Chapter 18: delivering hope

The Black Sun was broken. Their leader was dead. Their forces were in disarray. But James knew that didn't mean they'd won. Not yet.

The cure was still just one vial. Haven was still not secure. And the world beyond was still full of the dead.

James looked at his crew—battered, bruised, but alive. "We get this cure to Haven. No distractions, no stops. The future is counting on it."

Carter tied a tighter bandage around his arm. "Then let's get moving before something else decides to kill us.".

They grabbed what equipment they could and commandeered a hijacked Black Sun truck. Maria took the wheel, her foot firmly pressed to the accelerator. Traveling home from Haven was not safe, but they had no choice.

Time was short.

⸻

The Road Home

They tore along the ruined highway, wheels sending up puffs of dust as city ruins swept past in a blur. The sun was low over the horizon, the world golden in its light—a dreamlike opposite to the death that still lingered.

James clung to the passenger seat, his hands gripping the vial. It felt too heavy.

Maria looked over at him. "You think this actually makes everything okay?"

James exhaled. "I don't know. But it's our best shot."

Carter, from the backseat, checked his rifle. "Let's just get it there in one piece. I'm not dying for nothing."

The moment felt almost peaceful. Then—

THUD. THUD. THUD.

Something massive crashed into the truck.

Maria fought the wheel as the vehicle swerved violently. "What the hell was that?!"

James turned—and his stomach dropped.

A horde of zombies was pouring out of a destroyed building up the road, blocking the road.

And behind them, something even worse.

A fresh new strain of infected.

Its body was massive, its flesh covered in thick, armor-plated growths. Its shining, empty eyes locked onto them as it let loose a guttural, alien scream.

"Floor it!" James yelled.

Maria didn't pause. The truck sped forward as the horde closed in on them.

James and Carter fired out the windows, taking out the first row of zombies. But the armored zombie was still coming, its disgusting limbs pounding on the pavement as it bore directly down on them.

James ground his teeth. If this monster came straight for them, they were finished.

⸻

The Crash

With the eleventh hour, Maria slammed the wheel to one side, and the truck skidded sideways. The massive creature slammed into the side, sending them into a fatal roll.

The world spun.

Glass shattered.

Metal crumpled.

Then—blackness.

⸻

The Final Stretch

James woke to the sound of gunfire. His head throbbed, his body aching all over. The truck was in shambles, over on its side. Smoke rose from the engine.

But the cure—the vial was still clutched in his hand.

Maria and Carter were already on their feet, firing at the horde as the armored infected advanced. They didn't have time.

James shoved himself up. "We run. NOW!"

They ran, running towards the outer walls of Haven in the distance. Gunfire rang out from the walls—Haven had seen them.

But the creature was still coming.

James knew they couldn't outrun it. He turned, raising his gun. This thing had to be killed.

Carter and Maria dropped in beside him. "We do this together," Maria said, gripping her last grenade.

James nodded. "Target the weaknesses."

They unleashed everything they had.

Bullets tore into the creature's body, but it only came on. It was too strong.

James knew there was only one thing to do.

He ran forward, dodging its massive claws, and jammed his rifle into its open jaws.

BANG. BANG. BANG.

The bullets tore through its head. It staggered, letting out a harsh, wet gurgle—then collapsed.

Silence.

Then—cheers from the walls of Haven.

They had done it.

James fell to his knees, still clutching the vial. They had survived.

But now, it was time to end this once and for all.