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 fl

el 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 stil

r 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 into

ed 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 th

ng wildly at the steel surface on the o