That didn’t come out the way Clover had wanted to. In a rush of nerves, all rational thought had flown out of his head. It was like that time he had forgotten what he was going to order at a restaurant when the waiter came around to his side of the table. Only this was 3.14 times worse.

Doctor White’s eyes bulged, and his mouth hung open slightly. Ya. It was definitely too late to go back now.

“No. Of course not,” he said, quickly schooling his expression. Clover wasn’t the best at judging body language, but that split second was all he needed. His face said it all. He didn’t have to answer. Clover already knew.

“How would I even do something like that?” Doctor White trailed off, his heart not in it. It almost seemed like he wanted to be caught.

“Sorry, I guess the end of the world has got me a bit paranoid - that’s a relief to hear,” he said, unsure how to proceed.

Clover frowned as the two of them watched the sun sink lower on the horizon in silence. He had known and looked up to the doctor for most of his life - he was just about the closest thing to family he had left. He didn’t want to ruin one of the few relationships he had.

“In case I die, there’s a monster you should know about. It’s dangerous, but I’ve managed to use it to my advantage. Maybe you could do the same.” He paused, lighting another cigarette.

“The tree?”

Why is he telling me this? Clover couldn’t understand

The doctor chuckled, and his shoulders relaxed. “You can hear it too?”

“Yes, I don’t know how.”

“I’ve wondered the same thing what feels like a million times these last couple of days. Why was I chosen? Was it just by random chance? Though, you’re different. It sprouted up in your room. At least that’s a start to a reasonable explanation.” He shook his head. “People need a leader - someone to look up to. Without direction, they’re lost. One day soon, that someone will be you.”

“What are you talking about? I’m not cut out for that. I can barely talk to a stranger without stumbling over my words; how could I be a good leader? I wouldn’t know what to do. Besides, that’s not what’s important right now.” Clover took a deep breath. “I think you’re being mind controlled or at least influenced by the tree.”

“I wish I was. I’d be able to sleep easier at night. I’m the only one guilty of that crime,” he tossed his cigarette to the ground, adding littering to his list of crimes.

“What,” Clover said, shocked that he outright admitted it.

“I did what I thought was right. I did what would allow us to live another day. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“How is anything that happened today right or necessary? If it wasn’t for Stav, Adam would have died.”

“Yes, he would have, and that’s entirely my fault. If I had crushed my feelings earlier and used my powers more widely, he never would have joined the scavenging group. The idea would never have occurred to him.”

Shock after shock slammed against Clover, reducing his ability to argue. He couldn’t think clearly. “You can’t just mind control people. That’s wrong.” He was aware that it was a childish argument - almost idiotic in its simplicity, but he felt it was correct. Just because he couldn’t express himself more eloquently didn’t change that fact. Some things could never be justified.

“It’s wrong. I agree. But I can’t afford to stop now. If I do, everyone will die, and their sacrifices will have been for nothing. When this is over - when things aren’t so dangerous, I’ll never use my powers again. That’s a promise. But freedom won’t mean a thing if they’re dead.”

Clover closed his eyes, nervousness shifting to annoyance. What Dr. White had said rubbed him the wrong way on a fundamental level. Maybe it's because he had lacked freedom his entire life - trapped inside a hospital.

Clover turned and looked him in the eye. “When will things ever be safe again: a week, a month, a year? We both know the world has changed. That day will never come.”

The doctor didn’t answer. The moment stretched on, overstaying its welcome.

Before he could answer, a scream interrupted their conversation. Clover’s head swiveled, searching for the source of the noise. In a window's reflection, he spotted a man sprinting away from a large bear. He wasn’t fast enough; the monster was gaining on him. A moment later, following his gaze, Dr. White saw it as well. As they moved out of the angle of the reflection, two smaller bears followed them, hot on their heels.

“We have to help him,” Clover said, gathering his golems and preparing to chase after the monster. He wasn’t some sort of hero, but he couldn’t sleep with himself at night if he let someone die when he could do something about it.

Doctor White looked up at the sky and sighed. He took two steps forward, ready to rush into the action, but suddenly, to the sound of rustling leaves, he jerked to a stop. “More than anything, I want to help him, but we can’t. The sun will set soon. The risk is too large,” he said mechanically.

“What are you talking about? It’s only three monsters; we can help him and still get out of here before the sunsets. We beat plenty more than that earlier today.” Clover paused his rushed preparations and looked over at the doctor’s tense posture. “You’re being mind controlled by a monster; snap out of it.”

He did not visibly react to his words.”The only thing I know for certain now is that my actions are my own.” A gale of wind rustled the leaves of an invisible tree once more. “When the time came, I couldn’t do what I had to do. Controlling myself in this manner was the only way I could overcome my emotions. Maybe I’m a coward, hiding like this, but there’s no room for emotion in decisions. All that matters is making sure that as many people make it through this alive as possible.”

Clover’s forehead wrinkled in confusion. The doctor had been mind-controlling himself this whole time? More than that, his view of the doctor shattered. His whole life, Clover had viewed him as a kind man incapable of doing wrong. Now, he wasn’t so sure.

“Just because the world is run by numbers now doesn’t mean we have to be heartless,” Clover said as tears welled up in his eyes. He didn’t know why he was so sad.

Dr. White’s mouth twitched almost imperceptibly. “You could save one person here. That’s possible. But with night drawing near, it's likely that you would be overwhelmed by a sea of monsters before you made it back to the factory. You don’t realize it yet, but you’re important. Your death here could mean hundreds could die later down the line,” he said in that mechanically and robotic tone of voice that Clover was coming to hate. Like before, their words weren’t reaching each other.

“This isn’t some math equation. You can’t put a number on a human life.”

“I disagree.”

Clover clenched his fists and prepared to do something stupid. At this point, he didn’t care about the risk. There was nothing left to be gained by talking. “Even if it's a long shot, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try. As long as there’s a chance, I’ll take it. No matter how difficult. I’m going after him, with or without you.”

Clover rolled away, followed by his golems.

“Wait. Don’t go. You’ll die. That bear is an intelligent monster. It’s too dangerous,” he said, real emotion slipping into his voice.

Rustling leaves tried to encircle Clover, but he slapped them away. Clover didn’t look back as he raced into the sunset, chasing after the intelligent bear monster. Dr. White didn’t try to stop him again.

As he charged forward at full speed, he knew he was making a rash decision. Under different circumstances, he didn’t even know if he would be committed to saving the man. But he couldn’t turn back now. He had something to prove to the doctor and to himself. A jumbled mess of emotions was at his back, not allowing him to quit.

He used [Track] twice to trace their general direction.

Congratulations! Track has reached Level 9.

Congratulations! Driving has reached Level 7.

Within a minute, he made two turns and had located the man, though he was still a ways from reaching him. The man was in bad shape, resting against a wall with a broken arm by the looks of it. The intelligent bear monster stood tall on two feet with a solid stone club resting against its shoulder, ready to pounce at a moment's notice. Its two lackeys watched on blankly, not understanding why they hadn’t killed the man yet.

Between the two parties, a cloaked figure with a hunched back held out a small lidded jar. Not a single inch of skin was shown underneath the fabric, and a hood was firmly pulled over the figure's face. From Clover’s angle, he couldn’t recognize who it was or where they had come from.

He hoped they could hold out long enough for him to make it. These days his wheelchair wasn’t very fast, even with [Driving], increasing its speed. Still, he was approaching the range at which he could effectively use [Mana Bolt]. Though, if he could help it, he’d prefer to wait till his golems were closer to take advantage of the fact that the monsters hadn’t noticed him yet.

They set the jar on the floor and removed the lid, revealing a thick golden liquid: honey. In the process of laying down the offering, the figure's cloak rolled up, exposing a set of distantly familiar spindly white fingers tinted by blood. Clover squinted; that wasn’t flesh; it was bone. A chill ran down his back.

The intelligent monster bear hesitantly picked up the jar and sniffed it. In a frenzied motion, the bear practically threw the honey, finishing the entire jar in a couple seconds. Clover would have almost found the scene cute if he didn’t know the monster was a mass murderer.

The bear roared then swung its club at the figure, demanding more. The figure languidly leaned backward, avoiding the attack. Even though the strike was slow, it kicked up a gust of wind that flipped over the figure's hood, revealing their face.

Clover gasped.

Uncaring or unaware of his shock, a rat with a stark white mask of bone pulled the hood back over its face. The Bone Rat was a higher Level and more developed than when he had last seen it, but he recognized it all the same. It was the same monster he had battled in Walmart.

The two monsters conversed in squeaks and roars, by the looks of it struggling to communicate. Still, they continued. Somehow, Clover had stumbled across a meeting between two intelligent monsters. Nothing good would come of letting them talk. An alliance between two different monster groups would be devastating.

He glanced above their heads, checking their Levels.

Ursa - Level 21

Bone Rat - Level 19

The Bone Rat twitched, noticing Clover as he drew nearer. The monster squeaked one last time, then scurried away, leaving the meeting in a hurry, disappearing into the sewer. Clover hesitated.

Even now that it was only the Ursas, he wasn’t sure if he could beat them in a straight-up fight. And if he was honest, he was terrified of the thought of fighting such a powerful monster. That fear had not lessened since the first day of the System.

Still, he did not turn away. In his heart, he was even more terrified of becoming like Doctor White - someone capable of leaving another to die. Clover couldn’t stomach the thought of going back and admitting he was wrong - that his words were empty.

Right was right, and wrong was wrong; it was that simple to him. On the other hand, he didn’t want to die. Clover fought a war in his heart, debating whether to stay - whether his idealistic morals or life was more important to him.

The unnaturally large bear roared and hefted its club, making the decision for him.

Clover wiped a trace of a tear from his eye and prepared to fight.

As the sun fell lower, only minutes away from setting, his golems and the bears charged at each other.