Zachary and Cole walked out of the fast-food place.
The door swung shut behind them with a soft click.
The parking lot outside was empty.
No cars.
No people.
No movement.
Just open space.
The concrete stretched out in front of them, untouched, almost like no one had been there for a while.
A faint breeze passed through, but it didn't carry much sound with it.
Zachary stopped for a second.
Not long.
Just enough to look around.
Then—
"Let's go to the hospital," he said.
Cole turned his head toward him, caught slightly off guard.
"…Huh?"
A short pause.
Then it clicked.
"…Yeah," Cole nodded.
They started walking.
Side by side.
No rush.
Their footsteps echoed faintly against the pavement as they moved away from the fast-food place.
After a few seconds—
"Should we walk or run?" Zachary asked.
Cole glanced at him.
Thinking.
"Since we're hunters…" he started, his tone implying the obvious.
Zachary didn't respond.
He just waited.
"…Let's take the bus," Cole finished.
Silence.
Zachary was already in a running position.
One foot back.
Body leaning forward.
Then—
He took off.
"—Hey!"
His figure blurred forward.
Fast.
Two steps.
Three—
He suddenly stopped.
Turned around.
And walked back like nothing happened.
"What?" Zachary asked, genuinely confused.
Cole stared at him.
"…Take the bus?" he repeated slowly.
Zachary blinked.
"…Oh."
A pause.
"Right."
They walked to a nearby bus station.
It wasn't far.
Just a short distance from the parking lot.
The station was quiet.
A few empty benches.
A sign slightly tilted to one side.
They stood there.
Waiting.
A bus arrived.
The sound of its engine broke the silence as it pulled up in front of them.
The doors opened.
Cole stepped forward—
But Zachary suddenly reached out and stopped him.
"Wait."
Cole turned.
"…What?"
"Don't get on that bus," Zachary said.
The doors stayed open for a moment longer.
Then—
Closed.
The bus drove off.
Cole watched it disappear down the road.
Then looked back at Zachary.
"…Why not?"
Zachary let out a small laugh.
"Wrong one."
"…What?"
"It goes to another city."
A pause.
Cole looked in the direction the bus left.
Then back at Zachary.
"…Oh."
Silence.
"Let's walk," Zachary said.
Cole let out a long sigh.
"…Fine."
They started walking again.
This time—
No stopping.
The road stretched ahead of them.
Step after step.
Time passed.
Minutes turned into more minutes.
The sun shifted slightly in the sky.
Neither of them spoke much.
Just walking.
Occasionally, Cole would glance at Zachary.
Zachary just kept moving forward.
Eventually—
After nearly an hour—
The hospital came into view.
Tall.
Clean.
Quiet.
They walked through the entrance.
The automatic doors slid open.
Cool air greeted them immediately.
The inside was calm.
White walls.
Soft footsteps.
Muted voices in the distance.
Zachary didn't hesitate.
He walked straight to the receptionist.
"Where is Hunter Blake's body?" he asked.
The receptionist looked up at them.
Her expression neutral.
"Are you two Blake's friends or family?" she asked.
"Friends," Cole answered quickly.
The receptionist nodded slightly.
"Oh."
She pointed down the hallway.
"It's next to room C13."