When Malisha stepped back into the bus, the dogs slipped past her and padded straight into their little room.
Everyone looked up the moment the door opened.
Something in her face had changed—tight, alert, unreadable.
But the smell explained it all.
Smoke.
Thick, heavy, burning.
Outside the open door, the glow of a massive fire lit the sky orange.
Aditya rushed forward first.
"Thank God you're okay—Mal, I was worried!"
Dweep stumbled backward. "W–what… what happened out there?"
Malisha swallowed, eyes still fixed on the distant flames.
"That's the problem, Dweep. I know nothing. I was just walking the dogs and then—this."
Raghav looked out through the window and exhaled sharply.
"Oh… it's the scavengers' camp. I can't believe it. There must be hundreds there."
"Maybe," Siya whispered, her voice trembling. "Maybe if we hurry, we can still save someone—"
"What?" Ishitha jumped back. "You're gonna bring them on board now?"
"No. Absolutely not." Malisha's tone was firm. "And Siya, you know the protocol. We can't just take people with us unless there's an official call. Anything else is considered a breach. And we already have enough terrified people on board."
Siya went silent.
Aditya pressed a hand to his forehead. "But how could this happen? We just gave them supplies today."
"Maybe… maybe Queen Conquera did it?" Dweep whispered.
"No." Malisha shook her head. "Scavengers barely tolerate each other. Could've been an accident. Or they tried some stupid method to keep zombies away.
But honestly? They should've left the red zone long ago."
Reha frowned, thinking hard.
"That doesn't add up. We heard a huge boom even with the bus soundproofing on. Explosions like that aren't slow… they're sudden. That means someone triggered it intentionally."
Aditya muttered, closing the door—something Dweep should've done but didn't, frozen with fear.
"Whoever did this… monster. And if they did it to themselves, then they were monsters already."
"Who knows what happened?" Malisha said, brushing soot off her sleeve.
"We're at least 10 km away. Too far to know, too far to help. And scavengers are flesh-eating, barbaric killers who hunt the weak. Why should anyone care?"
"Because they're human," Siya said softly.
Malisha looked at her—calm, steady, almost tired.
"So are the ones outside," she replied. "Ready to kill and eat you, Siya. The truth is… in this world, choosing between 'bad' and 'worst' is normal. Most days… both options are worst.
We just pick the one that hurts us less."
Silence settled inside the bus.
Then Raghav cleared his throat.
"Oh—Captain, I fixed the radio like you asked."
"Good." Malisha's expression softened.
"It's almost time. My siblings will call."
The radio crackled to life.
"Didi—hey—Malisha di—"
"No, it's not always didi—hello? Is this OG Bus Eleven? We want to speak to Captain Malisha Ramaniya!"
"Oh! Is it working now? I need to tell her my exam results!"
The voices overlapped, loud and excited.
"Copy," Malisha laughed. "Captain of Bus Eleven here. What's up, my monkeys?"
The bus relaxed instantly. Survivors looked confused. The crew smiled. The Safe Zones were alive again.
"Didi, are you okay?" Riya's calm voice cut through. "We tried three times. Raj sir said your radio was dead."
"I'm fine," Malisha said easily. "You know them. Overreacting for sport. You've been watching it for two years now—you grew from thirteen to fifteen listening to their panic."
"They're all losers," Aayu declared.
"No," Malisha snapped gently. "They protect you. And have you forgotten Raj's gift on your tenth birthday?"
"But you call them losers," Divya accused.
"I absolutely do not."
"Yes, you do," Divya said smugly. "I've observed you for thirteen years."
Malisha scoffed. "Fine. Then tell me, genius—how did Aayu do?"
"We'll tell you when you come back," Divya said.
"She almost failed!" Aayu shouted.
"Shut up!" Divya hissed.
Laughter rippled through the bus.
"Leave them," Riya said softly. "But… you were supposed to be here. You went into the Red Zone again. We were scared."
Malisha's smile faltered.
"Because of you," Riya added, "I had to ask Adi bhaiya to come too. Tanishka is staying with us."
Malisha's eyes flashed. She glanced at Aditya, who suddenly found the wall very interesting.
"You did what?" she said sharply. "Adi isn't even the captain. He's useless."
"Hey," Aditya protested. "I saved your life twice this mission."
He leaned toward the radio. "How's Tanishka?"
"She's asleep," Riya said. "Minor cold. She said she topped the class. And she wants a present."
"That brat," Aditya sighed. "Mal, you're a bad influence. On my sister. On your siblings. On everyone."
Malisha smiled.
"Saved your life twice," Aayu's voice muttered in the background. "Di, are you okay? What happened?"
Aditya swallowed hard as Malisha's eyes flicked toward him.
"Oh, you know me," Aditya said quickly, forcing a light laugh. "Just yapping for no reason. No, no—champ, nothing happened. In fact, this red zone is much weaker than what the news makes it sound."
"Yeah, he's right," Malisha added smoothly. "I'll be there soon. Can't rush things, you know."
"As you shouldn't, di," Divya said firmly. "We all love you. Come back safe."
"Oh God, give it to me—you two do this every time," Riya cut in. "Just wait till di comes back. You're both getting scolded. I'll make sure of it."
Malisha smiled despite herself. "Alright, enough drama. It's your free time now—go do your stuff. And sleep on time. Take care of yourselves… and Tanishka too."
"Yes," Aditya added, his tone turning serious. "Give her the medicine. And if she's not better by morning, take her to the doctor. No excuses."
"Okay, okay," Riya sighed. "I'll check on them—they went downstairs. I'm heading off now. Bye. Come back fast… and safe, all of you."
The call ended.
The radio line crackled once—then went dead.
"That place sounds… normal," Ram said quietly, hope edging into his voice. "Safe."
For the first time since the ordeal began, the survivors looked hopeful—not doubtful. Their expressions hovered dangerously close to relief.
"It really is," Dweep said, scratching the back of his neck. "We made sure of it. I mean—not us exactly, but the system, the community, the founders… all of it. We're just part of it." He smiled, awkward but proud.
"Still," Ishitha said softly, "we should thank you. All of you—especially Malisha. You saved us… from the impossible."
The others nodded in agreement.
"No," Malisha said immediately. "Don't thank me. It's my job. If I don't save you, I don't get paid." She shrugged. "Simple."
Reha hesitated, then asked, "Your siblings… are they all your real siblings, or cousins?"
"I have one real brother—Aayu," Malisha replied gently. "Both my sisters are my first cousins. And Tanishka is Aditya's real sister. Before you ask."
A faint smile lingered.
"And your parents?" Sourav asked.
Silence fell.
Malisha inhaled slowly, her voice softer now, carefully held together. "We don't know. We haven't found them yet."
"I'm sorry," Ishan said.
"For what?" she replied quickly. "We just haven't found them yet. That's all."
But for the first time, she didn't sound like a captain—
just her age… or maybe younger.
"Raghav," Malisha said after a moment, steadying herself, "you should rest. Actually, everyone should. We'll resume our journey tomorrow—at sunrise."
"I'll take the first watch," she added. "Aditya, you're next."
Aditya nodded.
As the survivors settled down, Dweep and Siya helped them prepare for the night. Above them, the building creaked softly in the wind.
Malisha climbed to the roof alone.
The night stretched wide and silent around her as she took her position—standing guard, eyes fixed on the darkness below.