The Storm Breaks

The night had fallen, blanketing the world in a heavy, oppressive darkness. The wind howled through the desolate streets, and the distant moans of the undead echoed in the distance. Samuel’s eyes flickered from shadow to shadow, his hand resting on the hilt of his katana. It had become second nature to him, this constant readiness for combat. The world had changed, and survival was no longer about hope—it was about adaptation.

As the group gathered around their makeshift campfire, Samuel’s mind raced. Marcus’s betrayal had shaken them all to the core, but the reality of their situation was even more urgent. Victor’s influence was spreading, and they had no choice but to confront him before it was too late.

"How long until Marcus and his people find us?" Sarah asked, her voice tinged with worry.

"We have hours, maybe less," Samuel replied grimly. "We can’t stay here for long. We have to move before they close in on us."

The group had been on the run for days, ever since their encounter with Marcus and Victor’s twisted settlement. They had thought they could rest, regain their strength, but now they were more vulnerable than ever. They were running out of time, and Samuel knew it. The undead were only one danger they had to face; Marcus and Victor represented a far greater threat—humanity’s last hope was crumbling in the hands of those who had already given up on it.

"Do you think we can win?" Rebecca’s younger brother, Caleb, asked quietly. His eyes were wide with fear, his hands trembling as he clutched a rusty knife.

Samuel looked at the boy and softened his expression. Caleb had lost his sister, and the weight of that loss had crushed his spirit. But Samuel wasn’t about to let that pain destroy him. "We have to win, Caleb," he said firmly. "If we don’t, everything we’ve fought for will have been for nothing."

The group fell silent, the reality of their situation sinking in. But in that silence, Samuel felt a surge of determination. They had come this far together. They had survived against impossible odds. They could keep going, no matter what. But it wouldn’t be easy. No fight against Victor would be.

"Listen up," Samuel continued, his voice resolute. "We have a plan, and it’s risky, but it’s our best shot. We’re going to infiltrate Victor’s compound, find where he’s hiding, and take him down. Once we deal with him, his influence over Marcus and the others will fall apart. We can’t let him control the virus any longer."

A murmur ran through the group, some faces etched with doubt, others with quiet determination. Sarah stepped forward, her expression unreadable. "How do we get inside? It’s going to be heavily guarded, isn’t it?"

Samuel nodded. "Yes. We’re going to need to move fast and quiet. We’ll split into two groups. One group will create a distraction, draw the guards away from the entrance. The other group, led by me, will infiltrate the main building."

"And what about Marcus?" Caleb asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Samuel’s eyes darkened at the mention of Marcus’s name. "We’ll deal with him when we have to. He’s dangerous now, but I can’t let him destroy everything we’ve fought for. He made his choice. I’ll make mine."

With that, the plan was set. The next few hours were a blur of preparation. Weapons were sharpened, supplies gathered, and every member of the group practiced their roles. There was no room for hesitation. They knew what was at stake.

The Infiltration

The moon hung high in the sky, casting a pale glow over the compound as the two groups approached from opposite sides. Samuel’s heart pounded in his chest, but he forced himself to remain calm. They had to be precise, or they would fail. One mistake, and the whole plan would unravel.

Samuel led his group forward, his movements fluid and silent. They were close to the main building now, and he could see the guards patrolling the perimeter. Each one of them was armed with firearms, their eyes sharp. Samuel motioned for his group to crouch low, staying out of sight.

"Wait for the signal," he whispered.

The other group, led by Sarah, had already positioned themselves to create the distraction. A few well-placed explosives would set off the chaos they needed. It wasn’t foolproof, but it was their best shot.

Samuel’s eyes flicked to his watch. The seconds ticked by, stretching into what felt like hours. Finally, the signal came—a burst of light and the sound of an explosion ringing out from the other side of the compound.

"Now!" Samuel ordered, sprinting toward the building with his team in tow.

They moved like shadows, slipping past the guards as the distraction drew their attention. The compound’s walls were high, but Samuel had learned long ago that walls were only as strong as the will to break them. They scaled the side of the building using ropes and climbed through a broken window. Inside, the halls were dark and quiet—too quiet.

"Victor has to be here somewhere," Samuel muttered under his breath.

They moved cautiously, checking each room and hallway as they advanced. The tension was palpable, every sound magnified in the silence. It was as though they were moving through a tomb, a place where life had been forgotten.

Then, they found it.

A large, reinforced door at the end of the hallway stood between them and whatever secrets Victor was hiding. Samuel turned to the group, his eyes steely with resolve. "This is it. Get ready."

He pushed open the door, and the sight that greeted them made his stomach churn.

Victor stood in the center of a large lab, surrounded by vials, machines, and monitors. His expression was calm, almost serene, as though he had been expecting them. But what truly made Samuel’s blood run cold was what Victor was standing next to—a containment chamber holding something horrifying.

Inside the chamber, a man—no, a creature—was shackled to the walls, its body grotesquely mutated, its veins glowing with a sickly green hue. The man’s face was twisted in pain, and his eyes locked onto Samuel’s with a pleading gaze.

"Welcome," Victor said, his voice smooth and unbothered. "I’ve been waiting for you."

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***