The scream cut through the compartment like glass shattering.
Sharp.
Violent.
Impossible to ignore.
Everyone turned.
The woman's body convulsed uncontrollably.
Her limbs jerked.
Her nails scraped against the seat.
Her breathing—
No longer human.
"Help her!" someone shouted again.
But the words had no effect.
Because her eyes—
Were no longer hers.
Something inside her—
Had taken over.
And then—
She moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
She lunged forward—
Her body crashing into the aisle—
Her hands reaching—
Her mouth open—
Her target—
The nearest person.
The wife.
Everything slowed.
The wife's eyes widened.
Her mind froze.
Her body refused to react.
She had just woken up.
Her brain hadn't caught up with reality yet.
This wasn't possible.
This wasn't real.
But it was.
And it was coming straight at her.
Before she could move—
Before she could even scream—
A force collided with the attacker.
THUD.
The infected woman was thrown sideways—
Crashing hard into the metal seats.
The husband stood there.
Between them.
Breathing steady.
Eyes sharp.
He hadn't hesitated.
Not even for a second.
In one swift motion—
He pulled his wife toward him—
Turning his body—
Positioning himself directly in front of her.
Shielding her.
His arm wrapped around her instinctively.
Firm.
Protective.
Unshakable.
"Stay behind me."
His voice was calm.
Controlled.
Certain.
Not fear.
Not panic.
Control.
She didn't argue.
Didn't question.
Didn't resist.
Because in that moment—
Something changed.
For the first time—
She felt something she had never truly felt with him before.
Safety.
The woman on the ground twitched violently.
Her body jerking unnaturally.
Then—
She rose again.
Faster.
More aggressive.
The compartment erupted again.
Screams.
Shouts.
Chaos.
But he didn't step back.
He stepped forward.
And behind him—
She didn't move away.
Because for the first time—
She didn't want distance.