Chapter 7 BPOV

Prior to leaving we had discussed using the city's tunnel system as far as we could, Emmett was tugging Maria in a huge collapsible wagon he and Edward had agreed to take turns pulling her.

We moved carefully through the city's tunnel system, the dim beams of our flashlights cutting through the oppressive darkness. Every sound—water dripping, debris shifting—felt amplified in the silence, keeping us on edge. Emmett pulled the collapsible wagon holding Maria, her unconscious body bouncing slightly with each jolt in the uneven ground.

She stirred occasionally, her restrained hands twitching and a low, guttural sound escaping her throat. Each time, Edward's eyes snapped to her, his jaw tightening.

"How much longer do you think she has?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Edward glanced at me, his expression unreadable. "Hard to say. The sedatives are working for now, but she's fighting them. It's only a matter of time."

Behind us, Emmett grunted, the wagon's wheels catching on a jagged rock. "You know, this might be the weirdest workout I've ever done. And I've bench-pressed an engine block before."

The attempt at humor lightened the mood just enough to keep us moving forward.

After some time, we reached a split in the tunnel. To the left, the path partially collapsed, leaving a narrow, treacherous gap to climb through. To the right, the tunnel stretched into deeper darkness, but the faint echo of growls reverberated from that direction.

Edward swept his flashlight over both paths, his military training evident in his sharp, calculated movements. "Left, we risk getting stuck. Right, we face whatever's making that noise."

"It could be other survivors," I said, though I wasn't even sure I believed it.

"Or worse," Emmett muttered, tightening his grip on the wagon handle. "Let's take the climb. I'll lift the wagon if I have to."

With no better option, we opted for the narrow path. Edward went first, testing the stability of the debris before signaling for me to follow. He grabbed my hand and didn't let go. Emmett brought up the rear, grumbling as he hoisted the wagon over each obstacle.

Halfway through, a loud clatter echoed through the tunnel. A loose pipe, dislodged by Emmett's movements, crashed to the ground. The sound reverberated like a gunshot, and in the ensuing silence, we heard it: the rapid, guttural snarls of infected.

"They're coming," Edward said sharply, pulling his weapon out with one hand and holding my hand in the other. "Stay together." he said as he squeezed my hand before letting go.

The infected moved with terrifying speed, their eyes gleaming in the faint light. I raised my gun, aiming at the closest one. My shot didn't ring out in the tunnel, thankfully Carlisle Arsenal had silencers, I struck the zombie in the chest. It staggered but kept coming, forcing me to fire again.

Maria thrashed violently in the wagon, her guttural noises growing louder. Emmett strained to keep her restrained. "She's waking up!" he yelled. "Edward, do something!"

"Emmett, cover me!" said Edward.

He moved swiftly, pulling another syringe from my bag and plunging it into Maria's arm. Her thrashing slowed, but her wild eyes locked onto mine for a split second before she slumped back into the wagon.

Emmett and I fended off the infected. I took down one, but an infected did sling me into a wall causing a contusion. Once Edward finished it off, we found refuge in an abandoned maintenance room, barricading the door behind us. My hands shook as I leaned against the wall, trying to catch my breath. Edward knelt beside me, his flashlight illuminating a shallow cut on my head.

"You're bleeding," he said, his tone clipped but concerned.

"It's just a scratch," I replied, brushing it off.

"Let me see." He reached for my face, his touch firm but gentle. He cleaned the wound, his focus intense. I winced slightly as he cleaned the wound with a cloth he found in his bag. His focus was intense, his brow furrowed, as if trying to fix not just the injury but also the overwhelming tension in the air.

Our eyes met, and for a moment, the chaos around us faded. I opened my mouth to speak, but the tension in the room shifted when Emmett stated, "We need to rest."

"You're right," Edward stated. "We can't keep going like this."

Emmett rolled his shoulders. " Well, I'm taking first watch. We can't afford to sleep too deeply. If anyone comes, I'll be ready."

I nodded, exhaustion creeping into my bones. Emmett made his way to the corner, sitting on the ground and keeping an eye on the room's only exit. Edward and I settled down beside the nearest wall, our backs to the cold concrete. I couldn't help but feel a sense of calm in the stillness, even though my mind raced with thoughts of Maria and what lay ahead.

"We'll take shifts," Edward said, settling beside me. His body warmth bled into mine, and for a moment, I allowed myself to lean into him, just a little.

I could feel his eyes on me again, and when I turned, our gazes locked once more. This time, there was a deeper understanding between us, something unspoken.

"You need to rest, too," I said quietly, feeling the weight of the journey on my own shoulders.

He didn't respond immediately, his face softened in the dim light. "I'll be okay. But you need to sleep. We all do."

I hesitated but eventually nodded. As Emmett kept watch, I closed my eyes, exhaustion pulling me into a light, restless sleep, knowing that whatever came next, we would face it together.