[Content Warning: This chapter contains graphic violence, torture, and disturbing imagery. Reader discretion is advised.]
The town was eerily quiet. Only the soft breeze and Nero's breathing filled the air.
He knelt in front of Anika's mangled body, staring at what he had done. He let out a heavy sigh and stood up, letting the spine slip from his grasp. It hit the pool of blood with a wet splash.
Vinn and CH, still keeping their distance, stared at him—unsure whether they should approach or stay away. Nero turned toward them, Anika's blood dripping from his arms. He raised a hand and waved, his voice steady but tired.
"It's okay now… I'm back in control."
They looked at each other, uncertain, then slowly started walking toward him. Nero met them halfway. Their movements were stiff, their eyes still shaken by what they'd just seen.
"You two okay?" Nero asked.
Vinn's reply was nervous, his voice thin. "Okay isn't the word I'd use after that. What the hell was that?"
Nero scratched the back of his head, the gesture weary, his explanation even more so. "That… was Angelo. The other part of me."
Angelo's whisper cut through his mind, calm and sharp. "Don't tell them anything else. Even knowledge could put them in danger."
Vinn frowned. "And that's who we were tasked to bring back with us? … I really hope I don't see him again."
CH let out a shaky Maaa, agreeing.
The sun began to rise, throwing light across the battlefield. The horror unfolded in full: blood everywhere, the ground carved open by the shadow's claws, craters pitted into the earth, the metallic stench of blood thick in the air.
As Nero walked ahead, Vinn caught sight of his back. For an instant, the strange mark etched there glowed faintly with a ghostly pale light—before fading back into black.
"What's that mark on your back?" Vinn asked.
Nero didn't stop walking, didn't look back. His reply came heavy, his voice worn. "This is what turned my life upside down. I can't say anything else. For your safety."
Vinn didn't push further. He and CH just followed behind.
When they reached Thom's house, Nero stopped. His eyes lingered on it, voice low. "Lina is still in the basement. You should bring her out of that filthy place. Take CH—she knows him, maybe that'll help her trust you."
He looked up at the sky, grief weighing his words. "But after what she saw… I don't think she'll trust anyone else."
Vinn nodded and headed inside with CH.
The first thing they saw was Eli's small body on the floor. Then Jaren's corpse, slumped near the heavy door to the basement.
They moved further in. The basement was worse. The air was thick with blood, the single light above the chair casting long shadows over the carnage. Tobin, Nico, and Mira lay lifeless in the circle. Calla's body sat beside the chair, drenched in red. Severed arms and legs—Nero's—were still pinned down with screws. His torn-off jaw rested below.
The sight twisted Vinn's stomach. He doubled over, vomiting, "What the hell happened here?" He looked at CH, who was also shaken by the sight. Vinn forced himself to stand back up. Wiping his mouth, he pressed on.
In the far corner of the room, half-hidden by shadow, lay a figure. Vinn and CH moved closer—it was Lina. She was covered in blood, unconscious, but breathing.
CH nudged her gently with his head. She didn't stir.
Vinn lifted her carefully, carrying her through the sea of bodies and into the morning light.
Nero was waiting outside. "Is she alright?"
"Unconscious, but breathing," Vinn said.
Nero stepped close, laid a hand on her head. Tears slid down his cheeks as he whispered, grief cutting his voice raw. "I'm sorry. I couldn't save Eli."
Vinn tried to comfort him. "You kept her safe. She'll have a future because of you."
Nero wiped at his eyes, his expression hardening. "Take her inside Dorne's house. Lay her down—she needs rest."
They carried her into Dorne's bedroom. Medals lined the walls, military honors gleaming faintly in the dim light.
Vinn frowned. "Was he part of the military? Why does he have all these?"
Nero's reply was flat. "Who knows? Could all belong to someone else."
They left the room and moved into the dining area. Nero turned to Vinn. "How long until your backup gets here?"
"Hard to say. More than twenty-four hours for sure," Vinn answered.
"Then we've got stops to make," Nero said. "First, where Dorne found me. Then we recover Hale and Ryan's bodies from the north. After that… we can go back."
Vinn gave a slow nod. "Alright. I'll speak to the Colonel. See if she allows it."
Nero exhaled and glanced toward the window. Something warm tickled his nose. He touched it—blood smeared his fingers.
Then more blood poured—suddenly, unstoppable—spilling from his nose, his ears, his mouth.
"Nero!" Vinn rushed forward as Nero staggered, collapsing to the floor.
Vinn caught him. "What's happening?"
Blood bubbled from Nero's lips. His words slurred. "So… this is why he told me to take it easy…"
Angelo's voice echoed in his skull, low and steady. "Don't worry. You won't die. Just rest for a while."
Nero's fading voice reached Vinn. "Don't worry… I'll be fine… just need to rest."
Then his eyes closed. His body went limp in Vinn's arms.
Vinn wasn't sure what was happening, or what Nero was saying. Slowly, the blood stopped flowing.
He lifted Nero carefully and carried him upstairs to the room where Nero had been staying before. The door was already open. Gently, Vinn laid him on the bed and checked his pulse—it was normal.
Sitting on the floor, Vinn let out a sigh and looked at CH. "His pulse and breathing… they're alright." He glanced back at Nero. "What am I even supposed to do now?"
Nero drifted into a dream—not chaotic like before. This time, he was at his house, having dinner with Olivia, James, Alex, and Emma. Even Sophia was there, laughing and eating with them. He could see their faces, hear their voices, talk with them.
In the middle of the dinner, Hela and Ryan appeared, along with Colonel Pierce and his team. Eli, Tobin, Nico, and Mira also joined the table. Everyone was celebrating. Nero laughed, ate, joked with them.
Then he noticed someone standing across from him. It was Angelo.
"You know this is just our dream, right?" Angelo asked.
Nero kept smiling. "Yes. I know it's a dream. But I still want to feel this warmth."
Angelo smiled back. "Good. Let's find this warmth in the real world."
Nero walked over to him and draped an arm over his shoulder. "We will. But for now… let's enjoy this dream."
Together, they moved toward the center of the gathering. Olivia came to meet them, hugging them both gently. She smiled warmly. "You two went through so much." Tears fell from her eyes. "I'm sorry I couldn't be there for you. It must've been lonely. Forgive me."
Nero and Angelo's expressions faltered.
Emotion caught in their throats.
"No," they said together, voices quiet but firm. "Please don't apologize, mom… I'm the one who failed to save any of you."
Olivia held them tightly as the others gathered close, kneeling, their hands resting gently on both of them.
She pulled back slightly, her eyes soft, filled with warmth and quiet sorrow.
"You don't have to carry this alone anymore," she said gently.
Her hand brushed against their cheek.
"You're not just Nero… and you're not just Angelo."
She smiled through her tears.
"You're both. And that's okay."
"Nero Angelo…" she repeated softly, as if testing the name.
Then she smiled.
"It suits you."
Around them, the others nodded, their voices joining softly, one after another:
"Keep moving forward."
"Don't stop."
"Live."
The words overlapped—not loud, not forced—just… there.
Warm.
Real.
Tears rolled down Nero and Angelo's cheeks as they stood together, no longer separate in that moment—yet both were smiling, a quiet warmth settling where the pain once was.
"We will," they said quietly, in unison.
"We promise."
The dream slowly faded. Nero's eyes opened to the morning sunlight streaming into the room. He looked around and saw Lina sitting on a stool beside the bed.
The warmth of the dream still lingered faintly in his chest… before reality settled back in.
He sat up and studied his hands—there was no blood. He was wearing fresh clothes. Lina slowly woke and saw him, eyes lighting up.
"Hey, kid," Nero said softly.
"He's up!" Lina shouted with joy.
From outside the room, a woman rushed in, with Vinn following close behind.
"Finally decided to wake up, huh?" Vinn said.
Nero rubbed his eyes. "How long was I out?"
"Three whole days," Vinn replied.
Nero turned to the woman. "Who's this?"
She smiled professionally. "I'm Lieutenant Asha Relin." She quickly checked Nero's pulse, shone a light on his silver eyes, and monitored his heartbeat. "Everything's fine. How do you feel?"
"I feel… light," Nero replied.
Another woman entered, her eyes scanning him carefully. "How's he doing, Lieutenant?"
Relin answered. "Vitals are normal, Colonel, and he says he feels alright."
She extended a hand. "I'm Yara Veltin. We're the backup team the General told you about. We're here to escort you to our base—Ironwatch Hold."
Nero shook her hand and slowly got off the bed and stood up. "I have some personal things I need to attend to first," he said.
Veltin rubbed her temple. "How long will it take?"
"The first one will only take a few hours. For the second, we'll need to head north from the first location. You'll come with me," Nero replied.
"And you won't take 'no' for an answer?" she asked.
"Correct. Either you cooperate, or I go alone. You should inform the General about the stops," Nero said calmly.
Veltin let out a sigh. "The General won't like this one bit, after what happened."
Nero stretched his body and asked, "What happened?"
"The base was attacked from inside. Ninety-eight percent of our men were killed. An Angel took care of the threat, but now she wants you," Veltin explained.
Nero's expression hardened. "Then we should hurry."
He looked at Lina with grief in his eyes, about to speak, but she interrupted him. "You don't have to apologize. You tried your best to help Eli and the others." Her voice cracked as tears began to fall. "I'm the one who called you a monster… who tried to run. That's why… Eli… it's not your fault."
Nero walked over and held her tightly. She pressed her face against his chest, crying. "I don't know what to do. I heard my dad… wasn't my dad. He was also a bad guy, like the other adults."
Nero's voice was gentle, holding back his own tears. "It's going to be alright. You're not to blame. You kids were tricked by those monsters… humans in skin. You don't have to be afraid anymore. I'll make sure no one hurts you again."
He held her for a long while, until her sobs subsided. Slowly, Lina stopped crying and let go. Wiping her tears, she said softly, "I'm alright now."
Vinn spoke from the side. "She stayed with you the whole time."
Nero patted her head. "Thank you. I think I recovered so fast because you looked after me."
Lina, shy, murmured, "You're welcome."
They all started heading downstairs, where soldiers stood guard. Among them was Captain Mera Dastin. She saw Nero descend and approached him. "It's been a while, huh, Walker?"
Nero looked confused. "Do I… know you?"
Veltin interjected. "This is Captain Mera Dastin. Do you know each other?"
Nero shook his head. "I don't think so."
Mera's tone carried a hint of offense. "You forgot about me? I used to live near your house. We used to play when we were seven. My family moved away after a while… don't you remember?"
Angelo's voice echoed in Nero's mind. The kid who was too clingy.
Nero's lips curved into a small smile. "Yeah… I remember now. It's been a while. How have you been? You're a Captain now."
She smiled back. "I've been doing great. I always wondered how you were all these years. When I saw the news about your town being overrun by those creatures, I feared something might have happened to you. But then I learned you were under military observation, and I was relieved."
Nero gave an awkward smile. "Okay."
Her voice softened, tinged with grief. "I heard everything about your family… what happened to you here. I'm sorry."
Nero shook his head gently. "It's alright. You don't have to feel bad for me."
Before she could respond, Nero walked outside. Soldiers were guarding the house and scanning the town. Major Rix Harrow was overseeing the loading of evidence into vehicles.
Harrow approached Nero. "Are you ready to leave?"
Nero glanced at Lina. She nodded. CH walked close to them. Nero turned to Harrow. His voice was steady, unwavering. "Yes. Let's head out."
The convoy began moving. Warden led the way, with Howler and Strider following behind. Nero, Lina, and CH rode inside Warden, heading back to the crater—the place where Dorne had found him, where he had become Nero Angelo.
The convoy slowly moved through the forest for twenty minutes, following Nero's instructions, until the crater came into view. Soldiers stepped out of the vehicles, positioning themselves around the site and standing guard.
Nero stepped out of Warden, his eyes fixed on the crater. Yet, his expression suggested he wasn't looking at the crater itself, but at the memories etched into it—the lives lost there. He began walking toward the center. Everyone else remained outside, watching silently.
Lina clung to CH and whispered to Vinn, "Why does Nero look so sad?"
Vinn tightened his grip on his rifle. "This is where his friends and family died."
Lina held CH closer and murmured again, "He has no one left?"
"No," Vinn said quietly. "He doesn't."
Lina whispered to herself, barely audible, "Just like me."
Mera watched Nero with a pang of sorrow. For an hour, he stood in the crater, motionless, silent, without tears—just the weight of the absence surrounding him.
When he finally turned and climbed out, Mera approached. "Why don't you set tombstones here? For your family… for the people you lost?"
Nero's voice was calm, yet heavy. "What's the point? There's nothing left here—not even remains."
Mera persisted, "But still—"
He cut her off. "We don't have time. We need to head north from here, then go to your base."
Nero climbed back into Warden, and the others began returning to their vehicles.
Lina hesitantly approached Mera. "Miss…"
Mera crouched down, gently asking, "What is it? Are you scared?"
Lina whispered, "You know Nero, right?"
Mera nodded. "Yes. We used to play together when we were kids."
Lina murmured something in her ear, and Mera's face softened into a small smile. "Okay. I'll do that. You head inside."
Lina nodded and walked into Warden with CH.
Mera descended into the crater, kneeling to scoop up some dirt. Sergeant Ox, standing nearby, noticed her and asked sharply, "What are you doing down there, Captain?"
Mera flinched but turned toward him. "Nothing. It's none of your business, Ox."
Ox's tone grew harsher. "Yeah? You might be a Captain, but I'm the one who has to babysit you all the time. Now, show me what you took from down there."
Mera tried to deflect, but Ox wouldn't let it go. After a tense pause, she relented, showing him the dirt she had collected, now sealed in a plastic bag.
"What will you do with this?" Ox asked.
Guilt softened Mera's voice. "I was going to make something with it… and give it to Angelo."
Ox let out a long sigh. "You could've told me that earlier, instead of wasting so much time."
They started heading inside Howler. Ox's voice softened. "When did you fall in love with Angelo?"
Mera glanced toward Nero, sitting silently in Warden. Her expression grew gentler. "I was always in love with him."
Ox's face darkened with sadness, but he remained silent.
With everyone ready, the convoy started moving north, following the path that would take them to the next stop on their journey.