The group debated theories about what had happened.

  Luke believed the evacuees from Zarco had reached the base, taken supplies, and continued onward.

  Néstor, however, was unsettled by the absence of hostiles. No one could be certain what was going on.

  "There are too many irregularities. The soldiers at the base were annihilated, just like the reconnaissance team. Our city is destroyed, and there’s no sign of the evacuation train," Luke said, rubbing his forehead.

  "As you said, they must have continued," Néstor concluded.

  Lix nodded.

  "They must be heading toward Zafarí. It’s the closest city."

  Néstor studied the train tracks thoughtfully.

  "I agree. I don’t think they’d go to Yakkúm—it’s a longer journey, and they don’t have the equipment to withstand the freezing temperatures there."

  Lix called to Noah, who was with the others.

  "Do you think the fuel we have is enough to reach Zafarí?"

  Noah knew there wasn’t enough coal to make it that far.

  "Honestly, I’m not sure we’ll get there," Noah admitted nervously.

  Luke suggested using fuel from the reconnaissance team’s train, but Lix quickly informed him that it had been completely emptied.

  "Any good news?" Luke asked, frustrated.

  "No… and that’s not all. Dante is very weak," Néstor added.

  Dante sat on a wooden bench while Rogelio examined him.

  Iván watched his friend with worry.

  Ander and Andrew observed as Dante wiped blood from his nose.

  "Kid, you have my respect for enduring this pain," Dante said, his voice weary.

  "Don’t worry, your fever will drop soon and the muscle pain will ease. You need to save your energy," Ander replied.

  Rogelio nodded.

  "He’s right. Rest is most important for recovery."

  "I’m not sure a miracle happens twice, Doc," Dante said with irony.

  "Stay positive. Don’t let the infection control your mind, and don’t stop resisting," Ander advised.

  Dante lifted his gaze to Ander.

  "That’s what I’m doing, kid. It’d be easier to stab myself and end this, but that’s not my style."

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  "Come on, don’t even joke about that…" Iván said, giving him a light smack on the head.

  "You’ve got no pity, not even for a dying man," Dante laughed weakly.

  Ander watched the scene and thought of his friendship with Josh. He went to check on him.

  As he walked through the base, Ander was moved by the thought of the soldiers who had fought to their last breath against the hostiles.

  Rounding some rubble, he found Josh sitting.

  "Hey, friend, I know you’re worried about our families, but you have to keep hope," Ander said.

  "I do. It’s just hard not knowing what’s happening."

  "Believe me, I’m the first with no idea why this is all—" Ander didn’t finish.

  Suddenly, from the rubble, a figure with golden eyes rose: a hostile.

  Josh had his back turned, unaware of what was behind him.

  Ander saw it, and when the beast leapt at his friend, he shoved Josh aside, taking the attack himself.

  "Ander!" Josh screamed desperately.

  Other hostiles emerged from the rubble.

  Josh gripped his weapon tightly and fired rapidly, but his shots missed again and again.

  Ander’s eyes blazed gold as he roared furiously:

  "I’m sick of this!"

  He grabbed the hostile by the jaws, using all his strength until he snapped them apart.

  The beast fell lifeless to the ground.

  Josh managed to kill another with gunfire, but more hostiles charged.

  Andrew suddenly appeared, blasting one’s head off with a shot and smashing another with his shotgun.

  "I can’t even go to the bathroom without everything going to hell," Andrew said sarcastically.

  Ander grabbed a hostile by its hind leg and slammed it against the ground until it died.

  The last one lunged at Josh, but Andrew stepped in, firing both shotguns at once and killing it.

  "Th-thanks," Josh said, shaken.

  "You okay?" Ander asked, his eyes returning to normal.

  Cody and the others arrived at the sound of gunfire, seeing the hostiles slain.

  "What happened? Are you all right?" Cody asked.

  Andrew holstered his shotguns.

  "All under control. You’re late to the party."

  "They came out of the rubble," Ander explained.

  Néstor looked around.

  "There’s rubble everywhere…"

  "Let’s get back to the train. The base isn’t safe," Luke ordered.

  "Agreed. Let’s stay near the train to avoid another situation like this," Néstor concluded.

  ***

  Back at the train, Wallace and Natasha surprised everyone with a small white puppy with blue eyes.

  "Look, Dad, it just appeared out of nowhere," Natasha said.

  "How did this little guy get here?" Martin asked, petting its head.

  "Someone must have abandoned it," Gaspar commented.

  Everyone began petting the puppy.

  It was as if the animal gave them a moment of peace amid all the tragedy each of them carried.

  "Can we keep him, Dad? Please," Natasha begged with a tender look.

  "If no one objects, of course," Martin replied.

  Ander picked up the dog.

  "I’m in favor," he said, as the puppy licked his cheek.

  "Looks like he likes you," Alicia added, smiling.

  Time passed.

  The group prepared to continue their journey to Zafarí, hoping to find survivors.

  The survivors of Zarco boarded the train.

  "Everyone ready to continue?" Noah asked.

  "We’re all aboard, we can go," Néstor replied.

  Inside the wagon, everyone settled in to rest.

  Ander stared at Andrew.

  "Andrew, where did you learn to fight like that?"

  Andrew looked back at him and sighed.

  "I’ve lived a long life, kid…"

  Ander turned to the window.

  "I feel clumsy. My moves are improvised. If you hadn’t arrived when you did, Josh… I couldn’t have helped him."

  "Thinking fast under stress—I learned that in soldier training. It’s just practice, kid."

  Ander frowned.

  "I don’t want someone to die because of my mistake."

  "We’re human. Mistakes are normal, but guilt always follows us…" Andrew replied.

  "Is there something you blame yourself for?" Ander asked.

  "Yes… enough questions for today," Andrew said, walking away.

  The train rolled across the prairie, showing a green world full of unknown wildlife.

  In the distance, they saw hostiles, but chose to save ammunition.

  Suddenly, Noah braked the train.

  "What…?" he murmured, stunned.

  Néstor, atop the train, froze. "It can’t be."

  "That train…" Luke said, confused.

  "The evacuation train… destroyed," Ander whispered sadly, gazing out the window.

  Before them lay a devastating sight: shattered wagons, broken tracks, and the train completely wrecked.

  The hope of finding the evacuees crumbled before their eyes.