"Look," I said, leaning back into Liu Yu Zeng's embrace. "I know that we are going. I have somewhat come to terms that I probably not be able to spend the rest of my life in this space. I accept that. However, you have to understand that being pulled underwater like that is the single most terrifying thing in any of my three lives, and I have been involved in a lot of scary shit."
The four men looked at me and let me vent.
"I'm sorry," said Wang Chao as he leaned his elbows on the table and looked at me intently. "If I could find a way to be able to do all this without you, I would."
"Ouch," I responded with a smile. "That is a bit harsh, don't you think?"
"You know what I mean. If I could make it so it was only us that went back, killed the zombies, and saved you, then that would be the best outcome," Wang Chao continued. "But as you said, if you are not there, then the world is frozen, which means that we would be frozen as well."
