January 28, 3070
The CORP's snarl reverberates through the chaos, a guttural, menacing growl that slices through the relentless screams. Its lifeless eyes lock onto mine, hollow yet filled with a purpose. Blood streaks down its face, partially obscuring its features, while ragged strips of flesh dangle grotesquely from its jaw, swaying with each movement.
Disgusting.
That familiar feeling begins to crawl up my neck, threatening to overcome me, but I shove it down, forcing myself to focus on the terrified child clinging to my hand. I tighten my grip on Vinay, firm yet gentle, grounding myself.
"Stay behind me," I murmur, my voice steady as I position myself between Vinay and the CORP. His small frame trembles behind me, but I push the worry aside; there will be time to comfort him later, once we are out of here.
The CORP lunges, its blue, soulless eyes zeroing in on me. I meet its charge head-on, driving my foot into its stomach and following up with a punch that connects with a sickening crunch. The sound is oddly satisfying, momentarily quelling my sacred instincts.
But his reflexes are unnaturally sharp; faster than I anticipated. It catches my next punch mid-air, its grip like a vice around my wrist. Pain shoots up my arm as I twist, trying to free myself, but its hold is unyielding.
"Let go!" I spit through clenched teeth, my other hand tightening around Vinay's. I deliver a sharp knee to the CORP's midsection, but it barely flinches, its grip only tightening. Desperation flares as I consider letting go of Vinay to gain more flexibility, but before I can act, a sudden force slams into the CORP, wrenching it away from me and freeing my arm.
Karan.
He crashes into the CORP like a battering ram, his movements a blur of raw, calculated power. He doesn't waste a second, landing blow after blow with precision, targeting the CORP's head and joints with ruthless efficiency.
I stagger back, cradling my throbbing wrist, but there's no time to dwell on the pain. Karan's fighting the CORP with a skill born from experience, each dodge and strike perfectly timed as he basically dismantles the CORP. A final, bone-crunching uppercut sends it reeling, its head snapping back with a grotesque crack.
He doesn't need my help.
I turn away, trusting Karan to handle the CORP, and focus on Vinay. He's still cowering behind me, his wide eyes glued to the fight. I tug him toward the door, our only chance of escape, but before we can make it, something slams into me from behind, knocking me to the ground.
The impact drives the air from my lungs, and Vinay's terrified scream echoes in my ears before it abruptly cuts off. Panic surges as I shove the weight off me — another one of these creature, twitching and jerking as it claws at the ground. I scramble to my feet, my eyes immediately seeking Vinay.
My stomach lurches when I see him sprawled on the ground, blood streaming from a gash on his forehead. The sight makes my heart skip a beat, but I have no time to process the horror. The necrogen responsible screeches, its grotesque form lunging toward us.
I scoop Vinay into my arms, his limp body a cold weight against my chest. The necrogen is nearly on me, its decayed hands outstretched, when something sharp plunges into its eye. The creature reels back, screeching in agony, and I realize with a start that it's my hairpin, lodged deep in its skull.
Karan appears out of nowhere, delivering a brutal kick that sends the necrogen flying across the auditorium. It crashes into the seats with a final, sickening thud.
"Need a hand?" he calls out, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips, even in the midst of the chaos.
I roll my eyes, too focused on Vinay's safety to indulge in banter. I bolt for the door, Vinay cradled tightly in my arms, and Karan is right behind me. As I push the door close, Karan slams into it with his shoulder, helping me force it shut against the oncoming necrogens.
The door groans under the pressure, but we shove with everything we have, forcing it closed just as the necrogens crash into it from the other side. The metal vibrates with the relentless pounding, the weight of their bodies reverberating through our arms as we hold the door shut, our breaths ragged and hearts racing in unison.
As the door finally clicks shut, sealing out the relentless pounding of necrogens, I sag against it, still clutching Vinay close to my chest. The silence that follows is deafening, broken only by the sound of our ragged breaths. For a moment, it feels like we've managed to catch a break — if only a small one.
Karan glances over at me, the smirk on his face undiminished despite the chaos we've just escaped. "You know," he starts, his tone light and teasing, "if you wanted to hold my hand so badly, you could've just asked."
I shoot him a withering look, brushing past him as I adjust my hold on Vinay, who feels heavier with each passing second. The only reason I held his hand was to get him out of there safely since he saved Vinay. That's it.
"Not the time, Karan. We need to get out of here," I say, my voice sharp, though my heart is still racing from the adrenaline.
He chuckles, undeterred by my brush-off. "You're right, but just for the record, I'd save you from a horde of necrogens any day."
"Noted," I reply curtly, my focus already shifting to the task at hand. I push away from the door, my mind racing. He might not know the layout of this floor, but I do. I've studied it enough times to know where we are and where we need to go.
Karan falls in step beside me, his flirtation replaced by something more serious, something I don't have the time to analyze. "Lead the way, Kratos."
I ignore him, setting off at a brisk pace down the dimly lit corridor. The air is thick with tension, the echo of distant screams reminding us that we're still deep in danger. We round the first corner, the building's unfamiliarity pressing in on Karan, but I know exactly where to head.
"The elevator should be around the next corner," I say, my voice hushed. "It'll take us to Section 1."
But as we turn the corner, my words are eaten by the group of necrogens feasting over the mangled remains of two teachers. The grotesque creatures rip and tear at the flesh with an animalistic frenzy, the wet crunch of bones snapping and the squelch of torn flesh echoing through the corridor.
The stench of death hits me like a physical blow, the same feeling creeping up my neck as the scene before me triggers memories I've fought hard to control. For a split second, the world tilts, and I'm no longer in this hallway. I'm back in that place, surrounded by blood and screams, the air thick with the metallic scent of death. I can feel it — sticky on my skin, heavy in my lungs. I'm small again, powerless, watching as the people I love are torn apart, helpless to stop it.
I blink, forcing the memories down with a vicious shove, but the nausea lingers, curling in my stomach like a living thing. My grip on Vinay tightens, the weight of his small body grounding me in the present, reminding me of what's at stake. I can't afford to lose myself to the past, not now.
Not ever.
"You okay?" Karan's voice pulls me back to the present, but his question gets the attention of the necrogens too. Their dead, glassy eyes lock onto us, flesh hanging grotesquely from their mouths.
"You had to ask," I mutter, my voice tight with frustration.
Their dead eyes zero in on us with predatory intent. And before they could make up their minds, Karan and I turn on our heels and sprint, Vinay's limp body bouncing slightly in my arms. There's no point in fighting them — not with Vinay in this condition. Not with Karan at my side.
Vinay's limp body bounces slightly against me as we race down the corridor, our footsteps echoing off the walls in a staggering rhythm. We round another corner, desperation pushing us forward, only to come face to face with an even more terrifying sight: a line of CORPs advancing toward us. Their hulking forms move in perfect, synchronized steps, the heavy thud of their feet sending tremors through the floor.
But before either of us can react, they turn as one, their attention snapping to the necrogens hot on our heels. In unison, the three CORPs at the front raise their weapons — sleek, black firearms that look like an extension of their limbs.
Reapers.
These guns are engineered specifically to neutralize the necrogens. The Reaper is a brutal piece of technology, its matte black barrel adorned with intricate, heat-dispersing vents that pulse with an ominous red glow. Along the length of the weapon, multiple ports hiss softly, releasing a corrosive chemical mist designed to cling to the air and dissolve necrogen flesh on contact.
The muzzle, wider and more robust than any standard firearm, expels rounds that are far from ordinary. Each bullet is a high-velocity, thermite-infused projectile, igniting on impact. The thermite rounds are designed to burn through necrogens' rotting flesh and bone, ensuring they don't just incapacitate but obliterate.
As the Reapers fire, the corridor fills with the rapid, rhythmic thudding of shots, the bullets tearing through the necrogens with deadly precision. Each impact is followed by the creatures' ghastly howls as they disintegrate into smoldering piles of ash and charred bone, their bodies unable to withstand the searing heat. Within seconds, the hallway is clear, the once-threatening horde reduced to nothing more than smoldering remnants, the air thick with the acrid stench of burnt flesh.
I bite the inside of my cheek to keep my sanity safe and it helps when from the midst of the twelve CORPs, a figure steps forward, her presence commanding.
Dr. Rajbhar.
She strides toward us, her expression unreadable, and before I can say a word, she grabs my arm and pulls me into the protective circle of CORPs. "Come with me," she orders, her voice leaving no room for argument.
Karan and I exchange a quick glance, but there's no time to question her. The CORPs surround us, their imposing forms creating a moving barrier as we make our way toward the elevator.
We reach it in a matter of seconds, and Dr. Rajbhar ushers us inside, the CORPs following closely behind. The elevator doors slide shut with a soft hiss, and though the tension in my shoulders eases slightly, my mind is racing.
My eyes move to Dr. Rajbhar, mind racing with questions and while I know she expects all of them right now, I tell her one of my observations. "The men protecting the chairman weren't CORPs." Her eyes meet mine and she raises her brow. "Their suits had no weapons, and the guns they held had no bullets."
Her eyes widen for a brief moment before she composes herself and nods. "I'll look into it."
Frustration simmers beneath the surface, but I know better than to push her right now. Karan shifts beside me, the earlier bravado replaced by a tense silence as he watches Dr. Rajbhar closely. Something flickers in his eyes — something knowing, something that I'll have to question later.
Does he know anything?
The elevator hums quietly as it ascends, the atmosphere thick with unanswered questions and the weight of what we've just witnessed. The doors finally slide open, revealing the stark, clinical and silent environment of Section 1. The CORPs step out first, forming a protective line as Dr. Rajbhar motions for us to follow.
Peace may await us in Section 1 but one thing is certain — it's far from over.
-------------------
Dr. Rajbhar's office is a stark contrast to the chaos we've just escaped, its modern design and minimalist decor offering an unsettling calm. The space is furnished with sleek, clean lines and a large, immaculate desk that dominates the room.
Vinay lies on the couch, his small frame resting motionless, his pallor slightly alarming against the sterile white of the couch.
The Section's doctor has done everything he can for Vinay, treating his wound and monitoring his vital signs. The office's sterile silence is occasionally punctuated by the soft, labored rhythm of Vinay's breathing. Although there's a hint of color returning to his cheeks, his continued stillness is a constant, uneasy reminder of the escaped chaos.
Dr. Rajbhar enters the office and takes a seat behind her desk, her eyes following my every move with a watchful intensity. Karan leans by the door, his posture casual but his gaze sharp. The room is thick with unspoken tension, brimming with questions.
I stand and walk over to Dr. Rajbhar, my frustration simmering just below the surface. She sighs like she was expecting it. "Mind elaborating on this situation you put us in, Dr. Rajbhar?"
She narrows her eyes. "I do actually. Now is not the time for any explanations."
"Not the time?" I repeat, my voice edging towards a sharpness that I struggle to control. "We just barely escaped with our lives. I have a right to know what's happening here."
Karan shifts, his eyes darting between us, but he remains silent. I can feel the room constrict with the weight of our unspoken words. Dr. Rajbhar's gaze hardens. "Trust me when I say that there are reasons for withholding information. Some details are not meant to be shared at this moment."
"Trust you?" I challenge, my frustration boiling over. "We've seen things that don't add up. We're fighting for our lives, and you're giving us nothing but vague reassurances."
Dr. Rajbhar's irritation becomes palpable. "Iris, you're not the only one dealing with this crisis. There are protocols in place, and I can't simply disclose everything. Some information is sensitive, and I have to adhere to those protocols."
"Sensitive?" I press, my tone taut with anger. "You're keeping us in the dark while we're facing a nightmare! Why were those men so different from the CORPs? What's the real threat here?"
Dr. Rajbhar's expression darkens, her frustration evident. "You don't understand the full scope of what's happening. I'm doing everything I can to manage the situation, but there are aspects that are beyond your current understanding. I can't provide answers that might compromise our efforts."
"Compromise?" I exclaim, my voice rising. "We're in the middle of a catastrophe, and you're talking about compromising? We need to know what we're up against to survive."
Dr. Rajbhar's face flushes with irritation, her composure cracking. "This is not the time for your questions, Ms. Kratos! I'm trying to keep everyone safe, and your interference only complicates things further."
Without another word, Dr. Rajbhar stands abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor. "I said it already, Iris. Don't make me choose." And with those final words, she storms out of the office, her exit swift and final. The door slams shut behind her, leaving Karan and me in a thick silence.
I scoff and turn to Karan, seeking some form of insight, but he remains silent, his expression inscrutable. "Do you know anything about what's really going on?" I ask, trying to keep my voice calm despite the overbearing frustration and annoyance gripping me.
Karan shrugs, his demeanor indifferent. "Not really. She's got her secrets, and I'm not in the habit of prying into them."
I'm about to press him further when a series of distant, gut-wrenching screams pierce through the silence, echoing down the hall. The sound is filled with terror and anguish, and my eyes widen slightly as I exchange a glance with Karan. He sure looks horrified.
The realization hits us like a sledgehammer — the necrogens have breached Section 1.