Desperate roads

Joseph slowed his car as he approached a roadblock just a few kilometers from the university. The scene ahead was chaotic—makeshift barricades of metal drums and barbed wire blocked the road, manned by a group of soldiers who looked far from composed. The tension in the air was palpable, their rifles gripped tightly, their eyes scanning the empty road for any signs of movement.

He stepped out of his car, taking in the scene. The soldiers didn’t seem relieved to see him. If anything, his presence seemed to heighten their unease. One of them, a tall man with a sweat-streaked face, raised his hand and barked, “Stop there! No one passes this point!”

Joseph held up his hands in a gesture of peace, his military instincts kicking in. “Relax,” he called out. “I’m not a threat. Captain Joseph Erickson, Tactical Corps.” He fished his military ID out of his pocket and held it up for them to see.

The tall soldier hesitated but didn’t lower his weapon. “That ID doesn’t mean anything right now, sir,” he said, spitting the last word out like it was an inconvenience. “This area is under strict quarantine. No exceptions.”

Joseph’s patience was already wearing thin. “Look, I’m trying to get to the university. My sister is in there. I need to make sure she’s safe.”

The commanding officer, a lean man with sharp features and a name tag that read Lt. Bassey, stepped forward, his voice firm. “I’m sorry, Captain, but the university is a restricted zone. No one goes in or out. Orders from the top.”

Joseph stepped closer, his anger beginning to flare up and his tone sharpening. “With all due respect, Lieutenant, I outrank you. I don’t have time for this. Let me through.”

The lieutenant didn’t flinch, his grip on his sidearm steady. “This isn’t about rank, sir. It’s about containment. There’s an outbreak inside that university. You want to go in there, you’re not coming out. Those are the orders we’ve been given.”

Joseph clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. “Do you have any idea what’s going on in there? Do you even know what you’re dealing with?”

The lieutenant’s eyes flickered with unease, but he kept his composure. “All I know is that anyone who tries to leave gets shot on sight. We’re here to stop this from spreading.”

Joseph’s mind raced. If they were shooting on sight, what were the chances Mira was still alive? He refused to let the thought take root. “You can’t just abandon those people,” he argued. “There are students, faculty—innocent lives at stake. Don’t tell me you’re just going to sit here while they die.”

The lieutenant’s face hardened. “It’s not my decision, Captain. My orders are to hold the line, no matter what. You think I like this? You think any of us do? We’re just trying to survive. Those things are not human it's hell on earth there.”

Joseph scanned the soldiers, noting their tired eyes and trembling hands. These weren’t hardened combatants—they were young, barely more than recruits. Whatever they’d seen inside the university had shaken them to their core.

A younger soldier, barely old enough to shave, stepped forward hesitantly. His voice was low, meant only for Joseph. “Sir… it’s bad in there. The infected… they’re not normal. They’re… smart.”

Lt. Bassey shot the soldier a glare. “Private! That’s enough.”

The private shrank back but didn’t meet the lieutenant’s eyes. Joseph seized on the moment of weakness. “If they’re as dangerous as you say, then I need to get to my sister now. Every second you delay me is a second closer to her being one of them.”

The lieutenant’s resolve wavered for a fraction of a second before he stepped closer, his voice lowering. “Listen, Captain, I get it. You want to save her. But what if you can’t? What if she’s already gone? Are you prepared to deal with that?”

Joseph’s heart pounded, but he kept his voice steady. “She’s not gone. I would know.”

The two men stared each other down, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Finally, Lt. Bassey sighed and gestured to the barricade. “Even if I wanted to let you through, the perimeter is rigged with motion sensors and tripwires. You’d be dead before you took five steps.”

Joseph smirked grimly. “Good thing I’m not walking through the front gate.”

Before the lieutenant could respond, Joseph turned and headed back to his car. His mind worked rapidly, formulating a plan. He could feel the soldiers’ eyes on him as he popped the trunk and rummaged through his supplies, finding what he needed: a map, a flashlight, and a utility knife.

“You’re not seriously thinking about sneaking in there,” the young private blurted out, stepping forward despite the lieutenant’s glare.

Joseph shot him a sharp look. “Watch me.”

“You’re going to get yourself killed!” the lieutenant barked, moving toward him.

Joseph straightened, his face set like stone. “If it was your family in there, would you sit out here doing nothing?”

The lieutenant opened his mouth to respond but said nothing, his silence answer enough.

Joseph slammed the trunk shut and walked back toward the barricade. He turned to the young private. “Where’s the weakest point in your perimeter?”

“Private, if you answer that question, I’ll have you dealt with,” Lt. Bassey snapped.

The private hesitated, glancing between Joseph and the lieutenant. Then, under his breath, he muttered, “South side. There’s an old maintenance tunnel. It’s not guarded, but...it’s a bad idea, sir.”

Joseph nodded, ignoring the lieutenant’s furious glare. “Thanks, Private. Stay safe.”

"And Sir" the young private called out to him as he moved to go "I know this is unlikely but if you happen to see my sister help her" his voice shook when he mentioned his sister but he continued swallowing "Her name's Sarah she's in engineering department 300level" He finished staring down face taut with anguish. "I would've gone in myself but I'm a medic with few combat experience, I know my limits" he added after a moment anguish évident in his face.

Realization dawned on Joseph and the lieutenant face as they stared at each other.

Without another word, Joseph slipped past the barricade, his every step fueled by the image of Mira’s face. He didn’t look back, even as the lieutenant shouted after him. His focus was locked on the university in the distance, the towering buildings bathed in the eerie glow of the setting sun.

---

As he moved through the shadows, the private’s words echoed in his mind: They’re not normal. They’re smart.

Joseph gritted his teeth. Whatever was waiting for him inside those walls, he’d face it head-on. He didn’t have a choice.