The city was unraveling.
Gunfire cracked in the distance, mixed with panicked screams. The infection was spreading fast—faster than it had in the past timeline. Ethan could already see the chaos rippling outward like a wave.
This was only the beginning.
Blaze sprinted beside them, ears flattened, his instincts sharpening. The golden glow in his eyes flickered—he sensed more than Ethan could see.
"We need to get off the streets," Olivia said, her breath steady despite their pace. "The longer we're out here, the more risks we take."
Noah scanned their surroundings, then pointed toward an abandoned parking garage. "There. We get a higher vantage point and figure out our next move."
Ethan nodded. They had to move smart. The real battle hadn't even started yet.
Trapped
They slipped into the garage, the scent of oil and dust thick in the air. The dim emergency lights flickered, casting eerie shadows over rows of empty cars.
Blaze let out a low growl. Something was here.
Ethan signaled for silence. He could hear it now—shuffling footsteps. Wet, labored breathing.
Then, from behind a van—a figure lurched forward.
The infected man moved differently than before—jittery, unstable, like his body was still adjusting to the transformation. His head jerked toward them, and for a split second, his face twisted between confusion and hunger.
Then he charged.
Noah fired first. A clean shot to the head. The infected dropped, motionless.
Silence.
Then—a screech.
More were coming.
Breakout
Ethan grabbed Olivia's arm. "We need to move—now!"
More infected stumbled into the garage, drawn by the gunshot. Their eyes black and hollow, their bodies twitching unnaturally.
Blaze snarled, his fur sparking with electricity. He leaped forward, tearing into the first one.
Ethan took out another with a quick shot to the temple. But there were too many.
"Up the ramp!" Olivia shouted.
They sprinted, weaving between cars as the infected closed in. Ethan could hear them behind him—guttural moans, bones snapping as they moved unnaturally fast.
Noah turned, tossing a flash grenade. A deafening bang. The infected recoiled, disoriented.
It bought them seconds—but seconds were enough.
They reached the rooftop, bursting out into the open air. The city stretched before them—and it was burning.
Fires raged. People ran through the streets, some already turning on each other. It was chaos.
Ethan clenched his jaw.
Twelve hours ago, the world had been normal.
Now? There was no turning back.