Chapter 13:The Race to Dr. Voss

James and his team did not waste time. The moment they got their hands on the files, they loaded their gear and sped away from the research center, abandoning the bodies of the hostile survivors.

Racing through the ruin on the highways, James stared at the piece of paper in his hand.

Dr. Elias Voss—likely the last human who could stem the infection—was somewhere in a secret bunker deep in the Rocky Mountains.

"We're not the only ones looking for him," Maria remarked, reloading her rifle. "If the lab had those records, then it's possible that another might too."

Carter snorted. "Then we'd best arrive first."

James clenched his teeth. They had no other choice. The Storm and the Undead

The ride to the Rockies was brutal. There were roads under water, bridges down, and every town they passed through a graveyard of the dead.

And then on the third night, there was a storm.

The wind howled as their caravan crawled up a serpentine mountain road.

"Stop!" Logan bellowed from behind the wheel. "It's zero visibility!"

James cursed under his breath. "Take cover. Now."

They noticed a vacant ski lodge and figured they would ride out the night.

But they weren't alone.

As they entered, they discovered the floor littered with desiccated corpses. They figured at first that the bodies were long past being killed.

Then one of them moved.

A freeze-your-blood snarl rang out in the room.

Maria had barely any time to raise her shotgun before the first zombie attacked.

BOOM!

The gunshot echoed as the undead came to life, crawling out of the shadows.

"WE'VE GOT COMPANY!" Carter yelled, opening fire.

James swung his machete, slicing through rotting flesh. They had been ambushed. The storm had covered the sound of the undead, making the lodge their death trap.

Logan kicked over a table, using it as cover. "We have to get out of here!"

James grabbed a flare from his belt and ignited it, tossing it across the room. The red light illuminated the horde swarming toward them.

"UPSTAIRS, NOW!" James shouted.

They raced up the staircase, barricading the door behind them. The undead slammed against it, snarling, clawing—hungry.

Maria panted, reloading her shotgun. "Well. That was fun."

Carter wiped blood from his cheek. "We're trapped."

James shook his head. "No. We weather the storm. First light, we push through."

The team exchanged glances, then nodded.

They'd been through worse. The Road to the Bunker

They emerged at dawn, fending off the remaining zombies and torching the lodge behind them.

Then they took to the road.

Hours later, they reached the coordinates in the file. The bunker was built into the side of the mountains, concealed behind a thick forest.

James raised his binoculars. "It looks intact."

Maria nodded. "But tight as a drum."

Carter cracked his knuckles. "Then let's knock."

They moved forward stealthily, guns ready. James found the steel door of the bunker, half-buried under rock and snow. He pushed against it—solid.

Then, to their surprise—

A speaker on the wall activated.

A weak, hoarse voice spoke.

".Who are you?"

James's eyes locked. "Dr. Voss?"

Silence.

Then—

".You shouldn't have come."

There was a clang of metal, as loud as the bunker doors creaked open slowly.

James looked across at Maria and Carter.

Then they went inside.