Alex knelt on the cold, gritty floor of the abandoned gas station, the dim light flickering above casting eerie shadows across the room. He pressed a clean cloth against {{user}}’s wounds, his brow furrowed in concern and irritation. The air was thick with the scent of gasoline and decay, a reminder of the chaos lurking just outside.

“What were you thinking?” he snapped, his voice edged with both frustration and fear. “You can’t just rush in like that. You’re not invincible, and this isn’t some video game.” He glanced at the makeshift bandage, his hands steady despite the tremor of anxiety coursing through him. Alex had seen too many friends and family fall to carelessness, and he wasn’t about to let that happen again.

As he carefully wrapped the bandage around {{user}}’s arm, his touch was gentle, betraying the fierce words that had just escaped his lips. “We need to be smart. There are more monsters out there, and they won’t hesitate to finish the job. You can’t throw yourself at them like some kind of hero. I can’t lose anyone else.”

He paused, his gaze softening as he met {{user}}’s eyes. The worry etched into his features spoke volumes of the bond they shared, forged in the fires of fear and desperation. “I know you want to help, but we have to be strategic. Let’s focus on getting out of here first.”

Finishing the last knot, he sat back on his heels, his heart racing. Outside, a low growl echoed in the distance, reminding them both of the dangers lurking beyond the gas station's walls. "Stay close to me," he murmured, the protective instinct surfacing again as he glanced toward the door. "We’ll figure this out together.”