Although Liam had saved her by accident, a rescue was still a rescue. Emma wasn't the kind to forget a debt. She would tuck this gratitude away in her heart, repaying it when the day came.

  "Are you the only one living in this city?" Liam asked, still ruffling Bentley's head.

  Emma paused her work and smiled. "Seems like it. I've never seen anyone else here."

  "Then this past year must've been rough!" Liam exclaimed, genuine admiration stirring in his chest. If he'd been forced to live alone in an abandoned city for a year, he'd have gone mad. And the early days of the apocalypse—every city had been absolute hell.

  A mid-sized city held roughly 300,000 to 700,000 residents. Those who survived the Z-Virus invasion numbered around 100,000. The rest had mostly transformed into zombies.

  Imagine it—at least 200,000 undead roaming the streets. And that didn't even count those who'd survived the initial infection only to be bitten later.

  When Liam had fled on his motorcycle, a sea of zombies had chased him for miles. Just thinking about it made his scalp crawl.

  But Emma simply smiled, serene and untroubled. "I was terrified at first. Then I started treating the zombies and mutants like monsters in a video game. It got less scary. After that, I found a copy of Resident Evil and played it about a dozen times. By then, I wasn't afraid at all."

  "..." Liam stared at her, his expression strange. What kind of psychological fortitude did this woman possess? Conquering terror through gaming? That ability was downright broken.

  Emma snipped the bandage. "All patched up."

  "Emma, what are your plans now?" Liam asked, hope blooming in his chest. Emma wasn't as beautiful as the girl—the silent one—but she was still a delicate beauty. If she agreed to travel with him, it would be perfect. Besides, the girl couldn't speak. He mostly talked at her while she simply listened in silence. Having someone who could actually talk back? He'd beg for that opportunity.

  But Emma stood up and beamed. "Obviously, I'm going to get gas, then go home and fry some meat to reward Bentley."

  "..." Liam had to admit, this woman appeared completely normal. Too normal, in fact.

  Didn't she want a powerful companion?

  Hadn't she seen he commanded a mighty dragon? Hadn't she witnessed his superhuman strength?

  Didn't she realize following him meant safety and comfort?

  Didn't she feel lonely? Didn't she need a friend to talk to?

  How could she say such things so confidently, so matter-of-factly?

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  Though her answer left Liam thoroughly depressed, Bentley barked joyfully, tail wagging nonstop.

  Emma patted the dog's head. "Bentley, can you still run?"

  Bentley barked once, then circled her, proving he could manage.

  "Liam, I'll be going then. If you're free later, you can come visit my place. It's over there—you can call out nearby, and I'll hear you." Emma smiled at Liam, then led Bentley away.

  Liam couldn't let her slip away so easily. "Wait, Emma—is your place big?"

  "It's decent. Why?" Emma stopped, puzzled.

  Liam explained, "My companion and I were living in a forest nearby, but it burned down recently. We don't have anywhere to stay. If your place is large enough, could we stay with you for a while?"

  "Oh, that's fine," Emma agreed immediately, thinking this was the perfect chance to repay Liam's rescue. "Though with extra people, food might get tight."

  "Food's not a problem," Liam said quickly. "I'll provide whatever you need."

  "Alright, then go fetch your companion. I'll get the gas. See you soon." Emma smiled.

  But Liam shook his head. "That can wait. I'll accompany you to get gas first. If you run into danger again, there might not be anyone dropping from the sky to help."

  "Mm." Emma nodded, slightly shy. After the invisible serpent incident, she genuinely feared encountering threats on the road. And though Bentley's injuries weren't life-threatening, he could no longer protect her.

  "You navigate. I'm not familiar with this area." Liam leaped onto the black dragon's back, then used his hair to lift Emma and Bentley aboard.

  Emma nodded. "I'll explain the surroundings as we go."

  Liam agreed, unaware he was signing up for an endurance test.

  "Liam, see that boutique tableware shop? The storefront's wrecked, but the inventory's still intact. When I need new bowls or chopsticks, that's where I go."

  ...

  "Liam, look down that street. It's full of adorable little accessories. I've lingered there for hours, reluctant to leave."

  ...

  "See over there? Generators and useful equipment. My solar water heater and generator came from there."

  ...

  "And that department store—I prepared a freezer there six months ago. Still plenty of supplies inside. Oh, to celebrate your move-in tonight, why don't we grab some things and have a small party?"

  ...

  Perched on the dragon's back, Emma pointed in every direction, reciting each shop's function from memory. The city's former mayor probably didn't know it as well as she did. She even knew the location of every manhole cover.

  But this intimate knowledge of the city was precisely why Emma had survived. She also knew where most mutant creatures hid and when they slept.

  Through Emma's endless tour, the dragon finally reached the gas station. There had been a closer one, but Emma had already emptied it.

  Liam swept all the gas canisters onto the dragon's back with his hair, then followed Emma's directions to the next stop. With Liam and the dragon as escorts, Emma wanted to visit a distant DVD rental shop to hunt for good movies.

  Fortunately, the black dragon was fast. They arrived quickly, and Emma selected a stack of discs. Finally, they could head home.

  Emma's apartment was on the ninth floor. Liam used his hair to carry the gas canisters and miscellaneous items, following Emma upstairs. The stairwell was spotless—she'd cleaned it herself. Unlike other buildings caked in dust and bloodstains, this one felt almost pristine.

  "Here's my place. Come in—I haven't had guests in ages." Emma opened the iron door, smiling.

  Her home was immaculate. The apartment bore no trace of the apocalypse, resembling a comfortable middle-class household from before the fall.

  "Want something to drink?" Emma opened the refrigerator, revealing an improbable variety of beverages.

  Liam desperately wanted to ask: Aren't these expired?

  And more importantly—wasn't this apartment absurdly out of place in the apocalypse?