Story 838: Beneath the Ruins

The dust had barely settled before the first rumble echoed from beneath the rubble.

Evelyn’s breath caught in her throat. “No… no way.”

Chunks of concrete shifted, debris tumbling as something massive pushed upward.

Mia took a step back, reloading her pistol with shaking hands. “How the hell is it still moving?”

Reaper didn’t answer. His grip on the shotgun tightened, knuckles white.

The Alpha’s clawed hand burst through the debris.

Only now—it was different.

Its body had changed again. The blackened flesh glistened unnaturally, muscles pulsing as if alive on their own. The bone plating around its brain had expanded, now forming a grotesque exoskeleton down its spine.

Worst of all…

Its tongue had split further, transforming into writhing tendrils, each lined with serrated barbs. They whipped through the air, searching for something.

For them.

The creature let out a low, guttural growl.

It knew what they’d tried to do.

And it was angry.