Chapter 22: Shadows of Betrayal

November 20, 2058 – Night

The air in the Zenith Complex grew colder as night fell. The wind hissed through the cracks in the concrete walls, creating a sound like ghostly whispers. Aegis Squad was still trapped inside, staring at the mutated zombie standing at the end of the hallway. Its body was massive, with skin as hard as steel and red glowing eyes in the darkness.

"What is that?" Elis whispered, her voice trembling, trying to calm her ragged breath.

"Big trouble," Pan Colman replied as he raised his weapon. "Everyone, get ready!"

Captain Leoric stood beside Pan, but his gaze seemed doubtful. He sighed deeply, as if carrying a heavy burden in his mind. "We can't fight that creature directly. You have to trust me."

"What do you mean?" Pan asked, directing a sharp look at Leoric.

Leoric didn't answer. Instead, he gestured for two of his team members to fall back. But before they could move any further, the mutated zombie began moving with unnatural speed.

"Fire!" Pan shouted.

Bullets rained down on the zombie, but they merely bounced off its skin. The creature let out an ear-splitting roar before leaping toward them. Pan and Hart managed to dodge, but one of Leoric's survivors wasn't so lucky. The creature grabbed him and effortlessly crushed his body.

"We need to get out of this hallway," Hart said, pulling Elis to a safer spot.

"To the south room! There's an exit there," Leoric shouted, leading them to another hallway.

South Room: A Surprise

Aegis Squad and Leoric's group managed to reach a larger room at the end of the hallway. But as they entered, Elis stopped suddenly. Her eyes were fixed on a large shelf on the wall filled with weapons and military equipment.

"Where did all this come from?" Elis asked, walking closer.

Leoric sighed. "This complex was a former secret military facility. We discovered it a few weeks ago, along with these weapons and equipment." He paused for a moment before continuing. "We gathered all this from the battlefield outside, from the soldiers who had turned into zombies."

Pan gave Leoric a sharp look. "So, you took weapons from dead or turned soldiers?"

Leoric nodded. "It was the only way we could survive. But I won't lie, there were times when we found people we could have helped... and we didn't."

Elis looked at Leoric with a confused expression. "Why? Why didn't you help them?"

Mira, one of Leoric's team members, interjected coldly. "Because not everyone deserves to be saved. Some of them would only be a burden. We prioritized those who could survive and help us in the long term."

Hart clenched his fists, holding back his anger. "So you decided who lived and who died? Is that right?"

Leoric lowered his gaze. "I know it sounds wrong, but in a world like this, decisions like that have to be made. Otherwise, we'll all die."

Before the discussion could heat up, a loud rumbling sound echoed from the hallway they came from. The mutated zombie returned, this time with several regular zombies behind it. They easily smashed through the entrance, threatening to break into the room.

"We don't have time for this!" Hart yelled.

Leoric looked conflicted but finally lowered his weapon. "Alright, let's work together to get out of here. But after that, our paths will part."

Pan nodded firmly. "Deal. But if you try anything again, I won't hesitate."

The zombies began entering the room, and a fierce battle broke out. Aegis Squad and Leoric's group had to unite to fight the threat. Elis, though terrified, managed to drop several zombies with her precise shots to their legs. Pan and Hart worked side by side, holding off the mutated creature to keep it from getting close to their group.

In the midst of the chaos, Leoric and Mira cleared a path to the exit using grenades. "Come on, hurry!" Leoric urged.

They managed to escape outside the complex, leaving the zombies behind. Once they reached a relatively safe location, Leoric stopped and looked at Pan.

"This isn't over," he said. "This world is too harsh for us to continue acting noble."

Pan didn't reply. He just stared at Leoric coldly before leading Aegis Squad away.

Behind them, the Zenith Complex was now filled with the sounds of zombies, while Leoric's group separated in the opposite direction, carrying the weapons they had managed to take.

However, in the distance, Elis looked at Pan with uncertainty. "Can we trust someone like him again?" she asked.

Pan only sighed. "We don't know who will be the next friend or enemy. But one thing's for sure… we won't stop fighting."