The same night, deep in the woods, Milan stood surrounded by Nutaila, Scarlet, Raven, Nadia, and Zero. The forest was dark and cold, branches swaying gently above them, the wind whispering through the leaves. Every face around him was tense, every expression filled with anger and worry. They had all caught him sneaking away, trying to leave without telling anyone.
"I can't believe you were actually sneaking out and leaving us behind," Scarlet said, her voice burning with restrained fury.
Milan said nothing. He simply stood there, staring at them, his jaw clenched.
"Tell us why," Raven demanded sharply.
Slowly, Milan reached up and took off his backpack, letting it drop to the ground with a dull thud.
"I'm dangerous to all of you," Milan said quietly.
"I thought we talked this through," Scarlet replied, disbelief and hurt cutting through her anger.
"You don't know what I saw when I slept!" Milan suddenly shouted. Darkness flickered in his eyes as his voice echoed through the trees. They all saw it—and instinctively stepped back.
"Milan, calm down," Nutaila said gently.
"Why don't we make camp here? Let's start a fire, cool down, and you can tell us what's been bothering you. Winter is near… please."
She walked toward him slowly, her hands open, her voice steady. After a moment, Milan nodded.
Within minutes, they had made camp. A small fire crackled softly, casting flickering shadows against the trees. They sat around it in a loose circle, the warmth barely cutting through the cold night air. Milan leaned against a fallen log nearby, staring into the flames.
"Tell us what happened in your vision," Zero said at last.
"I met the Wise," Milan began, explaining everything he had seen and heard. As he spoke, Scarlet watched him closely, her expression still tight with anger.
When he finished, Nutaila spoke.
"We understand what you're trying to say, Milan. Believe me, before I managed to overcome the Herald, I did far worse things—to my mother, and not just to her, but to an entire town. I lived in a cell for a long time. I went through the darkest moments of my life before I learned to control it. You are no different from me. Please… don't walk away from us. Not now." Milan lowered his head.
"I don't want to hurt anyone else," he said, his voice shaking.
"I almost killed Raven. That moment—when I stabbed her with a spear—it's still in my head. The way I chopped off that old man's head… I remember everything. Everyone I killed when the darkness took over—I remember them all. And the person I hurt the most was Scarlet. I don't want that to ever happen again."
Tears slid slowly down his face.
Scarlet stood up.
"You know, when we started this, it was only the two of us, We survived vampires, cannibals, cults—every kind of nightmare you can imagine. Together. Then we met Zero, Nadia, Raven… and even my sister. And we kept fighting together. Do you know what that means, Milan? It means we're stronger together. This team can survive anything. Worse than this."she said. Everyone nodded in agreement.
"We all know your condition, Milan, And we all accepted it. Whatever we have to face, we'll face it together. That's what friends are for. Not just people who share the same interests—Fate brought us together for a reason. We're all heading toward the same destination. You're looking for your sister. I'm looking for my daughter. Nutaila and Scarlet have a destiny to protect. Raven and Zero followed because they believed in the cause. They believed in us. In our story. Are you really going to leave them behind too?"Nadia added.
Milan stayed silent for a long moment.
"I just want to protect you," he said at last.
"Even if that means staying far away. I care about you all too much."
"We know, But whatever comes, we face it together. Let me teach you how to control the darkness inside you. I may not be perfect, but I'll show you what I was taught."Nutaila said softly. She held out her hand.
Milan looked around at all of them—their tired faces, their quiet determination.
"Okay then," he said.
"Let's work together. All of us. And put an end to this."
Relief spread through the group. Everyone smiled—everyone except Scarlet. She stood up and walked away, needing air, needing distance. The others watched her disappear into the trees.
Scarlet walked alone through the woods, the darkness pressing in around her. Her anger hadn't faded, only shifted. She stood beneath the trees, breathing hard.
"I'm sorry."
She turned sharply. Milan stood behind her.
"What were you thinking?" Scarlet snapped, emotion flooding her voice.
"I didn't want to hurt you," Milan said.
"I can't stand watching you get hurt."
Scarlet froze.
"What does that mean?"
Milan stepped closer and gently took her hands, lifting them between them.
"I don't know how, not in all this disaster… but the truth is, I've fallen in love with you. I can't stand watching you suffer. I—"
He didn't finish. Scarlet pulled him in and kissed him.
"You talk too much," she whispered.
They kissed again, deeper this time. Nearby, a shadow shifted behind a tree. Nutaila watched silently, a faint smile crossing her face before she turned away, leaving them alone.
Beneath the trees, wrapped in darkness and quiet, Milan and Scarlet removed their clothes and lay together in the grass, finding comfort in each other as the night passed.
Early morning came softly inside the camp walls, in Ayanna's house. Dr. Patel opened her eyes in the living room. Ayanna and Leyla were asleep nearby, remnants of a late-night conversation lingering in the air. Dr. Patel quietly stood and went to the washroom.
When she stepped outside, she saw Zara in the kitchen, trying to pour herself some water.
"Doctor!" Zara exclaimed and hugged her.
The noise woke Ayanna and Leyla. They joined them in the kitchen.
"Hey, Zara. How are you?" Dr. Patel asked warmly.
"I'm doing great," Zara said.
"Leyla told me you've been very busy."
"Yes, my dear, I'm working hard so we can survive. But that doesn't mean I don't have time for you and Ben."Dr. Patel replied.
"When will we see you again?" Zara asked.
"Soon," Dr. Patel said, handing her a bottle of water.Zara smiled and walked away.
"The kid still has hope of seeing her mother again," Ayanna said quietly.
"She's brave," Dr. Patel replied.
"But we can't keep her in the dark forever. One day, she'll need to know the truth."
"I'll handle that, Not now. Let's keep giving her hope."Ayanna said. Dr. Patel nodded and headed for the door.
"Thank you for the night. I'll see you later."
She walked through the quiet streets toward her working quarters. From inside a nearby house, Ivory watched her, remembering Marcus's threat.
When Dr. Patel entered her quarters, she opened her journal to continue working on her formulas—and froze. The pages were not where she had left them.
"What happened here?" she whispered. Her eyes moved to Sample X. The blood level was lower.
She rushed to her storage and saw that two injection bottles were missing.
"Someone was here," she said angrily.
"Goddamn it."
Back in the woods near Edinburgh, the sun rose gently, a light wind passing over the grass. Milan and Scarlet lay sleeping, wrapped around each other.
The others had been awake for a while, preparing to move on.
"Where are they?" Raven asked.
"Relax, I'm sure they're having a good time."Zero said with a grin.
"At a time like this?" Nadia frowned.
"They say the best sex happens when the world feels like it's ending," Zero replied.
Raven shook her head.
"You're crazy."
Just then, Milan and Scarlet emerged.
"What did we miss?" Scarlet asked.
"Nothing, We need to move. If we leave now, we'll reach Dunkeld by afternoon."Nadia said.
"Then let's go, We'll look for a vehicle on the road."Milan said.
"Can I talk to you for a second?" Nutaila asked her sister Scarlet
"Yes, tell me," Scarlet said quietly.
She moved Scarlet aside, guiding her to a narrow space where no one could hear them. The noise of the others faded behind them. Nutaila opened her coat; inside, hidden carefully, was a small inner pocket. She unzipped it slowly, her fingers trembling just a little, and took out a key. It was old—ancient, worn smooth by time, a key that had passed through generations, carrying secrets heavier than metal.
"I need you to have this. I can't carry this anymore," Nutaila said, placing the key into Scarlet's hand.
Scarlet looked at it, her fingers tightening around the cold iron.
"What is this key for?" she asked.
"When I told you about Victor, I didn't tell you everything, This key opens the ritual iron box where his heart is sealed. In the Amazon forest. I'm sure a day will come when someone will go there and retrieve the box. But even with rituals, without this key, it cannot be opened."Nutaila said, lowering her voice even more.
Scarlet was shocked. Her breath caught for a moment.
"Why are you giving it to me?" Scarlet asked.
"Mother gave it to you for a reason, just like Dad gave me the wooden knife to kill Victor. I think you should keep it."
"No, It will be safer in your hands. A day will come when I will lose control over the darkness. Once it takes over, it will sense this key. But you—no power can overcome your powers. Not darkness, not rituals, nothing can overcome what you are. So I think it's best if you keep it."Nutaila said firmly.
"I don't have any powers, Whatever is inside me, I need it out. I plan on killing it or removing it forever. The moment I stab Victor and kill him, I'm not planning on keeping anything inside me."Scarlet said, her voice steady but heavy.
She took the key anyway and slipped it safely into her pocket. Nutaila said nothing. She just stared at Scarlet, her eyes filled with fear, trust, and something close to regret.
They walked back and found the others already prepared, weapons checked, faces tense, and silence hanging thick in the air.
"We are ready to go," Raven said.
"Let's go," Nutaila said, her eyes briefly meeting Milan's.
Together, they followed one another and walked away, leaving behind the place—and carrying with them a key that could one day change everything.