Story 898: The Hive's Call

The Apex Spawn stilled, its blackened eyes locked onto Lucas. The others had fired, slashed, and fought—yet none of it seemed to matter. This thing wasn’t just another infected.

It was watching. Calculating.

Lucas could hear it now. A rhythm. Faint, like a pulse beneath his skin. The whispers were clearer, their intent undeniable.

“We see you.”

Then, the Spawn moved.

Not to kill. To leave.

It turned, loping back into the tunnels, disappearing into the darkness. But it left something behind—the growing hum of more creatures stirring.

Mia lowered her rifle, her knuckles white. “We let it go?”

Lucas exhaled. “We didn’t let it. It decided to.”

Reaper spat blood. “That thing fights like a goddamn demon. You better tell me you’ve got some brilliant plan, Lucas, ‘cause I don’t plan on dying in some godforsaken tunnel.”

Evelyn stepped forward, her eyes scanning the dark corridors. “That wasn’t a random mutation,” she said. “It was a deliberate creation.”