Chapter:9 The Secrets of Outpost 17

Elias stood in the heart of Outpost 17, his legs still shaking from the close call outside the gates. His chest rose and fell as he fought to catch his breath. The air was heavy, laced with the sharp scent of oil and sweat, and something metallic that tasted bitter on his tongue. Around him, people moved quickly, their faces hard, eyes hollow. Survivors. Fighters.

A man with a weathered face and eyes sharp as knives stepped forward. His shoulders were broad, his posture rigid. "Follow me," he ordered, his voice gravelly and firm.

Elias hesitated, his eyes drifting to where they had taken Jenna. She was unconscious, her body limp as they carried her inside one of the larger buildings. They had been gentle, but urgent. He wanted to be with her, to make sure she was okay. But something told him he needed answers first.

The man led him through the compound, boots crunching on gravel. Elias glanced around, taking it all in. High walls of thick steel and concrete loomed overhead, crowned with watchtowers. Armed guards stood at every corner, their fingers resting on triggers, eyes scanning the horizon. This place was built to last. To defend.

They reached a reinforced building at the far end. The door slid open with a metallic hiss, revealing a dimly lit room cluttered with old computers, radios, and maps spread across tables. The low hum of machinery filled the air. A few people moved between the equipment, their whispers barely audible over the static.

The man pointed to a chair. "Sit."

Elias sank into it, his muscles aching from days of running. The man stood over him, arms crossed. "I'm Captain Grant. I run this outpost. Now tell me—how did you survive out there?"

Elias's shoulders sagged. He rubbed his face, exhaustion catching up to him. "I don't know. One day I woke up and… everyone was gone. I've been trying to figure out what happened ever since."

Grant's eyes narrowed. "You're not infected?"

Elias looked up, confused. "Infected with what?"

A scoff came from the corner. A man leaned against the wall, arms folded. "He really doesn't know."

Grant shot him a glare. "Quiet." He turned back to Elias, his gaze piercing. "You've seen them, haven't you? The ones who aren't human anymore."

Elias felt a cold shiver creep up his spine. He swallowed, his throat dry. "Yeah… I've seen them. They look like people, but… they're not."

Grant's face hardened. "We call them Echoes."

The word hung in the air, heavy and cold. Elias felt a chill. "Echoes?"

Grant nodded slowly. "They're not alive, but they're not dead either. Shadows of what they used to be. Like an echo of a scream that never stops."

Elias's chest tightened. "Then why haven't they killed me?"

Grant's eyes flickered with something Elias couldn't read. "That's what we want to know."

Silence wrapped around them, thick and tense. Elias felt their eyes on him, watching, studying. He wasn't sure if they saw him as a survivor or a threat.

Elias straightened in his chair. "And Jenna? She was with me. She made it too."

Grant's jaw tightened. "She's being checked. If she's clear, she stays. If not…" His voice trailed off, the meaning clear.

Elias's fists clenched. "She's human. Whatever those things are, she's nothing like them."

Grant's face softened for a moment, but his voice remained firm. "For her sake, I hope you're right."

The door opened. A woman in a lab coat entered, her face tired but focused. She glanced at Grant. "Tests are done. No signs of infection."

Elias's chest loosened, relief flooding through him. "Can I see her?"

The woman nodded. "Follow me."

She led him down a narrow hallway, the fluorescent lights flickering overhead. They stopped at a small room. Through the glass, Elias saw Jenna lying on a cot, her face pale but peaceful. Her chest rose and fell in slow, steady breaths.

Elias stepped inside, his heart pounding. "Jenna?"

Her eyes fluttered open, a weak smile forming on her lips. "We made it, huh?"

Elias sank to his knees beside her, his fingers wrapping around her cold hand. "Yeah… we did."

Her eyes grew distant, her smile fading. "The others… they didn't."

Elias's throat tightened. "I know."

Silence filled the room, heavy with the weight of what they had lost. Then Jenna's eyes sharpened. She glanced around, her voice a whisper. "Elias… something's wrong."

His body went rigid. "What do you mean?"

She looked at the walls, her gaze lingering on the cameras in the corners. "This place… it's too organized. Too ready. Like they were waiting for us."

Elias's pulse quickened. "You think they knew we were coming?"

Jenna's eyes met his, fear flickering in their depths. "I think they've been waiting for someone like us."

Elias's skin prickled, cold dread washing over him. He looked toward the hallway, his mind racing. Was Outpost 17 really a refuge?

Or was it a trap?