Outside the laboratory, the Licker relentlessly slammed against the reinforced glass wall.
Although the glass had undergone special reinforcement, the continuous impacts were beginning to leave small cracks on its surface.
"This won't hold. We need to find a way out! This space is too cramped—if it breaks in, we won't have room to dodge. Plus, we're running out of time," Wang Ye said, his tone grave as he stared at the Licker.
Kaplan, the team's tech specialist, immediately stepped forward. "I'll check to see if I can open the door!" He called JD over to assist.
Time ticked away second by second, each moment punctuated by the crashing sound of the Licker's assault on the glass.
Meanwhile, Spence's condition worsened. His fever spiked, and he vomited intermittently, though nothing came out. His complexion grew increasingly pale, and he drifted into a semi-conscious state.
Alice removed the jacket Spence had earlier draped over her and placed it back on him. She sat nearby, quietly watching.
Wang Ye glanced over but felt no sympathy.
As a traitor and the main culprit behind the current disaster, Spence deserved his fate—even if he was just a pawn.
"Rain, JD, Kaplan—come over here!" Wang Ye called firmly, unwilling to waste more time or risk unforeseen complications. He gathered the group to lay out a plan.
"I'll go out and draw the Licker away. While I'm distracting it, you all head straight for the exit. Don't wait for me—I'll find my own way out.
As for Spence, who's already infected and transforming rapidly, leave him here. I'll deal with him."
"No! We don't even know how many Lickers are outside. It's too dangerous for you to go alone!" Kaplan objected immediately. JD and Rain joined in, trying to dissuade Wang Ye.
"We have less than ten minutes left. If we don't leave now, we'll never make it out! Do you have a better plan? No? Then follow mine!" Wang Ye barked, his voice brooking no argument.
He grabbed the door handle, his decision made.
"I'll count to three. I'll go out first, fire some shots to grab their attention, and you all take that chance to run. Don't hesitate!"
Reluctantly, the group nodded. Though they didn't want Wang Ye to take the risk, it was their only viable option.
"One."
"Two."
"Three!"
As soon as Wang Ye finished counting, he flung the door open and rushed out, immediately firing a few shots at the Licker pounding on the wall.
"You shameless freak! How do those bullets taste?" he taunted.
Enraged, the Licker turned its attention to Wang Ye, letting out a guttural roar as it charged toward him, its grotesque tongue flailing wildly, spittle flying everywhere.
With the immediate threat drawn away, the rest of the group followed the plan and sprinted toward the exit. Behind them, Wang Ye's loud taunts and the Licker's furious screeches echoed through the corridors.
Thankfully, there was only one Licker in the passage, and Wang Ye successfully lured it away.
The group reached the train platform, boarded the tram, and began their return to the surface.
Confronting the Licker
Wang Ye stood before the incapacitated Licker, its limbs severed, tongue ripped out, and body writhing in futile rage. He glanced at the timer on his watch: seven minutes left.
"Looks like it's time to wrap this up."
He raised his gun and fired, ending the Licker's life. Without wasting a moment, he turned and headed back to the lab.
Inside, Spence was in a deep coma, only moments away from fully transforming into a zombie.
Wang Ye walked over, picked up the energy pistol Spence had dropped earlier, and placed it back in his gear. Then he turned to Spence and said coldly:
"This is already a good end for you—at least you'll stay intact. Blame yourself for being someone else's pawn without realizing it."
Bang!
Without sparing another glance, Wang Ye slung his gun over his shoulder and made his way to the Hive's entrance tram platform.
As he was about to leave, a train pulled into the platform from the far end of the tracks. It was the tram carrying Alice and the others, who had already left earlier.
"Why are you back?" Wang Ye asked, surprised.
The tram slowed to a stop, and Wang Ye saw Alice and the others inside.
"We tested the return trip—it only takes two minutes to reach the surface. We still have four minutes left, so there's plenty of time!" Kaplan explained as he stepped out of the driver's cabin.
Wang Ye was somewhat touched that they had returned to fetch him, no matter their reasons.
"Good thing there were no other threats. Otherwise, your return would've wasted all my effort!" Wang Ye laughed and scolded them lightly before boarding the tram.
Kaplan resumed the driver's seat and started the tram back toward the surface.
"What about Spence? Did he…?" Alice asked as she approached Wang Ye.
Wang Ye found a seat and casually lit a cigar, taking a deep drag.
"By the time I returned to the lab after dealing with the Licker, Spence had already shot himself. He went peacefully.
I covered him with some lab coats. At least he looked decent in the end."
Alice sat down beside Wang Ye.
"Even though I don't remember much about our time together, I still want to thank you for what you did for him."
"I just do what I can. After all, I hope that when my time comes, I can leave with dignity too," Wang Ye replied, his tone calm yet carrying a deep weariness, hinting at untold stories.
Alice rested her chin on her hand, watching Wang Ye as he puffed away, momentarily entranced.
"Commander, what about the rest of your Hydra Special Forces team? With your skills, they must've been strong too," Rain suddenly asked.
"My team? They're all gone.
During a mission, we missed some critical intel, and the operation failed. They stayed behind to cover me, and none of them made it out."
Wang Ye's hand holding the cigar trembled slightly, his voice tinged with suppressed grief.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know. I'm truly sorry," Rain apologized, taken aback by Wang Ye's revelation.
JD and Matt expressed their sympathy as well, while Alice's eyes reddened, tears threatening to spill.
"It's fine. It's all in the past. Now I live for them, doing my best—that's the least I can do to honor them."
As the tram neared the surface, Wang Ye stood and addressed the group.
"When we reach the surface exit, stay close to me. According to the intel I've received, we might face an ambush up there."
(End of Chapter)
Want to read the chapters in Advance? Join my Patreon
https://patreon.com/Glimmer09