Into the Heart of Darkness

The air felt heavier as we moved deeper into the quarantine zone. The streets were eerily silent, the shadows stretching long under the setting sun. Every step took us closer to the research center—the source of the infection—the place that held the answers and perhaps the end of everything.

Lecroix kept a steady grip on Apollo, who leaned heavily on him, his strength ebbing but not yet gone. He wasn't at full strength, but his resolve to see this through burned brighter than his exhaustion.

Mara led the way, confident and focused, while Zeke lagged behind, casting sharp glances at everyone—especially her. The tension between us and the defectors lingered in every unspoken word. Trust was a fragile thing.

And now there was Steph.

She had shown up just before we left the lab, silent at first, assessing us with her sharp brown eyes. Fierce and beautiful, with skin pale as marble, Steph carried herself with a confidence that bordered on arrogance. I didn't know where she had come from, but Mara vouched for her.

"She's one of ours," Mara had said. "And you'll need her."

That much was already clear. Steph moved like she belonged in a fight, quick, precise, and always aware of the space around her. She hadn't said much to me, but I caught the brief flicker of amusement in her eyes whenever Zeke muttered something sarcastic.

"Stay sharp," Mara whispered, pulling us through the maze of wrecked cars and debris-strewn streets. "This area's thick with infected."

We moved quietly, our breaths controlled, weapons at the ready. The graffiti on the walls—"Burn it all," "They're watching"—felt like warnings from ghosts.

A low growl echoed from a nearby alley. I froze, hand tightening on my weapon.

Steph, just ahead of me, tilted her head, her brown eyes narrowing. "We've got company," she whispered, her voice soft but razor-sharp.

The infected moved into view. Their bodies twisted and grotesque, their empty eyes locking onto us. They snarled as they picked up the scent of prey.

"Move!" Mara hissed.

We sprinted through the narrow streets, dodging broken glass and twisted metal. The snarls behind us grew louder as more infected emerged from the shadows, their howls filling the air.

Steph was fast. She kept ahead of me, graceful and precise, moving with the kind of ease that came from someone used to being in dangerous situations. Her presence was oddly reassuring—like she knew exactly how this would end.

We reached an old subway entrance, the gate hanging half off its hinges.

"This way," Mara said, motioning us inside.

We plunged into the darkness, the infected howling behind us, but the sounds faded as we descended deeper underground.

The tunnel was cold and damp, the walls slick with moisture. The air smelled like rust and decay.

"Think we lost them?" Zeke asked, his voice echoing in the dim space.

"Don't count on it," Steph muttered, checking the magazine on her rifle.

Apollo leaned into me, his body heavy with fatigue. I tightened my grip on him. "You good?" I whispered.

He gave me a weak nod, but his breath hitched, and I knew the answer was no.

Lecroix shot me a concerned glance. "We need to get him out of here fast."

The tunnel opened into a vast underground chamber—a transit hub long abandoned. Broken tiles littered the ground, and old advertisements for concerts and movies clung to the walls like ghosts from another life.

"We're close," Mara whispered. "Once we surface, the research center is just a few blocks away."

A loud crash echoed through the tunnel behind us. "They're coming!" Zeke shouted, raising his rifle.

The infected poured out of the darkness, faster than we expected. Lecroix fired, dropping one, but there were too many.

"Move!" Steph barked, taking point. Her shots were precise, dropping two infected with a quick double-tap.

We sprinted across the chamber, our boots slapping against the cracked tiles.

Mara pointed toward a ladder. "Up there!"

Lecroix hauled Apollo up first, and I followed close behind. Steph was the last one up, covering our retreat with cold efficiency.

We burst onto the surface, the cold night air hitting us like a slap.

The research center loomed ahead, a hulking shadow against the horizon.

"We're almost there," Mara said.

Steph locked the gate behind us as the infected slammed into it, their snarls filling the air. The chain groaned but held—for now.

Inside the research center, the halls were dark and silent. It felt like a tomb.

"This is it," Mara whispered, her voice almost reverent. "The heart of the infection."

I glanced at Lecroix, my heart heavy with the weight of what lay ahead. We had come this far—and there was no turning back now.