Dominion's Edge

On the other side of the country, tension gripped a heavily guarded facility as high-ranking officials gathered in a conference room. One by one, they entered, the air thick with unease. The low murmur of hushed conversations echoed against the cold, sterile walls, but that was soon interrupted when the floor beneath their feet began to tremble.

"What the hell is going on?" one of the officials snapped, his voice laced with alarm.

"Stay calm, sir," a nearby security officer replied, his tone steady. "The boss just arrived."

The tension in the room lessened ever so slightly, and the officials exchanged relieved glances. They knew who "the boss" was—a name that carried the weight of authority and control. Then, with a sudden bang, the large wooden doors at the end of the room flew open, and a figure emerged, flanked by a phalanx of guards.

It was President Draxler, his presence commanding the room as the officials stood, bowing their heads in respect. The silence was deafening.

"Mr. President, are you alright?" one of the senior officials asked, his voice filled with concern. "The situation outside is spiraling out of control."

President Draxler didn't respond immediately. His eyes, fiery with anger, scanned the room like a predator sizing up prey. He finally spoke, his words cold and biting. "Where is he? Does he have any idea how critical this meeting is? The fate of humanity rests on his damn shoulders!"

The officials exchanged nervous glances, none daring to speak.

One of the head security guards leaned in toward the president and whispered, "Sir, the CEO's helicopter just landed. He's on his way."

Draxler's jaw clenched, and he exhaled slowly, the fury barely contained within him. He took his seat, though every muscle in his body remained taut with impatience.

Outside, the helicopter blades still whirred, kicking up a dust cloud as Victor Langston, the CEO of Still Alive Corporation, descended from the aircraft. His sharp suit seemed out of place amidst the chaos of the outside world, but his calm demeanor suggested control, even when the world seemed to be burning. Beside him, Dr. Carter Graves, his chief scientist, held a tablet close, eyes glued to the data streaming in.

Langston strode purposefully toward the building, not sparing a glance at the devastation beyond the walls. "Why is the cleanup taking so long?" he demanded, his voice cold and measured.

Dr. Graves, struggling to keep up with Langston's long strides, replied without looking up, "Sir, the virus is spreading faster than even our most aggressive models predicted. Entire nations are collapsing, and we're nearing total saturation." His voice was calm, clinical, like the chaos was merely data on a screen.

Langston's gaze sharpened. "And how long until the situation is fully under our control?" he asked, his voice as hard as steel.

Dr. Graves hesitated for a fraction of a second before answering. "If our projections are correct, within 24 hours, the entire country will be affected. The final phase is imminent."

Langston's expression remained unreadable as they approached the building, their footsteps echoing ominously. "Good. Let's make sure nothing interferes with the plan." His tone left no room for doubt. There was no turning back now.

As they neared the entrance to the building, two guards quickly stepped forward, pulling open the large steel doors. Victor Langston, with his usual icy composure, walked in first, his polished shoes echoing against the marble floor. The air inside was thick with tension, and the low hum of distant alarms could be heard.

Victor's eyes flicked at Dr. Carter Graves, who followed closely behind. Without turning his head, Victor asked, his voice calm but sharp, "Has any of our scientists found a more stable component for the formula?"

Dr. Graves hesitated, gripping his tablet tightly, the pressure turning his knuckles white. His voice was low, almost trembling, "Boss, some of our research facilities… they've been attacked. The undead are closing in."

Victor stopped abruptly, his calm exterior cracking as a flash of anger sparked in his cold eyes. He turned on his heel, locking his gaze onto Carter, his voice cutting like a knife, "I don't care what happened. I want results. Now." His words were laced with venom, the unspoken threat lingering in the air. "Double the security at all of our centers. I don't want a single breach from here on out."

Carter swallowed hard, nodding quickly, though the weight of Victor's anger seemed to press on his shoulders. "Understood, Boss," he said, his voice barely audible.

But Victor wasn't done. His gaze darkened, and with a cold, calculated fury, he added, "And don't think I've forgotten. Where is Arian? I want him found. Alive."

Carter stiffened, lowering his gaze to avoid Victor's piercing stare. "I'll find him, sir," he replied in a whisper, knowing that failure was not an option.

They continued walking, the tension between them palpable, until they reached a set of imposing double doors. Victor stopped, turning to glance at the doors with a sense of purpose. With a slow, deliberate movement, he straightened his suit, running his hands along the lapels, adjusting every detail to perfection. He took a deep breath, his lips curling into a slight, almost cruel smile.

"This is it," he muttered to himself, his voice laced with satisfaction. "The moment I've been waiting for my entire life."

With one hand, he pushed the door open. The heavy creak of the hinges seemed to echo through the silence like a final warning. As the door swung wide, the room beyond came into view, packed with the most powerful officials in the country, their faces tense, eyes flicking nervously between each other. When they saw Victor step through the threshold, a hushed stillness fell over the room. Every gaze lowered, a quiet acknowledgment of his authority.

Victor walked in with slow, deliberate steps, his presence commanding the attention of everyone in the room. His eyes scanned the faces of the officials, reading their fear, their uncertainty. Each step felt heavier, the weight of the moment pressing down on the room. This was a gathering of the highest ranks, and they knew who held the reins of power now.

Carter lingered by the doorway, watching from the shadows. His eyes, however, were not filled with the same admiration as the others. There was something harder in his gaze, a storm of emotions kept tightly bottled up, but noticeable to anyone paying close attention.

Victor stood at the front of the room now, his posture tall and imposing. Without a word, he let the silence hang, allowing the tension to build until it felt unbearable. Then, with the slightest smirk on his lips, he broke the silence.

"Let's begin."