he’ll die in a few hours, his attitude bugs him. He forced himself to calm down and asked:

"Why is the door locked?"

Before A-Xuan spoke, Emerys said coldly:

"Get in the truck like everybody else or leave. Who do you think you are?"

There are only three cars with three trucks, so obviously some will have to sit in the back of the truck. One of them was modified, so they wouldn’t be uncomfortable.

Naethan gaped at Emerys, he’s a healer, not some useless mundane. He should be sitting in the car, especially when he and A-Xuan are the only two in it.

He turned around and got in the truck. Once A-Xuan dies, he’ll be the one treated like that by Emerys. Enjoy the time you have left.

When they arrived at the factory, everyone started to fight zombies. Before Maddox ran with the rest, Naethan pulled him:

"You need to get A-Xuan to the hangar, I want to talk to him before he dies."

He intends to make him suffer and tell him that he never loved him before he dies. Dying isn’t enough when he ruined his life. Maddox nodded and walked to A-Xuan.

Before he leaves with A-Xuan, he wants him to see that Naethan never loved him. When he kills Naethan, A-Xuan will see that he’s the only one worthy to be with him.

A-Xuan helped as much as he could before Maddox showed up. Emerys knows how to use his dark ability now, so he’s not too worried.

He was pulled to the side by Maddox.

"What’s wrong? Are you hurt?"

Maddox’s heart softened when he saw how worried he was.

"I need to show you and Naethan something."

"But right now, we’re..."

"Don’t you trust me?"

A-Xuan immediately said:

"Of course I do."

Maddox smiled as he pulled him. When they reached his car, he opened the door for him and sat down. A-Xuan looked at Naethan in the back, who had a smile on his face. You keep doing that.

Maddox drove to the hangar and kicked open the door. Before any zombies came for them, A-Xuan erected a wall cutting the place in two. Maddox locked the door while he was busy doing that.

Naethan was speechless, he heard about A-Xuan’s ability, but seeing is believing. Maddox approached them and A-Xuan turned around.

"What did you want to show us?"

Naethan laughed.

"You are such a fool."

A-Xuan looked at him surprised.

"What?"

Naethan chuckled.

"You’re a fucking moron. You have no idea how long I’ve waited for this."

He was so happy that he was trembling with excitement.

For so long he had to pretend to love him to be on top, but now he doesn’t need him. Plus, he dared to take his job and turn everyone against him, including Emerys.

But through it all, Maddox was there for him. He started to have feelings for him, which surprised him. But it makes sense, only Maddox loved him since the beginning and never stopped.

He’s even willing to kill his best friend because of how much he loves him. So, when A-Xuan’s done, he’ll be with him officially.

"What are you talking about Naethan?"

Naethan spoke:

"I’ve never loved you, I was only with you to have a better status. I really don’t understand how someone who is supposedly smart couldn’t see that. Did you think you’re good enough for me?"

Maddox felt pain when he saw A-Xuan’s sad eyes. He was crying silently but he would rather not stop Naethan.

A-Xuan has to learn that only he truly loves him, so if he has to suffer first so be it.

"I only kept you at my side, so you could do all the work, but you dared steal my job. Now that I have your formula for the vaccine, you can die. I’ll save everyone, and they’ll all worship me, Emerys too."

A-Xuan looked down and murmured:

"No one ever loved me and no one ever will."

Naethan laughed delightfully.

"Finally, you understand. You’re not special, why would anyone love you? You’re just a piece of..."

Before he finished his sentence, he felt a hard blow to the stomach and fell to his knees coughing up blood. His shirt was damp.

His breathing was ragged, he took multiple breaths while he used his healing ability. Maddox approached A-Xuan, who looked down at Naethan incredulously.

He lifted his head, so he would meet his eyes.

"That’s not true, I love you. I’ve always loved you and I always will."

Naethan looked at Maddox wide-eyed. He screamed:

"Stop lying, I know you love me. Ever since A-Xuan and I have been together, I could see your anger and jealousy."

Maddox looked at him and sneered:

"Is that what you’ve been thinking all along? Even a tenth of A-Xuan is better than all of you."

All this time he thought that Maddox was the only one who knew how special and better than A-Xuan he was, but he never did. Naethan even started to develop feelings for him because of that.

Like a fool, he persuaded himself that come today he’ll have everything he desired including love, but Maddox was just using him to get A-Xuan. He looked down, tears running down his face.

The only person he thought he had on his side and had feelings for played him to have A-Xuan. Why him? Why? What does he have that I don’t?

After the outbreak, he thought that the natural order was finally restored. He had his healing ability and A-Xuan was a useless mundane, but it was just a cruel joke.

It’s like someone let him taste what it’s like to have power to make him feel worse once he loses it all. If that wasn’t enough for the first time, he has genuine feelings for someone, but Maddox loves A-Xuan.

Naethan felt an invisible force push his head up and met A-Xuan’s mocking eyes. He seethed:

"You son of a bitch, you knew all along."

From his malicious smile, he must’ve known, and he is rubbing it in his face. He at least had the satisfaction to know that he hurt him, but even that is gone.

Maddox looked at A-Xuan, but he was looking at Naethan with sad eyes. He felt heartbroken seeing him like that, but he had to show him the true Naethan.

When Naethan saw that Maddox couldn’t see A-Xuan’s real face he yelled:

"What the fuck is wrong with you? Can’t you see he knew all along? He was using you because he knows you love him."

Despite the searing pain, Naethan watched as A-Xuan said:

"If you have a problem with me, it’s fine but don’t talk to Maddox like that."

When Naethan saw that grin on Maddox’s face, he knew that it was useless, he was a fool in love.

"And he doesn’t love me."

Maddox turned A-Xuan’s face and told:

"I love you A-Xuan, I swear. I’ll do anything, so we can be together."

"Anything?"

Seeing that he was inclined, Maddox was over the moon. No matter what he wants, he’ll do it, so they can be together. Plus, him asking him to prove his love means that he’s willing to be with him.

He spoke excitedly:

"Anything you want, I swear."

Naethan felt a bad presentiment and gaped when A-Xuan said:

"I want you to kill Naethan. As long as he lives, I won’t feel comfortable in a relationship with you."

Maddox smiled and nodded multiple times.

"I will, I will. I’ll do anything you wish."

He looked at Naethan on the ground like a hunter would prey.

Naethan screamed:

"No, please! He’s using you, Maddox."

"If for me and A-Xuan to be together, you have to die, then so be it."

Maddox kept tossing water jet at Naethan, every time he would cough up blood his mouth would fill with water. When he was close to dying, A-Xuan put a hand on Maddox.

Maddox put his hand down, looking at him worriedly. A-Xuan smiled.

"I haven’t changed my mind. I still wish him to die."

Seeing that he was telling the truth, Maddox relaxed.

"Then what is it?"

"I want to finish him."