Aaron took a few seconds to scan the door back into the headquarters as he pondered how he'd never see the inside again. But at this rate, he didn't care anymore. Besides, there were only two people in there who he actually felt a connection with. Everyone else was just a forgettable colleague.

Aaron raised his middle finger to the door. "I don't need you guys anyway."

He slowly strolled away from the door back to the Commons. He watched the inhabitants as they went on with their lives as if there weren't a horde of flesh-eating monsters outside their home. The paperboy was handing out newspapers. The shops were as lively as ever. Farmers wheeled their crops down the paths from their indoor farms to the shops of the Commons. Schoolchildren followed in lines behind their teachers.

He was halted by two young citizens--a boy and and a girl, undoubtedly siblings--selling hats and beanies from a small kiosk.

"Excuse me, sir," the girl said. "But would you like to try on something?"

"Wait, uh..." Aaron tried to reply, but he was caught off guard. His focus was gone.

"You look like the kind of gentleman who'd look brilliant in a hat," the boy took over. "Or if not, we have some beanies and sunglasses. Not like anyone even uses the sunglasses."

"No, it's fine," Aaron replied. "They probably wouldn't look great with these bruises anyway."

The two stared at him with confusion. "What bruises?" the girl asked.

Aaron froze. He rubbed his face and pressed around the areas Rupert had punched him. He couldn't feel any bruises or cuts. Even the cut on his lip seemed to have vanished.

"Do you have a mirror?" he asked the kids.

The girl opened up a drawer on the side of the kiosk and pulled out a small handheld mirror. She handed it to Aaron.

There wasn't a single scratch or bruise on his face. Nothing was hurting. The only remaining evidence of his fight with Rupert was a small bit of dry blood on his lips and a bright shade of crimson in his teeth. Yet only a few minutes ago, Schaefer noticed Aaron's injuries. Did they really disappear that fast?

"Sir," the boy asked. "I don't mean to intrude, but why are your teeth so red?"

Aaron didn't pay attention. He continued gazing into the eyes of what could possibly be another Deadman. And the worst part was how he used to kill the creatures he'd become.

"Sir?" the boy asked again.

Aaron slowly handed the girl the mirror. He was practically paralyzed with fear. Every muscle in him stiffened and he moved like he was made of rusted metal.

"I gotta go," he said.

Aaron turned toward the elevator and ran for it, not bothering to look back or around him. He could already imagine the sound of gunfire representing the DZI's attempts to kill him. He felt like they were already in pursuit behind him.

He jumped into the elevator and returned to his home on the sixth floor. He slammed the door behind him and immediately locked it.

Beads of sweat covered his forehead and his breath had sped up. Fear swept through him like the infection. It felt cold.

He looked down at the elastic wrap still tied around his hand. With his other hand, he placed his fingers on the edge of the bandage.

If I'm really infected, Aaron thought to himself as he tried not to panic, then this wound should remain as a reminder of what I'm becoming.

He quickly yanked off the elastic wrap. The cut he received during the mission was gone. His hand was clean and unscathed.

He still panicked nonetheless. He ran to the bathroom and vomited into his toilet. But despite his worst fears coming true, there was one thing he couldn't seem to understand.

When someone is bitten by a Deadman, the bite would remain and all other injuries would start healing. Eventually, the infection destroys all pain receptors and the infected person will no longer feel pain. However, the bite mark never healed, even after revival. So why did Aaron's cut heal?

He calmed himself down and slowed his breathing, eventually restoring a normal pace of breath. He stepped out of the bathroom and plopped down on his bed. He raised up his left hand and stared at the pallor of his skin.

"So much for surviving," Aaron said to himself. "I used that Ration Card for nothing."

He got off his bed and approached his desk. He opened up the drawer, revealing a small stack of Ration Cards and a small box next to it. On it was a note reading To Nika. It was a gift he bought for her, but he didn't have enough time or courage to give it to her, even though he was in love with her ever since the Outbreak.

"Well at least there's one thing that I didn't waste my quid on. Not sure if she'd like receiving a gift from an infected man."

He pulled out the two Ration Cards in his pocket and placed them with the rest in his drawer. He took one more glance at the box before shutting the drawer.

"Might as well pay her a visit," he said to himself with discouragement.

He slowly walked over to the door and placed his hand on the knob. Then a moment of realization struck him.

Nika worked in the Matheson library. The library was a surplus of books with knowledge of the Deadmen, including the process of turning. If he could find out how long he had until he'd give in to bloodlust, maybe he could do something heroic for the rest of the survivors. Maybe he could redeem himself before death.

Kinda wish I made a bucket list, Aaron sarcastically thought to himself.

He stepped out of his flat and locked the door behind him. He made his way to the elevator, determined to make sure caring about Nika would be one of the last things he'd do before dying.

* * *

Matheson's library was surprisingly cozy. It was a two-story rectangular building in the corner of the Commons that took up space on the first and second floors. However, the Sounds of Hope radio station always played in there to comfort the survivors and remind them of the possibility of a safe world beyond the tower. There was also a fireplace and complimentary hot chocolate.

Despite that, the stories the citizens immersed themselves in were far from comforting. While many famous novels like religious books and even fiction like the Harry Potter series were recovered from the Outbreak, scary stories and folklore about the Deadmen were in surprisingly popular demand. However, hardly anyone who wasn't a DZI had actually seen a Deadman before, so curiosity often got the best of them. But then curiosity led to assumptions and myths.

Aaron slowly pushed through the door. Rows of bookshelves filled the room and tables lined down the center. Children and their parents sat at the tables softly reading fairy tales and stories to protect them from the morbid truth of the monsters wandering outside the tower.

A larger group of children exited from the right side of the room. All of them wore school uniforms. Must've finished story time.

"Come again, children!" said the kind voice of a young woman.

Aaron waited as the kids exited the library before making his way toward their original location. He walked past the tables and found himself in a new room. Bookshelves still lined the walls, but couches and beanbags decorated the corner of the room, next to a collection of mugs of hot chocolate.

That's when he found Nika quietly doing her job. She had wavy blonde hair trailing down her head to her shoulders. Her pretty blue eyes were focused on the bookshelf in front of her. She was rearranging the children's novels and placing a few new books in, humming to herself as she worked.

"I'll be right with you in a second," Nika said, still not realizing Aaron was there.

Aaron almost broke down just by looking at her. Even though he wanted to do something great for her to finish off the last few days of his life, he was haunted by the thoughts of the pain she'd feel once she realized he'll be gone. The process of turning might end physical pain in a short period of time, but it takes longer to stop feeling emotional and mental pain.

"What can I do for—"

Nika went silent as Aaron threw his arms around her and pulled her into one of the strongest hugs he's ever given. It took her a few seconds to realize it was him, but once she did she hugged him back with an equal amount of comfort.

"I was worried about you," she said softly, snuggling her head against his. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Aaron replied. No, he wasn't. "Just recovering, is all."

Nika released him from the hug, now holding his hands. "Are you looking for a new job?"

"Well I...uh—"

"I can check with my boss if there are job openings here. Imagine that! Us working together?" She smiled. "Remember what you said your worst fear was?"

"I said my worst fear was being alone in the world."

"Well, now you don't have to worry, dear! You could work here with me."

Aaron chuckled. "That would honestly be amazing. But I actually just came here to check something out."

"Oh. Okay! What do you need?"

"Do you still have any copies of A Brit's Guide to the Dead Zone?"

"Follow me." Nika, still holding Aaron's hand, tugged him behind her as they left the room. They walked up the stairs to the next floor, once again decorated by walls of books. They approached a collection of novels categorized as guidebooks.

She let go of his hand and kneeled down to the lower portion of a bookshelf. She smoothed her hand along the spines of the books until she paused at a small brown notebook.

She pulled the book off the shelf and handed it to Aaron. The title A Brit's Guide to the Dead Zone was emblazoned across the cover in red. It was a simple-looking book, but it was probably the most helpful guide to the Dead Zone in the entire library.

"I thought you already knew the basics," Nika said.

"I'm refreshing my memory," Aaron replied. "Just 'cuz I'm not a DZI anymore doesn't mean I can't learn how to protect myself."

Nika smiled. "True. Maybe I should give it a read."

Aaron jokingly held the book away from her. "I found it first."

"But I'm the one who helped you find it."

Aaron stopped himself before sheepishly replying, "Oh yeah, that's true."

Nika playfully smacked Aaron on the back of the head. She grabbed hold of his arm and pulled him toward an empty table. He took a seat and opened up his book.

"I'm guessing you want a hot chocolate?" Nika asked.

"Of course!" Aaron replied, finally cheering up. "Too bad it's not as sweet as you are."

Nika rolled her eyes at the cheesy comment before leaning down and kissing Aaron on the cheek. "Coming up."

She made her way to the stairs. The two exchanged one more smile before Nika disappeared down the stairs.

Aaron turned his view back to his book, almost immediately erasing the warmth he felt a few seconds ago. The first chapter he opened up on was about the Abnormals.