Ghost_Ronin

The world changed in an instant. What started as a simple experiment within the walls of a research facility spiraled into an uncontrollable nightmare. A virus, designed to push the boundaries of human evolution, instead turned people into mindless, flesh-hungry creatures. Those who survived the initial outbreak were forced into a desperate struggle against both the infected and the crumbling remnants of civilization.

Escape from the Lab

Dane had never wanted to be a hero. He was a scientist, a researcher at the facility where it all started. But when the infection broke out, he became something else—a survivor. As alarms blared and the halls were painted in blood, he fought his way through the facility, barely escaping the horrors within. The outside world was no better. Streets once filled with life were now overrun with the infected. Civilization had collapsed, and the only rule left was survival.

As he stumbled into the ruined city, weakened and unarmed, Dane nearly met his end at the hands of a horde. But fate intervened in the form of Kade, a hardened survivor with a sharp mind and an even sharper blade. Kade saved Dane’s life without hesitation, cutting down the infected with brutal efficiency. From that moment on, the two became an unlikely duo, bound by necessity and a growing trust.

A Desperate Struggle

For weeks, Dane and Kade moved from ruin to ruin, scavenging for supplies, avoiding the infected, and fending off other desperate survivors willing to kill for a can of food. Kade, who had lost everything, carried himself with the detached pragmatism of a man who had long accepted the horrors of this world. Dane, still struggling with guilt for his role in the outbreak, clung to the hope that there was still something worth saving.

Their journey was relentless. Every shelter they found was temporary, every plan they made shattered by the unpredictable dangers of the new world. And yet, through the chaos, they found moments of humanity—laughing over a stolen bottle of whiskey, sharing stories of the world before, and daring to believe that maybe, just maybe, survival wasn’t the same as living.

But hope was fragile, and death came swiftly.

Kade’s Sacrifice

One night, they stumbled upon what seemed like salvation—a fortified outpost where survivors had gathered, building a small community. For the first time in weeks, Dane felt a flicker of optimism. But it was short-lived. The infected attacked in numbers greater than they had ever seen, overwhelming the defenses in a matter of minutes.

As chaos erupted, Kade fought fiercely, buying time for others to escape. Dane begged him to run, but Kade knew the truth—someone had to hold the line. With a final, knowing look, he pushed Dane toward safety before turning to face the oncoming horde.

Dane ran, hating himself for it. He heard Kade’s screams, then silence.

The Girl 

Guilt consumed him. He wandered aimlessly, barely eating, barely surviving, until he found her. A girl. Young, frail, but alive. She reminded him of something he had lost. Taking her in was not a choice—it was instinct.

With renewed purpose, he vowed to protect her.

The Army’s Last Stand

Meanwhile, another group fought their own battle for survival. A unit of soldiers, once tasked with maintaining order, had become refugees themselves. Their numbers dwindled with every passing day, their supplies running out. Among them was Captain Marshall, a man burdened with the responsibility of keeping his people alive. He had lost too many—friends, comrades, even his own family. But he refuse

The Evil outside

Dane sighed, half in disbelief. "Alright, but if you pull anything stupid, we're done for. We'll stick to the shadows, behind these aisles."

They began to crawl, keeping their heads low, their bodies pressed tightly against the cold floor as they snaked their way toward the storage room. Every sound, every shuffle of their feet, felt like it could be the end. Dane whispered as they moved. "You notice something off?"

Dane glanced over at the zombies, who continued to groan and stumble around the store, seemingly unaware of their presence. "When we came in, they didn't even react. It's like they can't hear us."

Kade gave a slight nod, his whisper barely audible. "They can hear, alright. They hear better than we do. But they didn't hear us because of that damn siren blaring through the store."

Dane's heart sank as he realized the danger. The zombies weren't blind—they were just distracted. That distraction could end at any second.

Kade's voice was calm but firm as he spoke, "Stay close, Dane. We can't afford to lose each other out there."

Dane nodded, feeling the weight of the situation settle on his shoulders. His heart pounded in his chest as he crouched low, slowly making his way towards the storage room. Every step felt like a lifetime, the silence broken only by the faint, distant moans of the undead. The tension hung in the air like a storm waiting to break.

He reached the door and, breathing heavily, glanced back at Kade for confirmation. But as his eyes met Kade's, something caught his attention—a flicker of movement behind Kade. Dane's blood ran cold. His eyes widened in horror as he saw the headlights of a car barreling toward Kade, showing no sign of stopping.

"Kade, MOVE!" Dane's scream tore through the air, raw with panic.

The sound of his voice was too loud. Too sharp. It echoed off the walls, attracting the attention of nearby zombies, their lifeless heads snapping towards the noise. But Dane didn't care—his focus was on Kade, on saving him before it was too late.

Kade heard the shout and turned, but it was already too late. The car came crashing through the shop's front wall in a deafening roar of metal and glass. The impact was catastrophic. Shelves splintered and collapsed under the force, sending debris flying in every direction. In the blink of an eye, the vehicle plowed through the space where Kade had been standing just moments before.

Dane's world tilted as he watched the horror unfold in slow motion. He barely registered the sound of Kade's body hitting the ground, thrown by the force of the crash. Shards of glass and metal whizzed through the air, and in the chaos, Dane felt something slam into him—a shelf, knocked loose from the wall. The impact was brutal, knocking the breath from his lungs.

His vision blurred as he hit the floor. His head spun, pain radiating from his ribs where the shelf had struck. He tried to call out, to reach for Kade, but his voice was lost in the destruction around him. The world around him grew distant, the sounds of the crash muffled as darkness crept in.

Before the blackness consumed him, the last thing Dane saw was the wreckage of the shop. The car, smoking and twisted, lay embedded in the ruins. Kade's still form was sprawled in the debris, and beyond that, the undead were closing in, drawn by the noise.

Dane's body went limp as unconsciousness claimed him.

Escape or Death