November 19, 2058 – Night
The silence of the night was shattered by a rumbling sound that haunted as Aegis Team, Dr. Alaric, Hart, Jenna, and Elis, walked through the dark corridors of the ruined old laboratory in Zone Beta. Their flashlight beams reflected faint shadows on the cracked and dirty walls. A foul odor of decaying meat mixed with the sharp scent of rusted metal stung their noses. Each step broke small shards of glass on the floor, creating a crunching sound that made the atmosphere even more unsettling.
"Quiet," Pan whispered, raising his hand to signal a stop. "Something's ahead."
"Just a shadow, maybe," Hart said quietly, though his tone was filled with doubt.
"This place makes me uneasy," whispered Elis, gripping the small weapon she had learned to use from Jenna. Her gaze was alert, but there was also fear that was hard to hide.
"Stay focused," said Major Pan Colman, his voice firm. "We need to find the remaining data here. There may be further clues about the Dominion project and these mutations."
They moved cautiously until suddenly, Elis gasped. "There's something ahead!" she said, pointing to a dim corner of the room. Everyone quickly readied their weapons.
Hart approached carefully, then shone his flashlight toward the spot Elis had pointed. A zombie, looking different from the others, stood there. Its body was larger, its muscles more prominent, and its eyes glowed a faint red like embers.
"Evolution," muttered Dr. Alaric, his face turning serious. "We need to be careful. This zombie is clearly stronger."
"What do we do now?" asked Jenna, preparing to take a defensive stance.
Major Pan signaled. "We kill that creature before it attacks further. Everyone, get ready!"
The battle broke out. The zombie moved with surprising speed, nearly hitting Elis if Hart hadn't pulled her back just in time. "Watch out, Elis!!!"
Elis fell, but quickly got back up with Jenna's help. "Thanks, Hart, Jenna."
"Be careful, Elis!" Jenna shouted, firing several shots at the creature.
Meanwhile, Dr. Alaric was carefully observing the zombie's movements, trying to understand its attack pattern. "Break its leg joints! That might slow it down!"
The instructions worked. Major Pan shot directly at the zombie's knee, causing it to stagger. Hart and Jenna took the opportunity to attack together, finally bringing the zombie down.
Everyone was panting after the short but intense fight. Elis sat on the floor, her face pale.
"I'm fine," she said as Jenna approached. "Just startled."
"You did well," Hart said, patting her shoulder, trying to encourage her. "We've all been scared at the beginning."
After ensuring everything was safe, they continued their journey. However, the atmosphere grew heavier. Elis walked closer to Jenna, seeking comfort.
In a large room at the end of the corridor, they found an old computer that was still on. Dr. Alaric immediately approached the device and connected his equipment to download the data.
"This will take some time," he said. "Please guard the door."
Not long after, the rumbling sound was heard again. This time, it was louder. "They're coming," whispered Elis, fear evident on her face.
Major Pan signaled to form a defensive formation. "We're not leaving until the data is fully downloaded. Get ready."
The chapter ended with tension, as another zombie shadow, looking even more terrifying, began to approach from the darkness. The Aegis Team prepared to face a new wave of threats, uncertain whether they would survive or not.