Lián Xīng had been scratched deeply by an infected, but her body healed as quickly as night came and starlight filtered through her window.

  She had quarantined herself for two days just in case, but nothing happened; she didn’t become infected.

  She believed this accurate but still felt relief when it was proved to her.

  Meanwhile, Mùchén had been taking care of their new pets.

  Grandpa Lián Liwei spoke through her door as she quarantined, “Mùchén has been more lively than I’ve seen him in a long while.”

  “Has he named the kittens and puppies yet?”

  A chuckle came through the door.

  “He’s been researching names with great meanings from around the world.”

  Lián Xīng smiled, leaning against the door. It was nice to hear that he was enjoying the new parts of their family.

  Later that night, she sat on her window seat looking up at the stars that hung over the courtyard outside. The world might be changing, but so was she. She didn’t want to be like those who shot first in life before asking questions. She didn’t want to feed the circle of violence. She’d seen how reactive the infected were, they seemed only to attack if they perceived violence. They didn’t like loud sounds either. They were drawn to sunlight, she remembered how Měi Lán had been when she was infected. She knew she could heal the infected, too.

  It would be dangerous, though. When she healed Měi Lán, she did so in a safe environment, and so when she needed to rest due to how much effort it took to heal her niece each day, she only needed to lie down. If she went out to heal an infected, she would be vulnerable if she needed to rest after healing them.

  But was it a risk worth taking?

  She set her forehead against the cool glass of the window and let out a sigh.

  Life wouldn’t get better in this world by doing nothing, and while others might have a more ‘kill the infected’ mentality, she certainly didn’t. They could be saved, and she might very well be the only one who could do it.

  She knew what her decision would be, but this wasn’t just her decision to make; she needed to ask her family what she should do. If she put herself in danger, that would affect them as well.

  The next morning, after they all finished breakfast, she approached the issue.

  “I may be the only one who can heal the infection.” She glanced up at her family. “I am immune to it, and I can help those who have it.” She looked at each of her family members. “But if I go and help them, I might be putting myself in danger.”

  “Of them?”

  Lián Xīng shook her head.

  “My instincts tell me they won’t harm me. It’s not them I’m worried about.”

  “Mama always said: ‘If you have the capa…’” Měi Lán scrunched her face, not being able to remember the word.

  “Capability.” Lián Xīng supplied.

  “Yes! Capability! ‘If you have the capability to help someone, then just do it.’”

  “So I’ve got Měi Lán’s vote. What about you, Mùchén?”

  He looked down at his empty plate, his brow furrowed, before looking up and staring deeply into her eyes. “I don’t like that you’ll be in danger but…” His shoulders slumped. “I don’t want to be selfish by telling you to stay.”

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  “Thank you, Mùchén. I will try to be as careful as I can.”

  Lián Xīng, Mùchén, and Měi Lán all looked over at their grandpa.

  “You’ve already made up your mind. Why do you need my input?”

  “Because you are all important to me, and I think you should all be included in whatever big decisions are made.”

  Lián Liwei gave a wry smile, “My thinking is similar to Mùchén’s. I don’t want you to put yourself in harm’s way, but I also know that it’s part of you to want to help. It would be wrong to stop you.”

  The plan was to find the same woman that had scratched her, but if that didn’t work, she would see if she could get an infected one to come near enough to try for a conversation again. Then maybe see if she could heal them, but first, she wanted them to know she was someone safe.

  Deciding to start near the pet shop, hoping that maybe it could be a place the woman-infected might hang around on occasion, she stood by it hoping she’d catch sight of the other woman.

  It didn’t take long before she felt the sensation of being stared at again.

  Looking up, she pulled her camouflage gift around her and walked toward where she felt the stares were coming from. It was the same woman. Making sure she was a little bit away, hearing distance but not too close to be in scratching range, she dropped her camouflage.

  “Hello.”

  Glowing blue eyes stared unblinkingly at her.

  The woman-infected opened her mouth and then closed it.

  “Can I come closer? I don’t want to be in the open.”

  A slow nod came, and Lián Xīng slowly came into the shadow of the alleyway and stood against the other wall, still giving space and making sure the infected didn’t feel cornered.

  Blue eyes stared down at the arm that she had harmed before, and Lián Xīng carefully pulled up the sleeve.

  “All healed, see.”

  The woman-infected tilted her head to the side, looking at the arm as if surprised before looking back at Lián Xīng, only for her eyes to grow glassy as she stared unseeingly for a moment. The woman-infected abruptly turned and started moving away.

  “I’d like to see you again. Tomorrow?”

  The woman-infected paused, giving a small nod before leaving.

  The woman-infected came back the next day, and they met in the alleyway.

  This continued for a week before the woman let her touch her hand.

  “Can I try to heal you?”

  The woman-infected tilted her head and got the glassy look again before nodding.

  Lián Xīng held her hand and closed her eyes, unafraid that the woman would attack.

  Just like she had done with Měi Lán, she searched for the woman’s star. It glowed bright blue in the darkness, and then she focused on embracing the blue light with her white gold. It was harder than it had been with Měi Lán; she could feel herself getting tired, but still she persisted. Her instincts were telling her that she had a limited time with the woman, and she wouldn’t let her slip away before she could heal her.

  Sweat rolled down her forehead as she focused on her energy and the woman’s until the woman’s light turned from neon blue to a light white gold.

  “Liá…n Xīng.”

  Lián Xīng’s eyes fluttered open to look into dark blue eyes no longer glowing, looking at her in surprise. “I did it.” She mumbled before collapsing into the surprised woman’s arms.

  She woke to the soft mumblings of a woman above her, her hair being petted until she stirred.

  “Are…are you…awake?”

  Lián Xīng nodded before sitting up and looking at the woman whom she’d healed. She was in her late 30s with long brown hair that had gotten tangled. Big, dark blue eyes looked at her in awe. Her torn clothes looked like they once had been a nice business suit.

  “Hello again. Do you happen to remember your name?”

  The woman slowly nodded. “I was a… foreign dignitary… My name is Arabelle Porter.”

  Lián Xīng smiled and held her hand out. “It’s nice to officially meet you, Miss Porter.”

  The woman firmly shook her hand, a bright smile upon her lips.

  Their gazes went to the darkening skies.

  “Miss Porter, do you have somewhere to go?”

  “I…don’t know. Everything still feels a little fuzzy.”

  Standing only wobbling slightly and steadied by Ms Porter.

  “We have a guest room if you’d like somewhere to stay until you remember more clearly.”

  Checking the time on her brace, she decided to check in with her grandfather. Typing his contact brace’s number.

  “Lián Xīng? Where are you? It’s getting dark.”

  “I’m sorry for worrying you, Grandpa. I have a guest. Do you think you could make sure the guest bedroom is ready?”

  “It worked. I’m proud of you, Lián Xīng.”