Story 1276: The False Cure

Sector 12 was dead quiet.

Not silent—engineered quiet. Birds didn’t sing here. Wind didn’t howl. The air was still, as if even nature held its breath. Juno, Shade, and H-13 moved along a ruined highway, following the signal ping from the stolen broadcast drive.

Ahead stood the VIREX Relief Center, untouched by time—walls gleaming, banners unsoiled, the logo still pristine: Hope Through Science.

But Juno felt the lie before they entered.

Shade muttered, “Looks like they rebuilt this place to fool survivors.”

“Or trap them,” H-13 added. “Signal confirms: this is where they tested it.”

Juno paused. “Tested what?”

They stepped through the auto-unlocking glass doors. Inside, lights hummed. Soft music played. A reception kiosk flickered to life.

“Welcome to VIREX Wellness Station. Please proceed to the inoculation wing.”

A chill traced Juno’s spine.

“Something’s wrong here. No bodies. No rot.”