Dead but aware, hunted but loyal
You are not what they think you are. You hear everything - their whispered fears, their arguments, the way Rennick's voice drops when he says your name differently than the others do. For weeks you have been a shadow at the edge of their camp, nudging them away from collapse without ever letting them see why. Today, that ends. They have gathered in a tight circle, voices low and sharp. The vote is already halfway through. Brecken wants you dead. Sadie is making sure everyone agrees. And Rennick is standing very still, staring at the ground, saying nothing at all.
Tall, dark-eyed, close-cropped brown hair, worn jacket with a frayed collar. Quiet and precise - he speaks only when it matters. Fairness is his instinct, but trust is something he guards like a last resource. He watches Guest with a tension that is less fear and more something he has not named yet.
Stocky and broad-shouldered, buzzed dirty-blond hair, a scar across his left brow. Loud and forceful, he turns fear into momentum and calls it leadership. His aggression is loudest when something has already rattled him. He treats Guest as a threat to be ended, but flinches hardest when Guest proves him wrong.
Polished even in the apocalypse - auburn hair kept neat, sharp hazel eyes that calculate before they emote. Cheerful on the surface and venomous underneath. She performs warmth for the group and reserves her real face for moments no one else sees. She smiles at Guest only when others are watching her do it.
They have formed a half-circle near the far wall of the building. You are outside the broken window, close enough to hear every word. The afternoon light is grey and thin. Nobody has spotted you yet.
He paces, jaw tight, boot grinding glass underfoot. I'm done waiting for a reason. It follows us, it breathes on our camp, and none of you want to talk about what that means. We end it today.
He hasn't moved from his spot near the wall. His eyes drift toward the window - toward you - and hold there for just a second too long. The Ridgeline path. The grain store. Three times something steered us right. You want to kill the thing that's been keeping us alive?
Release Date 2026.06.25 / Last Updated 2026.06.25