Into the Wilds of Mutation

The forest outside the camp felt alive in the worst possible way. Every rustling leaf, every snap of a branch, set my nerves on edge. We were leaving the temporary safety of the refugee camp—headed deeper into the wilderness, away from the government's reach but straight into the heart of infected territory.

Steph led the way, her rifle slung easily over her shoulder. She moved with precision, every step calculated. Elias's warning still echoed in my mind—we had to leave before the camp's fragile safety shattered. The wilderness seemed like our only chance to avoid both the military and the spreading infection.

Lecroix was at my side, his presence a quiet comfort. Apollo walked behind us, steadier than before but still not himself. Zeke lagged behind, muttering under his breath, paranoid about every sound.

"We keep moving," Steph said over her shoulder, her voice low but firm. "The camp's too close for comfort, and the infected are active in this area."

We pressed deeper into the woods, the dense trees casting shifting shadows. The forest seemed to swallow the light, leaving everything in a dull, oppressive twilight.

Just as I started to think the worst was behind us, the first sign of something wrong appeared.

A carcass—a deer, twisted and mutilated—lay in the path ahead. The flesh was torn, but the wounds were strange, almost surgical. Whatever did this wasn't just hungry—it was experimenting.

Lecroix knelt beside the carcass, his jaw tight. "This isn't normal."

"No kidding," Zeke muttered, taking a step back. "We need to go. Now."

Steph scanned the surrounding woods, her posture tense. "We're not alone."

Suddenly, the forest erupted with movement.

The infected burst from the undergrowth—but they weren't like the others we had encountered before. These creatures were faster, more coordinated, their movements disturbingly precise.

"Move!" Lecroix shouted, grabbing my arm.

We ran, the infected hot on our heels. Their snarls echoed through the forest, growing louder with every step.

Steph fired as she moved, dropping one infected with a clean shot to the head, but more kept coming—their bodies twitching unnaturally, as if driven by something more than hunger.

"These things are evolving!" Zeke yelled, fumbling with his weapon. "This isn't just a virus anymore!"

The chase was a blur—branches slashed at my face, the ground uneven beneath my feet. Lecroix stayed close, his hand brushing mine whenever I stumbled. "Stay with me," he whispered, his voice steady despite the chaos.

Apollo faltered behind us, his breathing ragged. I grabbed his arm, pulling him along.

"We're not leaving you," I gasped, tightening my grip on him. "Not again."

We burst into a clearing, the infected still on our trail. Their howls filled the air, a horrible, jagged sound that sent shivers down my spine.

Steph stopped suddenly, dropping to one knee and aiming her rifle with chilling precision. Two clean shots—two infected fell mid-stride.

"We make our stand here," she said, her voice sharp and calm. "We can't outrun them."

Lecroix nodded, raising his rifle. "I've got the left."

I pulled out my weapon, the weight of it familiar but no less daunting. "I've got Apollo."

Zeke crouched beside me, muttering, "This better not be how it ends."

The infected closed in, their grotesque forms moving with terrifying speed. Steph, Lecroix, and Zeke fired in unison—a hail of bullets tearing through the advancing creatures.

But they didn't stop. They kept coming, relentless and ravenous.

"We're getting overwhelmed!" Zeke shouted, panic edging into his voice.

Lecroix shifted closer to me, his presence steady despite the chaos. "We're not done yet," he muttered, reloading with quick precision.

Just when I thought the infected would overtake us, a sharp whistle cut through the air.

The creatures froze, their heads snapping toward the sound. In an instant, they turned and vanished into the trees, leaving the clearing silent once more.

"What the hell just happened?" Zeke whispered, his voice trembling.

Steph stood slowly, her rifle still raised. "Someone's controlling them."

We stayed in the clearing, catching our breath. The silence felt heavier now, weighted with the knowledge that the infected were no longer mindless.

"They're evolving," Lecroix said quietly, his gaze fixed on the dark woods. "And someone's guiding them."

Apollo leaned heavily against me, his face pale but determined. "We have to keep moving."

I nodded, though my heart felt like lead. The infection was no longer just a threat—it was becoming a force. And whoever was behind it wasn't finished with us yet.