Several seconds passed—

Then more.

The feed didn't improve.

It got worse.

---

On the monitors—

Order collapsed.

What had started as scattered infection—

Turned into something else.

Systematic.

Infected bodies moved differently now.

Not wild.

Not blind.

Direct.

They closed distance fast, grabbing, forcing contact, dragging others down mid-air. Some tore into targets with raw force—

CRACK—!

Others held them in place—

Long enough.

For the worms to spread.

Green fluid smeared across skin—

Hands—

Faces—

Then—

More burrowing.

More screaming.

"GET IT OFF—!"

"NO—!"

A man slammed into a rooftop, rolling, clawing at his neck as his body jerked—

Then snapped still—

Then moved again.

Wrong.

Below—

People ran.

Some didn't make it.

Some turned.

And joined.

---

Inside the lab—

Samantha broke first.

She turned away from the screen, her hand coming up toward her mouth.

"…goodness…" she muttered, voice unsteady. "…this is horrible."

Amanda didn't hesitate.

She stepped in and pulled her into a hug, one arm around her shoulders, the other pressing lightly at the back of her head.

"Don't look," she said quietly.

Samantha didn't resist.

Her eyes stayed shut.

---

Claire's gaze lingered a second longer—

Then she turned away too.

Her composure held—

But not fully.

She looked toward Don.

"…are we safe here?"

Before he could answer—

Footsteps approached.

Measured.

Even.

Winter stepped into view with Summer just behind her.

"Yes," Winter said.

Flat.

Certain.

Summer moved past her quickly, heading straight for Sylvia.

Sylvia looked up from her phone, eyes dim, thumbs slowing as she said something low. Summer crouched slightly beside her, one hand moving to her back, rubbing gently.

"It's okay…" she murmured.

---

Winter continued.

"This facility is shielded against multiple forms of detection," she said. "Thermal masking, signal suppression, and spatial distortion layers are active."

She stepped closer to the group, tone unchanged.

"External scans—whether visual, infrared, or electromagnetic—will not identify this location as a structure of interest."

A brief pause.

"Additionally, the outer shell is reinforced with composite alloys rated to withstand impacts exceeding high-yield kinetic thresholds. Penetration would require sustained force well beyond standard superhuman output."

Claire raised a brow slightly.

That didn't help. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Not really.

From the side—

Summer glanced up briefly.

"It's very safe, Miss Claire," she said.

Simple.

Then her attention went back to Sylvia, her hand still moving in small, steady motions along her back.

---

At the monitors—

Don didn't turn.

Didn't respond.

His eyes stayed fixed forward.

Charles too.

Until—

He stepped back.

Just once.

Then turned away fully.

That alone pulled attention.

He looked toward Winter.

"…can I go out?"

The words landed heavy.

Every head turned.

Samantha looked up from Amanda's shoulder.

Claire straightened slightly.

Even Sylvia paused her typing.

Don finally turned.

His expression didn't shift much.

"You can," he said. "But why?"

Charles let out a quiet breath.

A faint smile formed.

Worn.

"You really need to ask?"

He gestured loosely toward the monitors behind them.

"You see it."

His voice stayed even.

But there was something under it.

"…it's madness out there."

His gaze dropped briefly.

Then lifted again.

"At this rate—"

He stopped himself.

Don watched him.

Careful.

This didn't fit.

Not fully.

Charles wasn't reckless.

Not like this.

Not for strangers.

There was something else driving it.

But Don didn't press that.

Not yet.

"But with your injured wing," Don said, "you're setting yourself up for failure."

Charles's jaw tightened slightly.

A flicker of irritation.

Gone just as fast.

"You're right," he said.

No argument.

No denial.

Then—

"This isn't isolated."

His tone steadied.

Focused.

"I'm sure the DOD will send containment teams within the next few hours."

He turned fully toward Don now.

That faint smile returned.

"I just want to make sure the casualties are less by the time they arrive."

A breath passed.

"I know I'm not at my best."

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"But I can last a few hours."

Confidence.

"I have a plan."

Behind him—

The reactions were clear.

Samantha shook her head slightly.

Amanda's arms folded.

Claire's expression tightened.

Even she couldn't hide it.

Concern.

Charles added, almost as an afterthought—

"I'll have the help of my father's men once I link up with them."

Then he turned.

Toward the steps leading up to the main platform.

Ready to move.

He didn't get far.

A hand landed on his shoulder.

Firm.

Stopping him.

Charles glanced back.

Don stood there.

Close.

"…hold on," Don said.

A brief pause.

"I'm coming with you."

No hesitation.

No buildup.

Just—

Decision.

---

The moment the words left Don—

Everything shifted.

Fast.

Charles didn't argue.

Didn't question it.

He just smiled.

Small.

Almost relieved.

He stepped back slightly, giving space.

That alone said enough.

The others—

Didn't take it the same way.

"No!"

Samantha's voice cut through the lab.

Loud.

Immediate.

She pulled away from Amanda and moved forward in quick strides, stopping right in front of Don. Her eyes were still wet, her breathing uneven, but her expression held firm.

"You will do no such thing, Don Bright—"

Her voice cracked.

Just a little.

But it stayed strong.

Charles shifted to the side, clearing the space between them.

Summer stood up almost at the same time.

She moved quickly to Samantha's side, nodding as she stepped in.

"Mom's right," she said, her tone carrying that edge—firm, but not as steady. "You're not going…"

There was resistance in her voice.

But something softer sat under it.

Samantha didn't look away from Don.

Not once.

Don exhaled quietly.

"Charles is right," he said. "We have to do what we can until the DOD—"

"I don't care!"

The words hit harder this time.

Sharper.

She closed the remaining distance and grabbed his hand, fingers tightening around it.

"Let someone else do it…"

Her grip trembled.

Tears welled again, spilling over before she could stop them.

Summer moved in right after.

Almost copying.

She grabbed his other arm—then stepped closer, pressing against his side, holding on tighter than she meant to.

"You're not going…"

Her voice dropped.

Less force.

More plea.

Amanda stayed back—

But even she spoke.

"At least wait," she said. "Let things settle a little—"

Claire stepped in next.

Composed.

But not unaffected.

"If you go out there," she said, "you will encounter infected superhumans. Surely even you are at risk in such a situation."

Don lowered his head slightly.

They weren't wrong.

Any of them.

His thoughts moved.

Quick.

Clear.

Havenridge.

That incident—

What it showed.

Be it Spineworms.

Or Rose.

Nothing about this enemy was simple.

Every encounter came with something new.

Something lethal.

If he went out there—

There was risk.

Real risk.

Injury.

Failure.

Something worse.

But—

He had been training.

Since then.

Pushing further.

If he stepped back now—

Because of fear—

Then what was the point?

The girls were safe.

Here.

That mattered.

More than anything.

He didn't have a reason to stay.

Not one that held.

His mind settled.

Don raised his head.

His gaze met Samantha's.

He shook it once.

Slow.

"I have to, mom."

Quiet.

But firm.

"Trust me… nothing will happen to me."

He turned slightly.

Looked at Summer.

She was still shaking her head, her grip not loosening.

Her face pressed lightly against him, like if she held on long enough—

He wouldn't move.

They understood.

Both of them.

The path he chose.

But understanding wasn't the same as seeing it.

Not like this.

Not with what was on those screens.

And he couldn't soften it.

Not this time.

No easy lie.

No way to make it seem smaller than it was.

That made it worse.

He raised his hands slowly.

Samantha hesitated—

Then let go.

Reluctantly.

Summer didn't.

Not at first.

Her grip tightened slightly as his arm lifted.

Don didn't pull away.

Instead—

He moved closer.

Cupped their cheeks.

One hand each.

His touch gentle.

Grounding.

"I understand," he said quietly. "I know you're worried."

A small pause.

Then—

"But trust me when I say… I'm never leaving you two again."

His voice dropped further.

"I'll be back."

Samantha broke.

Tears ran freely now, her lips trembling as she gave a weak nod.

"…okay…"

Summer didn't answer.

She lowered her head, pressing it against him again, shaking it slowly side to side.

Still refusing.

Even now.

Don held it for a second longer.

Then—

He pulled away.

Gently.

"I need to go."

Samantha let go completely this time.

Her arms moved around Summer instead, pulling her close as she buried her face into her chest.

Samantha didn't resist.

Don looked at them—

Just once more.

He didn't like it.

Didn't like leaving them like that.

But he didn't stop.

Didn't hesitate.

He turned.

Stepped back.

Looked at Charles.

"Let's go."