Vas watched for a minute with horror as the line of Risen seemed to extend and grow endlessly.

The others followed him one by one into the room and looked out the gaping hole in the wall—which was once a window, of course—and they caught Vas’s mood after moments of the sight.

Vas sat on the ground next to the former window after a few more minutes. How would they leave? Could they outrun the Risen and warn the people at The Wall?

The Risen they’d been experimenting on had been killed, and should be reviving soon if they hadn’t already.

If they were nearby, they could relay the Scouts’ location and have thousands of Risen attacking the research facility within minutes.

If he considered that the Risen would be a constant flow of bodies and they were all headed in the same direction, there would be a break in the traffic.

Much like automobile traffic on main streets with stoplights, there would be gaps between the huge groups of Risen. If they could match the pace of the Risen and find what path the monsters were taking, they could fit into one of the gaps until they found the opportunity to pass them up.

Vas nodded to himself.

They could outpace the larger groups of Risen over the next few months. If the Risen all followed the same path it would even be possible to set traps, avoid movements.

Alex was the only Scout still standing; the others had all followed Vas’s cue. The Hispanic girl’s tear-streaked-but-still-pretty face was becoming grimmer by the moment.

Vas clapped his hands together hard. Alex’s attention along with a few others snapped to him.

Vas made a small grimace. He hadn’t heard anything when he clapped, but many of the others were recovering already. He sighed.

“Who can hear,” he tried to ask. He wasn’t sure if the words actually even came out of his mouth, but he could feel vibrations in his throat. Would he go deaf?

Vas saw Alex say something. She raised her left hand and all of the others did the same, except for Vas.

So she’d told them to raise their hands if they could hear?

Vas could feel himself starting to panic. He couldn’t even hear the ringing in his ears anymore.

Tears slid down his cheek. He closed his eyes, and the world seemed to disappear. No sight, no sounds. Nothing.

He opened his eyes after only a moment and sucked in a breath.

Everyone was staring at him with what looked like pity and horror. At least that was what it seemed like.

Vas clenched his jaw. “Time to go,” he said.

Alex blinked and Vas watched her mouth and expression carefully. It seemed like she’d asked about how they’d leave with so many Risen outside. Something to that effect. He kept a steady gaze on her.

“The Risen are all walking in one direction: North. They’re all walking at once. If we find a gap, we can follow their tracks until we can branch off and pass them. Need to warn people at The Wall.”

Alex shook her head and looked at the others. Vas switched his focus to Tapo, figuring the Islander would be the next one to talk.

Vas was wrong, and he saw from the corner of his vision that Fem’s mouth moved. Just as he turned to look at fem, Azul’s and Zy’s mouths moved.

As Vas looked at Zy the man finished his contribution and Tapo’s mouth moved.

Tapo was focusing on Alex, likely either supporting or disagreeing with Vas’s words.

Vas stood up and cracked his neck. His balance was getting better and he didn’t even sway.

Vas looked out the window. The Risen would probably clog the streets for a few more hours.

He examined the way the monsters flowed. Just like people. It was like watching a busy street where everyone went one way.

Something caught his eye to the South, and he glanced out to his left at it. It was a large black cloud, spreading out like a mushroom.

Vas said an expletive. He couldn’t even remember which one.

The boom had been an eruption.

Alex joined him at the window and Vas moved away to make room for the rest of the curious bunch.

The Scouts spoke for a few minutes, and Vas practiced pacing without being able to hear.

He figured the most difficult part of not being able to hear was tied between physical balancing and the inability to communicate effectively.

Vas closed his eyes, letting the nothingness of silence and darkness swallow him.

He could still feel, he realized. His feet ached. His hands clenched. His ears itched.

His body swayed like a tree, and he wondered if he’d find himself on the ground the moment he lost focus.

In fact, he was almost able to more acutely feel everything. It seemed like his nerves were working on overdrive to make up for sudden loss of hearing. He could smell the stink of blood through the thick scent of his own sweat.

His eyes snapped open, and he even felt like he could see better than before.

A small chill ran along his back, and Vas could feel the absence of a breeze behind him. He turned around just in time to inadvertently deflect Selene’s hand reaching for his shoulder.

He looked her in the eyes, and she opened her mouth. She said one word with an inquisitive look on her face. “Vas?” He could imagine her voice asking.

Vas wondered what undertones would be in the question. Would she sound worried, frustrated, unsure?

Then again, he didn’t really need to wonder. Her expressions gave away her unease. She wasn’t frightened, but she certainly wasn’t comfortable dealing with Vas’s sudden handicap.

“If you’re finished with your discussion,” Vas said, “Let’s get ready to go.”

Selene met his eyes and her shoulders straightened a little. She nodded.

Over Selene’s shoulder, Vas caught sight of the rest of the Scouts bursting into motion. Packing, cleaning, opening bags and choosing which items to keep and which to leave.

Vas took the time to rifle through his pockets and see what he had. Bandages, thread, a needle, gloves. A beanie, his water container. A deck of cards.

When he pulled out the bloodstained box which held the cards, Vas smiled.

“Selene!” He shouted because he wasn’t sure how far away Selene would be, but when he looked up and saw worry of the faces of his companions he realized the shout was excessive.

Selene walked up to him, and Vas held the deck of cards up. “Write down a meaning for each of these cards. Useful things. Easy way to communicate.”

It was hard to talk in good, complete sentences when he couldn’t hear himself.

Alex showed up from out of nowhere, as she often had even when Vas could hear perfectly. She had a hungry look in her eyes. She said something, and Vas gave her a questioning look.

Alex held up a Joker and mouthed the word, “Attack.”

Vas smiled and rolled his eyes. Alex watched him.

“Fine,” Vas said, “It means attack, but we won’t be attacking much of anything on the way home.”

He hoped.