Story 902: Shadows in the Mist

The woman’s breath came in shallow gasps as Draven cut through the last of her chains. She slumped forward, but he caught her before she hit the ground. Outside, the wind carried distant moans—zombies, or something worse. He had little time to get answers.

“Who are you?” he asked.

She swallowed hard. “Mira. Mira Caldwell.”

His eyes narrowed. He had heard that name before—whispered in survivor camps, spoken with equal parts fear and desperation. Dr. Mira Caldwell, one of the lead scientists responsible for the virus that turned the world into a nightmare.

Draven’s grip tightened around his machete. “You caused this.”

“No,” she croaked, shaking her head. “I tried to stop it.”

Before he could respond, the cabin trembled. A low, guttural growl seeped through the wooden walls. Shadows slithered in the mist outside, their movements unnatural, their forms flickering like a flame caught in the wind.

Mira grabbed his arm. “They know.”