Chapter 483: Crossing The Water to Brigantine...

The walk to the Golden Nugget Hotel did not take long.

It was dark enough that the city around us felt almost empty, but nobody walked blindly. We all carried torchlights, their weak beams sweeping across the streets as we advanced together. The shadows of Atlantic City stretched around us, abandoned storefronts, broken windows, cars left abandoned in the middle of the road, old signs creaking and swaying whenever the wind blew in off the water.

The Infected were still out there. They never truly disappeared. Every now and then, one would stagger out from behind a wrecked vehicle or stumble through the entrance of some abandoned building. But they were ordinary Infected, alone or in small scattered groups, nothing like the Hybrids, nothing like the frenzied monsters the Screamer used to draw in. So we handled them easily. Lucy took one down before it could get too close, her weapon giving off a quiet, controlled shot. Christopher dealt with another that wandered too near the group. I used my axe when I needed to, keeping the noise low and the movement quick. Nobody panicked.

After everything we had survived, normal Infected just didn’t register as a real threat anymore.

Still, taking the Golden Nugget Hotel had made a real difference. Ever since Marlon’s people pushed Callighan’s influence out of that side of Atlantic City, the area around the Boardwalk had gotten noticeably safer. More guards, more secure paths, more places we could fall back to if something went wrong. Rico’s people kept watch from the Golden Nugget surroundings. The Boardwalk had stronger barricades now.

For the first time in a while, it actually felt like we held something, a piece of the city, a place that belonged to us instead of Callighan.

Everyone else talked quietly as we walked. Sydney was chatting with Cindy and Daisy behind me. Christopher and Lucy were working out the best position to take near the shore. Rebecca stayed close to Rachel, though she was quieter than usual. I walked a little ahead of the group, mostly because I was too caught up in my own head to join in. My face must have looked tense, because Rachel eventually drifted up beside me.

"You okay, Ryan?" She asked.

I glanced at her. "Just bracing myself."

Rachel gave a small nod. "If it helps any, I’m nervous too."

I looked forward again. The Golden Nugget Hotel wasn’t visible yet, but we were getting closer.

"I’m sorry for dragging you into this," I said. "If you don’t want to come—"

"Don’t." Rachel cut me off. I looked over at her. "Please don’t say that," she continued. "I was happy when you asked me to come." Her voice stayed soft, but there was a quiet confidence underneath it. "I like that you want to protect me. I really do." She glanced ahead, then back at me. "But I like it more when you actually lean on me too. When you remember I can help you."

"You are helpful," I said right away. "Of course you are."

Rachel smiled faintly. "Then don’t act like you need to apologize every time you ask me to stand beside you."

I didn’t say anything, because she was right. I’d gotten too used to trying to carry everything on my own. Every time someone was in danger, my first instinct was to push them away from it, tell them to stay safe while I handled things myself. But I couldn’t protect everyone alone, and Rachel wasn’t helpless. None of them were.

"I’m just worried," I admitted. "That’s why I try to keep everyone away from stuff like this."

Rachel’s eyes softened. "Away from Gaspar, I know, you are worried."

"Yeah."

Gaspar was the real threat. I could deal with Callighan’s guards if it came to that, bullets were dangerous, sure, but Rachel’s barriers could protect us, Lucy could shoot back, I could fight if things got close. Gaspar was different though. He’d crushed me before. Outclassed me in every single way. And if Ravager came out again, I didn’t want Rachel, Lucy, Sydney, Cindy, Christopher, Daisy, or Rebecca anywhere near that fight.

"I understand," Rachel said. "But I’m glad you thought of me first when you needed help."

I looked at her. "I mean, obviously. You’re perfect for this."

Her cheeks warmed slightly. "Perfect?"

"Your barriers can block bullets," I said. "You can protect us, cover the boat, buy us time if people come after us. It’s basically a cheat code."

Rachel laughed quietly. "A cheat code?"

"Yeah."

"That is a strange compliment."

"It’s a good one."

Rachel smiled, then her expression turned more thoughtful. "I still wish you’d rely on me more," she said. "And everyone else too."

"I want to. I really do." I looked toward the road ahead. "But against Gaspar, you understand why I don’t want to take risks, right?"

Rachel nodded slowly. "I do." Her expression fell a little. "I suppose we’re weak compared to him."

"Don’t overthink that," I said. "Gaspar’s had his Symbiote for years, from what I understand. You and the others aren’t even full Symbiote Hosts yet. You’ve only had Dullahan’s energy inside you for about three months. You’re not weak. You just haven’t had time."

That was the truth. Rachel, Cindy, Sydney, Elena, Maribel had already gotten stronger. Their bodies had changed, their abilities were surfacing, they were figuring out how to actually use Dullahan’s energy. But none of that happened overnight. Controlling strange powers wasn’t like picking up a gun or learning to swing an axe. It took time, experience, surviving situations where those abilities got pushed to their limits. Even I was still learning. I was the King Host of Dullahan, my progression was faster than theirs, but it still wasn’t fast enough. Not against Gaspar. Not yet.

Rachel nodded. "That’s fair." Then she hesitated. "Ryan..."

"What?"

She glanced around, making sure the others were far enough away. "You do know that the closer we are, the stronger we become, right?"

I raised a brow.

Rachel’s cheeks turned red. "The more we... stabilize," she said awkwardly, "the better our control over our abilities gets. The faster we grow stronger."

"That’s right," I said quietly.

Sydney and Cindy had hinted at the same thing before, and honestly, it made sense. I was Dullahan’s King Host. The others carried pieces of Dullahan inside them, there was a connection between us whether I wanted to admit it or not. The closer that connection got, the easier it was for their bodies to sync with the Symbiote energy. The stronger they became, the more stable their abilities were.

Runis had told me something similar too, I’d just been too embarrassed to actually think it through. Too afraid that acknowledging it would make me selfish. But from now on, I wanted to stop lying to myself. I wanted to accept what Dullahan had changed in me. My desires. My emotions. My need for closeness. My real feelings for the people who mattered to me.

Rachel noticed my silence and immediately got flustered. "I...I’m not trying to force you into anything," she said quickly. "Of course not. I just meant it could help us get stronger, eventually."

I smiled at her. "Rachel." She looked at me. "You aren’t forcing me and honestly," I added, lowering my voice, "you jumping at me like that would probably turn me on."

Rachel froze before her cheeks turned a bit red. Then she lightly punched my shoulder.

"God. This is so embarrassing to hear..."

I and Rachel turned and unfortunately Rebecca had overheard us.

Well, she seemed pretty embarrassed to have heard me flirting with Rachel for sure.

"Rebecca..." Rachel also seemed embarrassed.

"It’s fine, it’s fine, I get it already," she replied though I noticed that it was very difficult for her to face me now for some reasons.

Even though I thought things would go better between us, now she seemed embarrassed by something.

"Is something wrong?" I asked her.

Rebecca looked at me before looking a bit away.

"I mean about everything...I was upset thinking yo were just selfish and all..." She said.

"You already apologized, it’s fine," I told her.

"N...Not about that...I mean when I asked you about your powers...and that you were only sharing to the people you wished..." She trailed off.

Upon hearing that I understood what she meant.

"Yeah, you mean when you really wished me to give it to you as well?" I asked her.

Rebecca’s face went beet red at my words.

"Give what?! I...I don’t need it!" She shouted.

"Rebecca, it’s fine," Rachel smiled awkwardly.

Rebecca opened and closed her mouth before quickly moving in the back.

Anyway, we continued toward the State Marina.

The walk did not take long.

The city was quiet at this hour, but not completely empty. A few guards remained at the barricades. Battery lights shone from the buildings we controlled. Every now and then, I caught movement in the distance, people on watch, survivors returning to the hotels, someone carrying supplies before the night grew too late.

When we reached the Golden Nugget Hotel, Rico and several of his people were already outside.

Rico’s broken arm was still held in a sling, but that did not stop him from standing near the entrance and watching the roads like he was ready to fight someone with his other hand alone.

He spotted us immediately.

"So it’s happening?" he asked.

"Yeah," I replied.

Rico looked toward the dark water beyond the marina.

Then back at me.

"Be careful."

I nodded.

There was no point wasting time with a long conversation.

We had already gone over the plan.

Rico and his people would remain near the Golden Nugget Hotel, watching the roads and the shore. Christopher, Cindy, Sydney, Rebecca, Daisy, and the others would wait on our side of the water. If we were chased, or if Callighan’s people somehow crossed after us, they would be ready to cover our retreat.

Lucy, Rachel, and I had the dangerous part.

We were the ones crossing.

We left the hotel and headed farther down the road before cutting away from the buildings.

The path toward the water was darker there.

We had to move off-road through uneven ground, broken grass, and patches of loose dirt. Nobody used their torchlights. The light would only make us easier to see from across the water.

The moon gave us enough visibility, at least for me and Rachel.

Then we found the boat.

It was hidden near the shore exactly where it had been prepared.

The small boat was big enough for the three of us, and hopefully enough for the four people we were bringing back. It would be crowded with seven people inside, but it could hold us.

It had to.

The paddles were already inside.

That was important.

A motor would have been faster, but it would also have been louder. The last thing we needed was for someone in Brigantine to hear an engine crossing the water in the middle of the night.

Paddles were slower but quieter.

Stealth was worth more than speed tonight.

I stepped into the shallow water and grabbed the side of the boat, slowly pulling it free from where it had been hidden among reeds and debris.

The cold water soaked into my boots immediately.

Rachel climbed in first, moving carefully so the boat did not rock too much.

Lucy followed after her.

She checked the equipment near her feet one last time before sitting toward the center of the boat.

Christopher remained on the shore with the others.

"So we just wait here," he said.

"Yeah."

I looked at him.

"See you soon."

Christopher nodded.

"Gotcha."

Sydney stepped closer to the water.

"You better come back with Mei," she said. "Otherwise, it’ll be pretty embarrassing, Ryan."

"Oh, shut up," Cindy said, rolling her eyes.

I laughed quietly.

Then I climbed into the boat.

The wood shifted beneath my weight, but it held.

I took one of the paddles.

Lucy took the other.

Rachel sat between us, keeping her eyes on the dark water ahead.

The boat slowly moved away from the shore.

Behind us, Christopher, Cindy, Sydney, Rebecca, Daisy, and the others became smaller in the darkness.

Then the gap widened.

The water between the Boardwalk and Brigantine stretched ahead of us.

For the first few minutes, nobody spoke.

There was only the soft sound of the paddles cutting through the water.

The distant wind.

The quiet slap of small waves against the side of the boat.

"We should reach it on time," Lucy said.

I nodded.

Tommy had said midnight.

We had left early enough to reach the meeting point before then and wait in position.

That was the plan.

We just had to make it there without being seen.

"Check the case," I told Lucy. "I’m counting on you to use the weapon if Gaspar appears."

Lucy blinked.

"Me?"

"You’re the best person here for it."

She gave me a small nod.

Then she opened the rectangular case beside her.

Even in the darkness, the white body of the Resonance Disruptor stood out. The thin blue lines running across the weapon gave off a faint glow, like light trapped beneath ice.

Lucy’s eyes widened slightly.

Rachel leaned closer, clearly curious too.

"That’s it," Lucy said quietly.

"Yeah."

Lucy carefully lifted the weapon from the case.

The rifle looked unnatural in her hands.

Too advanced.

Too clean.

Like it had no right existing in a world where most people were surviving with wooden bats, knives, and scavenged guns.

She shifted her grip.

Then she winced slightly.

"It’s heavy."

"Yeah," I said. "It is."

Lucy examined it closely.

Her fingers moved over the unfamiliar parts, studying the shape of the trigger, the grip, and the small mechanism near the back.

"It works similarly to a normal rifle," I explained. "The trigger is here. There is like a safety near the back."

"I see."

Lucy nodded.

She handled it carefully, testing the weight without aiming it anywhere near us.

"It’s different," she said. "But not completely unfamiliar for some reason."

"That’s why I gave it to you."

I kept paddling.

Lucy was the best person among us to use the Resonance Disruptor. She had military experience. She was an excellent shooter. She learned weapons quickly and stayed calm in situations where most people would freeze.

More importantly, the weapon did not affect her the way it affected me.

Whenever I held it too long, I felt uncomfortable.

Dizzy.

Like Dullahan itself was reacting beneath my skin.

The Resonance Disruptor had been made to hurt Symbiotes. It was meant to kill creatures like me.

Lucy did not have that problem.

"It works on Gaspar?" She asked.

"Very well."

I looked toward the darkness ahead.

"Marlon used it against him once. Hit him with it. Gaspar ran immediately."

Lucy’s expression became more focused.

"Good."

She placed the weapon back inside the case, leaving it ready to pull out quickly.

We kept moving.

The distance between us and Brigantine slowly disappeared.

We had crossed more than half the water already.

I could see the outline of the town now.

Dark buildings.

Dim lights from a few guarded areas.

The vague shape of the shore.

Brigantine looked close enough that my chest started tightening.

Mei was there.

Emily was there.

Tommy and Keith too.

I squinted through the darkness, stupidly hoping I would somehow see Mei standing near the shore already.

Maybe I expected to see her waiting for us.

Maybe I wanted proof that the plan was real.

But it was too dark.

Too far.

And we could not use torchlights.

Any light would make us visible from the town.

I kept paddling.

A few more minutes.

That was all.

Then everyone froze.

Bang!

The sound tore across the water.

A gunshot from a certain distance but we could all tell it had come from Brigantine.

Lucy’s head snapped toward the shore as she stood up.

Rachel went still beside me.

My hands tightened around the paddle.

For a second, nobody spoke.

Then more gunshots echoed.

I tightened my grip anxiously over the paddles.

What the hell was happening there?

Please, tell me they are fine...