Story 1221: Welcome to Virex

The air smelled of rust and rot.

Lena stepped over a scorched sign that once read “VIREX BIO-RESEARCH CENTER – AUTHORIZED ENTRY ONLY.” Now, vines and soot had all but consumed it. The building loomed above them, its windows boarded, its steel doors wide open as if the building itself had given up fighting.

Ward flicked off the safety on his pistol.

WARD:

“Place went dark six months ago. No survivors reported. No retrieval. Just... silence.”

THE GIRL:

“Then why are we going in?”

LENA:

“Because Briggs is still burning up. And rumor says this place was working on something... pre-outbreak.”

Briggs stumbled, coughing blood. His skin was pale, sweat slicking his face despite the chill. He wasn’t going to last the night.