Chapter 2
Chapter 2: The First Shot
The man fired.
The shotgun barked. A sound like God clearing his throat.
Ethan felt the impact. Not a bullet, not metal. A blast of displaced air.
He stumbled. His ears rang.
The shot hit the wall behind him. Concrete exploded. Dust billowed.
He wasn't dead.
He wasn't hit.
The man had shot past him.
"Stay down!"
The voice was rough. Urgency carved into every syllable.
Ethan didn't think. He dove.
Rolled behind a shattered reception desk. Splinters dug into his skin.
He risked a peek.
The man was reloading. Fast. Efficient.
The click-clack of the pump action was loud in the sudden silence.
Then the scraping started again. Closer now.
From the hallway Ethan had just fled.
The cannibal figures. They were here.
The man, the rifleman, scanned the entrance. His eyes narrowed.
"Get ready."
He didn't look at Ethan. His gaze was fixed on the hallway.
Ethan clutched the rebar. Useless.
He was trapped. Between a man with a gun and… them.
He heard a wet snarl.
A grey hand, tipped with broken nails, appeared around the corner of the corridor.
Then a face. Sunken eyes. Jaw agape.
It was the woman. The one gnawing on the child's arm.
Ethan’s stomach lurched. He fought down the bile.
She shuffled forward. Slowly. Relentlessly.
Behind her, the man. Just as gaunt. Just as hungry.
The rifleman raised his weapon.
"One."
He squeezed the trigger.
The shotgun roared again.
The woman’s head snapped back. A terrible sound. Like a melon being dropped.
She fell. A crumpled heap.
The man behind her paused. Stared at his fallen companion.
Then he lunged. Faster than Ethan expected.
A guttural cry ripped from his throat.
The rifleman didn't flinch. He pumped the shotgun.
"Two."
Another blast.
The second figure stumbled. A hole appeared in its chest.
It kept moving. A few more steps.
Then it collapsed, twitching.
Silence.
The ringing in Ethan’s ears was slowly fading.
He pushed himself up, cautiously.
The rifleman stood, scanning the ruined hall.
His breathing was steady. Unlabored.
He hadn't even broken a sweat.
He turned. Looked at Ethan.
His eyes were still cold. Empty.
"You okay, civilian?"
His voice was flat. No concern. Just a statement.
Ethan could only nod. His throat was tight.
"Good. Don't move."
The rifleman walked past the shattered desk. Towards the fallen figures.
He kicked the woman’s body. Just a nudge.
No reaction.
He did the same to the man.
Still nothing.
He holstered the shotgun. Pulled out a large, gleaming knife.
Ethan watched, mesmerized.
The rifleman knelt. He began to search the bodies.
Ethan blinked. What was he doing?
"What… what are those things?"
The rifleman didn't look up.
"Infected."
He sliced open the man’s tattered pocket. Emptied its contents onto the floor.
A few broken bits of glass. A rusted key. Nothing else.
"Infected with what?" Ethan pressed.
"Rage."
The rifleman stood up. Wiped the knife on the dead man’s pants. Put it away.
He looked at Ethan again.
"You got any supplies?"
Ethan patted his pockets. Nothing. Just dust.
"No. I just… woke up here."
The rifleman grunted. Disbelief etched on his face.
"Woke up. Right."
His eyes flickered to the holographic screen still shimmering near the gaping doorway.
`[PROTOCOL DIRECTIVE: ELIMINATE HOSTILE ELEMENTS]`
The rifleman stared at it. A flicker of something in his cold gaze.
Resignation.
"That thing's still active?" he muttered to himself.
He shook his head. Turned back to Ethan.
"You're a liability."
Ethan recoiled. "I can help."
"You can barely stand."
He was right. Ethan’s legs still felt like jelly. His head throbbed.
"What about that?" Ethan pointed to the screen. "Survival Protocol? Remaining human population?"
The rifleman scoffed. A dry, humorless sound.
"Propaganda."
"Propaganda?"
"Or a sick joke. Doesn't matter. It's just a program running on a loop."
"But the numbers…"
"Meaningless."
He walked towards the shattered front entrance. Towards the ruined city outside.
"What are you doing?" Ethan asked.
"Moving."
"Wait! You can't just leave me here." Panic laced Ethan’s voice.
The rifleman stopped. Turned his head slightly.
"Can't I?"
He didn't wait for an answer. He scanned the street.
The scale of the destruction was still breathtaking.
Cracked asphalt. Twisted vehicles. A few skeletal remains of trees.
No movement. Nothing.
Ethan scrambled out from behind the desk.
"Where are we going?"
"Away from here. This building's burned out. The noise attracts them."
"Them? More infected?"
"Always more."
The rifleman stepped out into the dust-choked street.
Ethan hesitated. The unknown of the street versus the known horror of the building.
He looked at the two grotesque bodies. The child’s arm.
He pushed the image from his mind.
He followed.
The air outside was thick with dust and the acrid smell of decay.
The silence was heavier here. Oppressive.
Every distant creak, every shifting piece of rubble, sounded like a threat.
The rifleman moved with purpose. His senses honed.
He walked with a practiced gait. Low to the ground. Unhurried.
His eyes swept from left to right. Constant vigilance.
Ethan struggled to keep up. His body ached. His head swam.
"Who are you?" Ethan asked, his voice hoarse.
The rifleman didn't answer. He just kept moving.
They moved past the husk of a delivery van. Its tires melted.
Past a bus, overturned, its windows shattered.
The city was a graveyard. A monument to sudden, brutal death.
"How long has it been like this?" Ethan tried again.
Still no answer.
The rifleman stopped suddenly. Held up a hand.
Ethan froze.
The rifleman crouched. Listened.
Ethan held his breath.
A high-pitched whine. Faint. Far off.
Like a dying machine.
"What is it?" Ethan whispered.
The rifleman shook his head. Signaled for silence.
The whine grew louder. Closer.
It wasn't a machine.
It was a voice. A child’s voice.
Crying.
Ethan’s heart seized.
The rifleman’s face, usually devoid of emotion, tightened.
He looked towards the sound.
It was coming from a partially collapsed building across the street.
A retail store, by the looks of it.
"Stay here," the rifleman hissed.
Ethan shook his head. "No. We have to help."
The rifleman glared at him. A flash of pure, cold fury.
"You don't know what you're talking about."
"It's a child!"
"And probably a trap."
The crying intensified. It sounded desperate. Terrified.
Ethan couldn't stand it. He took a step towards the building.
"Don't you dare." The rifleman’s voice was low. Dangerous.
Ethan ignored him. He pushed forward.
"I said, DON'T."
The rifleman moved. Fast.
He grabbed Ethan’s arm. His grip was like iron.
Ethan struggled.
"Let go! We have to help her!"
"You'll get us both killed, idiot!"
The child’s cry. It was closer now.
Then it changed.
It became a gurgle. A desperate gasp.
Then a scream. Not a child's scream.
Something else. Something monstrous.
The rifleman shoved Ethan behind the burnt-out delivery van. Hard.
Ethan hit the metal with a clang.
"Stay down!"
The rifleman brought up his shotgun. Aimed it at the retail store.
A large, hulking figure burst through the shattered storefront.
It wasn't human. Not anymore.
Its skin was distended. Swollen. It had too many limbs.
And in its grasp… a small, limp body. A child.
The child's head lolled. Its eyes were open. Vacant.
The monster sniffed the air. Its head swiveled.
It locked onto them.
The rifleman opened fire.
A single blast. Direct hit.
The creature roared. A sound that vibrated through Ethan’s bones.
It dropped the child. Began to sprint towards them.
It moved with unnatural speed.
The rifleman pumped the shotgun again.
"Get ready to move!" he yelled at Ethan.
Ethan stared at the approaching horror. His blood ran cold.
The creature was almost on them.
The rifleman fired.
Another blast. Another direct hit.
The monster barely flinched.
It was too big. Too fast.
It slammed into the delivery van. Metal shrieked.
The van rocked. Ethan was thrown against the side.
Dust exploded around them.
The monster’s head appeared over the top of the van. Its eyes, black and hungry.
Drool dripped from its fangs.
The rifleman was already moving. Scrambling away from the van.
"RUN!" he screamed.
Ethan didn't need to be told twice. He scrambled out from behind the van.
He saw the rifleman running down the street. Into the ruins.
The monster was still clawing at the van. Trying to get to them.
Ethan ran. His legs burned. His lungs screamed.
He didn't look back.
He ran towards the rifleman. Towards the unknown.
He heard another roar. Closer now.
The monster was free. And it was coming for him.
He risked a glance over his shoulder.
The creature was closing the distance. Faster than he could believe.
Its many limbs propelled it forward.
It was an abomination.
Ethan pushed harder. His muscles screamed.
He was going to die.
He saw the rifleman slide into a narrow alleyway. Between two leaning buildings.
Ethan veered. Followed.
The alley was dark. Filled with debris.
He heard the monster's heavy thuds behind him. Gaining.
He dove behind a pile of twisted metal.
He heard the rifleman curse.
"You lead it straight to us, you idiot!"
The monster’s shadow loomed at the mouth of the alley.
Ethan squeezed his eyes shut.
He heard the shotgun blast.
Then another.
The monster roared.
The alley shook.
Ethan opened his eyes.
The monster was trying to force its way into the alley.
It was too wide. Its body was getting stuck.
The rifleman was pumping shots into its head. Relentless.
But it wasn't enough.
The creature was still pushing. Breaking through the brick.
Ethan saw a glint in the debris near him.
A piece of rebar. Long. Sharp.
He grabbed it. It was heavy.
He stood up.
The rifleman glanced at him. His eyes widened.
"What are you doing?"
Ethan didn’t answer. He gripped the rebar tight.
He lunged.
Towards the monster.
He aimed for its eye.
The creature roared, distracted by the rifleman’s onslaught.
Ethan plunged the rebar into its fleshy side.
It screamed. A high-pitched, agonizing sound.
He pulled back. The rebar was slick with black ichor.
The creature thrashed. Its many limbs flailed.
One of them caught Ethan.
A glancing blow. But powerful.
He was thrown against the wall. His head slammed back.
Stars exploded in his vision.
He felt a searing pain in his arm.
He crumpled to the ground. His vision blurred.
He heard the shotgun roar again.
Then another.
He tried to push himself up. His arm wouldn't move.
He heard a sickening, tearing sound.
The monster’s screams intensified.
Then it went quiet.
A heavy thud.
Silence.
Ethan lay there, gasping.
His head pounded. His arm burned.
He pushed himself up with his good arm.
The monster lay in the alley. Motionless.
Its monstrous form was mangled. Torn apart.
The rifleman stood over it. Shotgun smoking.
He looked at Ethan. His eyes were no longer cold.
They were… something else.
Anger. Disbelief.
"What the hell was that, civilian?"
Ethan could only cough. His throat was raw.
"I... I helped."
The rifleman stared at him. Then looked at the impaled monster.
Then back at Ethan.
He didn't say anything.
He just walked over. Knelt beside Ethan.
His movements were precise.
He ripped a piece of cloth from Ethan's shirt.
Wrapped it around Ethan's arm.
Tight.
"You're an idiot," he muttered.
Ethan gritted his teeth. The pain was immense.
"Who are you?" Ethan asked again.
The rifleman finished tying the makeshift bandage.
Stood up. Looked down at him.
"Name's Kael."
He didn't offer a hand.
He just stared at Ethan. A long, appraising look.
"And you're coming with me."
He turned. Walked out of the alley.
Ethan struggled to his feet. His head still spinning.
He looked at the dead monster.
Then at his arm.
Blood seeped through the cloth.
He followed Kael. Limping.
The blue screen flickered in his peripheral vision. Still active. Still taunting.
`[ALERT: PARTNER DESIGNATION - KAEL]`
Ethan ignored it.
He looked at Kael’s retreating back.
Kael. The rifleman. The man who just saved his life. And almost killed him.
Ethan knew nothing about him.
And Kael knew nothing about him.
But now they were together. In this ruined world.
He felt a strange mix of fear and something else.
Hope.
Kael walked into the ruined street.
He paused. Looked up at the bruised sky.
"We have to move fast," he said. "Before more of those things show up."
Ethan looked around the desolate street.
The scale of it. The emptiness.
He felt a sudden, crushing weight.
They were alone. Two specks in a dead city.
Kael started walking again.
Ethan followed. Each step a struggle.
His arm throbbed.
He heard a distant rumble.
Not a monster.
Something heavy. Something mechanical.
Kael stopped. His head snapped up.
His hand went to his shotgun.
The rumble grew louder.
It was coming from the west.
A low, guttural roar. Not biological.
Mechanical.
A tank? A truck?
No. Too deep. Too powerful.
The ground began to vibrate.
Kael stared. His eyes wide.
"What is that?" Ethan whispered.
Kael didn't answer.
He sprinted towards a crumbling building. Beckoned Ethan to follow.
They scrambled inside. Behind some fallen debris.
The rumble intensified.
A colossal shadow fell over the street.
Ethan peered through a gap in the rubble.
His breath caught in his throat.
It wasn't a tank.
It was a machine. Massive. Multi-legged. Like a monstrous metal spider.
It moved with a terrifying grace.
Its surface bristled with weapons.
And on its side, a symbol. A stark, black silhouette.
It stopped in the middle of the street.
Its mechanical head swiveled. Scanning.
A red light pulsed from its central optic.
It was searching.
Kael pulled Ethan back. His hand clamped over Ethan’s mouth.
"Don't move," he whispered. "Don't breathe."
The machine hummed. A low, menacing sound.
Its red light swept over their hiding place.
Ethan’s heart hammered.
The machine… it began to extend something from its underbelly.
A long, metallic arm.
It reached towards the ground.
Ethan watched, terrified.
The arm ended in a claw.
It began to pick up the bodies. The infected. The monstrosities.
It scanned them. Dispassionately.
And then, it… vaporized them.
A flash of intense light. A faint hiss.
Nothing left.
The machine was cleaning.
It moved towards the alleyway. Towards the remains of the multi-limbed creature.
Ethan felt Kael tense beside him.
The humming intensified.
The machine’s red light paused.
It was looking directly at their hiding spot.
The metallic arm retracted.
A low, guttural sound echoed from the machine.
It wasn't searching anymore.
It had found them.
The ground vibrated.
The machine began to turn.
Its weapons bristled. Aimed.
Kael moved. Fast.
He grabbed Ethan. Pulled him deeper into the building.
"MOVE! NOW!"
Ethan stumbled after him.
The first shot ripped through the building.
A wall of concrete exploded behind them.
Dust, debris, fear.
They ran deeper into the ruined structure.
The machine’s attack was relentless.
Each blast shook the foundations.
The building groaned.
They were trapped.
Kael found a narrow stairwell. Mostly intact.
"Down!" he yelled.
Ethan didn't hesitate. He plunged into the darkness.
He heard the machine’s heavy thuds.
It was coming for them.
The building shrieked.
A massive impact.
The stairwell groaned.
Kael pushed Ethan down another flight of stairs.
They were in a basement. Dark. Damp.
The air was thick with the smell of mold and something metallic.
The ground above them vibrated.
The machine was directly overhead.
Kael pulled out a small, metallic device. Pressed a button.
A faint, blue pulse emanated from it.
"EMP," he whispered. "Maybe it'll buy us time."
He threw it towards the ceiling.
A flash. A high-pitched whine.
The ground vibrated less. The heavy thuds stopped.
Silence.
They waited. Breathless.
Ethan looked at Kael. Kael’s face was grim.
"It won't last," Kael said. "It's just a temporary jolt."
They heard a faint buzzing begin again.
The machine was recovering.
"We need to find another way out," Kael said.
He began searching the dark basement.
Ethan looked around. Nothing but rubble.
Then he saw it.
In the corner. Behind a collapsed shelf.
A faint, blue light.
`[ALERT: NEW OBJECTIVE AVAILABLE]`
Ethan pointed. "Look."
Kael looked. His eyes narrowed.
"What is that?"
It was another holographic screen. Smaller than the first.
It shimmered. Pulsated.
It wasn't displaying numbers. Or protocols.
It was a map.
A crude, flickering map.
A single dot pulsed on it. Their location.
And then another dot appeared. Pulsating red.
Rapidly approaching.
From above them.
The machine.
Kael grabbed Ethan. Pulled him towards a hidden door.
"No time!"
He kicked the door. It splintered.
They plunged into darkness.
Ethan heard the buzzing grow louder.
The ground began to shake again.
The machine was breaking through the basement floor.
Kael slammed the door behind them.
They were in a narrow tunnel.
Cramped. Claustrophobic.
Ethan felt a sudden, jarring jolt.
A massive rumble.
The tunnel shuddered.
Dust rained down.
Kael looked back at the door.
He had sealed them in.
And possibly trapped them.
He looked at Ethan. His eyes were wide.
"It's coming."
The tunnel began to collapse.
Small rocks. Then bigger chunks of debris.
The air filled with dust.
Kael pushed Ethan forward.
"Go! Faster!"
Ethan stumbled. His arm screamed in protest.
He could hear the groaning of the structure behind them.
The machine was right on their heels.
He felt a hand on his back, propelling him forward.
Kael.
They were running blind. Into the dark.
The tunnel was collapsing around them.
The ground gave way.
Ethan fell.
He screamed.
He felt a hand grab his good arm.
Kael.
He was dangling. Over an abyss.
Darkness below him.
The tunnel above was tearing itself apart.
Kael’s grip was slipping.
"HOLD ON!" Kael yelled. His voice strained.
Ethan looked up.
Kael’s face was grim. His eyes, desperate.
The tunnel continued to crumble.
Kael gritted his teeth.
He was losing his grip.
Ethan looked down.
He saw nothing.
Just black.
Kael cursed.
His hand slipped.
Ethan felt himself falling.
The shotgun barked. A sound like God clearing his throat.
Ethan felt the impact. Not a bullet, not metal. A blast of displaced air.
He stumbled. His ears rang.
The shot hit the wall behind him. Concrete exploded. Dust billowed.
He wasn't dead.
He wasn't hit.
The man had shot past him.
"Stay down!"
The voice was rough. Urgency carved into every syllable.
Ethan didn't think. He dove.
Rolled behind a shattered reception desk. Splinters dug into his skin.
He risked a peek.
The man was reloading. Fast. Efficient.
The click-clack of the pump action was loud in the sudden silence.
Then the scraping started again. Closer now.
From the hallway Ethan had just fled.
The cannibal figures. They were here.
The man, the rifleman, scanned the entrance. His eyes narrowed.
"Get ready."
He didn't look at Ethan. His gaze was fixed on the hallway.
Ethan clutched the rebar. Useless.
He was trapped. Between a man with a gun and… them.
He heard a wet snarl.
A grey hand, tipped with broken nails, appeared around the corner of the corridor.
Then a face. Sunken eyes. Jaw agape.
It was the woman. The one gnawing on the child's arm.
Ethan’s stomach lurched. He fought down the bile.
She shuffled forward. Slowly. Relentlessly.
Behind her, the man. Just as gaunt. Just as hungry.
The rifleman raised his weapon.
"One."
He squeezed the trigger.
The shotgun roared again.
The woman’s head snapped back. A terrible sound. Like a melon being dropped.
She fell. A crumpled heap.
The man behind her paused. Stared at his fallen companion.
Then he lunged. Faster than Ethan expected.
A guttural cry ripped from his throat.
The rifleman didn't flinch. He pumped the shotgun.
"Two."
Another blast.
The second figure stumbled. A hole appeared in its chest.
It kept moving. A few more steps.
Then it collapsed, twitching.
Silence.
The ringing in Ethan’s ears was slowly fading.
He pushed himself up, cautiously.
The rifleman stood, scanning the ruined hall.
His breathing was steady. Unlabored.
He hadn't even broken a sweat.
He turned. Looked at Ethan.
His eyes were still cold. Empty.
"You okay, civilian?"
His voice was flat. No concern. Just a statement.
Ethan could only nod. His throat was tight.
"Good. Don't move."
The rifleman walked past the shattered desk. Towards the fallen figures.
He kicked the woman’s body. Just a nudge.
No reaction.
He did the same to the man.
Still nothing.
He holstered the shotgun. Pulled out a large, gleaming knife.
Ethan watched, mesmerized.
The rifleman knelt. He began to search the bodies.
Ethan blinked. What was he doing?
"What… what are those things?"
The rifleman didn't look up.
"Infected."
He sliced open the man’s tattered pocket. Emptied its contents onto the floor.
A few broken bits of glass. A rusted key. Nothing else.
"Infected with what?" Ethan pressed.
"Rage."
The rifleman stood up. Wiped the knife on the dead man’s pants. Put it away.
He looked at Ethan again.
"You got any supplies?"
Ethan patted his pockets. Nothing. Just dust.
"No. I just… woke up here."
The rifleman grunted. Disbelief etched on his face.
"Woke up. Right."
His eyes flickered to the holographic screen still shimmering near the gaping doorway.
`[PROTOCOL DIRECTIVE: ELIMINATE HOSTILE ELEMENTS]`
The rifleman stared at it. A flicker of something in his cold gaze.
Resignation.
"That thing's still active?" he muttered to himself.
He shook his head. Turned back to Ethan.
"You're a liability."
Ethan recoiled. "I can help."
"You can barely stand."
He was right. Ethan’s legs still felt like jelly. His head throbbed.
"What about that?" Ethan pointed to the screen. "Survival Protocol? Remaining human population?"
The rifleman scoffed. A dry, humorless sound.
"Propaganda."
"Propaganda?"
"Or a sick joke. Doesn't matter. It's just a program running on a loop."
"But the numbers…"
"Meaningless."
He walked towards the shattered front entrance. Towards the ruined city outside.
"What are you doing?" Ethan asked.
"Moving."
"Wait! You can't just leave me here." Panic laced Ethan’s voice.
The rifleman stopped. Turned his head slightly.
"Can't I?"
He didn't wait for an answer. He scanned the street.
The scale of the destruction was still breathtaking.
Cracked asphalt. Twisted vehicles. A few skeletal remains of trees.
No movement. Nothing.
Ethan scrambled out from behind the desk.
"Where are we going?"
"Away from here. This building's burned out. The noise attracts them."
"Them? More infected?"
"Always more."
The rifleman stepped out into the dust-choked street.
Ethan hesitated. The unknown of the street versus the known horror of the building.
He looked at the two grotesque bodies. The child’s arm.
He pushed the image from his mind.
He followed.
The air outside was thick with dust and the acrid smell of decay.
The silence was heavier here. Oppressive.
Every distant creak, every shifting piece of rubble, sounded like a threat.
The rifleman moved with purpose. His senses honed.
He walked with a practiced gait. Low to the ground. Unhurried.
His eyes swept from left to right. Constant vigilance.
Ethan struggled to keep up. His body ached. His head swam.
"Who are you?" Ethan asked, his voice hoarse.
The rifleman didn't answer. He just kept moving.
They moved past the husk of a delivery van. Its tires melted.
Past a bus, overturned, its windows shattered.
The city was a graveyard. A monument to sudden, brutal death.
"How long has it been like this?" Ethan tried again.
Still no answer.
The rifleman stopped suddenly. Held up a hand.
Ethan froze.
The rifleman crouched. Listened.
Ethan held his breath.
A high-pitched whine. Faint. Far off.
Like a dying machine.
"What is it?" Ethan whispered.
The rifleman shook his head. Signaled for silence.
The whine grew louder. Closer.
It wasn't a machine.
It was a voice. A child’s voice.
Crying.
Ethan’s heart seized.
The rifleman’s face, usually devoid of emotion, tightened.
He looked towards the sound.
It was coming from a partially collapsed building across the street.
A retail store, by the looks of it.
"Stay here," the rifleman hissed.
Ethan shook his head. "No. We have to help."
The rifleman glared at him. A flash of pure, cold fury.
"You don't know what you're talking about."
"It's a child!"
"And probably a trap."
The crying intensified. It sounded desperate. Terrified.
Ethan couldn't stand it. He took a step towards the building.
"Don't you dare." The rifleman’s voice was low. Dangerous.
Ethan ignored him. He pushed forward.
"I said, DON'T."
The rifleman moved. Fast.
He grabbed Ethan’s arm. His grip was like iron.
Ethan struggled.
"Let go! We have to help her!"
"You'll get us both killed, idiot!"
The child’s cry. It was closer now.
Then it changed.
It became a gurgle. A desperate gasp.
Then a scream. Not a child's scream.
Something else. Something monstrous.
The rifleman shoved Ethan behind the burnt-out delivery van. Hard.
Ethan hit the metal with a clang.
"Stay down!"
The rifleman brought up his shotgun. Aimed it at the retail store.
A large, hulking figure burst through the shattered storefront.
It wasn't human. Not anymore.
Its skin was distended. Swollen. It had too many limbs.
And in its grasp… a small, limp body. A child.
The child's head lolled. Its eyes were open. Vacant.
The monster sniffed the air. Its head swiveled.
It locked onto them.
The rifleman opened fire.
A single blast. Direct hit.
The creature roared. A sound that vibrated through Ethan’s bones.
It dropped the child. Began to sprint towards them.
It moved with unnatural speed.
The rifleman pumped the shotgun again.
"Get ready to move!" he yelled at Ethan.
Ethan stared at the approaching horror. His blood ran cold.
The creature was almost on them.
The rifleman fired.
Another blast. Another direct hit.
The monster barely flinched.
It was too big. Too fast.
It slammed into the delivery van. Metal shrieked.
The van rocked. Ethan was thrown against the side.
Dust exploded around them.
The monster’s head appeared over the top of the van. Its eyes, black and hungry.
Drool dripped from its fangs.
The rifleman was already moving. Scrambling away from the van.
"RUN!" he screamed.
Ethan didn't need to be told twice. He scrambled out from behind the van.
He saw the rifleman running down the street. Into the ruins.
The monster was still clawing at the van. Trying to get to them.
Ethan ran. His legs burned. His lungs screamed.
He didn't look back.
He ran towards the rifleman. Towards the unknown.
He heard another roar. Closer now.
The monster was free. And it was coming for him.
He risked a glance over his shoulder.
The creature was closing the distance. Faster than he could believe.
Its many limbs propelled it forward.
It was an abomination.
Ethan pushed harder. His muscles screamed.
He was going to die.
He saw the rifleman slide into a narrow alleyway. Between two leaning buildings.
Ethan veered. Followed.
The alley was dark. Filled with debris.
He heard the monster's heavy thuds behind him. Gaining.
He dove behind a pile of twisted metal.
He heard the rifleman curse.
"You lead it straight to us, you idiot!"
The monster’s shadow loomed at the mouth of the alley.
Ethan squeezed his eyes shut.
He heard the shotgun blast.
Then another.
The monster roared.
The alley shook.
Ethan opened his eyes.
The monster was trying to force its way into the alley.
It was too wide. Its body was getting stuck.
The rifleman was pumping shots into its head. Relentless.
But it wasn't enough.
The creature was still pushing. Breaking through the brick.
Ethan saw a glint in the debris near him.
A piece of rebar. Long. Sharp.
He grabbed it. It was heavy.
He stood up.
The rifleman glanced at him. His eyes widened.
"What are you doing?"
Ethan didn’t answer. He gripped the rebar tight.
He lunged.
Towards the monster.
He aimed for its eye.
The creature roared, distracted by the rifleman’s onslaught.
Ethan plunged the rebar into its fleshy side.
It screamed. A high-pitched, agonizing sound.
He pulled back. The rebar was slick with black ichor.
The creature thrashed. Its many limbs flailed.
One of them caught Ethan.
A glancing blow. But powerful.
He was thrown against the wall. His head slammed back.
Stars exploded in his vision.
He felt a searing pain in his arm.
He crumpled to the ground. His vision blurred.
He heard the shotgun roar again.
Then another.
He tried to push himself up. His arm wouldn't move.
He heard a sickening, tearing sound.
The monster’s screams intensified.
Then it went quiet.
A heavy thud.
Silence.
Ethan lay there, gasping.
His head pounded. His arm burned.
He pushed himself up with his good arm.
The monster lay in the alley. Motionless.
Its monstrous form was mangled. Torn apart.
The rifleman stood over it. Shotgun smoking.
He looked at Ethan. His eyes were no longer cold.
They were… something else.
Anger. Disbelief.
"What the hell was that, civilian?"
Ethan could only cough. His throat was raw.
"I... I helped."
The rifleman stared at him. Then looked at the impaled monster.
Then back at Ethan.
He didn't say anything.
He just walked over. Knelt beside Ethan.
His movements were precise.
He ripped a piece of cloth from Ethan's shirt.
Wrapped it around Ethan's arm.
Tight.
"You're an idiot," he muttered.
Ethan gritted his teeth. The pain was immense.
"Who are you?" Ethan asked again.
The rifleman finished tying the makeshift bandage.
Stood up. Looked down at him.
"Name's Kael."
He didn't offer a hand.
He just stared at Ethan. A long, appraising look.
"And you're coming with me."
He turned. Walked out of the alley.
Ethan struggled to his feet. His head still spinning.
He looked at the dead monster.
Then at his arm.
Blood seeped through the cloth.
He followed Kael. Limping.
The blue screen flickered in his peripheral vision. Still active. Still taunting.
`[ALERT: PARTNER DESIGNATION - KAEL]`
Ethan ignored it.
He looked at Kael’s retreating back.
Kael. The rifleman. The man who just saved his life. And almost killed him.
Ethan knew nothing about him.
And Kael knew nothing about him.
But now they were together. In this ruined world.
He felt a strange mix of fear and something else.
Hope.
Kael walked into the ruined street.
He paused. Looked up at the bruised sky.
"We have to move fast," he said. "Before more of those things show up."
Ethan looked around the desolate street.
The scale of it. The emptiness.
He felt a sudden, crushing weight.
They were alone. Two specks in a dead city.
Kael started walking again.
Ethan followed. Each step a struggle.
His arm throbbed.
He heard a distant rumble.
Not a monster.
Something heavy. Something mechanical.
Kael stopped. His head snapped up.
His hand went to his shotgun.
The rumble grew louder.
It was coming from the west.
A low, guttural roar. Not biological.
Mechanical.
A tank? A truck?
No. Too deep. Too powerful.
The ground began to vibrate.
Kael stared. His eyes wide.
"What is that?" Ethan whispered.
Kael didn't answer.
He sprinted towards a crumbling building. Beckoned Ethan to follow.
They scrambled inside. Behind some fallen debris.
The rumble intensified.
A colossal shadow fell over the street.
Ethan peered through a gap in the rubble.
His breath caught in his throat.
It wasn't a tank.
It was a machine. Massive. Multi-legged. Like a monstrous metal spider.
It moved with a terrifying grace.
Its surface bristled with weapons.
And on its side, a symbol. A stark, black silhouette.
It stopped in the middle of the street.
Its mechanical head swiveled. Scanning.
A red light pulsed from its central optic.
It was searching.
Kael pulled Ethan back. His hand clamped over Ethan’s mouth.
"Don't move," he whispered. "Don't breathe."
The machine hummed. A low, menacing sound.
Its red light swept over their hiding place.
Ethan’s heart hammered.
The machine… it began to extend something from its underbelly.
A long, metallic arm.
It reached towards the ground.
Ethan watched, terrified.
The arm ended in a claw.
It began to pick up the bodies. The infected. The monstrosities.
It scanned them. Dispassionately.
And then, it… vaporized them.
A flash of intense light. A faint hiss.
Nothing left.
The machine was cleaning.
It moved towards the alleyway. Towards the remains of the multi-limbed creature.
Ethan felt Kael tense beside him.
The humming intensified.
The machine’s red light paused.
It was looking directly at their hiding spot.
The metallic arm retracted.
A low, guttural sound echoed from the machine.
It wasn't searching anymore.
It had found them.
The ground vibrated.
The machine began to turn.
Its weapons bristled. Aimed.
Kael moved. Fast.
He grabbed Ethan. Pulled him deeper into the building.
"MOVE! NOW!"
Ethan stumbled after him.
The first shot ripped through the building.
A wall of concrete exploded behind them.
Dust, debris, fear.
They ran deeper into the ruined structure.
The machine’s attack was relentless.
Each blast shook the foundations.
The building groaned.
They were trapped.
Kael found a narrow stairwell. Mostly intact.
"Down!" he yelled.
Ethan didn't hesitate. He plunged into the darkness.
He heard the machine’s heavy thuds.
It was coming for them.
The building shrieked.
A massive impact.
The stairwell groaned.
Kael pushed Ethan down another flight of stairs.
They were in a basement. Dark. Damp.
The air was thick with the smell of mold and something metallic.
The ground above them vibrated.
The machine was directly overhead.
Kael pulled out a small, metallic device. Pressed a button.
A faint, blue pulse emanated from it.
"EMP," he whispered. "Maybe it'll buy us time."
He threw it towards the ceiling.
A flash. A high-pitched whine.
The ground vibrated less. The heavy thuds stopped.
Silence.
They waited. Breathless.
Ethan looked at Kael. Kael’s face was grim.
"It won't last," Kael said. "It's just a temporary jolt."
They heard a faint buzzing begin again.
The machine was recovering.
"We need to find another way out," Kael said.
He began searching the dark basement.
Ethan looked around. Nothing but rubble.
Then he saw it.
In the corner. Behind a collapsed shelf.
A faint, blue light.
`[ALERT: NEW OBJECTIVE AVAILABLE]`
Ethan pointed. "Look."
Kael looked. His eyes narrowed.
"What is that?"
It was another holographic screen. Smaller than the first.
It shimmered. Pulsated.
It wasn't displaying numbers. Or protocols.
It was a map.
A crude, flickering map.
A single dot pulsed on it. Their location.
And then another dot appeared. Pulsating red.
Rapidly approaching.
From above them.
The machine.
Kael grabbed Ethan. Pulled him towards a hidden door.
"No time!"
He kicked the door. It splintered.
They plunged into darkness.
Ethan heard the buzzing grow louder.
The ground began to shake again.
The machine was breaking through the basement floor.
Kael slammed the door behind them.
They were in a narrow tunnel.
Cramped. Claustrophobic.
Ethan felt a sudden, jarring jolt.
A massive rumble.
The tunnel shuddered.
Dust rained down.
Kael looked back at the door.
He had sealed them in.
And possibly trapped them.
He looked at Ethan. His eyes were wide.
"It's coming."
The tunnel began to collapse.
Small rocks. Then bigger chunks of debris.
The air filled with dust.
Kael pushed Ethan forward.
"Go! Faster!"
Ethan stumbled. His arm screamed in protest.
He could hear the groaning of the structure behind them.
The machine was right on their heels.
He felt a hand on his back, propelling him forward.
Kael.
They were running blind. Into the dark.
The tunnel was collapsing around them.
The ground gave way.
Ethan fell.
He screamed.
He felt a hand grab his good arm.
Kael.
He was dangling. Over an abyss.
Darkness below him.
The tunnel above was tearing itself apart.
Kael’s grip was slipping.
"HOLD ON!" Kael yelled. His voice strained.
Ethan looked up.
Kael’s face was grim. His eyes, desperate.
The tunnel continued to crumble.
Kael gritted his teeth.
He was losing his grip.
Ethan looked down.
He saw nothing.
Just black.
Kael cursed.
His hand slipped.
Ethan felt himself falling.