Story 617: Blades in the Dark

The night was still, but the scent of rot clung to the air. General Viktor 'Bloodfang' Kruger knelt beside the corpse of a fallen undead, his combat knife slick with dark, putrid ichor. The blade had found its mark—deep in the skull of the creature—but the horde wasn’t slowing down.

Kruger exhaled, gripping the handle tighter. "This isn't a mindless swarm. Someone’s directing them."

A guttural snarl erupted from the shadows. The undead poured from the ruined buildings, their twisted forms illuminated by the flickering glow of nearby fires. These weren’t ordinary zombies. Their movements were faster, more coordinated. Their eyes burned with a sinister intelligence.

Kruger wiped the blood from his face and stood. "Come on then," he growled. "Let’s see what you're made of."