The city was dying.
Ethan, Olivia, and Noah sprinted through the empty streets, Blaze leading the way. The fires, the distant screams, the stench of blood—all of it was getting worse.
They were close to the safehouse now. Just a few more blocks.
But Ethan couldn't shake the feeling in his gut.
Something was waiting for them.
And he was rarely wrong.
Arrival at Haven
They reached the building—a high-rise on the north side of the city. Reinforced doors, underground storage, and most importantly—no public access.
At least, that was how it used to be.
Blaze stopped at the entrance, sniffing the air. Then—a low growl rumbled in his throat.
Ethan cursed. "Damn it. Someone's already here."
Olivia checked her pistol. "Survivors?"
Noah smirked. "Or the opposite."
Ethan didn't take chances. He raised his rifle and signaled for silence. They moved in formation—Olivia left, Noah right, Blaze in the lead.
The lobby was dark. Too dark. The emergency lights flickered weakly, casting eerie shadows across overturned furniture and shattered glass.
Blood smeared the floor.
And the bodies?
Nowhere to be seen.
Ethan's grip tightened. Something had dragged them away.
Unwanted Guests
They reached the elevator shaft. Power was still running. That was good. What wasn't good? The faint sound of footsteps above them.
Noah pointed up. "We're not alone."
Olivia frowned. "If they're human, we might have to negotiate. If they're not—"
A scream tore through the building.
Then, silence.
Noah sighed. "Guess that answers that."
Ethan pressed the elevator button. They didn't have time to clear each floor. The fastest way up was straight to the penthouse.
Ding. The doors slid open.
They stepped inside, Blaze tense at Ethan's feet. As the doors shut, the numbers ticked up.
5… 10… 15…
Then—the elevator stopped.
Not at the penthouse.
At floor 17.
A long pause.
Then—the doors slowly slid open.
And waiting for them in the hallway…
Was a man.
The Warning
He stood in the dim light, his face obscured by shadows. Not infected. Not armed. But something was wrong.
He was too calm.
Ethan didn't lower his gun. "Who are you?"
The man tilted his head slightly. "You shouldn't be here."
Olivia narrowed her eyes. "You live here?"
The man let out a short laugh. "Not anymore."
Noah shifted, finger on the trigger. "Then why are you still here?"
The man's expression darkened. "Because I was left behind."
A flicker of realization hit Ethan. This guy was part of a group. A group that abandoned him.
And if they abandoned him?
They knew something he didn't.
Ethan took a slow step forward. "What happened here?"
The man met his eyes.
"You don't want to know."
Then—a sound from the stairwell.
Heavy. Uneven. Not human.
The man didn't even flinch. He simply exhaled and said:
"Too late. They're already here."
Then—the lights went out.
And the nightmare truly began.