The fire outside isn’t waiting. It grows, eating the air, licking at the windows. Yaryu’s lungs burn just standing here.

  "Not happening." Yaryu shakes her head. No way on earth it's happening.

  Anaki doesn’t react. He just stands there, watching her with those cold, unsettling eyes.

  "You're not coming. Final." She stands her ground.

  Anaki tilts his head slightly. He doesn’t argue. He doesn’t plead. He just stares.

  From the side, Orion shrugs, arms folded. “Then take me instead.”

  A headache twists Yaryu's forehead.

  Not you too.

  Orion's shoulders square, chin’s up, like he’s daring her to say no.

  Behind him, Eli grips his sleeve, shaking his head hard.

  "Miss Yaryu, we shouldn’t even be doing this," Eli signs quickly, then whispers, words fumbling over one another. "We don’t know what’s out there. We should just stay put."

  Yaryu knows.

  God, she knows.

  But waiting isn’t an option anymore. She glances once more at the windows, sealed with mattresses and beddings. The fire in the yard got too thick and it'll start pouring in. Any longer and instead of the zombies it'll be carbon monoxide strangling them.

  They need to move. They need to get to the van. Get out of here, to safety.

  To Black Raven, whatever that place is.

  They need transport, the school van. She planned on going alone— have it parked ready up front. But she can't. Not with Anaki, Orion and Eli sticking to her like gum.

  They won't let her by herself. One of them has to go with her. And she has no choice or else they'll do something stupid, like always. She can't risk it.

  But if she takes one of them the other two will do their job. That's always how it's been with these three.

  But the problem is who?

  Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

  Orion. Strong, fast, a fighter. But reckless.

  Eli. Smart, cautious, but not built for this.

  And Anaki—

  She looks at him again.

  He hasn’t moved. Hasn’t spoken. Just watching.

  He would have never been an option but he's changed. He seems the most stable even though he had a panic attack yesterday.

  She clenches her teeth.

  Because deep down, she knows it too.

  Orion is the better choice.

  But Orion is also the only one who can keep the others in check. If something happens while she’s gone, he’s their best shot.

  "Orion. You stay."

  Orion stiffens. “What—?”

  “You have to hold things down here.” She bends to his eye level. “If something happens to me—”

  Orion’s face darkens. “Don’t say that.”

  She doesn’t.

  She just looks at him, hoping he understands.

  His fists clench. Then, slowly, he nods. “Fine. But you better not die out there.”

  Yaryu pats him. “Not planning to, kiddo.”

  That's right, she's coming back. She won't leave him alone, ever.

  Then she turns to Anaki.

  He doesn’t smile. Doesn’t look smug that she picked him. Silently waits for her. It was his plan, only right he sees through with it.

  Well here goes nothing.

  Yaryu turns to her students.

  Before they leave, she has one job. Tell the children. Without breaking them.

  How the hell is she supposed to do that?

  She fiddles with a superhero magazine.

  She’s read it a hundred times, practically memorized every word. Wished, maybe once or twice, that Sukiyaki-sama was real. That he’d be here, right now, dropping some legendary hero wisdom into her lap.

  Instead, she gets a zombie apocalypse, a cramped motel room, a dozen scared kids, and the weight of their survival crushing her ribs.

  Her younger students huddle together, giggling, but there’s a nervous edge to it. Every so often, their eyes flick to the window, to the darkness outside where morning refuses to come. Orion and Eli, at their nerve's end, try to keep them distracted.

  Anaki, in the far corner, is hunched over the crumpled city map. Marking the path. Their one chance. Their only way out.

  She has to believe it. There’s no choice.

  She exhales sharply, tossing the magazine onto the dresser. Runs a hand over her face. Exhausted.

  Her gaze drops—

  —to a fallen action figure.

  Staring up at her.

  Smug. Unbothered. The onigiri-shaped head and masculine superhero pose radiating an almost mocking confidence.

  For some reason, it’s annoying.

  She looks away.

  Then back at it.

  Ugh.

  She trudges forward, scooping up the toy. Briefly debates chucking its smug plastic face out the window. But she can’t. Ross would chew her out.

  She sighs. Fiddles with it.

  Something clicks.

  Oh.

  Oh.

  She turns, straightening up.

  "Alright, class!" Her voice calls out. Bright and commanding. As she would do at class before this hell. As if the world outside this room is not ending.

  Heads snap toward her. Like birds to breadcrumbs.

  Even Anaki looks up, caught off guard. Eli and Orion peek out from under their blankets, skeptical.

  Yaryu nods firmly. "Sukiyaki-sama has a special mission just for us." She kneels, holding up the figure. The very definition of dramatic.

  "The city has been overrun by evil zombie henchmen! And guess what?" She leans in.

  "You've been chosen as the saviors."

  Silence.

  Anaki’s mouth falls open.

  She is not serious.

  This is how she’s choosing to convince them?

  Ross grips the bed’s edge. “No way.”

  "Yes way," Yaryu says smoothly. Forgetting momentarily she was about to be killed minutes ago. "Sukiyaki-sama needs you—all of you—to help him."

  She yanks aside the curtain. The children gape in horror and intrigue at the flaming city.

  Ross immediately tumbles off the bed. Orion, unfortunate collateral damage, is yanked down with him.

  “Get off me.” Orion hisses.

  The younger kids shuffle closer, still mesmerized but—interested.

  Ross scrambles upright. “Then—Then what do we do?”

  "We gear up," Yaryu says simply. "And we move. Sukiyaki-sama is waiting for us in his hideout."

  The shift is instant.

  Where there was fear, there is now purpose.

  A game. A mission. A heroic duty.

  Anaki stares in stunned silence as they buy it.

  Even Eli and Orion think it’s crap.

  But. It’s working.

  Yaryu meets Anaki’s gaze. With a sigh, he gives her a knowing nod.

  It's time.

  She takes a breath, the uncomfortable chills returning. And steps forward.

  "Alright, heroes," she says, smiling through the exhaustion. "Let’s suit up."

  The kids cheer.

  Orion exhales, running a hand through his hair. This is insane.

  Eli watches Anaki. Silent. Thoughts running amock.

  But Anaki is busy, drowning in the crumpled city map.

  Black Raven’s hideout.

  He will get there. No matter what it takes.

  And this time—Not alone.