Betrayal in the Dark

Chapter 13: Betrayal in the Dark

Ethan gripped his rifle tightly as he moved through the abandoned grocery store, his senses on high alert. The world outside was a wasteland of death and decay, but inside the store, there was only eerie silence. Dust-covered shelves lined the aisles, most of them already picked clean by desperate survivors. The few remaining food items had long since expired, but that didn't stop Ethan from searching. He needed supplies—he was running low, and every trip into the city was a risk.

Cole moved ahead of him, his shotgun raised and ready. For the past three weeks, they had worked together, watching each other's backs, looting the ruins, and fighting off the monstrous horrors that roamed the streets. It wasn't exactly trust between them, but it was the closest thing to companionship Ethan had found since the world fell apart.

Cole had been a police officer before everything went to hell, and that experience made him an asset. But something had been off about him lately—Ethan had noticed the way Cole's eyes lingered on his supplies, how he hesitated whenever they talked about their next move. There was a weight in the air between them, a tension that Ethan couldn't quite place.

He should have been more careful.

"Over here," Cole whispered, motioning toward the back of the store.

Ethan followed, stepping over broken glass and debris. The storage room at the back was still intact, a rare find. If they were lucky, there might be something useful inside—canned food, bottled water, maybe even medical supplies.

Cole reached for the door and slowly pushed it open. The dim emergency light inside flickered, casting eerie shadows across the walls. Ethan stepped in cautiously, his rifle raised, scanning the room for any threats. It was quiet. Too quiet.

And then he felt it—the cold, unmistakable sensation of a gun barrel pressing against the back of his head.

His blood ran cold.

"Drop the rifle," Cole said, his voice calm, almost emotionless.

Ethan's fingers tightened around the weapon, his mind racing. This wasn't a joke. Cole wasn't testing him. This was real.

"Why?" Ethan asked, his voice low.

Cole exhaled through his nose, as if disappointed. "You know why. We're running out of supplies. I can't keep feeding both of us."

Ethan let out a dry chuckle, despite the situation. "That's a lie, and you know it."

Cole didn't respond immediately. "Look, Ethan, I like you, but this world doesn't have room for dead weight. And right now, you're just another mouth to feed."

Ethan could barely believe what he was hearing. "You wouldn't have survived this long without me."

Cole shrugged. "Maybe. But I don't need you anymore."

A loud screech echoed through the building, making both men freeze. The unmistakable sound of a mutant's cry rattled the air, followed by the guttural snarls of approaching creatures.

Cole's expression hardened. "Looks like this is where we part ways."

Before Ethan could react, Cole stepped back and kicked the door shut, slamming it in his face. The lock clicked into place from the outside.

Ethan rushed forward, slamming his fists against the metal door. "Cole! Don't do this!"

But the footsteps on the other side were already retreating. Cole was gone.

The groans of the approaching mutants grew louder, their heavy, unnatural movements scraping against the tile floor. Ethan stepped back, gripping his knife, his pulse hammering in his ears.

He was trapped.

And the monsters were coming.

Ethan's mind raced as he looked around the storage room for an escape. The door was solid metal—no way he was breaking through it. The walls were reinforced. The only possible way out was a ventilation duct near the ceiling, but it was too high to reach without something to climb on.

The first mutant slammed against the door outside, its claws screeching against the metal. More followed, their growls filling the air, their hunger undeniable. They could smell him.

Ethan grabbed a metal shelf, dragging it beneath the vent. It was old and rusted but sturdy enough. He climbed on top, stretching his arms toward the vent. His fingers barely brushed the edge.

Another loud bang rattled the door. It wouldn't hold forever.

With a grunt, Ethan jumped, gripping the edge of the vent with one hand. His other hand slipped, and for a terrifying second, he dangled in the air before managing to pull himself up. His muscles strained, but he forced himself through the narrow opening, his body scraping against the metal.

Just as he pulled his legs inside, the door burst open below.

A flood of grotesque creatures poured into the room—twisted, rotting things with elongated limbs and razor-sharp claws. Their glowing eyes scanned the space, their heads jerking unnaturally as they searched for him.

Ethan held his breath, pressing himself against the cold metal of the vent, watching as the monsters sniffed the air, growling in frustration.

Then, something else entered the room.

A figure taller than the rest, its body covered in jagged, blackened flesh. Its eyes burned with intelligence, unlike the mindless creatures below. It was a mutant—but not like the others.

Ethan had seen them before. Level Two mutants.

Stronger. Faster. Deadlier.

The creature's head snapped toward the vent, as if sensing his presence. Its mouth twisted into something resembling a grin.

Then, it spoke.

"Run."

Ethan's heart nearly stopped. These things weren't supposed to talk.

He didn't wait to see what happened next. He scrambled through the vent as fast as he could, his breath ragged, his hands trembling. He had to get out.

He had to survive.

Ethan emerged from the vent onto the store's roof, gasping for air. The city stretched out before him, a ruined wasteland of collapsed buildings and smoke-filled skies.

He needed a plan. Cole had taken his rifle, but his car was still parked outside, loaded with supplies. If he could reach it, he'd have a chance.

He climbed down the side of the building, landing in the alley below. The streets were eerily quiet, but he knew that wouldn't last.

As he ran toward the parking lot, gunshots rang out in the distance. Cole.

Ethan gritted his teeth. If Cole was in trouble, he wasn't going to help him.

Not after what he did.

But as he neared the lot, he saw Cole's body on the ground, surrounded by three mutants. He was still alive, crawling toward his shotgun, blood dripping from a wound in his leg.

Ethan had a choice.

He could leave Cole to die.

Or he could save the man who betrayed him.

The creatures snarled, sensing the fresh kill before them. Cole's eyes locked onto Ethan's, desperation written all over his face.

"Ethan… help me."

Ethan stood still, gripping his knife, his heart pounding.

After everything Cole had done… did he deserve to live?