Chapter 7: The Last GoodbyeSam sat beside Riley, his fingers wrapped around her cold hand. The apartment was silent except for their breathing—the slow, bored sound of Riley’s fading life and the shallow, unsteady rhythm of Sam’s.

  He had spent the st twenty-four hours fighting to reach her, hoping, praying that she was alive. And now, here she was.

  Dying.

  His throat felt tight, like something was squeezing it shut. He had seen death before. He had seen people torn apart, their bodies left as nothing more than broken reminders of what they once were. But this was different.

  This was his sister.

  Riley blinked slowly, her eyes dull and gssy. “Sam,” she murmured.

  He leaned closer. “Yeah?”

  She gave him a small, weak smile. “You came.”

  His chest ached. “Of course I did.”

  “I… I thought you were dead.” Her voice was soft, barely above a whisper. “I waited… but I thought maybe…” She trailed off, her breath hitching.

  Sam shook his head. “I wasn’t going to leave you.”

  A tear slid down her cheek. She tried to squeeze his hand, but she was too weak. “You were always the stubborn one,” she murmured.

  A sad smile flickered across his lips. “Guess I was.”

  Riley let out a weak chuckle that turned into a cough. Sam instinctively moved to support her, but she waved him off. “I’m okay,” she whispered.

  But she wasn’t. And they both knew it.

  The Hardest ChoiceSam’s mind raced. There had to be something he could do. Maybe he could carry her out of here, find a doctor, find someone who knew what to do. There were still people out there, still survivors. Maybe—

  No.

  He knew better.

  There was no cure. No help. No miracle waiting just around the corner.

  Riley was dying.

  And soon, she would turn.

  Sam clenched his jaw, his grip tightening on the bat beside him. He had seen it happen before—how the infection took over, how the body twisted, how the eyes lost everything that made them human.

  Would Riley even know who he was by the time it happened?

  Would she feel herself slipping away?

  His stomach twisted.

  She must have seen the look in his eyes because she reached out and touched his arm. “Sam,” she said softly.

  He forced himself to meet her gaze.

  “I don’t… want to come back,” she whispered.

  A lump formed in his throat. “Riley—”

  Her fingers dug into his sleeve with the st bit of strength she had. “Promise me,” she whispered. “Promise me you won’t let me turn into one of them.”

  Sam felt like he couldn’t breathe.

  He shook his head. “Don’t ask me that.”

  “Please.”

  Tears burned in his eyes. He had lost so much already. Losing her felt like losing the st piece of himself.

  “I can’t,” he whispered.

  Her lips trembled, but she nodded. “Then stay with me,” she said. “Just until it’s over.”

  Sam bit down on his lip, hard enough to draw blood. He didn’t trust himself to speak, so he just nodded.

  A Slow GoodbyeThey sat there for a long time, the world outside forgotten.

  Riley leaned against his shoulder, her breath coming slower and slower.

  “I was scared,” she murmured after a while.

  Sam closed his eyes. “Me too.”

  “I didn’t want to die alone.”

  “You’re not alone.”

  She sighed softly. “Good.”

  Minutes passed. Maybe hours. Sam wasn’t sure. The apartment was quiet, the city outside filled with distant groans and the occasional scream.

  But in this room, it was peaceful.

  Then Riley’s breathing hitched.

  Sam’s muscles tensed.

  Her fingers twitched, gripping his arm for the briefest moment—then going limp.

  Silence.

  For a second, it was like the world just… stopped.

  Sam swallowed hard, his hand tightening around hers.

  “Riley?” he whispered.

  Nothing.

  She was gone.

  A broken sob escaped his lips, his body shaking. He pressed his forehead against hers, his tears soaking into her hair. “I’m sorry,” he choked out.

  She was gone.

  But soon, she would come back.

  The Hardest Thing He’d Ever DoneSam pulled away slowly, his hands trembling. He couldn’t wait. He wouldn’t wait.

  Riley had asked him for one st thing.

  She had trusted him to do it.

  His grip tightened on the bat.

  His whole body shook as he stood up. His breath came in short, ragged gasps. He had killed before—but never like this.

  Never someone he loved.

  He raised the bat.

  His arms felt like lead.

  His heart hammered against his ribs.

  He closed his eyes.

  “I love you,” he whispered.

  Then he swung.

  The bat connected with a sickening crack.

  And just like that…

  She was free.

  No Way BackSam stood there for what felt like forever, staring down at what was left of his sister.

  His hands were stained with blood.

  His heart felt hollow.

  He had done what she asked. He had kept his promise.

  But it didn’t make it any easier.

  He turned away, wiping his face with the back of his sleeve. He had to keep moving. If he stayed here any longer, he wouldn’t leave at all.

  He took one st look at Riley.

  Then he picked up his bat and walked out of the apartment, stepping back into the ruined world.

  And he didn’t look back.