Next moves
The Vanishing of the Colonel – Waltz's Experiments Begin
The air was thick with tension.
The Colonel staggered slightly, the strange green liquid coursing through his veins like a spreading wildfire.
His vision blurred.
His fingers twitched involuntarily.
And then—
A sudden, guttural snarl echoed through the corridors.
The Arrival of Something New – Infected Wearing Collars
From the shadows, they emerged.
Not Biters.
Not Virals.
Not any infected the Colonel had ever seen before.
They were twisted, unnatural—something entirely different.
Their bodies were leaner but unnervingly strong, their skin cracked with dark veins, glowing faintly with a deep crimson hue.
But the most horrifying part?
Around each of their throats, they wore strange metallic collars.
Controlled Infected – Waltz's New Experiment
The Renegades stepped back, their hands instinctively reaching for weapons.
But before they could react—
The infected moved in perfect coordination.
With inhuman speed, they rushed forward, overpowering the Colonel and dragging him out.
He fought back, trying to resist, but his body was weak—the serum inside him had already started its work.
And then—
Waltz followed behind.
Calm.
Unbothered.
Because everything was going according to plan.
Waltz's Cold Intentions – No One is Safe
As the infected dragged the Colonel outside, the Renegades were next.
One by one, the mutated creatures seized them, forcing them into submission.
And as they were rounded up, Waltz smiled slightly.
Not out of malice.
Not out of joy.
But because—he had just secured his new test subjects.
Because in the end, it didn't matter.
Renegades. Peacekeepers. Survivors.
Anyone would do.
All that mattered was the experiment.
And he was going to take his time.
The Departure – Transporting the Test Subjects
Soon after, the Colonel and his Renegades were thrown into the back of a heavily reinforced van.
Thick steel walls. No windows. No escape.
The infected—Waltz's twisted creations—hung onto the sides of the van, gripping onto reinforced railings welded onto the exterior.
Then—
Waltz stepped into the driver's seat.
Without a word—
He started the engine.
And as the van lurched forward into the night, the Colonel finally realized—
He had been outplayed.
And whatever Waltz had planned…
It was only just beginning.
Aiden Returns to Villedor – But Too Late
Far away—a shadow moved across the wasteland.
Moving swiftly.
Moving with purpose.
Aiden.
His hooks launched forward, piercing surfaces, pulling him across the ruined landscape with blinding speed.
His jumps were higher.
His movements sharper.
Faster than before.
The mutation had changed him.
And as he moved—he knew.
He was almost there.
Villedor.
Back where it all began.
And yet—when he arrived…
Something was wrong.
The Bazaar – A Harsh Realization
Aiden landed near the Bazaar's entrance, his feet skidding against the ground as dust kicked up around him.
But—something stopped him.
A harsh glow filled his vision.
UV light.
The entire entrance was drenched in it.
And then—pain.
Sharp, searing pain.
Aiden stumbled back instinctively, his body reacting violently to the artificial light.
It wasn't like Draemir.
He had resistance to natural sunlight.
But this?
This was different.
This was UV.
And his body rejected it completely.
Frustration and Realization
Aiden growled under his breath.
He tried to speak—
But his throat only produced guttural, inhuman noises.
The frustration boiled inside him.
And then—
He roared.
A Volatile's growl.
Loud.
Piercing.
A sound that would make anyone in the Bazaar tremble.
But he wasn't trying to scare anyone.
He was thinking.
What now?
The Search for an Ally
He needed answers.
But if the Bazaar was locked to him…
Then he needed another way.
He needed someone.
Spike?
Lawan?
Hakon? Jack? Juan? Sophie?
Someone who could help him.
Someone who might know where Mia was.
And in the end—
That was all that mattered.
Everything else?
Optional.
Now—he just needed to decide where to go first.
Aiden's Next Move – Who Could Help Him Find Mia?
Aiden stood in the shadows, staring at the Bazaar's entrance, the UV lights humming softly in the night.
His chest rose and fell heavily, his mind racing.
He had two problems.
First—the Bazaar was inaccessible.
Second—he still had no clue where Mia was.
So now, he had to think.
Who—**out of everyone he had met—**could actually help him?
Who would have the connections, resources, or knowledge to track her down?
Aiden clenched his clawed hands, going through the possibilities.
The Candidates – Who Can Lead Him to Mia?
1. Sophie – Leader of the Survivors
The head of the Bazaar and the Survivors' faction. If anyone in the Bazaar had heard rumors about Mia, she would be the one to ask.
Problem: The UV lights were keeping him out.
2. Jack Matt – Leader of the Peacekeepers
Strong military influence in Villedor. The Peacekeepers had records, information networks, and patrol routes—they might have found something about Mia.
Problem: The Peacekeepers weren't exactly friendly toward mutations. If they saw him like this, he'd be shot on sight.
3. Juan – The Informant & Smuggler
Deep underworld connections—if anyone was smuggling people in or out of the city, he'd know. He had access to valuable secrets.
Problem: Juan was unpredictable. He only helped if he saw a benefit for himself.
4. Lawan – A Trusted Ally
One of the few people Aiden trusted. She had resources and knew how to navigate Villedor safely. She might be willing to help, but…
Problem: She was still focused on Waltz and her own revenge.
5. Hakon – The Wild Card
He had connections to the underworld, like Juan. He knew how to sneak past security and move unseen. But…
Problem: Could he even trust Hakon after everything? The Decision – Who to Approach First?
Aiden closed his eyes, inhaling deeply.
He had to be smart.
If he forced his way into the Bazaar now, he'd cause panic.
If he approached the Peacekeepers too soon, he could get himself killed.
He needed someone who could navigate this world without drawing too much attention.
And someone who might actually give him answers.
And then—it hit him.
Juan.
The informant.
The one who dealt in secrets.
The one who always had leverage.
If Mia was out there, someone had moved her—and if there was anyone who would know about movements in and out of Villedor, it would be Juan.
Aiden's red-golden pupils flickered slightly.
That was it.
That was his next step.
The Journey to Juan – The Path Through the Night
Aiden turned away from the Bazaar, retreating into the shadows.
His clawed fingers twitched slightly, adjusting to his new body.
Then—
Shkrrrrt!
His hooks shot out, latching onto a distant rooftop.
With a powerful impulse, he launched himself forward, soaring through the air.
The night was alive with sounds.
Distant howls of Volatiles.
The scuttling of infected in the alleys below.
But Aiden moved through the city like a ghost.
Faster.
Stronger.
More instinctual.
And as he traveled through the ruins of Villedor, heading toward Juan's territory, one thought remained in his mind.
If Juan knows something about Mia… Then he better start talking.
Aiden's Hunt for Juan – Shadows Over Villedor
The night stretched on, its silence broken only by the occasional distant shriek of Volatiles.
Aiden moved like a predator, his hooks latching onto buildings, pulling him forward with unnatural speed.
The city of Villedor sprawled beneath him, a mixture of dim streetlights, UV-safe zones, and darkened ruins.
Everywhere he looked, he saw trails.
Biters—grey trails.
Virals—light blue, restless, always moving.
But his focus remained forward.
He had a destination.
Juan.
The Grand Horizon – Juan's Territory
After a while, the landscape changed.
He had entered Juan's domain.
A lavish settlement, one of the few places in Villedor that still carried an air of pre-outbreak luxury.
Juan had connections.
Juan had power.
Juan had answers.
But the question was—would he share them?
Aiden's Arrival – The First Problem
Aiden landed softly on the edge of a rooftop, his golden-veined arms tensed.
Below—guards.
Peacekeepers.
Armed.
Unaware of his presence.
They were blocking the entrance to Juan's main building.
Aiden narrowed his eyes.
If he was still human, he could've walked right in.
But now?
He was something else.
Something they wouldn't understand.
Something they would shoot on sight.
He needed another way in.
The Silent Approach – Infiltrating Juan's Estate
Aiden scaled the building, moving across the rooftops like a phantom.
His mutated instincts guided him, his claws gripping the stone surface with ease.
And then—
A balcony.
Unoccupied.
Aiden landed softly, pressing himself against the shadows.
From inside—voices.
Laughter.
The clink of glasses.
Juan's usual guests.
Aiden exhaled softly.
Then—
He moved inside.
Silent.
Unseen.
And soon—he would finally have the answers he needed.