Blaze's golden eyes glowed in the dim alleyway, his fur crackling with faint traces of lightning. The beast let out a deep, satisfied rumble as Ethan scratched behind his ears.
Olivia, however, still had one hand on her gun. "You're telling me this thing is… what? Your pet?"
Ethan smirked. "More like my battle partner."
Blaze huffed, as if in agreement.
Olivia studied the massive beast, her sharp eyes analyzing everything. "And I'm supposed to believe this is normal?"
Ethan stood, patting Blaze's side. "Nothing about what's coming is normal. The world's about to fall apart, and the only rule left will be survival of the strongest."
Olivia's lips curved into a grin. "Then we'd better make sure we're at the top."
The Police Station Raid
They moved quickly through the empty streets, heading toward an old precinct on the outskirts of the city. Ethan remembered this place well—it had held out for three days during the initial outbreak before being overrun.
Now? It was a goldmine of weapons waiting to be claimed.
Blaze padded silently beside them, his large frame blending into the shadows. Olivia moved like a ghost, her every step precise and controlled.
As they reached the station's side entrance, Ethan tested the door. Locked.
Olivia stepped forward, pulled out a lockpick, and within seconds—click.
"You've done this before," Ethan noted.
She smirked. "Let's just say I have a colorful past."
They slipped inside. The air was thick with dust and the faint scent of old coffee. Papers were scattered across desks, signs of a rushed evacuation.
"Armory's downstairs," Ethan whispered. "Let's move."
They navigated through the darkened halls, past overturned chairs and flickering lights. Every step sent a chill down Ethan's spine—a reminder of what was coming.
As they reached the armory door, Blaze suddenly let out a low growl.
Ethan froze.
Something was here.
Olivia caught on immediately, drawing her gun. "We're not alone."
A rustling sound echoed from down the hall. Then—a shadow moved.
Ethan's grip tightened around his weapon. It wasn't a zombie. Not yet.
It was a man.
The Stranger
The figure stepped into the dim light, revealing a tall, lean man in tactical gear. His face was half-covered by a scarf, but his sharp green eyes locked onto them with a mix of surprise and calculation.
He held a rifle—and he wasn't aiming at them.
Instead, he smirked. "You guys are early."
Ethan tensed. "Who the hell are you?"
The man tilted his head. "Noah Carter. And if you're here for the weapons, we might have a problem."
Olivia raised an eyebrow. "Because?"
Noah tapped his gun. "Because I got here first."
Silence stretched between them. Blaze let out another low growl, but Ethan held up a hand to stop him.
This wasn't a mindless raider. This guy was dangerous.
And Ethan had a nagging feeling that Noah Carter had been one of the strongest survivors in the past timeline.
But in that life, they had been enemies.
Now? Ethan had a choice—ally with him or eliminate the competition.
The apocalypse was about to begin. And the strongest were starting to gather.