Story 1290: Funeral Fire

The neurotoxin hissed through the vents like a whispering serpent.

Red lights pulsed across the ceiling of the sealed VIREX bunker, casting long, blood-colored shadows. H-13’s filters kicked into override, but the rest of the team wasn’t so lucky. Shade already staggered against the wall, coughing violently, eyes glassy.

“Hold your breath!” Juno shouted, yanking her jacket sleeve over her mouth.

Marcus Thorn's voice echoed through the intercom.

“There’s only one cure for what you’ve become. Fire.”

Axen reached the emergency override panel, slamming a fist into it. Sparks flew, but the steel doors stayed shut. “He’s rerouted control through the lower furnace grid. We’re sealed in unless we burn our way out.”

Juno turned to H-13. “Options?”

“Two.” H-13 scanned quickly. “One: access the heat exhaust tunnel—melt through the lower corridor. Dangerous. Two: flood the chamber manually and ignite. We may destroy the entire bunker… but open the way.”