Chapter 1

The apocalypse hit, and the world turned into a nightmare of walking corpses. Yet, my girlfriend insisted on delaying our evacuation.

She wanted her weak, pathetic childhood friend to catch the last rescue helicopter.

That was the final mission after the outbreak. It was the only way out for my survival squad.

When the guy didn't show up, I finally lost my patience. I knocked my girlfriend out and carried her onto the chopper.

The childhood friend she obsessed over ended up dying in the sea of zombies.

I survived and lived a comfortable life with her in the safe zone.

On the night before I was supposed to take command of the district and lead the counterattack, she betrayed me.

She drugged my water and threw me into a horde of monsters.

I was ripped apart by hundreds of zombies. The pain was unbearable as they tore into my guts.

She stood on the wall above, sneering down at me.

"If you weren't so selfish, Lane would have had a chance to live."

"You need to feel every bit of the pain he felt. You're paying for his life with yours!"

Then, I opened my eyes. I was back on the day she insisted on delaying our escape.

Since she wants to live and die with her precious friend so badly, I'll help her.

I'm sending her straight to the zombies!

1

"This is our last chance to get out. If we don't leave now, we're all going to die here!"

Several of my teammates were screaming at Lila Miller. She was using her body to block the only way out.

"Lane Young isn't here yet. What's another five minutes?"

Lila's face was like ice. She didn't budge an inch.

"You're risking all our lives for one guy!? Lila, don't be so damn selfish!"

The team members were sweating with anxiety. The clock was ticking.

One guy couldn't take it anymore and rushed forward to pull her away.

In the next second, Lila raised her gun and fired.

The bullet grazed their heads, sending everyone into a panicked shock.

"Are you crazy!?"

Facing their anger, Lila just snapped back at them.

"You're all despicable! You're heartless and selfish!"

"If Lane isn't here, nobody gets on that chopper! You're just cowards who would abandon a friend to save your own skins. You don't deserve to live!"

The deputy leader looked at me with a pained expression.

"Cade, the military is about to close the hatch. If we keep waiting... we're screwed."

I smiled slightly and gestured for everyone to stay calm.

I walked up to Lila and gently rested my hand on her shoulder.

"Lila is right. Our team has always lived by the code of never leaving anyone behind. Even if Lane is late, how can we just dump him?"

Everyone in the room stared at me, mouths agape.

They couldn't believe those words came out of my mouth.

"Captain... what are you saying? Are you really taking her side just because she's your girlfriend?"

"Shut up!" Lila shouted, firing another round into the ceiling.

"Cade already said it. We wait for Lane! Why do you losers have so much to say about it?!"

With a gun in her hand and my support, Lila was gloating.

She leaned against my shoulder, her voice turning sweet and soft.

"Cade, I knew you were different from these cowards. You actually have a sense of loyalty."

I smirked and patted her head.

"Lane is like a brother to me. I could never leave him behind."

But Lila didn't know one thing. I didn't actually need to squeeze onto this public chopper.

As a top virologist, I was a high-value asset. One phone call and the military would send a private, armed escort just for me.

Aside from Lila and Lane, my team consisted of the best experts in the field.

In my past life, I chose the risky public evacuation just to bring Lila along.

I could have taken a much safer private flight with my real teammates.

This time, I was going to make her pay for her stupidity.

She loved her childhood friend so much? Fine.

I'd let him drag her straight down to hell.

Since no one dared to argue anymore, Lila got even more arrogant.

Minutes ticked by. In the distance, the black tide of the zombie swarm was getting closer.

Finally, Lane Young came running up, panting heavily.

"Lila! I knew you'd wait for me!"

Lane was gasping for air, his eyes bright with excitement.

With his pathetic fitness level, it was a miracle he made it across the city to the helipad.

Lila let out a long breath and smiled at him.

But at that exact moment, a deafening explosion rocked the ground.

The final defensive line had been breached. The zombies were through.