Seeing the girl walking away, the man in the suit gave the order in a cold, calculating voice:
—Spread out... roll her in and catch her. But avoid making too much noise, I don't want to alert any more of those things.
Althea kept running aimlessly, she just wanted to get out of that dark and scary forest. Her breathing was agitated, her legs were shaking with fatigue and fear. But she couldn't stop…not now.
After several minutes, the silence became eerie… too deep.
He felt a shiver run through his body.
He turned his head instinctively… and his heart stopped for a second.
—Mian? —she whispered in fear.
Mian... was gone.
—Where... Where are you? —she murmured in anguish, her eyes filled with despair.
Then, a shadow appeared in front of her… and at her sides, others. She was surrounded.
And there he was... the man in the suit, holding Mian in the air, cruelly holding him by the neck. The little boy groaned in pain, struggling to free himself.
—I warned you... you weren't going to get very far—dijo el hombre con una sonrisa oscura.
—Let go of Mian! —shouted Althea, with rage and tears in her eyes.
—Are you talking about this puppy? —he replied mockingly, tightening his grip, making Mian let out a whimper of pain.
—Don't hurt him! —Althea pleaded, her voice breaking.
The man let out a small laugh.
—Then let's make a deal, girl… you give me the backpack… and I'll give you back the puppy.
Althea looked at him confused and scared.
—My backpack? What do you want it for? —she asked nervously.
—Your dear father owed me something, but he didn't want to give it to me… and I'm sure he gave it to you.
—I don't know what you're talking about… all I have are clothes… and some cookies.
—Really? —he said, squinting his eyes— I don't care. Hand over the backpack... or this animal will pay the consequences.
The man looked at the necklace around Mian's neck. He took it between his fingers, observing the small gem hanging from it.
—Wow... A necklace with a gem? —he laughed teasingly— You seem to love him enough to give something like that to a simple dog.
—That's a gift from my father! Don't touch it! —Althea shouted angrily.
—Enough talk. Give me the backpack—he ordered impatiently.
Althea had no choice... trembling, she began to take the backpack off her shoulders.
But then... BANG! A shot rang out in the forest. Everyone was silent for a second.
The man in the suit frowned.
—What the hell was that? —he growled in annoyance— Damn it... we have to get out of here. The backpack, now!
But Mian, in a last act of bravery, took advantage of the carelessness and bit down hard on his captor's hand.
—Agh, you damned dog! —he shouted furiously.
Without thinking, he threw him brutally against a nearby tree. The blow was so strong that Mian lay motionless, unconscious.
—Mian! —shouted Althea in desperation, running towards him.
But at that instant, the growls of several infected began to be heard all around. The creatures had been attracted by the shot.
—¡Shit!! —cursed the man in the suit — Get rid of these things!
As the men fought the infected, Althea ran to Mian and knelt beside him, her tears falling uncontrollably down her face.
—Mian….please… don't fall asleep… —she whispered with a broken voice —Don't leave me alone…
She held him in her arms with all the love and strength she still had left. Her heart was pounding with desperation.
"I have to save him... If I make it out of the forest, maybe someone can help us... I won't let you die, Mian... I promise," she thought with her soul on edge.
He gritted his teeth and looked around. The men were busy, distracted by confronting the creatures.
—You're going to be all right, Mian...I'll see to it, if it's the last thing I do—he murmured firmly, like a sealed promise.
Then, without further hesitation, she struggled to her feet. She lifted him in her arms, and with each trembling step, she began to run. As fast as she could. Without looking back. Running from the hell she left behind her. Clinging to the hope of saving him.
—They're getting away! —one of the men shouted.
—Finish these things quickly! We can't lose her! —ordered the one in the suit, furious.
Althea kept running, aimlessly, not knowing where she was going. All that mattered was Mian... and saving him.
But suddenly... footsteps could be heard ahead of her. Closer and closer
She couldn't go any further.
The footsteps were heard more and more accompanied by grunts, without thinking, Althea grabbed a thick branch she found on the ground. She was going to fight... she had to defend herself as necessary.
But just as she was about to face what was coming towards her... she felt a hand grab her forcefully from the side and pulled her roughly out of the way, hiding her among the trees.
Althea's heart pounded, pounding against her chest as if seeking escape. She was frightened, paralyzed... someone had suddenly pulled her and now a firm hand covered her mouth, preventing her from uttering a sound.
Her eyes widened in terror. Who was it? Another enemy?
She looked up slowly... and saw him.
It was a young man, perhaps 18 years old or younger, with fair skin and a serious face. His blond hair, slightly tousled by the wind, fell carelessly over his forehead. His eyes were green, intense, with an alert, focused expression. His body was agile, firm, like someone who knew how to move in danger. However, the most striking thing at that moment was that he wasn't looking at her... he was watching carefully what was beyond the tree.
Althea followed his gaze warily... and then she saw him too.
An infected.
He was just on the other side... too close.
The young man lowered his gaze to her and beckoned her with a finger, asking for absolute silence. Althea nodded trembling.
The seconds took forever.
The infected sniffed the air, looking for any sound or movement... but when he didn't perceive anything, he ended up moving away, entering the darkness of the forest.
When the danger passed, the young man let out a silent sigh and finally lowered his hand from Althea's mouth.
He turned to her... and was shocked to see her so small, so frightened... and carrying with all her strength a small, injured puppy.
—I'm so sorry for holding you like this... —he said in a soft voice— But we couldn't make any noise.... Are you all right?
Althea, still shaken, but relieved, nodded her head.
—Yes… thank you for saving me —she replied in a breathy voice.
The young man smiled slightly, relieved.
—You're welcome, I'm glad to hear you're all right —he said sincerely— Are you alone? Where are your parents?
Those words fell heavy on Althea's heart. She looked down, squeezing Mian even tighter to her chest.
—My parents…they're gone— she murmured sadly— I only have Mian left…but… they hurt him… — his eyes filled with tears as he looked at Mian— I don't want him to die… please… can you help me…
Her broken voice completely broke the young man's seriousness. He felt a lump in his throat at the sight of the girl pleading like that.
Without hesitation, he crouched down in front of her and gently held her hands..
—Calm down…I will help you, I promise. Don't cry…—he said with a warmth that Althea had not felt in a long time.
She looked at him with tearful eyes... for the first time in that dark night... she felt a little hope.
—But first —he continued— we have to get out of here. This place is not safe.
—Yes... —Althea nodded, wiping away her tears.
The young man looked around, attentive.
— I heard voices near here. I think there are more survivors... I'll go get them and we'll leave together —he said getting ready to move.
But then...
—No! — exclaimed Althea, holding him by the sleeve tightly, almost in a desperate impulse.
The young man stopped in surprise.
—Why? What's wrong? —he asked in confusion.
Althea looked him straight in the eye, as fearfully as she had looked at the men in suits.
—Those people… they are following me —she confessed— They hurt Mian… they are bad… please… don't bring them…
The young man opened his eyes a little wider, understanding the seriousness of what he was hearing.
Althea was holding her sleeve tightly, trembling, pleading.
He put a hand on her shoulder, reassuring her.
—It's all right... Don't worry —he said firmly— I won't look for them. Just trust me, okay?
Althea nodded slowly.
The young man stood up and held out his hand.
— Come... stay behind me and stay close. Let's get out of this forest... together.
Althea, her heart pounding, took his hand... clinging to that promise of protection.
And so, the two of them began to move forward, slowly moving away from the darkness.