Zinc doesn't look entirely convinced on the not contagious part, but she lowers her eyes now that there is no hand reaching towards her. She's silent for a long time, lost in the mire of her own thoughts and the twist her frozen heart.

(Barbet wouldn't leave her. He's kept her this long, he brought her back, he wouldn't leave her. He did this, he can't leave her. She needs to go home or he'll forget about her and find something else to care for. God, the thought of someone else in his bed infuriates her and she grinds her teeth, shaking with it.)

"What do they do, here?" She's not being careful with her words, mumbling a bit. "This is... a zoo? You said zoo?"