Chapter 8 – First Mission: The City of the Dead

The night air was thick with the scent of decay. The city, once vibrant and alive, now lay in eerie silence, its streets littered with abandoned cars and crumbling buildings. Streetlights flickered, casting long, ghostly shadows over the cracked pavement.

Serena adjusted the strap of her backpack, her senses heightened. Tonight wasn't just a training exercise—they were heading into the heart of the city for their first real mission. Supplies, information, and testing their abilities in real-world conditions.

"Last chance to back out," Zane smirked, his dark eyes gleaming with anticipation. "No shame in staying behind if you're scared."

Kiera rolled her eyes. "Please, we've been training for this. And unlike you, I don't need to act tough."

Damien stretched his arms. "Enough bickering. Let's move."

Leo and Lila, the ten-year-old twins, stood between them, unusually quiet. Despite their young age, they had already proven themselves powerful. Lila's golden eyes flickered with an otherworldly glow as she whispered, "There's something waiting for us in the city."

Serena stiffened. "You saw something?"

Lila nodded. "Not clearly. But… it's watching us."

Jaxon tightened his grip on his modified stun baton. "Well, that's not creepy at all."

The Plan

The group had scouted a small underground bunker in the city that had once belonged to a wealthy survivalist. If it still had supplies, it would be a goldmine. But it also meant that others might be after it.

Serena took charge. "Alright. We stick together, no unnecessary risks. We use our powers, but we don't show off. This is about efficiency, not reckless heroics."

Zane grinned. "But reckless heroics are fun."

"Tell that to the people who died in the first apocalypse," Serena shot back. "Let's move."

The Streets of Desolation

They moved in pairs, silent as shadows.

Serena & Zane led, with Serena using her portal ability to navigate obstacles quickly.

Kiera & Damien followed, Damien's super speed allowing him to scout ahead.

Elise & Jaxon took the rear, Elise's blood manipulation ready in case of injuries.

Leo & Lila stayed between them, with Lila whispering eerie predictions that made everyone uneasy.

As they reached the bunker's location, they found the entrance blocked by a collapsed wall. No problem. Serena opened a small portal inside, and they slipped through, one by one.

Inside, dust hung in the air. Shelves lined the walls, stocked with canned food, weapons, and medical supplies. Jackpot.

"See?" Jaxon smirked. "That was too easy."

The moment he said it, a low growl echoed through the bunker.

The First Encounter

The group turned in unison.

A figure emerged from the darkness—a mutated zombie, its body twisted unnaturally. Unlike the slow, mindless ones Serena remembered from her past life, this one moved fast, its limbs jerking in erratic, predatory motions.

Before anyone could react, it lunged at Lila.

But Leo raised a hand. The air trembled. The zombie froze mid-air, caught in an invisible force. With a flick of his fingers, Leo slammed it into the ceiling, crushing its skull instantly.

Silence.

Then Damien whistled. "Damn, kid."

Leo blinked, as if surprised by his own strength. "It felt… easier this time."

Serena exhaled. "That means they're evolving."

A Warning in Blood

As they explored deeper, they found something worse—bodies. Fresh ones. Someone else had been here recently. And on the walls, scrawled in dried blood, was a warning:

"THEY ARE COMING."

Kiera clenched her fists. "Who the hell is 'they'?"

Serena didn't know. But one thing was clear.

This apocalypse was going to be different from the last.

And it was only just beginning.

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