That moment was the worst Chen had ever felt. He simply sat beside Skyy, helping him wipe away the sweat that kept gathering across his forehead. Skyy's face had already gone deathly pale, with only a faint blush of color remaining in his cheeks, and the wound on his arm didn't look any better. The black veins had begun spreading slowly from the bite, crawling across his skin and making their way toward his shoulder.

Chen knew what those signs meant.

They were all telltale signs that the virus was beginning to take over the body.

He knew it. He had seen it before and knew exactly what would happen next. Yet even with all that knowledge, he couldn't stop the small part of his heart that desperately hoped Skyy would somehow be different. Maybe he would survive the night. Maybe his body would fight against the virus and he would wake up the next morning completely fine, perhaps even with some kind of powerful ability awakened inside him.

Maybe.

But hoping alone was useless.

There was nothing he could do except wait and watch.

Chen silently sobbed as he held Skyy's hand tightly in his own, his fingers gently rubbing against the trembling ones as though he could somehow pass his strength to him.

Skyy slowly opened his eyes and gazed at him through his feverish haze. His entire body was trembling, and his lips quivered as he whispered, "I'm… cold…"

"Yeah…" Chen swallowed hard, trying to keep his voice steady. "I'll help you get warm."

He carefully lay down beside Skyy and pulled him close against his chest, wrapping his arms tightly around the younger man's trembling body.

"You won't feel cold anymore," he murmured, nuzzling gently into Skyy's fluffy hair as he held him closer.

His heart ached.

Why did this have to happen?

Why did someone like Skyy have to suffer again?

Chen had seen plenty of vicious people in his life, people who had hurt others without hesitation, yet somehow those people had managed to survive for years. Some of them had lived long enough to see everything around them fall apart and still continued to survive.

But Skyy was different.

He was so innocent.

So pure.

He had already suffered so much before finally finding a place where he could live freely, and now, just when he had started to believe that he could finally have a normal life, this had happened.

Why did the world always seem so unfair to the kind ones?

Why did people who had done nothing wrong always seem to be the ones who suffered the most?

Chen couldn't understand it.

He couldn't understand why someone like Skyy had to be taken from him when there were so many cruel people still alive.

Skyy suddenly trembled harder in his arms, his body twitching slightly as another wave of fever passed through him. His lips moved as he continued mumbling that he was cold, his voice barely audible.

Chen's eyes filled with tears again.

He pulled Skyy's head deeper against his chest, holding him as tightly and carefully as he could.

"Shh… it'll be warm soon," he whispered, gently caressing his hair. "You won't feel cold anymore. Just stay here with me, okay?"

His hand continued stroking Skyy's head while he held him close, refusing to let go.

Soon, Chen felt it.

He felt Skyy slipping away.

Skyy's breathing gradually became slower and weaker until there was nothing left but a faint, uneven wheeze. Chen stared at him, barely daring to breathe himself, as his body suddenly went rigid in his arms.

Chen bit down hard on his lower lip, forcing back the sob that threatened to escape.

"I'll warm you…" he whispered, his voice trembling despite his efforts to keep it steady. "I'll make you warm, okay? You won't be cold when you go."

The words came out broken and incoherent, barely more than a murmur.

Skyy was dying.

He was really dying.

Chen slowly sat up, carefully pulling Skyy into his arms. His pale face looked strangely peaceful, almost as though he were simply sleeping, unaware that he had reached the end of his life. Chen held his breath as he gently brushed the loose strands of hair away from Skyy's face, his fingers lingering against his cheek.

He genuinely looked like a fairy.

It was almost impossible to believe that someone who looked so delicate could have suffered so much.

Chen sniffled quietly before forcing himself to move. He carefully laid Skyy down on the moss bed he loved so much, making sure his head was comfortable. Then he gathered a few of the mushrooms Skyy had always been so fascinated by and placed them beside him, knowing how much the younger man had adored them.

For a few moments, Chen simply sat there and looked at him.

"I hope…" His voice caught, and he swallowed before continuing. "I hope and pray that you have a great next life."

He reached down and took Skyy's hand in his own. It was still slightly warm, and his fingers twitched faintly against Chen's palm.

"A place where you know no pain," Chen whispered. "Where you can live happily… with a loving family."

His eyes lowered to their joined hands.

"If God exists, then please…" His voice became quieter, almost pleading. "Please hear my prayer. Give this kind soul a new life. Let him be happy this time. Please…"

He gently lifted Skyy's hand and pressed a soft kiss against it before lowering it carefully onto his chest.

Chen stayed like that for another moment, his head bowed as silent tears slipped down his face.

Then he finally forced himself to stand.

His gaze moved toward the gun hanging against the cabin wall.

Soon, Skyy was going to shift.

He would turn into a mindless creature that knew nothing except destruction, attacking anything that crossed its path. Chen couldn't bear the thought of Skyy becoming like that. If Skyy had truly reached the end, then at least he wanted him to have peace.

Even in death.

With trembling hands, Chen reached for the gun.

His fingers wrapped around the weapon, but they were shaking so badly that he could barely keep it steady. He tightened his grip, trying to force his hands to stop trembling, but they refused to obey him.

He closed his eyes briefly and took a shaky breath.

He had to do this.

For Skyy.

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