Chapter 15

Tim leans against the classroom wall, his eyes darting across the room to where Lily and Sara are huddling together. Lily's fingers twist nervously in her lap, while Sara's gaze keeps flicking towards the barricaded door. Tim's own fingers drum an agitated rhythm against his thigh as he watches them, the absence of their fourth member weighing on everyone's minds.

"You think Kei's gonna be okay out there alone?" Lily's voice is low, her brow furrowed in concentration.

Sara nods, her eyes wide and fingers fidgeting with the hem of her sweatshirt. "He's tough, but taking on the Elite Zombie Boss by himself... I can't help but worry."

Tim feels a surge of irritation. He clenches his jaw as he listens to them fret over Kei. He'd been the one to get them out to safety, and the one keeping them alive since the beginning. But here they are, all worked up about Kei, who'd decided to face this mess alone.

Tim's parents had always compared him to others and had high expectations for him ever since he was young. They were always pushing him, demanding more, never satisfied with his accomplishments. It didn't matter that he was a straight-A student, the captain of the soccer team, or the lead in the school play. His siblings always seemed to do better, to shine brighter. And no matter how hard Tim tried, he could never quite measure up.

Now, as he watches Lily and Sara obsess over Kei's heroics, that old familiar feeling of resentment bubbles up inside him. "Kei, Kei, Kei, it's always about Kei, huh?" Tim snaps, unable to contain himself any longer. "What about me? You guys seem to have forgotten that I was the one who saved you guys!"

Lily and Sara's heads whip around, startled by his outburst. As the shock fades from Sara's face, she bites her lip, her expression softening. Hesitantly, she reaches out and touches the back of Tim's hand. "You've been awesome too, Tim," she says quietly. "We wouldn't have made it without you. Thanks."

Tim appreciates the words, but they do little to quell the emotions inside him. He stands up abruptly, needing to do something, anything, to distract himself. "I'm gonna recheck the barricades," he mutters, more to keep busy than out of necessity.

As he makes his way around the room, checking their makeshift defenses, Tim's mind drifts back to Kei. It doesn't make sense how quickly Kei had reached level 13. Kei had chalked it up to luck, but doubt gnaws at Tim's insides. Is it really just luck? Or is there more to it?

The thought festers as he works, suspicion taking root. Tim has always prided himself on being straightforward, a team player. But this... this is different. This is life or death, and every advantage matters. The idea that Kei might be holding out, keeping secrets to stay ahead, seems increasingly plausible.

He tries to shake it off, but the thought clings to him like a second skin. Is Kei intentionally keeping them weak, like sheep depending on their shepherd? The more Tim dwells on it, the more it irritates him. It seems calculated, almost sinister. Kei heading off alone, racking up experience and levels while they are all stuck hiding, helpless and relying on him.

Tim's hands clench as he finishes his patrol of the barricades. The defenses they'd put up for safety now feel like cages, holding them back from their true potential. He thinks about the zombies, who are mindless and relentless, and wonders if that's what Kei wants them to be — predictable and easy to manage.

His check of the barricades complete, Tim heads back to Lily and Sara. The nagging thoughts and growing suspicions about Kei have reached a boiling point. He needs to know if the others feel the same, if they are also questioning Kei's motives.

"Yo," he starts, trying to sound casual, "So, I've been thinking... about Kei and how he leveled up so fast." He watches their faces closely, searching for any sign of agreement or surprise.

Lily looks up, her forehead creasing slightly. "What about it?"

Tim hesitates, not wanting to make outright accusations, but needing to voice his concerns. "Don't you think it's... odd? I mean, Kei seems capable, but leveling up that quickly and then going off on his own... it really makes me wonder."

Sara shifts in her seat, her expression thoughtful. "I've wondered too. But I just thought that he was just really good at this... survival stuff."

Tim nods, glad that he isn't alone in his thoughts. "I know, but what if there's more to it? What if he found a faster way to level up, but he's keeping it from us?"

Sara's brows furrow. "But why wouldn't Kei share that with us?"

Tim pauses, considering her words. The silence stretches for a moment before he takes a deep breath, deciding to voice the darker suspicions that have been plaguing him. "I hate to say this, but what if Kei is trying to keep us weak on purpose? To... control things, or even us?"

Lily and Sara stare at him, their eyes wide. 

"Control us? Tim, that's a serious accusation," Lily's voice is sharp with disbelief. "Why would he do something like that?"

Sara looks conflicted, her gaze darting between Tim and Lily. "Keeping us weaker on purpose?" The thought seems to go against everything they know about Kei — the one who has always been at the front of their battles, guiding them through the dangers they face.

Yet, as she sits there, a flicker of uncertainty crosses her face.