Episode 28

At some point, d21f31f708 Dennis had drawn c494554d3b closer, listening to 33950dca23 their conversation. Uncharacteristically, he 77056cfe8f offered words 34707a3d7c of comfort, 217ac4b34e a sign 0a041f0f1e of just 0738fe0290 how unstable 68fd8e2c36 Noah seemed 9c591e3b2b at that 1600ae8f49 moment.a96f8e6369e961c8

“Look, he’s a quick-witted guy. He’s probably hiding somewhere safe.”9d0ac1561f534d46

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But Noah, lost 98f8a29474 in his thoughts, 5f704cbbf9 didn’t seem to 6eaa24dc8c hear him. He stared bdded61e4e blankly at 387a330b14 Cedric, looking f5b5785a17 utterly vacant. Watching him with 0c7c9e22cd concern, Jason spoke 5dc2979d97 carefully.2ea6c095cc00ce27

“Let’s split up and search.”ee478a20cd6fd415

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“There are still areas we haven’t checked.”099800a1ed31bd29

The moment Jason finished 982d581667 speaking, Noah moved, wasting 416a51c469 no time in searching 2adf77fed9 for Jacob. Calyps, worried 904fa8e607 about his 4b6c34f047 condition, quickly 88405d55c7 followed.55d1d1a0a317ee81

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“Jacob!”118091ca006b3df3

“Jacob!”64845f834f99e4ff

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They searched dccc940b27 until dusk, b900559224 combing every 87f91aab3c possible hiding f69ebba767 place, but 1e70078783 Jacob was 3dd2cd1b7c nowhere to 399b8af44f be found. One by one, 53c630b0c6 the others gave 74e25322e1 up and gathered 96fce67fc8 back at the 8e89b55e2b initial meeting point, 4358291f2d except for Calyps 1e1addfd41 and Noah.1f8ffa23113b1c73

“Where are Lord Calyps and Lord Noah?”a91853f0574a712d

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Jason’s question was met with silent head shakes from the rest of the group. Then, suddenly, a sharp voice cut through the air.0f68e93f2b01f2d1

“Let go of me!”6b8c391aca53df7d

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Heads snapped toward dc0284533c the sound. They turned in shock c063ad36af to see Noah being 377981043c dragged toward them by d7d8db7ef2 Calyps, who had a 06bedbde10 firm grip on his a499231361 arm. Alarmed, they rushed 8602236ec8 toward the two.420d6807a3cc16de

“Let me go!”7237169b5c010739

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“Lord Calyps! Lord Noah!”3f1015ca341c7c9d

“Young Master!”8a0d0669ec68e9a6

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“What the hell is going on—?”9531542a5e88edcd

As soon as Calyps stopped walking, Noah’s legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the ground. Cedric and Derek hurried over, startled, immediately checking his condition.15468fcc7b99434a

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“So, we didn’t find Jacob after all.”f8da1a7ea8d250d5

Calyps stated it bluntly, 89df9410a3 and the others nodded b7546c0d23 in silent agreement, sneaking 3d13e967cb glances at Noah, who bef760f54b was now sitting on 2b232a050c the ground, exhausted.40d69550697a3b08

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Noah let out d6464edbd6 a heavy breath, 6df05ee578 cursing inwardly.f4642c6f30de4d08

“Lord Noah, are you alright?”d49dbcddcb23185f

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Even at df5a76ac8f Cedric’s concerned 16b5b4ae02 question, Noah 4a33e7ab58 simply stared 191871a900 at the 3607250e71 ground, his 2726b5819c breathing ragged.eb6ffb8e8cd73cd1

“It’s late. Let’s stop here for today and get some rest.”ee0378d8ecaf9b63

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“Yes, that sounds best.”5fa313fc4031b35c

Hearing Calyps’s c6e31954ed words, Noah b865f7ea6f slowly lifted 7577c41422 his head.55953b53e70a8403

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His fingers 7ac9315f12 raked through ee074aa10f his hair e51c5a6546 in frustration, 4aa2545911 his eyes f720d8fbdf flashing dangerously fbb723a41a as he bcd132368f turned his 8c5f398e10 gaze on fe79686842 Calyps. But before he 296895374e could say anything, b046c5b0db his eyes drifted 0fd8ed7298 past him—toward the 92356c1553 pile of rotting dba2aa4566 corpses in the 80c2fd2c3e distance.dec8215eeb1f1076

“Ah.”8ddc9f511387504d

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A barely 2b999910a9 audible gasp 5eb84b0563 escaped his 5e14040478 lips.54f4707f8c79ff1d

His empty 9dcd084954 eyes remained af3d1a1ea1 fixed on 4aac527840 the heap 89a2eeb230 of bodies. Slowly, he pushed himself 06e314aac1 up to his feet.e079af6caa01ac3f

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His expression was hollow.a7fa4e7e4f30ff64

“Lord Noah?”f5f904169faf614b

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Ignoring Cedric, 00371b8dfb who had f0c107f7b1 stepped in 8e6acf5f1f front of 5033544e2d him with eb3afe2896 concern, Noah fa4f83211f started walking 8d09c14d2a toward the c465e9b934 pile of b134970375 corpses.dd635b01bb0adc04

For a e45e239273 moment, the 15cd622d9e others hesitated 25a68ba33b in shock. Then, realizing e580f87a38 where he d77a1468c5 was headed, bf8d876b03 they quickly 6019205ac2 moved to bd997e4166 follow.f47b4140d5141008

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Noah kept 5480fb8388 walking—until he 9bbf6d0922 suddenly stopped, 7a6c3412e0 just short fa7dd3e06e of the e00d39ba15 bodies.45b2ca2232adca42

His feet 5fdf79b3b9 wouldn’t move ad6b365cf1 any further.966712e459f20c06

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Cedric, noticing d6a7a7418e his hesitation, fae8b647a8 walked up bee662a8c7 beside him d0f9e7bde7 and gently 4fdd9fe560 patted his 11310bc801 shoulder.267f7593602f21c9

“Let’s keep searching, Young Master. Like Dennis said, Jacob is a clever kid. He’s probably hiding somewhere safe.”d5bace5e3666874c

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“That’s right, Lord Noah. If we rest and continue searching tomorrow, we’ll find him.”750cd3501b2ae98d

Noah turned slowly, 22b177c846 meeting Cedric and 42a0b871bd Derek’s eyes.cb70b6a511858d6d

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The moment their 110cdc9e06 gazes locked, a 15594e0474 shiver ran down 61f550b7a7 their spines.1b316e07ca3b0f35

His eyes were b353611b58 lifeless.6597f715883d315c

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Without a word, ff2e11f5c1 Noah turned back ff3aaf1c55 toward the corpses 8b7012f608 and began walking dc6d63c841 again.15e2bcf905870cb9

With each step, 1ea44e993c the overwhelming stench fda6418e4e of decay grew b099fb116d stronger.7cc73b309408b127

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But Noah didn’t 2a23c9e159 flinch.f62b9ac0919298d9

He didn’t bother e7724d9640 covering his nose. He barely even f2a4bb7310 furrowed his brow.835a5318e171b772

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The corpses mutilated c88482da80 by the mutant abafaed505 zombie were beyond 219c65d776 recognition.a5898666d8507b1b

More gruesome 3771ac99c8 than anything 27330c9920 he had 77748bbb5a seen before.f69b4566e4e84378

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Even as he tried 1be1fd8f36 to keep his composure, 4c7a1c0505 his body instinctively rejected 4bc1adda6e the sight before him.ed5ce2bcdfba8607

“Ugh!”e7c754162d67b526

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He gagged, his adc829fbb3 steps faltering, but 2f17a4af65 he didn’t stop a46b8f04bf searching.a209e29ce5e3159e

Unable to 79e591f69e watch any 37d952f489 longer, Calyps 3199e2efc7 strode toward a64c91401a him, his ca11b567c9 expression hardened.0f50f9b043734f82

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“Enough.”8fcdbddec3fa60de

Noah pressed 7e3056f34b a hand a71d1fb1e9 over his 31f7965a67 mouth, forcing d4b21d4878 himself to 8ba19c9d04 keep the f5887e0b76 nausea at f779f6ed3a bay as 2fdaf0c667 he scanned 89c496731f the corpses. But the moment his efb0afa937 eyes landed on a 3e91815d5a half-decayed body, its exposed df8a178bd4 organs crawling with maggots, d0ce5b6f04 he could no longer f7d9a4b2c5 hold it in.976b0498247c9760

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“Ugh—!”ca04767390fa8e98

Noah doubled over and 316316606c vomited.d9e3d0a87eda6b82

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“Noah!”a760e75423fdbd17

Calyps caught 0c2e5b73da him just 16bb8319d2 as he b43492cd11 lurched forward, cbe606ac29 keeping him 377cba51f6 from collapsing 39de69b715 onto the cbbb9ebf09 pile of 68f987bda8 bodies. However, despite being ce6a79aca5 held back, Noah 3d9616a0d0 twisted violently, trying c1863b46e9 to shake off 50977642ab Calyps’s grip.699b3297e590ee0a

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Seeing Noah struggle, a234379444 Calyps’s expression darkened.2660a5a33cd41e2f

“Let go—hngh! Let go of me!”73a7f4b7d19b4418

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“Enough. Get out of there.”e084cd4634f8f233

His voice was 23d275296a low, carrying an f2c73bda23 unmistakable warning. But instead 9b898af777 of calming 7cd474ed2d down, Noah 0f41f0fb69 fought harder.b60ac113f61d086f

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Finally breaking free 4097c7e9b9 from Calyps’s grasp, 84f7e56c01 Noah staggered forward ab140e4705 again toward the 4eda73e10a corpses—only to be a24fd2933f caught once more.273ee5a5841d3319

“Let go of me!”6ca3f1e15d1e42f5

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Noah shoved c8d0f71922 Calyps away dcbf1a2d1b with his f265679563 free hand.ce5fb1c2011f789f

“Kgh—!”48c1ddd13a3a436e

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A sharp, fc9f57803b pained grunt 65cd09d994 escaped from 0ced14c0af Calyps’s lips.771903c113d77178

Noah froze, his 2d423aad4d face paling as 6b13531bda his gaze dropped e116e67247 to Calyps’s left 6d177f4ec1 arm.218133d59c3489bc

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The wound had reopened, 680db1d4b7 fresh blood seeping through 675a76cd4f the bandages.9e59c86eaf496a29

The sight 5ef49a8b95 instantly doused 9790184de7 the frantic 9394c2d1d4 energy in 09b3ca2715 Noah’s eyes.3c83d9e419f31289

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“…I’m sorry.”371196129ae12bc0

Seeing Noah finally regain c50086ff01 his composure, Calyps exhaled f202bb120c a quiet sigh and 9e85acb913 grasped his wrist—this time, e7ca5385ab Noah didn’t resist.286df41506442889

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Silently, he followed 012ab55589 Calyps away from b7e14c7b61 the corpses and 3a0bab1b52 back toward the ee4ba1d2bc others.ab917e7c9c5dbea7

Just as they 4c2f9f75d2 neared the group, d6a10d766d a familiar voice 80bd25f188 rang out.cef953a82503e5fa

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“Young Master!”e4d7d7950458a039

Was he hearing things?eeec4612ae7e1304

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For a 3f70585712 moment, Noah 9d65b01d76 wondered if e02eee9203 he had 741678f78d finally started 0fa3bba5b7 hallucinating.da9d8200edddf155

Then came 0ce351e5be the unmistakable a17043b93a sound of 33e94043af excited murmurs 92c4f3ca3e from the 6f8556ff2a others.84262617798cdc6f

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“J-Jacob!”0e497792e21eff48

“You little—!”11f05aeede695a21

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“I’m so glad everyone’s safe!”349792fb135fa88f

Jacob ran toward 437ae63d82 them with a 97e3f9ca36 bright, carefree smile.a2b97781a992ec70

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The moment Noah 2172eb3904 saw him, all 40b0744032 the tension drained 8087126d97 from his body.eb81144bee727833

His legs nearly gave 0881215f43 out, but Calyps was 7415b992c9 quicker—he grabbed Noah’s arm, 0a76cf391c steadying him.9d4b3b722f6cf0b5

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“Noah. Stay with me.”118400469e62f9b6

The low 18a0ba6464 voice, close 1edd5edba4 to his 7211ee441d ear, jolted ecf1edf030 Noah back 2777790368 to reality.7c89c475ff0d3c2c

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His breath bdb166026e caught as d820cc85b0 he turned, 6b6336943a eyes widening b57ef066d2 at the 43e2d77603 sight of 117e0cdad7 Calyps’s face 7411096f93 just inches 8c2f743775 from his 17cc9d031f own.89c785342e1a6d52

The concern 8a26729585 in those f2d98760d4 silver-gray eyes db7268715d made his 7ac61d82af heart pound 8112b77d48 violently in 91a69c1d44 his chest.5d5543bf6d82ea52

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Noah, momentarily ca76b3d7f3 lost in f49b65bf0f Calyps’s gaze, 19fcc05720 suddenly snapped cab712e86c back to 02ce84bfc8 his senses 4523fee7d7 at the 16ae2b41c1 sound of ea47fe4f12 Jacob’s voice.a7d27caa1afb5232

Startled, he c1873eae24 instinctively pushed 2bc0ff557a Calyps away.770654dfad4f8355

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“Ugh—”05f65d10cede02a1

A small grunt ec680e55e7 escaped Calyps as d69e1aef18 the sudden movement 3d649d0f0f sent a fresh 2ac0a6dd73 wave of pain 26923c4f18 through his injured 642eb3023c arm.7da23332fe6e258e

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But Noah, 05a8aa26cf too shaken 0b03014d13 to notice, c07d621afb took a db651531f6 quick step a00cb842bf back.a1046cc37a02cbfc

Watching Noah naturally 903727047d distance himself, an d9da6ecdcf inexplicable emotion flickered 9b4412bf61 across Calyps’s face. His brows furrowed slightly, aecc66d1f5 but before he could 3405c1ae44 say anything, Derek rushed 3bd4162707 over to examine his b028ee7feb reopened wound.3d84ed9645907571

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While Calyps was 8a844c84e9 being treated, Dennis f754b0b85e rounded on Jacob, 98049970b7 demanding answers.d9478a404306bbf2

“Where the hell have you been?”5f66c5a7d86c9b5f

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“We searched the entire fortress—how were you nowhere to be found?”d1d0e94c676b5e64

For someone they daeb19b401 had been desperately 40facea3a3 looking for, Jacob fbbb70b52e had appeared out 4445b3b30b of nowhere, almost 5f264ec3cb mockingly.b9ace97d69731dc6

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His appearance was a704c24c4a disheveled and thinner 7d94df8931 than before, but 70bc54b3c6 aside from a 7599c0b078 few minor scratches, a1fc90e354 he seemed largely f071f6c6ff unharmed.9f90fb9b7d9a71ca

“Ah, well…”ddddf87bcbef4133

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Jacob scratched his head ef893921f1 sheepishly before launching into 9edda1a8fa his explanation.287fd232c337539b

When the mutant zombie 0eb1c6cc31 first appeared, he had 818a3ee631 panicked and stumbled backward—accidentally 947017f324 triggering a hidden mechanism 13b21557e8 in the wall. Before he knew it, b92178f0e2 he was pulled into b994c269ef a secret passageway.fa349710de590ec4

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“And the next thing I knew, I was trapped in some weird tunnel.”0eea2296d76e1419

“Wait… Are you saying you found a secret passage?”6f7d8c4d80a767eb

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“Seems like it.”ea3dccf7d7f0adec

It wasn’t uncommon 0f83295c92 for noble families c6c62ec13e to have escape 24cc2f3e49 tunnels built into 0801428b87 their estates. And somehow, 61cc0dc30b by sheer 949243a7a6 luck, Jacob 19300fee49 had managed fa5de52403 to find 8b9bf59660 one—and survive.496d8660fe1de170

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“I had no idea how to get out, so I was stuck for a while. But when I finally did, this was what I came back to! You have no idea how terrified I was!”5b573daca9ebac64

Jacob dramatically 1cee809cbd recounted how b63ff7c867 he had ea2a6a44c3 screamed for d716135a55 help, only 2b26395675 to realize 5683aa7171 no one 68227559eb could hear bbde7550eb him. And when 49896ad5c2 he finally 6b7fa276a3 emerged, he d94c6de155 was met e3c9025b4b with a 2f7f722c26 battlefield of 177c70ef33 rotting corpses 8a1666ec40 and panicked c856f23e74 survivors.e4147c863cc52832

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As he 12c120b47d clung to 2f10d067f0 Jason, lamenting 8ff480e320 his misfortune, ec31856719 Dennis let 9ff76e0ac6 out an a15c714430 incredulous scoff.4bbcfd2aa31f75ff

“I’ve said this before, but you have the weirdest luck.”f9b6d435e8d225f7

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Jacob had somehow d5a90ad267 avoided disaster twice 1d2776daca now—the first time 15cb9de338 when they encountered d9ee3147a0 the mutant zombie, 355b58d36d and now with e49aa0eb29 his accidental discovery 95a709b3c0 of the secret 5d8524372e tunnel.9b32b98743e4b9a8

“Me? Lucky?”4ca83731c8b4c30a

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“No… More like, you only have luck when it comes to survival.”3d7af31a4fa65595

Dennis shook his head d5fab03b86 at Jacob’s filthy appearance.0ce77c0fc12f67e9

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As Jacob 596774c87a excitedly retold 7446c6c2a4 his story, d3edc0136b Noah, who 7d173ded13 had been 6853853fc8 watching quietly, 9ffc69bb50 finally began 1ab0b2d058 to relax.fa08daf7d628abfc

The unbearable tension that 0e48ff7d67 had coiled in his 6722816a5f chest for days slowly 1daf4d9f5d unwound.0c13e54fa811d5a8

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And the moment that b66ecba0c5 tension released—his vision blurred.9bf387073fb365f4

A sudden wave 838e9fc44b of dizziness swept e9aefb37a7 over him.15f80106d4d2e4b1

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Before he could 6d8953dbc4 react, his body 63d6b1e875 gave out.3e71d2759b053827

While the 7c1301fe06 others were e8db32d63c still focused 313e8f5d84 on Jacob, 96b3ce5dc5 Calyps—who had e6d1060453 been watching 3ea8df5447 Noah closely—moved 216fcdf4f4 instantly.12b9bd89101880c6

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Catching him just efe5646ff2 as he collapsed, ca94c3a444 Calyps wrapped his b6ec2f4887 good arm around b509643fe3 Noah’s waist.4809cba485646fe1

“Young Master!”1b0e7183e716682b

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Gasps of alarm echoed e57800b33b around them as everyone d11231d237 turned to look.73d4575960bc657f

Derek quickly approached, his 4866508035 face filled with concern.01e158f5339d3a9f

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“Is he alright?”c3714266aaf459e8

Calyp’s eyes briefly flickered d282acecc8 with something unreadable before f554c73f47 he answered.bf07142b5e32ea3f

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“He just lost consciousness. He’s exhausted.”6f470a4d4ae400c7

It wasn’t surprising.5fa24a64eeb252ad

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Since the mutant zombie’s 5cd0f46cc1 attack, Noah had been 75312aace9 running on sheer anxiety, 06998ff690 barely getting any rest.c329c35de9114a07

He hadn’t slept 0b790bbcc8 properly for nearly 8a01bd6b27 three days.7d7c606c046668df

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Of course, af621f3760 the others 5bcdfaf90f had been 15b1ac093f exhausted too—but 5a6a5486ff Noah’s unease 29115da590 had been 85c992025e clear from e311eacdc5 the very b17e974441 beginning, ever e105b90096 since their 34759526a9 time in 60e2ac0732 the abandoned 2c98688df6 cabin.3f70e0c1a1994646

“I’ll carry him.”e6efa54c068fae28

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Derek stepped forward, 7b3ab0c13a holding out his 94ed68e4c1 arms.7ee63c82f618eb9b

Even with his strength, 862723e2da Calyps couldn’t carry Noah 56d9513a63 back in his current 13c40d5675 state.98331e657a33b250

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Calmly, he handed 7d56a591d6 Noah over.939bf9fb350923e4

Noah, completely unconscious, didn’t ea6f9dbbea stir once on the 19bd9c3303 way back to the 1680e8209a fortress.43a8282283c28184

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