Empires Duel

Victor's eyes were sharp and piercing as he turned to Carter, his voice low and almost tender, "Did you find Arian?"

Carter's fingers trembled over his tablet, the glow illuminating his face in the dim light of the helicopter. "Boss, I hacked the CCTV of our corporation," he stammered, his voice cracking under the weight of the revelation. "He... he got eaten by zombies."

A heavy silence fell between them, and Victor's expression drained of color, the news hitting him like a physical blow. For a fleeting moment, the darkness in his heart flickered, a tiny ember of something like loss or regret. But just as quickly, Carter continued, his tone shifting slightly as he regained his composure.

"But I have good news," he added, hope creeping into his voice.

Victor's demeanor brightened, his lips curling into a sinister smile, a wolf ready to feast. "What is it? Tell me," he urged, leaning forward, hunger gleaming in his eyes.

Carter turned the tablet toward him, revealing the surveillance footage. "Our subject 252 is alive, even after Arian's shots," he reported, excitement bubbling beneath the surface.

Victor's dark smile widened, revealing the thrill of his ruthless ambition. "Now we get what we want. I want him alive... or dead. Send our best team to retrieve him. I want it done quickly."

"Yes, boss," Carter replied, his heart racing with the thrill of their dark triumph as the helicopter soared toward the horizon, leaving the chaos behind.

On the other side of the country, Dane lay in the darkness, the weight of a shelf pressing painfully against his back. Time seemed to stretch endlessly as he remained unconscious, the world around him fading in and out of focus.

When he finally stirred, a faint sound of dripping water danced around him, mingling with the echoes of chaos that had erupted just moments before. Slowly, he opened his eyes, wincing as shards of light cut through the darkness. Confusion enveloped him as he struggled to remember what had happened. He blinked rapidly, trying to clear his mind.

His body felt heavy, and as he shifted, the oppressive weight of the shelf behind him reminded him of the danger that had struck so suddenly. He gritted his teeth, mustering every ounce of strength he had left, and pushed against the shelf, the wood groaning in protest as it shifted aside. The faint taste of blood lingered in his mouth, a bitter reminder of his earlier struggle.

But as he finally freed himself, a wave of nausea washed over him, and he clutched his head, the pain shooting through his skull like a thunderclap. It was then that a thought sliced through the fog in his mind—a single name that filled him with dread: Kade. "Where is Kade? Is he alive... or dead?" His heart raced with the fear of loss, the cold grip of loneliness creeping in around the edges.

Dane struggled to his feet, but his legs trembled under the weight of exhaustion and pain. His head throbbed violently, a searing ache clouding his vision. He staggered forward, barely able to keep his eyes open, his voice a faint whisper as he muttered, "Kade… where are you? Stay with me… I'm coming."

His movements were sluggish, every step feeling like it could be his last. The shop was a mess—shelves overturned, debris scattered everywhere. He clawed his way through the wreckage, moving boxes and broken items out of the way with trembling hands. The back of the car had been crushed in the crash, but Dane, barely noticing, shoved it aside with surprising ease, his focus elsewhere.

When he finally uncovered Kade beneath a hollow shelf, his heart sank. Kade lay there, bruised and battered, his body limp and pale. Dane's breath caught in his throat as he knelt beside him. He pressed his fingers against Kade's neck, feeling for a pulse. It was faint—too faint.

"No… no, no, no…" Dane's voice broke, panic setting in. "You promised me, Kade. You said we'd get through this together. Don't leave me… please."

Kade's chest rose and fell in shallow breaths, his heartbeat weak. Dane's hands shook as he tried to keep himself calm. Tears welled in his eyes, blurring his vision. He wanted to break down, to scream, but he couldn't. Not now. Not when Kade's life hung in the balance.

"I need to find something… anything to help him," Dane whispered to himself, frantically glancing around. "But… there's no hospital. Nothing here…" His voice faltered as the reality of the situation pressed in on him like a crushing weight.

He sat there beside Kade, his tears silently falling. For a moment, he felt utterly helpless. The world around him seemed to close in, the sound of distant zombies growing louder. But he couldn't give up. Not now. Not after everything they had been through.

With newfound determination, Dane rose to his feet, wiping his tears with the back of his hand. He spotted the car that had crashed into the shop. Maybe… just maybe there was something in it—something he could use to help Kade.

He limped over to the car, his steps slow and cautious. Every sound around him seemed amplified—the shuffling of undead feet, the low growls echoing in the distance. He knelt beside the car, his heart pounding in his chest. He reached for the car door but froze as he heard the unmistakable groans of zombies nearby.