“Stop!”

  Lián Xīng’s voice echoed through the plaza. The infected man she’d recognized as their leader turned his head toward her before nodding. The infected mob stopped fighting and instead headed straight toward her.

  Some soldiers still tried fighting them, but a command from Xú Zì Rán, the other base boss, had them freezing and watching as the infected swarmed toward the base’s healer.

  Out of the corner of Lián Xīng’s eye, she saw Zhōu Zǐ Xīn step in next to his brother, each on either side of her.

  “When they get here, don’t move, don’t shout, and don’t fight against them. Understood?”

  The men nodded, even if they tensed, waiting for the infected to surround them.

  The infected moved like a swarm surrounding them, pushing others away, but when they went to do so to the brothers, Lián Xīng spoke up for them.

  “They are only here to protect me.”

  The Zhōu brothers were then added to the protected circle.

  The infected leader stood before her, scanning her from head to toe.

  “Alright?”

  Lián Xīng nodded, “I’m fine.”

  He gestured to her, “Come.”

  “She’s not going with you.” Xú Zì Rán called out, “She’s ours.”

  The infected leader sent a glare toward the remaining base leader.

  “No.”

  Lián Xīng moved toward the infected leader before standing beside him and looking out at the base’s soldiers and the base leader.

  “You have held me here, but this is not my home.” Lián Xīng raised her head, “I do not belong to anyone but myself.” She saw the soldiers shift, looking at their leader and then back at her, “I can return every other day and help heal, but I will not be held as a prisoner any longer.” Lián Xīng glanced at the infected leader, “I believe they will come for me again if I’m held against my will.”

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  “Is that a threat, Lián Xīng?” The leader asked, eyes narrowed.

  “I am merely making an observation.” Lián Xīng smiled in a way that was more like a grimace. “Do you truly wish to continue fighting an enemy that doesn’t even need to exist? An enemy that once was your family and friends? You’ve seen what I can do. You’ve seen that I can heal the infected. “

  “Do you expect me to believe that you will heal every infected in the world?” The lady leader scoffed.

  “Maybe not the world, but I’ll start with this country. I believe in the meantime we can live peaceably among the infected….” She stopped as laughter spread through the soldiers. “They only attack when provoked, they can be reasoned with, and they can be understood if someone only takes the time to do so.”

  She looked out beyond the soldiers there were some of the more normal residents gathering.

  “Look at the infected around me. Yes, they can be pushed to violence, but only when provoked. Aren’t they still like you and me? Aren’t they still moved by emotion and instincts? Why should we fight against them? Why should we create an enemy when instead we should be focusing on rebuilding? We should be working together to get society back on its feet again.”

  “What do you expect those things living by our sides?” A shout came from the soldiers.

  “I expect that we adapt. I expect that we don’t turn to violence as the only solution. There is enough evil in the world through the selfishness of others than for us to add more to it.”

  “What will you do then, oh great healer! Will you create a base yourself?” A soldier she vaguely recognized as one of the men who first grabbed her from her home, what felt like ages ago, spoke.

  Moving forward and feeling as the infected army moved with her, she spoke out to the people gathered.

  “Who among you wishes to have your father, brother, sister, or loved one back by your side? It is possible. Some may be standing around me. Ask yourselves, would you rather stay in a place that would hunt down your loved ones, or would you rather be somewhere where your loved ones are healed and brought back to you?”

  She felt something hum within her, and when she closed her eyes, she could see several of the lights she was connected to move closer. She knew at least some of them might join her.

  The group around her grew, and she looked around to find several soldiers she had healed had joined their side. Their hands were ready at their sides, and power humming in the air, as if ready for the others across the plaza to lunge.

  “Xú Zì Rán, I would rather not leave here only to expect a fight later. Hasn’t there been enough lost today?” Lián Xīng looked at the woman whose features hardened, her shoulders tensed, before she looked around her. She looked at the defenseless people, and she looked at her soldiers. She noticed how nearly half her power users had switched sides, she saw how the people looked at the infected with new eyes. Lián Xīng watched as the realization came to the woman that she had lost.