freezing air, repeating the sam
r... h
ath caught i
, every instinct screaming at her to rush t
familiar cadence that had comfor
the cold tile. 'That's impossible. My mother isn't in
ch blackness, grabbing the sleeves of Derek and the trembling nurse, p
d, his breath hot agains
breathed softly. "
head flickered back to life. The harsh, dim red glow flel g
oorway of the treatment room wa
ll, bruised grey, and his eyes were completely swallowed by huge,
, his vocal cords vibrating i
sound came directly from his grey, decaying lips, com
hudder of pure horror. 'It knows what we sound l
lack eyes snappe
ing speed, its long, pale fi
t!" Dere
heavy metal stand she was holding
ctly into the side of the creatu
deways, crashing into a row
e could recover, Derek rushed forward with a heavy fire exting
e floor, its unnatural joints snap
and again until the creature finally went completely stilr chest heaving as she sucked
embled from
of dark liquid from her cheek. 'They're adapting. The
y before she forced it into a firm, steady tone. "If there are more
he terrified nurse back toward
ok charge. She called out to two surviving guards and a f
ed, her voice echoing clearly
eed to fall back into the pediatric ward. The doors are hea
staff listened. Under Rachel's direction, they
supply carts across the hallway and helping drag
h a warm, supportive smile. "You're doing great,
the middle of this nightmare, having someone she tru
hought, giving him a small, grate
inforced ward, Derek gently pulled Rachel by her elbow,
er. "Rachel, listen to me. I didn't want to say anything in fron
"What are you
vice exit near
or used for drug deliveries. It runs on a separate manual hydraulic lock, not the main digital
ut? Derek, if that door works, we can bring
"If the monsters hear us, we'll all get trapped in the narrow utility hallway. You and I need to che
se. Moving a massive, noisy crowd through an unc
nodding firmly. "Let'
rd, navigating the darkened service hall
cleaners. The distant pounding of rain against the outer walls sou
h heavy storage rooms. At the far end stood t
teel door. "The service exit connects through the back of this storage room
shed the heavy metal door open and st
shattered
ond step, the door was slammed s
er heart jumping into
h clicked heavily intoed on it with all her strength. It didn'h sudden panic. She raised her hands and slammed them against the
ss, she saw Derek sta
sn't
department. Mira held a large ring of master keys in one hand and a h
e disbelief, her mind struggling
hat is g
ged, her palms smearing against th
her shoulder and checked her watch nervously. "We need to go, Derek. Th
face showed no anger, only a cold, calculate
oor. "I've been working with Mira since the outbreak started. She has a
el cried out, her voice crac
ant to hand out medicine and waste time organizing crowds. Mira's group only has enough sup
of utter betrayal burning in her eyes
m the door, gripping h
. Survival isn't a
her, they vanished into the darkness down the pharmacy hall, the
ing her fists against the solid steel
answer
room was pitch black, cramped, and smell
and fast as anger and terror warred inside her chest.
choed from the corridor
proaching down the service ha
e the door, followed by the heavy, metallic smell of f
ng up until her spine hit the
topped right ou
air for a terrible
le sound vibrated thng wildly at the steel surface on the o
/1/125186/coverbig.jpg?v=516491821b1049c87ab9e6f8aa647965&imageMogr2/format/webp)