Chapter 3

I couldn't sleep that night.

I tossed and turned for ages before finally sitting up.

Emma was still awake in the corner.

She sat by the window, holding a small knife, working on something in her hands.

Moonlight poured through the window, outlining her silhouette in silver.

I stared at Emma for a few seconds.

Emma suddenly broke the silence. "Can't sleep?"

I nearly jumped out of my skin. "Wait, how did you know I was looking at you?"

Emma didn't look up. "You were making so much noise, tossing and turning. The bed's been squeaking for half an hour."

I was left speechless.

The barrage of comments kept coming.

[LMAO, I'm dying!]

[Lily must be embarrassed.]

[Emma's snark is on point. So real.]

Feeling a bit embarrassed, I mumbled, "I always have trouble sleeping in a new bed."

Emma didn't say anything. She kept whittling away in silence.

Curious, I scooted over. "What are you whittling?"

"A wooden arrow," Emma said, handing me the one she'd finished. "My powers burn out too quickly, so I can't use them all the time. Gotta have some backup weapons."

I took it and examined it.

It was smooth, the tip was sharp, and it had some weight to it. There were a few grooves carved into the tail, probably for a better grip or to keep it steady.

"You're really good at this," I said, genuinely impressed.

Emma looked over at me.

Her face was unreadable, but at least she didn't seem annoyed.

She asked, "What did you do before all this?"

I paused for a second, then said, "I was an influencer. You know, making videos, streaming, chatting with people, and sometimes doing ads."

"Oh," she said, nodding.

I thought she was about to roast me, but she stayed quiet.

After a moment of silence, I couldn't help but ask, "How did you get so badass?"

Her hands stilled for a moment.

She thought about it, then said, "Staying alive makes me tough."

Well, that was something.

The barrage of comments kept coming.

[LMAO, what kind of answer is that?]

[Emma had no secret. She just managed to stay alive a little longer.]

[That answer is way too real.]

I was a bit speechless, but I couldn't help asking, "So how did you get started with all this? Did you figure it out on your own?"

Emma finally looked up at me. "You want to learn?"

I froze for a second.

The comments were just as stunned.

[Wait, what's Emma up to?]

[Did she really ask Lily if she wants to learn?]

[This isn't how the plot is supposed to go!]

I opened my mouth, stunned for a moment before finally asking, "You... you'd really teach me?"

Emma replied calmly, "Starting tomorrow, you will train with me for an hour a day. We'll start with running."

She handed me the wooden arrow she'd finished. "Take this. For protection."

I took the wooden arrow, and my heart warmed up a little.

"Thanks," I said.

Emma didn't say a word. She kept whittling away at another arrow.

The moonlight bathed her in a quiet, gentle glow.

All of a sudden, I realized that maybe she wasn't as distant as I thought.

Before the sun was up the next morning, Emma yanked me out of bed.

"Get up. Time for running!" she barked.

That was all she said.

Still half-asleep, I stumbled after her.

I instantly regretted it.

Less than five minutes in, I was already gasping for air.

Ten minutes later, I collapsed to the ground.

"I can't... I can't do this..." I lay there like a dead animal, my chest heaving, my lungs burning like fire.

Emma stood over me, looking down. "Zombies aren't gonna wait around for you."

"I know, but..." I started.

"Get up." Her voice was calm, but for some reason, I couldn't say no.

Gritting my teeth, I hauled myself up and kept running.

By noon, my legs didn't even feel like mine anymore.

My calves were trembling, my knees were killing me, and I had blisters all over the soles of my feet.

When we finally took a break, I collapsed in the corner, and I couldn't even get a word out.

Emma walked over and handed me a bottle of water.

I grabbed it and chugged down more than half of it in one go.

"You're even harsher than Lucas," I gasped.

Emma sat down next to me and, for once, actually said a bit more. "Seriously, you're out of shape. Looks like you never worked out a day in your life."

That was actually true.

The barrage of comments kept coming.

[Emma's comeback is brutal!]

[Lily must be embarrassed.]

[I'm shipping these two. Their chemistry is off the charts!]

After a pause, I couldn't help but ask, "Emma, why are you willing to teach me?"

Emma looked over at me. "Because Lucas saved my life."

I was stunned for a second.

She continued, "Yesterday, I got surrounded by zombies, and Lucas was the one who saved me. He fought his way back to make sure you were safe. That's when he messed up his left leg. I owe him my life."

I fell silent.

So that was why.

The barrage of comments kept coming.

[That makes sense.]

[Emma's not some saint. She just pays her debts.]

[This setup works.]

I lowered my head and said quietly, "I'll work really hard."