Jean's expression is grim in the torchlight as he wraps a rag around the red wound on his wrist. "I am running out of time, mis amigos," he says, and coughs heavily in his hand. Blood flecks his palm.

My arms fall from Leon. I take a step back and look at Amy. "You?"

She shakes her head but averts her eyes. "I'm fine."

I don't buy it. I can already feel... something... in me, like the first stage of a head-cold taking root. Not good. Not as bad as Jean, though, who continues to cough and looks like he's about to collapse.

Without a word, Leon reaches into his vest and pulls out a leather case. He's trying to hide a smile as he hands it to me.

"Something I picked up," he says. I snatch it from him and take a knee. Inside I feel slender tubes that clink together - glass.

"You fucking beauty."

Leon grins. "Enough for everyone."

There on my knee are five vials of what I can only assume is the antidote. A luminescent green liquid - our sudden salvation. Good thing, too. I'm nearly out of ammo.

Relief washes over Jean's face and Amy covers her mouth to stifle a gasp. There's a hypodermic strapped in the pack as well - one of the vials has a bit less than the others. I shoot Leon a look.

He's finished with my kerchief and tilts his head to the side. Gingerly he raises his fingers to the round purplish mark on his neck. "Each vial contains twenty-five doses. More than enough."

I drop the depleted vial into the slot and hold it my neck. A pinch - a hiss - the sensation is at once cool and burning - and I'm cured. Just like that. Amy stands in front of me and tilts her head. Apprehension crosses her pretty features - pinch, hiss - and steps back rubbing her neck.

Jean regards me with haunted, hungry eyes. His coughing has left his hand red.

"Might be too late for me," he says. Blood bubbles at the corner of his quivering lips.

"Bullshit." I kneel and shoot him full of antidote before he can say another word. He jumps when the needle punctures his skin. I stand and hold out my hand. "The only thing its too late for is giving up."

I tuck the vial back in place with its brothers and close the case. When I slide it back into Leon's vest the two of us are grinning like contented cats.

The moment doesn't last long enough.

"Can we go now?" Amy asks. Jean leans on her for support and looks bewildered.

Just as I say, "Fuck yeah," Leon says, "No."

I spin on him. "What do you mean, 'no'?"

His eyes are grim. "We have to stop them. This thing goes way beyond this little village - this is just a test. They've shipped infected food to at least three other small towns in Spain."

Fuentes, I think. The half-formed thought I'd had on the catwalk comes crashing back. Supplies. Shit.

I shake my head to clear these thoughts. "No. We leave. We go to authorities - the President will listen to his own daughter..."

But Leon is shaking his head. He points at Amy who looks at his finger like it's about to explode.

"I came to get her - if I'd succeeded, then maybe there would be time. There isn't. The President has already agreed to their terms. Shipments of the infection are making their way to the States as we speak. We have to stop it at the source."

No. I came for you. I found you. We're leaving. But I can't deny the fire burning in his eyes - the overwhelming appreciation of duty that never flinches. Usually I admire his conviction. Tonight I damn it for all I'm worth.

I try my radio - dead, likely a victim of my swim. It lets out a belch of static and becomes as useless as a stone. I resist the urge to crush it under my boot heel. I scan the wet chunks of our foes, piled around us like garbage - but they were people, once, simple people with simple lives before this alien virus came to claim them - before revolutionaries decided to take advantage.

Shit.

In the distance lies the castle - windows glowing like eyes.

I look at Leon. He's waiting for my answer, but his decision doesn't hang on it - he's going, one way or another.

"Jean, can you make it to the nearest city?"

His face is pale but he's no longer coughing. He nods.

I grit my teeth. "Take Amy and get out of here. Get to a phone - Amy, call your father and let him know you're alright. And take this." I reach into Leon's vest again - his heart is beating strong, fast, and under the fear-sweat I smell the scent that is his alone - and toss her the leather case. She fumbles it but doesn't let it fall. "Keep it safe."

I sigh heavily. Leon grabs my hand and squeezes. I squeeze back.

"Go now," I say. "Don't look back."

Jean bows gracefully - Amy's eyes well up - the two turn away from the flickering torchlight and creep into the woods. We listen to their footsteps until they fade away.

I take a step towards the mine - but Leon holds me back.

"Thank you," he says quietly. "Thank you for coming to rescue me."

I kiss him hard and deep.

"Now it's just the rest of the world we have to worry about," I say when I pull away. He laughs - such a carefree laugh, and the second time that night I think we're going to make it.

I take up the shotgun and nod at the mine. "Big fucking heroes, huh?"

He smiles. For that smile, I would do anything.

We run into the darkness.