The community changed overnight.
Not in numbers.
In posture.
People stopped sitting close together. Conversations lowered into whispers. Eyes flicked toward Piter when they thought he wasn't looking.
Believers and doubters.
Not spoken.
Felt.
Piter Hall stood near the broken fence line, staring at the red zone in the distance. The skyline still flickered where Clara had died. A scar that wouldn't close.
Marcus joined him.
"They're splitting," Marcus said quietly.
"I know."
"Some of them want to leave."
"I know."
"And some of them think you're the reason she's dead."
Piter nodded once.
"That's easier than the truth."
Lena sat a few meters away, knees drawn to her chest. She hadn't slept. Her eyes were rimmed red, Interface dimmer than usual.
"They're scared of you now," she said softly.
Piter turned. "Good."
Marcus scowled. "You keep saying that."
"Fear is honest," Piter replied. "Hope lies."
The System moved subtly.
No announcements.
No banners.
Just messages.
Private ones.
People's Interfaces flickered throughout the camp. Quiet pings. Soft glows.
Offers.
Piter felt it immediately. A tightening in the air, like the first drop before a storm.
"What's happening?" Lena asked.
Piter closed his eyes.
"They're buying us again."
A man stood abruptly.
"Stop looking at me like that!" he snapped.
His name was Adrian. Mid-thirties. Yellow-zone Variable. He'd arrived two days ago with a wife and daughter.
"They offered you something," Marcus said.
Adrian swallowed.
"Green zone housing," he said. "Medical support. Permanent protection."
Lena's breath caught. "In exchange for what?"
Adrian's voice shook. "They just want information. Movement patterns. Who's here."
Silence exploded.
"You sold us out?" someone shouted.
"I didn't accept!" Adrian yelled. "I'm telling you."
Piter studied him.
"Not yet," Piter said.
Adrian looked at him desperately. "They said if I bring my family tonight, the deal expires."
Marcus swore. "They're forcing a timer."
"That's the trick," Piter said. "Make betrayal feel urgent."
The crowd shifted.
Whispers.
Accusations.
Lena stood. "We can move. Leave before—"
"No," Piter said.
Everyone froze.
"What?" Marcus asked.
"We don't run from this," Piter continued. "We see who chooses what."
Adrian stared at him. "You want to use us as bait?"
"No," Piter replied. "I want to know who leaves when it hurts."
Anger surged.
"That's sick!"
Piter's voice was calm. "So is the world now."
The System escalated.
[Private Directive: Active]
[Betrayal Incentive Increased]
Adrian screamed.
"They're raising it!" he said. "They're offering permanent immunity from Scenarios!"
Gasps rippled.
Permanent.
That word still carried weight.
Marcus stepped forward. "That's a lie."
"Is it?" Adrian shot back. "They lied about resets too!"
Piter watched him.
This wasn't greed.
It was terror.
Adrian's wife clutched his arm, crying. "Please. Our daughter can't survive another night."
The girl stared at Piter with hollow eyes.
Piter felt something twist inside him.
He ignored it.
"Go," Piter said.
Everyone froze.
"Piter?" Lena whispered.
"Go," he repeated to Adrian. "Take the deal."
Shock rippled.
Marcus grabbed Piter's arm. "Are you insane?"
"No," Piter replied. "I'm testing something."
Adrian didn't wait.
He ran.
Dragging his family.
No one stopped him.
The System watched.
Piter felt it like breath on his neck.
Minutes passed.
Ten.
Twenty.
Then—
Text burned into the air.
[Betrayal Confirmed]
[Location Data Acquired]
The camp tensed.
"Move!" someone shouted.
"Too late," Piter said.
The ground trembled.
Hunters emerged at the perimeter.
Not armored.
Not monstrous.
Clean.
Efficient.
Converted Variables.
Adrian had delivered coordinates.
Marcus drew a breath. "We fight."
"No," Piter said.
He raised his voice.
"Listen! They only want me."
A hunter stepped forward.
"Target confirmed: Piter Hall," she said.
Piter nodded.
"Take me," he said. "Leave them."
Lena screamed. "No!"
Marcus grabbed his shoulder. "Don't."
Piter pulled free.
"This is what they paid for," he said quietly.
The hunter hesitated.
"Secondary anomalies present," she said. "Protocol allows collateral."
Piter met her gaze.
"Then your deal means nothing," he said.
The hunter's jaw tightened.
She raised her weapon.
Adrian's daughter screamed.
Everything slowed.
Piter moved.
He stepped forward.
"Stop," he said calmly. "You want efficiency? This isn't it."
The hunter faltered.
For one heartbeat.
Lena screamed.
Her power exploded outward.
The air warped.
The hunters were thrown back violently.
The ground cracked.
Chaos erupted.
Piter grabbed Adrian.
"You did this," he said.
Adrian sobbed. "They promised—"
"I know," Piter replied. "And now you choose."
"What?"
"Stay," Piter said. "And we protect you."
Adrian stared.
"They'll kill us."
"Yes," Piter said. "Eventually."
Adrian looked at his daughter.
Then at Piter.
Then at the hunters regrouping.
He fell to his knees.
"I'm sorry," he sobbed.
Piter turned away.
He didn't forgive.
He didn't condemn.
He decided.
"Bind him," Piter said.
Marcus stared. "What?"
"He doesn't leave," Piter said. "Ever."
The crowd froze.
"You're imprisoning him?"
"No," Piter replied. "I'm removing his ability to sell us again."
They hesitated.
Then—
They acted.
Adrian was restrained.
Not violently.
Firmly.
Lena stared at Piter.
"You can't just—"
"I can," Piter said. "Because this won't be the last time."
The hunters retreated.
Not defeated.
Logging data.
The System learned.
That night, the camp was silent.
Adrian sat bound, staring at the ground.
His wife cried quietly.
Piter sat alone.
Marcus approached.
"You crossed a line."
"Yes," Piter said.
"Was it worth it?"
Piter didn't answer immediately.
He looked at the people still here.
The ones who stayed.
"Yes," he said finally.
Because now—
Everyone understood something.
Safety wasn't free.
And betrayal had consequences.
His Interface pulsed.
[Behavior Classification: Ruthless]
Piter smiled faintly.
"Good," he whispered.
Because mercy was predictable.
Fear was efficient.
And the System only respected what worked.