Chapter 3

3

With supplies and a rescue pending, Caleb and Chloe let loose.

They used purified water to wash clothes and ate emergency antibiotics like vitamins.

They even took batteries from essential gear to power a music player.

On the third evening, thirty minutes before the pickup, Caleb burst into our meeting.

"Elena, give me the serum," he commanded.

I frowned. "Why？ Is someone infected？"

His answer left everyone speechless.

"No！ But Chloe has a fever. It's 102 degrees. The medicine isn't working！"

"Quit stalling and give me the serum. I need to inject her."

I stood up, my voice turning icy.

"Do you have any idea what that serum is？ I spent three years developing it. It stops the virus within five minutes of infection."

"It's still experimental, but it's humanity's last hope. And I only have one dose left."

"Yeah, yeah, I know！" Caleb waved his hand impatiently.

"But it kills viruses, right？ Chloe is suffering. Hurry up and give it to me！"

The room went deathly silent.

The deputy slammed the table.

"Caleb, are you brain-dead？ You want to waste the serum on a common fever？"

"Waste？！" Caleb shrieked.

"Chloe is fragile！ What if her brain fries？ Besides, medicine is for saving people, isn't it？"

When I didn't move, Caleb's eyes turned murderous.

He pulled his gun and aimed it at my head.

"Give it up. Don't make me do this."

"Caleb, are you crazy？ Put that down！"

A teammate tried to step in, but Caleb nearly shot him.

I looked at the man I once loved. It was absurd.

In my past life, I almost died multiple times protecting him.

Now, he was threatening my life for a spoiled brat's fever.

Reluctantly, the team handed over the serum.

We watched as Caleb injected it into Chloe.