Nathaniel’s return to the camp was met with a mixture of relief and fear. The survivors had been holding on by a thread, and his presence was a lifeline they desperately needed. But as he approached, something felt off. The air was thick with tension, and the faces that greeted him were lined with suspicion.

Alyssa was the first to approach him, her eyes wide with concern. “Nathaniel, where have you been? We thought… we thought you might not come back.”

“I was hunting,” he replied, his voice devoid of emotion. “There are worse things out there than the corrupted.”

Her brow furrowed at his words, but she didn’t press further. Instead, she led him to the others, where the group had gathered around a small fire, their eyes darting nervously between each other.

As Nathaniel looked around, his senses sharpened, and he activated one of his abilities—Nightmare Vision. The world around him shifted, the colors darkening as he peered into the souls of those around him. It was a disorienting experience, but necessary. He had sensed something wrong the moment he arrived, and now, he knew why.

There, among the survivors, was a figure cloaked in darkness—a corrupted, hiding in plain sight. The man’s eyes gleamed with a malevolent light, his soul twisted and blackened by whatever force had taken hold of him. Nathaniel could see it clearly now, the taint that marked him as a predator, feeding on the fear and despair of the others.

Without a word, Nathaniel stepped forward, his hand reaching for the knife at his side. The corrupted man’s eyes flickered with recognition, a cruel smile spreading across his face as he realized he had been discovered.

“Stop!” Alyssa’s voice cut through the tension like a knife, but Nathaniel didn’t halt his advance. His eyes were locked on the corrupted man, his instincts screaming that this threat needed to be eliminated before it could harm anyone else.

The man’s cruel smile widened as he stood slowly, his hands raised in mock surrender. "What’s the matter, Nathaniel? Have you finally seen the truth?" His voice was laced with venom, and the others in the group began to shift uncomfortably, sensing the danger but not fully understanding it.

Nathaniel’s grip tightened on his knife. "You’re not human anymore," he said coldly. "I see what you’ve become. The shadows don’t lie."

A murmur rippled through the group. Some of the survivors backed away, while others, including Alyssa, moved closer to Nathaniel, their trust in him evident. But there were still those who hesitated, not yet grasping the full extent of the danger they faced.

The corrupted man’s expression twisted into a sneer. "And what will you do about it? Kill me in front of everyone? Show them the monster you’ve become?"

Nathaniel felt the rage boiling within him, the same primal fury that had driven him to slaughter those who had attacked him in the city. But this was different—this was about protecting the people who still had a chance at survival. He couldn’t afford to lose control now.

With a swift motion, Nathaniel struck. The knife flashed through the air, slicing across the man’s throat before he could react. Blood sprayed from the wound, and the corrupted man crumpled to the ground, clutching at his neck as the life drained from his eyes.

The survivors gasped in shock, some recoiling in horror at the sudden violence. Nathaniel stood over the body, his breathing heavy, the adrenaline still coursing through his veins. He looked at the others, his eyes hard and unyielding.

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"This… thing," he spat, gesturing to the corpse, "was feeding on your fear, manipulating you. It was only a matter of time before it turned on you, one by one." The group was silent, the weight of his words sinking in. Alyssa stepped forward, her face pale but resolute. "Is… is it true?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Nathaniel nodded, his gaze softening slightly as he looked at her. "I can see it now. The corruption spreads through the city, twisting people into monsters. This one was hiding among you, waiting for the right moment to strike."

One of the other survivors, a middle-aged man with a scraggly beard, spoke up. "But how do we know you’re not corrupted too? How do we know we can trust you?"

Nathaniel met the man’s eyes, the darkness in his own gaze reflecting the horrors he had seen and committed. "You don’t," he admitted. "But I’m still human, still fighting to protect what’s left of this world. I’m not like them." He pointed to the body at his feet. "I’m hunting them."

The group exchanged uneasy glances, the fear and uncertainty palpable. But before anyone could respond, Nathaniel continued, his voice firm and commanding.

"I saw what’s out there," he said, his tone leaving no room for doubt. "The city is crawling with these things, and they’re getting stronger. We need to be prepared. We need to be vigilant."

A heavy silence fell over the group, broken only by the crackling of the fire. Alyssa was the first to speak, her voice quiet but steady. "You’re right. We need to be careful. But we also need to stick together. If we start turning on each other, we’re no better than them."

Nathaniel nodded, his expression softening as he looked at her. "I won’t let that happen. But we can’t stay here. It’s too dangerous."

The survivors murmured in agreement, the realization settling in that their current situation was untenable. Nathaniel could see the fear in their eyes, but also a flicker of hope—hope that maybe, just maybe, they could survive this nightmare.

But as Nathaniel prepared to lead the group to safety, something inside him shifted. The system, the dark presence that had awakened within him, pulsed with an unsettling energy. It whispered to him, urging him to embrace the power, to use it to its fullest potential.

He shook his head, trying to push the thoughts away, but they clung to him, gnawing at his resolve. He had come back to protect these people, but now they were looking at him with fear in their eyes. They were scared of him, just as they had been of the corrupted man he had killed.

"Maybe they’re right," Nathaniel thought bitterly. "Maybe I am a monster."

He turned to leave, his heart heavy with doubt. But before he could take a step, Alyssa grabbed his arm, her touch grounding him in the present.

"Nathaniel," she said softly, "you’re not alone in this. We’re all fighting to survive, and we need you. I need you."

He looked down at her, seeing the determination in her eyes, and felt a pang of guilt. She still believed in him, still saw the man he used to be. But could he still be that man, after everything he had done?

With a deep breath, Nathaniel made his decision. He would leave, not because he didn’t care, but because he cared too much. The power inside him was growing, and he didn’t know if he could control it for much longer.

"I’m sorry," he said quietly, pulling away from her grasp. "I have to go. It’s not safe for me to stay here."

Alyssa’s eyes widened in shock. "What? No, you can’t just leave! We need you—"

"I’ll only bring more danger to you," he interrupted, his voice pained but resolute. "I’ll find a place for you to go, somewhere safe. But I can’t stay. Not like this."

Tears welled up in Alyssa’s eyes, but she didn’t argue. She knew he was right, even if she didn’t want to admit it. The others watched in silence, too afraid or unsure to intervene.

As Nathaniel turned to leave, Alyssa called out to him one last time. "Wait! I’m coming with you."

He stopped, surprised by her words. "Alyssa, no. It’s too dangerous."

"I don’t care," she replied, her voice firm. "If you’re leaving, then I’m coming too. We can look out for each other. Besides," she added with a sad smile, "you’re the only one who can keep me safe."

Nathaniel hesitated, his heart torn between the desire to protect her and the fear of what he might become. But in the end, he couldn’t say no. He couldn’t leave her behind.

"Alright," he said softly, his resolve hardening. "We leave now. Stay close to me."

Together, they walked away from the camp, leaving the survivors to fend for themselves. As they disappeared into the shadows, Nathaniel couldn’t shake the feeling that they were heading toward something far darker and more dangerous than either of them could imagine.