Pete was Ray's fellow intern doctor and also his seat partner back in medical school, so the two of them knew each other quite well, even if they were never particularly close friends.
They had spent enough time together over the years to understand each other's personalities and habits. Because of that, Pete could easily tell when something about Ray felt different, and Ray could also do the same.
Although Pete was asking 'how', he never clarified what he meant, knowing full well how sensitive the situation is, leaving Red slightly confused. The only person that understood what he meant was none other than Ray himself.
Pete then gestured toward him. "Come with me," he said.
They stepped into an empty room nearby, and Pete quickly shut the door behind them, locking it with a soft click. Even then, he kept his distance, his eyes fixed on Ray like he was looking at something he didn't fully understand.
"Aren't you supposed to still be locked up in your ward?" Pete finally said. "Last I checked, you were one of the patients we had to isolate."
His gaze sharpened.
"Or did you come out here to infect the few people that actually managed to survive those things out there?"
Ray frowned slightly.
"Relax," he said. "I'm not infected anymore."
Pete blinked. "You're joking."
"I'm serious."
Pete didn't look convinced. "That's impossible… you're HIV positive, and we both know it's uncurable." he said.
Ray nodded knowingly. "You can take my blood. Run whatever test you can. You'll realize that I'm saying the truth."
Pete stared at him for a moment, clearly weighing the situation. Then, slowly, he nodded.
"Fine."
He moved toward a nearby cabinet, pulling out what little medical equipment was left intact.
"But before that," Pete added, his tone lowering slightly, "there's something you should know."
Ray looked at him.
Pete glanced toward the door, as if making sure no one was listening.
"Don't trust them too much."
Ray's eyes narrowed.
"What do you mean?"
Pete exhaled quietly before lowering his voice.
"The people out there… they're not as harmless as they look. Especially that red-haired guy. I don't know but there's something off about him."
He glanced toward the door briefly before continuing.
"A lot of people here depend on him now, so I can't just raise suspicion without proof. The last thing I want is to destroy the little hope these people still have in this collapsing world."
Ray nodded silently, listening. If there was anything he knew about Pete, it was his ability to detect things that are out of place. So far, it had helped him greatly in his medical career.
Pete folded his arms, his expression growing more serious.
"I also noticed something. Anytime anyone complains or gives one excuse or another, Red appears and suddenly makes them keep quiet." Pete said. "I don't know if this makes sense, but it feels almost as if he could control them, while they just blindly follow his orders."
The room fell silent.
Ray then decided to speak, "In a world like this, the real threat isn't always the monsters you could see…"
He straightened slightly, "Sometimes… it's the ones pretending to save you."
Pete nodded in acknowledgment, and the conversation ended there.
He then carefully drew a sample of Ray's blood before inserting it into a rapid diagnostic kit. The two waited silently for a few minutes as the result slowly developed.
The result came and it showed negative.
Pete stared at the kit for a moment longer, almost as if expecting it to change.
"Told you," Ray said with a faint smile.
Pete looked up at him, disbelief still written all over his face. "How is this even possible?"
Ray gave a small shrug. "Honestly? I'm just as surprised as you are."
Before Pete could say anything else, the door suddenly opened.
One of the men who had been standing beside the red-haired guy earlier peeked inside.
"It's time," he said briefly before shutting the door again.
Ray's brows furrowed slightly. "What's that about?"
Pete sighed lightly as he began putting the medical tools away. "Every hour, a few volunteers go out to clear the ghouls on different floors."
"They've been doing that this whole time?" Ray asked.
Pete nodded. "So far, they've managed to reclaim about three floors. It's not much, but staying trapped here forever isn't an option either. Supplies are already running low."
He glanced toward the door.
"If we don't push those things back little by little, we'll eventually starve to death in here."
The two of them exited the room together.
The moment Ray stepped back into the hallway, his eyes immediately landed on the red-haired man.
Red.
And strangely enough—
He was talking to Thea.
Not only that, she was actually laughing.
A soft giggle escaped her lips as Red said something else, his charming smile never leaving his face.
Ray slowed slightly.
Something about the scene irritated him more than it should have.
And for some reason, Red's smile widened the moment he noticed Ray staring.
Pete noticed the look on Ray's face and immediately decided to step in first.
"Ahem."
He cleared his throat loudly as he walked forward.
Red didn't move from where he stood. Meanwhile, Thea lifted her head and noticed Ray standing there.
"Oh, Ray." She waved him over with a smile.
Pete stopped directly in front of Red while Ray remained a few steps behind him.
"If you're here to help people, then help," Pete said coldly. "Don't go around stealing someone else's girlfriend while you're at it."
"My bad," Red replied casually, though the smirk on his face never disappeared. "But Thea never mentioned having a boyfriend."
His eyes shifted toward Ray.
"Aren't you two just friends?" he asked. "If that's the case, then I should still have a chance, right?"
As he spoke, he casually placed a hand around Thea's waist.
But almost immediately—
Thea grabbed his wrist and flung it away.
"No way," she said firmly.
Before Red could react, she walked over to Ray and wrapped an arm around his waist instead.
"Ray is more than just a friend," she continued. "He's my savior. I owe him everything… even my life."
For the first time, Red looked genuinely surprised.
"…Wow," he muttered. "That's unexpected."
Then he looked back at Ray with renewed interest, his eyes locking straight at his.
"Now I'm curious," he said with a grin. "What exactly did you do to make her this attached to you? Tell me."
For a brief moment, Ray could've sworn Red's eyes flashed crimson.
Just for a second.
Then it vanished.
Ray frowned slightly.
'Did I imagine that?'
Before he could think further, he replied calmly, "Why would I tell you? That doesn't concern you."
This time, Red was the one caught off guard.
The smile on his face faltered slightly as he stared at Ray in silence.
Meanwhile, Ray simply turned away alongside Pete and Thea, leaving him standing there.
Red watched their backs quietly.
His expression slowly darkened.
What just happened?
He frowned inwardly.
Why didn't it work on him?
It had worked before.
So why was Ray unaffected?
Did I already exhaust the effect?
Or… does it only work for a limited time?