Story 806: Lurking in the Dark

Evelyn crawled through the narrow vent, her breath coming in sharp, ragged gasps. The metallic walls felt suffocating, each movement sending echoes through the confined space. Her arms trembled from exhaustion, and the wound on her side throbbed with pain.

Behind her, the mutated creature shrieked in frustration, its massive body unable to fit into the vent. But Evelyn knew it wasn’t giving up. It was waiting. Watching.

She had seen the intelligence in its exposed, pulsating brain. This thing wasn’t just another mindless infected. It was something worse.

Something predatory.

She pushed forward, the dim emergency lighting flickering as she crawled deeper into the air ducts. Dust filled her lungs, but she didn’t stop. She needed to find a way out—before it found another way in.

A distant noise made her freeze.

A metallic clang—from up ahead.

Someone—or something—was in the vents with her.