CHAPTER 13 : JAMES SURVIVAL

Wyne, his former boss, had been the one who had refused to listen, who had refused to follow Ethan's warnings. He had paid the ultimate price, left to die along with the rest of the unprepared.

But Rachel had followed Ethan, trying to get closer to him, trying to worm her way back into his good graces. But Ethan wasn't fooled. He knew her game, and he was determined not to let her manipulate him again.

He had learned his lesson. He would never forgive her for her betrayal, for the pain she had caused him. He would never trust her again.

He turned back to Fiona, his eyes filled with a strange mix of determination and despair. "We wait," he said, his voice barely audible. "We wait for the fever to start."

The silence returned, heavy and suffocating. Outside, the sun was setting, casting long, ominous shadows across the landscape. The air was still and quiet, but beneath the surface, a current of fear and anticipation ran through the car. They were all trapped in a nightmare, a n