Shadows stretched over one figure after another. At that moment, the vast central square of the city was the scene of the chaos. Helicopters were lined up across the plaza, while Bennie called out names, guiding children aboard one by one. Only a few very young kids, crying in their parents' arms, stepped forward; the majority stayed away. They had room for a thousand, yet fewer than a hundred children boarded. The students from schools were the most notable absence—none of them appeared. It was as if they had silently agreed to vanish. Neither teachers nor parents could locate a single one. Bennie scanned the roster. "Emma, have all your kids made it here?" Emma still held on to five children, their small hands gripping her shirt tightly. "Move them along, now!" Bennie snapped. "Mom, we're not leaving," one child protested. "Yeah, we're staying here," Emma said firmly, meeting their eyes. "This is our home. We aren't going anywhere." "You're coming with us!" Bennie barked. "Take the kids and get on the helicopter!" "I won't leave. This is my home," Emma replied, shaking her head steadily as she held his gaze. "The zombies are closing in on the city—dozens, maybe hundreds. You understand that, right?" "I do. My dad's a zombie too. He'll keep me safe." Bennie was speechless. "Get on now!" he demanded. "I'm not leaving. My dad is here. This is my home. I'm staying." Emma had already sent the other children away, but she refused to go herself. Her five kids mirrored her defiance. Bennie was anxious and furious, but he couldn't reason with someone in such a state, so he had no choice but to personally grab Emma and drag her onto the helicopter. The kids reacted immediately, swarming him with fists and kicks. "You're a bad guy!" "Don't hurt our mom!" "Let her go!" "Take this!" Despite her fragile condition, Emma's five children fought fiercely. Each had awakened unique abilities. Working together—one striking here, one biting there—they moved with agility and precision, eluding Bennie at every turn. Bennie froze, unsure how to proceed. Then, a warm, cheerful voice rang out. "Hey, hey, that's enough!" A figure materialized in front of them. Elias stepped between the kids and Bennie, taking a few kicks in the process but managing to pull them apart. He faced a line of small, defiant kids. "Don't hurt our mom!" they cried. "All right, little guys, nobody's hurting anyone," Elias said, adjusting his glasses with a smile. "He is trying to get you to a safe place." "We're not going anywhere!" "Like you have a choice!" Bennie's tone cut through the air, sharp and commanding. "Mr. Green, calm down. Let me handle this," Elias said smoothly, his easygoing demeanor easing Bennie's tension. Then he turned to Emma. "Emma, take the kids and leave. It's dangerous here." "I'm not leaving," she said firmly, unyielding. "My dad is here. This is my home." "What about the kids? They'll be in danger when the zombies arrive." Among everyone in the alliance, Elias was the only one who could speak to Emma without hitting a wall. He had endless patience. He listened, even when the other person wasn't in a state to hear. Hearing his words, Emma's clear eyes clouded for a moment, then cleared again. "There's Dr. Larson." "She's heading into an even greater danger." "Then I'll go with her," Emma said, lifting her chin with determination. "I want to go with her." "We'll go too!" "We want to follow the doctor!" The kids shouted in unison, each adding their voice. Most people would have been overwhelmed, but Elias remained calm, smiling. "Theresa is going to protect us. She's risking herself for our sake. We can't make things harder for her." Emma thought for a moment. "Okay. I understand. You all go ahead." She nudged her five kids toward the helicopter. Instantly, they clutched her hands tightly. "Mom!" "Mom, don't leave us!" "Mom, please!" "Don't leave us!" Their eyes were wide and pleading. Emma smiled. For the first time, a glimmer of humor lit her gaze. "I'm not leaving you. It's just like Dr. Larson did before, I'll send you off first, one by one. Once you're safe, I'll go with Dr. Larson to meet you."