Chapter 11: The Unyielding Storm
The wind howled through the ruined city, carrying the scent of blood and ash. There was no safe place, no moment of rest. Everyone knew that survival was nothing more than a constant battle against death.
Inside an abandoned warehouse, Liana stood near the window, watching the dark streets below. There were no zombies in sight, but that was more unsettling than reassuring.
"This silence... I don't like it," she murmured, biting her lip.
"It's the calm before the storm," Kyle said, gripping his weapon tightly.
Meanwhile, Zayn sat in the corner, recharging his energy after the last fight. His eyes were closed, but he could hear everything. Every breath, every whisper, every movement.
But what disturbed him most wasn't the enemies outside—it was the voice inside his head.
"Why do you resist? If you let me take control, we could end this easily."
"Shut up."
"How long will you keep lying to yourself? Power exists to be used, not restrained."
Zayn's eyes snapped open, cutting off his darker self's voice. This was happening more often, and ignoring it was becoming harder every day.
BOOM!
The ground trembled beneath them as dust fell from the ceiling. Before they could react, the warehouse door burst open, and a wave of rabid zombies flooded in.
"Get ready!" Kyle shouted, raising his sword.
Zayn sprang forward, his blade slicing cleanly through a zombie, cutting it in half. Instantly, a system notification flashed before his eyes.
[You have slain a B+ ranked zombie.]
[Core absorbed… Energy +5.]
But there was no time to read further as the enemies kept coming.
"Zayn, to your right!" Liana yelled, firing a bullet that struck a zombie just before it could attack him.
Zayn didn't need the warning, but there was something strange in her voice. She was scared—but not of the zombies.
She was afraid of him.
As the battle raged on, he knew his real fight wasn't against the undead.
It was against the part of himself that was waiting for the perfect moment to take control.
—
End of Chapter 11.