The rain was still coming down in sheets as Axel and Nova stood there, right in front of the wire fence they'd just scrambled through. Their breaths were still ragged from that crazy escape. Behind them, those freaky creatures were still swarming, clawing at the wire like mad.
"Why can't they get out?" Nova asked, her eyes still wide with terror as she watched the creatures.
Axel scanned the area, trying to get a grip on what was happening. "Maybe they're penned up in there. Or maybe... something's controlling them."
Nova swallowed hard. That thought was even more chilling than the fact they'd just been chased by those things. But, one thing was for sure, they'd managed to get away, at least for now.
Still, they weren't out of the woods yet.
Axel looked around. The road ahead looked like some old abandoned complex. There were a few small buildings, their walls covered in moss and weeds. And in the distance...
A huge structure, half-hidden by rubble, stood strong under the flashes of lightning.
"Bunker," Axel muttered.
Nova followed his gaze. It had to be part of the old facility on the island. If they could get inside, maybe they'd find some answers. Or, even worse, stumble on something that should've stayed buried.
Without saying much, Axel motioned for Nova to follow him. They moved quickly down the slick road, trying to stay out of sight.
As they got closer to the bunker, Nova noticed something that sent shivers down her spine.
There were signs of life.
Not wild creatures or monsters like before. But... human tracks.
"Axel..." Nova pointed to the ground.
Axel crouched down, taking a closer look. There were fresh footprints, clear in the wet ground.
"Not ours," Axel said, his voice low.
Nova bit her lip. "So there's someone else here..."
Axel didn't reply. He just signaled for them to stay alert.
They reached the bunker. The big metal door was rusty and slightly ajar. Nova could smell old iron mixed with something sharp – the stench of death.
Axel pulled out his knife and carefully pushed the door open.
SCREEEECH...
The sound of scraping metal echoed in the dark bunker.
Nova held her breath, hoping nothing was waiting inside.
They stepped in. The air inside was thick and damp. The dim light from outside barely cut through the darkness, highlighting walls covered in weird scribbles.
But what really caught Nova's eye were the metal shelves along the walls.
Neatly arranged...
Documents, video tapes, and old photos.
Nova walked over, her hand shaking as she picked up one of the photos.
What she saw made her blood run cold.
In the photo, there were people in lab coats, standing next to a caged enclosure.
And inside the cage... was someone.
No. Not someone.
The creature wasn't fully human. Its eyes were pitch black, its skin grayish, and its body was covered in scars and stitches.
"This..." Nova's voice barely came out.
Axel grabbed a document and started reading. "Project D-13... Human development experiments... Biological control..." Axel read in a low, tense voice. "They... were trying to change people."
Nova felt sick. "They created those creatures?"
Axel looked at her. "Not just created. They experimented on living people."
Nova took a step back, her eyes going back to the photos. There were faces there. Some looked terrified, others... completely blank.
"I don't want to know anymore," Nova said, her voice trembling.
But before they could think any further—
CRASH!
A loud noise from inside the bunker made them jump.
Someone—or something—was in here.
Axel instantly drew the pistol he'd found at the camp and aimed it at the door at the end of the room.
From the crack under the door, they heard heavy breathing.
And then...
TAP. TAP. TAP.
Footsteps.
They weren't alone.
Axel thought fast. If they stayed, they'd be trapped.
"We blow this place," Axel said firmly.
Nova stared at him, shocked. "What?"
"There's explosives on that shelf," Axel pointed to the side of the room where some boxes with hazard symbols were stacked. "We can blow the bunker and create a distraction."
Nova swallowed hard. It was crazy. But they had no other choice.
Axel moved quickly, grabbing the explosives and setting a timer.
They were running out of time.
They were almost done when the sound in the hallway got closer.
Then... something appeared in the doorway.
A man.
Or... something that might've been a man once.
His face was half-destroyed, his skin pale purple, and his eyes were completely empty. He wore tattered clothes, with the same emblem as in the photos.
One of the experiment subjects.
And he was still alive.
Or rather... still moving.
Nova almost screamed, but Axel was faster.
BANG! BANG!
Two shots hit the creature's chest. But it didn't fall.
It just took a step back, then turned towards them.
Axel grabbed Nova's arm. "Run!"
They sprinted out of the bunker.
Behind them, the timer on the explosives was counting down.
3...
The creature started moving, chasing them.
2...
They leaped over the rubble in front of the bunker.
1...
BOOOOMMM!!!
A massive explosion shook the ground, throwing them forward. Flames shot up, lighting up the night sky.
Nova coughed, her body dusty and dirty. She looked back, seeing the bunker now in pieces.
But before she could feel any relief...
From behind the flames and rubble, something moved.
The figure... wasn't dead.
And now, it was angrier than ever.
Nova froze, her breath catching in her throat. The figure was still standing in the flames, its body smoking but not falling. The wounds on its chest were gaping, but seemed to have no effect.
"We have to go, now!" Axel pulled Nova's arm, forcing her to her feet.
But then, something even worse happened.
From inside the bunker ruins, they heard other sounds.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Footsteps. Not just one.
Nova glanced at Axel, her eyes wide. "Axel... there's more of them."
Axel cursed under his breath. The explosion, meant to distract, had only woken up something worse.
From the rubble, several figures began to emerge. Their bodies were thin, pale, with gaping wounds. Some were missing limbs, but they moved like they felt no pain.
"We run to the forest!" Axel ordered, sprinting towards the trees.
Nova followed, her body heavy with exhaustion. The forest was their only option now—hoping the creatures couldn't follow in the dark.
They ran as fast as they could, pushing through branches and bushes. Axel could hear the footsteps following close behind.
Then, from the distance, they heard another sound.
"Stop them!"
Axel turned to Nova. "Did you hear that?"
Nova nodded, her face pale. It was a human voice. But was it good news, or another threat?
Before they could think any further, something shot out of the darkness.
SWISH!
A wooden spear almost pierced Axel's head.
They were being hunted by something else too.
L