Chapter 6: "The Unsettling Truth"

I stumbled forward, my heart racing with anticipation and fear. Niki's words echoed in my mind: "The Safe Zone...it's not what we thought it was." I imagined a secret underground disco party, but I was probably wrong.

As we turned a corner, the Safe Zone came into view. The imposing walls and guard towers loomed before us, casting long shadows in the flickering moonlight. But something was off. The gates were open, and the usual bustle of activity was replaced by an eerie silence. I half expected a tumbleweed to blow through, followed by a mariachi band playing a spooky tune.

Niki gestured for us to follow him, leading us through the gates and into the heart of the Safe Zone. We moved cautiously, our weapons at the ready, as we navigated the deserted streets. Taehyung tripped over a pothole, and I had to stifle a giggle. "Not the time, Y/n," I scolded myself. "Unless...is this a zombie obstacle course?"

Suddenly, Niki stopped in front of a large, metal door. He produced a keycard and swiped it through the reader. The door creaked open, revealing a dimly lit room filled with rows of computers and surveillance monitors. It looked like a supervillain's lair, minus the cat (or a decent interior designer).

"What is this place?" Taehyung asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Niki's expression was grim. "This is the Safe Zone's command center. And what you're about to see will change everything."

I raised an eyebrow. "Will it change my hair color? Because I've been thinking of going blonde. And by 'blonde,' I mean 'not zombie-bitten'."

Niki shot me a look. "Y/n, focus. (And no, it won't change your hair color. Sorry, not sorry.)"