As the syringe emptied into Dane's veins, the soft hum of machines filled the sterile lab. Arain, the lead scientist, took a deep breath, watching the monitors closely for any changes in Dane's vitals. The tension in the air was palpable, and even Jun, his usually calm assistant, fidgeted slightly.
Then, the silence was shattered.
The piercing wail of the alarm blared through the research facility, followed by the unmistakable sound of panicked screams echoing down the hall. Arain's eyes widened, his heart skipping a beat as he glanced at Jun. His voice trembled as it crackled through his suit's comm, "What… what the hell is happening out there? Why is the alarm so loud?"
Jun, keeping his eyes on Dane's still form, gritted his teeth. His hands clenched the table as he growled, "Call security. Now."
Arain nodded, his movements shaky. He rushed to the wall phone, dialing the security desk. It rang once, twice… nothing. His brow furrowed as he slammed the phone down, returning to Jun, his voice barely above a whisper, "Security isn't picking up... What should we do?"
Jun shot him an irritated glare, his patience fraying under the pressure. "I can't focus on the experiment with all this noise! Go out there and shut them up!" His anger barely masked the unease in his voice.
Arain hesitated for a moment before nodding. He reluctantly walked towards the heavy steel door and opened it, the sharp screech of the hinges cutting through the blaring alarm. The hallway outside was eerily still. The usual buzz of staff was replaced by an unnatural silence, the kind that gnawed at the back of your mind and twisted your gut.
Arain swallowed hard, taking slow, deliberate steps down the hallway. The further he walked, the heavier the air seemed to grow, suffocating and thick. His footsteps echoed in the emptiness. "Hello?" he called out, his voice wavering, but no one answered. Only the distant hum of machinery and the pounding of his own heart in his ears.
As he neared the office, Arain froze. His breath caught in his throat as his eyes locked onto something horrifying—a figure crouched over another person, ripping into flesh with ravenous hunger. Blood dripped from the figure's hands and smeared across its face as it feasted on what had once been a colleague.
Arain's legs trembled beneath him. His mouth opened to scream, but no sound came. Fear paralyzed him, rooting him to the spot. The thing—no, the person—lifted its bloodied head, pale eyes locking onto him. And in that moment, Arain knew.
This wasn't human anymore.
Panicking, he turned to run, but his foot caught on a shard of glass scattered across the floor. The loud *crack* as it shattered beneath his weight echoed through the hall. The creature snapped its head toward him, its eyes widening with primal hunger.
Arain's heart raced. "No… no, no, no!" he muttered, backing away. From the shadows, more figures began to emerge, stumbling forward with jerky, unnatural movements. Their blank, dead eyes fixated on him.
He turned to sprint back to the lab, but it was too late. The creatures swarmed him, crashing through the glass walls of the office, their moans and growls filling the air. Arain's scream finally tore from his throat, but it was drowned out by the sickening sounds of flesh being torn and bones snapping. His cries for help never reached Jun.
In the lab, Jun continued focusing on the experiment, oblivious to the horrors just outside the door. His frustration simmered, thinking only of the work. "Arain better handle this," he muttered under his breath. But even as the alarms continued to wail, a creeping dread settled in his stomach—a feeling that soon, everything would spiral out of control.
Jun's eyes were fixed on the monitor, his heart racing as the screen displayed a flat, unwavering line. It was the cruel confirmation he dreaded: Dane was dead. Anger surged within him, mixing with desperation. "You're my last hope!" he shouted, voice trembling. "I've poured my life's work into this. Please, don't leave me in despair!"
But the line remained stubbornly straight, a mocking reminder of his impending failure. Rage boiled over, and in a reckless moment, he slammed his fist into Dane's chest. "Come on, fight! You have to come back!"
For a heartbeat, nothing happened. Then, miraculously, the line flickered. A blip, then another—Dane's heart was showing signs of life! Jun's breath caught as hope surged through him. "Yes! Yes!" He jumped up, laughter mingling with tears. "I did it! I made the impossible possible! My daughter… she'll have her father back! Death isn't the end for me!"
He looked around the lab, eyes gleaming with triumph. "Where is Arain? He needs to see this!" With determination, he grabbed the last vial of Strain A 1 Z 1, ready to showcase his success.
Jun pushed through the heavy metal doors, sealing them behind him to ensure Dane remained safe inside. As he stepped into the hall, however, his joy turned to horror.
A scene of carnage unfolded before him—bodies sprawled across the floor, blood splattered on the walls like a grotesque painting. And there, not far away, figures hunched over, gnawing on what was once a human being. Blood dripped from their jaws, pooling beneath them.
Jun's heart raced, and his legs trembled. "What… what is happening?" he stammered, fear gripping him. The sound of tearing flesh echoed in his ears. The zombies lifted their heads, their hollow eyes locking onto him, hungry and relentless.
Panic surged through Jun. "Get away from me!" he shouted, turning to flee. He sprinted back toward the lab, but as he reached the metal door, his hands fumbled with the lock. "Open! Open!" His fingers slipped, the panic clouding his mind.
Behind him, the zombies advanced, their growls rising like a death knell. "No! Stay away!" he screamed, but it was futile. They lunged at him, a terrifying wave of gnashing teeth and bloodlust. Jun could feel their breath on his skin as he desperately clawed at the door, but it held firm.
In a final, heart-wrenching moment, the creatures descended upon him, tearing into flesh with savage hunger. Jun's screams filled the hall, swallowed by the grotesque symphony of death as they feasted on him alive, blood splattering the walls and floor.
Inside the lab, Dane stirred, consciousness creeping back. The sterile air was thick, and he felt disoriented. He blinked against the harsh light, confusion swirling in his mind. Outside, the horrific sounds of chaos echoed, but the lab door stood between him and the nightmare.
"What… what's happening?" he murmured, the fear curling in his gut. The last flicker of consciousness faded from his mind, replaced by an instinctual drive to survive. Though he was sealed away, the dread of what awaited him outside lingered, a dark shadow hovering over his awakening.