Everywhere Alejandro looked, there was rubble.
Destroyed buildings, newly-burning Humvees and military vehicles scattered around on the street like toys that a child forgot to put back.
He looked to still-standing buildings, and those were just overgrown.
Nature was taking downtown back, and Alejandro didn't know what to think of it.
It was beautiful in a very eerie and strange way.
"20 seconds to drop."
The pilot's voice cut through Alejandro's thoughts, and the soldier immediately refocused on the intercom.
"Remember, ECSE. Exfiltrate, Clear, Save, Escape. 10 seconds to drop."
Alejandro looked back out the window and saw a single building; an apartment complex, with no other towering structure standing near it.
Evidently, that was their destination.
"WOOHOO! Yeah, baby!"
Azamodo's overconfident and arrogant bravado cut through the air, somehow louder than the helicopter itself.
"Let's bash some Dark skull!"
Alejandro let out a nearly unnoticeable sigh in response, staying quiet and checking his firearm.
An AR-15 SBR- Short Barreled Rifle- with a suppressor, red dot sight, and a tactical grip.
He'd trained with this weapon, lived with this weapon, practically worshipped this weapon for the 5 years he'd been in service. It was reliable, trustworthy, and had earned a special place in his heart.
"Deploying cables. Stay safe out there, soldiers."
The doors on the sides of the helicopter slid open and cables slid downwards towards the apartment building roof.
The Gerfs were fast and efficient, quickly moving and going down.
The other four GCS soldiers were hesitant, but Azamodo was the first to go down one of the ropes, grinning madly and letting out more whoops.
Everyone else soon followed, and the moment Alejandro and the last guy touched down on the roof, the helicopter's cables retracted and it flew off, heading back to the airfield for refueling.
"Alright soldiers. Listen up."
One of the Gerfs spoke, her voice stern and commanding.
"When we're in there, or anywhere in this damned city, you follow my orders to the letter. We're going to be fighting in cramped spaces, and I don't want anyone going off alone or getting jumped by a Dark. Got it?"
Her gas mask muffled her words and hid her face from view, but Alejandro could practically feel her eyes boring holes into him.
Azamodo gave a cocky grin and a mock salute in response, which the Gerf took seriously- Azamodo was making fun of them, or at least trying to.
Alejandro decided to look around while the Gerfs stepped off to the side to discuss something- probably plans, backup plans, and plans for if the backup plans failed- and saw nothing other than rubble, destruction, and signs of chaos having run rampant.
Small plants were already springing to life on the rooftop, and there was even a small tree growing nearby.
He looked out, past the building they were standing on, and winced at the sight of numerous burning structures.
Black smoke writhed like living snakes, reaching up to the heavens as it poured out of some towers.
It reminded Alejandro of a dystopian scene from a zombie apocalypse novel or book, and then he remembered that he was, technically, in a zombie apocalypse.
"Alright people, let's move!"
The Gerf's voice cut out through the air again as she and the other two walked over to the door.
Azamodo and Alejandro followed quickly, although while Alejandro moved with slight panic and fear, Azamodo walked around like he owned the place.
The Gerf broke the door down with the buttstock of her rifle- a sleek, black, and suppressed M4A1- before she took the lead, firearm up and raised, the red laser searching for targets.
Azamodo and Alejandro readied their own AR-15s but did not raise them, as they were behind the Gerfs.
Everyone moved quickly and quietly as they descended a stairwell, and everything was silent.
Until the unmistakable, terrifying, heart-pounding sound of a Dark growling travelled through the air.
It activated a primal fear in Alejandro, a fear that yelled to him "Run, just run and don't look back!".
But he couldn't; his training just barely kept the fear in check, just barely kept him from fleeing like a scared pup.
Everyone stopped, and the air was permeated with the scent of pure, almost unbridled fear.
The sound continued; low, deep, rumbling. It sounded more like a wild and feral animal than something that was formerly human.
"Everyone... quiet."
The female Gerf's voice was low and Alejandro just barely heard it, but everyone went silent.
All of them knew that one Dark, one infected, could attract a whole swarm if it wailed.
Then the Gerf started walking again, the other two gas masked soldiers following closely behind.
Alejandro and Azamodo exchanged a look before they too picked up the pace.
It only took a minute before they saw their first Dark.
They had descended the stairs slowly, but they had finally reached the upper-most floor of the apartment building.
And standing in the hallway, surrounded by doors, with its back to them, was a Dark.
Pitch black skin with blood splattered on its arms, and undoubtedly more on its hands and mouth.
Then, it stood up and sniffed the air-
Pop.
A muffled sound disturbed the otherwise silent hallway and the Dark fell with a thump to the ground, a hole in its head.
The lead Gerf's finger was on the trigger of her suppressed M4A1, and then she lowered her firearm.
"Let's get going."
Alejandro and Azamodo exchanged another look, but they followed orders. After all, it meant the difference between life and death.
They started clearing the building, looking in each and every room.
Thankfully, most of them were empty.
So, as Alejandro and Azamodo moved on to another room- number 505, according to the sign right next to it- they decided to- quietly- strike up conversation.
"Didn't know Darks were so... dark."
Azamodo started, a light chuckle following afterwards as he tried to open the door with the door handle.
This one... was unlocked.
So he pushed the door open, Alejandro choosing to just give a small smile at that and then continue on with his work.
He raised his AR-15, the cold metal just feeling right in his hands, and slowly looked around.
"You watch left, I'll watch right."
Azamodo nodded in response, raising his own AR-15 as he walked next to Alejandro, keeping his eyes moving and watching everything.
They couldn't afford to get jumped, not now.
Slowly, quietly, and efficiently, the two moved through the room, the red lasers from their firearms carefully looking for targets.