The looming structure of Storehouse 17B towered before them, its battered exterior wrapped in vines and rusted metal. The air around it was heavy, the kind of stillness that made the hair on the back of Alex's neck stand on end.
"This doesn't feel right," Carter muttered, scanning the area with a wary eye.
"You want to turn back?" Alex asked, gripping his knife tightly.
Carter gave him a dry look. "Do we have food? Water? Didn't think so."
With a reluctant nod, Alex led the way into the storehouse. The heavy doors creaked loudly as they pushed them open, the sound echoing in the cavernous space beyond. Inside, the air was damp and stale, and the faint scent of rot lingered. Shafts of sunlight pierced through gaps in the roof, illuminating rows of overturned shelves and scattered debris.
"Stay close," Alex whispered, his voice barely audible.
The two moved cautiously, their footsteps muffled by a layer of dust and grime. The interior of the storehouse was eerily quiet, save for the occasional drip of water echoing in the distance.
---
As they ventured deeper, the light grew scarcer, and an uneasy tension settled between them. Carter held a rusted metal pipe he'd picked up earlier, while Alex kept his knife ready.
"Anything useful here?" Carter asked, rummaging through a pile of debris.
"Not yet," Alex replied, his focus on the map. According to the markings, the supply room should have been nearby.
Suddenly, a faint sound broke the silence—a soft, chittering noise, almost like claws skittering across the ground. Both men froze, their eyes darting toward the shadows.
"You hear that?" Carter whispered, his voice tight.
Alex nodded, his grip tightening on the knife. He scanned the darkness, straining to see beyond the dim light filtering through the broken ceiling.
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a flicker of movement. Something darted between the shelves, too fast to follow.
"Whatever it is, it's not alone," Carter said, stepping closer to Alex.
The chittering grew louder, accompanied by guttural growls. Three pairs of glowing eyes emerged from the shadows, their emerald hue cutting through the darkness.
"Zombies," Alex muttered, though these were unlike any he had seen before.
The creatures were lean and muscular, their bodies covered in patches of pale, mottled skin. They moved with an eerie grace, crouched low like predators preparing to strike.
One of them let out a bone-chilling screech, and the others followed suit, the sound reverberating through the storehouse.
"They're faster," Carter said, backing toward a patch of sunlight streaming through a crack in the roof.
"Much faster," Alex agreed.
The lead creature lunged without warning, its movements a blur. Alex barely had time to react, sidestepping just as its claws raked the air where he had been standing. Carter swung his pipe, the metal colliding with the zombie's side. It let out an enraged snarl but barely faltered.
"They're not going down easy!" Carter shouted, dodging another attack.
The other two zombies closed in, moving in perfect coordination. Alex activated his Agility enhancement, the bracelet glowing faintly as energy surged through him. His movements became faster, sharper, as he dodged and countered with precision.
Carter, unaware of the bracelet's power, gawked as Alex leapt onto a shelf and delivered a well-aimed kick to one of the creatures, sending it sprawling into a patch of sunlight.
The effect was immediate. The zombie screeched in agony, its flesh bubbling and charring as it writhed in the light. Within seconds, it collapsed into a smoking heap.
"They can't handle sunlight!" Alex yelled, his heart racing.
Carter's eyes widened in realization. "Got it! Let's lure them!"
---
With their weakness discovered, Alex and Carter began a desperate game of cat and mouse. Using their surroundings to their advantage, they maneuvered the remaining two zombies toward patches of sunlight scattered throughout the storehouse.
One of the creatures leapt onto a shelf, its glowing eyes locked onto Alex. He waited until it pounced, then rolled out of the way, sending it crashing into a beam of light. It screeched and thrashed as its flesh burned, finally collapsing in a heap.
The last zombie was relentless, moving with terrifying speed and precision. It cornered Carter against a wall, its claws poised to strike.
"Alex!" Carter shouted, barely deflecting the attack with his pipe.
Without hesitation, Alex activated Strength and charged. He tackled the creature, slamming it into a collapsed shelf. Grabbing a nearby piece of metal, he pried open a panel in the roof, letting sunlight flood the area.
The zombie shrieked as the light engulfed it, its body convulsing violently before it fell lifeless to the ground.
---
The storehouse was silent once more, save for the sound of their labored breathing. Alex leaned against a shelf, deactivating his enhancements as the energy drained from his body.
Carter wiped sweat from his brow, his eyes scanning the charred remains of the creatures. "What the hell were those things?"
"Something new," Alex said, his voice low. He stared at his bracelet, the faint glow fading. "And a lot more dangerous."
They continued their search, finally locating the supply room. To their relief, they found a cache of canned food and bottled water. It wasn't much, but it was enough to keep them going.
As they packed up the supplies, Alex's thoughts lingered on the creatures they had faced. The Night Hunters were faster, smarter, and deadlier than any zombie he had encountered before.
And something told him they wouldn't be the last.