The dimly lit hostel room reeked of stale air, dust, and desperation. Joseph sat on the edge of a creaky bunk bed, watching Dr. Akinyemi devour the last granola bar from his stash. The man’s trembling hands betrayed his nerves despite his attempts to mask it. He was pale, sweaty, and disheveled, his lab coat streaked with grime and blood.“You’re lucky I had that,” Joseph muttered, breaking the silence. He leaned back against the cold wall, his eyes narrowing at the scientist. “Now, let’s talk.”Dr. Akinyemi swallowed hard, wiping his mouth with his sleeve. “Talk about what?”Joseph stared at him, unimpressed. “The soldiers who gave their lives for you. They fought like hell to keep you and that suitcase alive. Why?” He motioned toward the black suitcase resting against the wall. “What’s in it?”Dr. Akinyemi tensed, pulling his knees to his chest like a cornered animal. “It’s… It’s classified.”“Classified?” Joseph’s laugh was cold and humorless. “We’re in the middle of a goddamn zomb
The Morning AfterThe golden morning light filtered through the cracked windows of the abandoned canteen, bathing the room in a warm glow that felt almost alien in the chaos of their reality. Luke stirred as the sun’s rays hit his face, his body stiff from sleeping on the hard floor. He blinked, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings, and was about to sit up when he felt a weight against his side.He looked down to find Mira cuddled up against him, her head resting lightly on his chest. For a moment, the horrors of the world outside seemed to fade. Her steady breathing, the warmth of her small frame pressed against him—it brought a fleeting sense of peace. Luke couldn't help but smile, a soft, genuine curve of his lips that rarely made an appearance.His hand moved almost instinctively, his fingers grazing her cheek. Her skin was soft despite the dirt smudged here and there from their ordeal. He marveled at how serene she looked, even after all they’d been through. In the quiet of the
Akin strolled across the eerily silent campus with a swagger, his footsteps light and deliberate. His bloodshot eyes scanned the desolation around him with a gleam of satisfaction. This was his kingdom now. The dead obeyed his every command, and the living? Well, they were nothing more than fleeting amusements. He paused in the middle of the cracked pathway, the once-pristine school grounds littered with debris and bloodstains. Stretching his arms, he let out a contented sigh. “Ah, the sweet silence of domination.” Earlier that day, Akin had spent hours experimenting with his newfound powers. His telepathic connection to the zombies fascinated him. He had lined up several of them in the parking lot and barked mental commands, watching them respond with varying degrees of success. “Jump,” he thought, and a lanky zombie flailed its arms before attempting a clumsy leap. “Clap your hands,” he ordered another, but it simply stood there, swaying slightly. “Useless,” he muttered, shaking
The canteen was dimly lit, with streaks of sunlight filtering through the shattered windows, casting eerie patterns across the floor. Outside, the guttural growls and occasional shuffling of zombies served as a grim reminder of their predicament. Inside, the group of survivors huddled together, each grappling with the weight of the situation in their own way. Justin was rummaging through the shelves and cupboards at the back of the canteen, muttering under his breath. “Is it too much to ask for a packet of biscuits or a loaf of bread? I’d even settle for crackers at this point,” he grumbled, his voice carrying across the room. He slammed a cupboard shut and turned to face the group, holding up a tin of what looked like expired beans. “Unless anyone fancies some gourmet decade-old beans, we’re out of luck.” “Stop complaining, Justin,” Favour muttered, not looking up from the book he was groggily flipping through. His hair was a mess, and his glasses sat crooked on his nose. “You’re ju
The hostel room was dimly lit, its battered furniture and faded look a stark reminder of the chaos outside. Joseph sat by the window, his fingers gripping the cracked sill as his gaze swept over the campus below. The zombies still shuffled aimlessly, their low growls and guttural noises cutting through the eerie silence. He willed them to move away, even if just for a moment, but they stayed rooted, their presence a constant reminder of the nightmare that had engulfed the campus.Beside him, Dr. Akinyemi lay sprawled on the floor, his lab coat stained and his breathing shallow. The man looked like he had aged decades in the last 24 hours. His sunken eyes stared at the ceiling, his lips moving as if whispering to some unseen force. Joseph glanced at him, his patience wearing thin. He hadn’t heard from Mira. He didn’t know if she was alive or dead. He didn’t even know where to start searching for her.“Damn it,” Joseph muttered under his breath, running a hand through his disheveled hai
The night crept in like a thief, blanketing the world in shadows and muting all but the faint rustle of leaves and the occasional guttural growl of the undead. Inside the canteen, the group huddled together, their faces illuminated by the dim glow of a flashlight they’d scavenged earlier. It flickered faintly, its weak beam carefully aimed at the floor to avoid drawing attention from the zombies outside.Luke and Collins stood near the door, their expressions tense. They’d spent the last hour peeking through the shutters, mapping the shuffling patterns of the zombies lurking outside. Luke adjusted the strap of his makeshift weapon—a rusted steel pipe wrapped in cloth—and glanced back at the others.Mira approached him, her footsteps soft but deliberate. She hesitated, her hand hovering just above his arm before finally grabbing hold of it. Her grip was firm yet trembling, betraying the storm of emotions she was suppressing.“Luke,” she began, her voice barely above a whisper. Her eyes
Joseph froze the moment the name “Akin” left the boy’s lips. A sharp, ice-cold clarity cut through the fog of his thoughts, and his instincts kicked in. He leapt back, his hand darting to the holster at his side, drawing his gun in one fluid motion. Without hesitation, he fired. Akin's eyes widened as he ducked, the bullet grazing his shoulder. He let out a pained grunt, stumbling toward the door. “Son of a—!” he swore, clutching his wounded shoulder as blood seeped through his fingers. Akin's expression twisted into a mix of anger and panic. He hadn’t expected Joseph to be armed. “You’ll regret that,” he hissed, staggering out of the hostel. As he disappeared into the night, Akin’s mind reached out telepathically, his thoughts broadcasting like a signal to the zombies in the area. Come to me. Protect me. The faint growls of the undead rose in response as they shifted their focus, beginning to converge in his direction. Akin darted into the shadows, his form quickly swallowed
Akin stumbled through the darkened campus, one hand pressed tightly against his injured shoulder. Blood oozed between his fingers, dripping onto the cracked pavement and leaving a faint trail in his wake. He cursed under his breath, his anger bubbling over with every step. The campus road, illuminated by the pale glow of the moonlight, stretched endlessly before him, deserted except for the eerie stillness that came with the night.“That bastard,” he muttered, his voice low and seething. “I’ll kill him. I’ll rip him apart!”The adrenaline pumping through his veins began to wane, replaced by a dull ache that radiated from his shoulder. Akin paused beneath a streetlamp, leaning against the cold metal pole for support. The moonlight revealed his bloodied hand, trembling as he peeled it away from the wound.His breath hitched.Before his eyes, the ragged flesh began to knit itself back together, cell by cell. Akin watched, transfixed, as the blood flow stemmed and the skin smoothed out as
The warm evening sun dipped below the horizon, casting a soft orange glow over Lagos. Luke and Mira walked hand-in-hand along the quiet streets, the sound of their footsteps a comforting rhythm beneath the bustling city noises. It had been three months since they had been released from the detention facility, and things had finally started to feel normal again—or as normal as life could be after everything they had endured.Luke couldn’t remember the last time he felt this carefree. For the first time in a long time, there were no heavy burdens weighing on his shoulders. No government scrutiny, no terrifying fear of what the future might hold. He was simply Luke again, the young man who had fought to survive but also the man who could finally enjoy life.Mira glanced at him, a soft smile tugging at her lips. “You seem… different. In a good way.”Luke returned the smile, his eyes lighting up as he squeezed her hand. “I feel different. I feel like I’ve finally been given a second chance
The weeks had dragged on, the sterile walls of the detention facility becoming an oppressive reminder of the world that had come to fear Luke and Bayo. They were no longer the heroes who fought to survive—they were the weapons that had once been their salvation, now seen as potential threats to the fragile stability that the world clung to. The military’s tight control over them, the constant surveillance, and the relentless scrutiny from every corner of the globe had taken its toll. Luke’s mind was weary, and his body reflected the strain. Every day felt like an eternity spent in a cage, the lingering uncertainty about what the world would think of him once he was released only fueling the exhaustion that gripped his every waking moment. It wasn’t just about the physical confinement anymore—it was about how he would be perceived by a world that had watched him fight, watched him kill, and watched him struggle. His parents—Laura and Samuel—visited regularly. Their support was unwav
The chaos at Eko State University was broadcast worldwide, its devastation felt far beyond the borders of Lagos. In a quiet mansion in Ikoyi, far from the inferno, Morenike paced her living room. Her eyes were glued to the TV, where Rachel’s live coverage replayed the horrors of the past hours. Her son, Akin, was on every channel—a vision of destruction and fury. Clips showed him commanding infected hordes, fighting soldiers, and causing untold devastation. The media painted him as a symbol of the apocalypse, a man consumed by the infection yet capable of terrifying control. “No… no, this can’t be my Akin,” Morenike whispered, her voice breaking. She gripped the back of the nearest chair, her knuckles turning white. Her maid, Titi, approached cautiously. “Madam, maybe it’s best to rest. This news… it’s too much.” Morenike shook her head vehemently. “That’s my son. My boy. What have they done to him?” Her knees buckled, and she sank into the chair, tears streaming down her face.
The rhythmic hum of the helicopter's blades cut through the eerie silence of the Eko State University (EKSU) campus. Below, a scene of chaos was coming to a tense standstill. Bayo’s figure, barely distinguishable in the dim light, moved among the lifeless, shambling zombies. His exhausted yet determined strides guided them toward their designated points, keeping the horde tightly controlled. Soldiers and survivors huddled at a safe distance, their wide eyes shifting uneasily between the horde and the sky. Major Erickson stood near the frontline, his steely demeanor masking the weight of the decision he was about to execute. Luke stood beside Mira, her fingers laced tightly through his. They both watched Bayo with a mix of admiration and dread. Nearby, Luke’s parents remained quiet, their expressions frozen in the same disbelief mirrored by every other face. Erickson raised his radio. His voice carried a calm authority that belied the tension in the air. “Echo Base, this is Major Er
The battlefield was eerily quiet, save for the occasional groan of a wounded soldier. The once-mindless zombies now stood frozen, their lifeless eyes staring into the void. Soldiers and survivors stared at the undead in stunned silence, unsure whether to rejoice or remain on guard. The tension hung heavy in the air, a mix of relief and dread. Bayo knelt on the ground, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. He wiped sweat from his brow, his connection to the horde severed but still leaving a faint, nagging hum in his mind. He glanced around, his gaze meeting Luke’s. “You good?” Luke asked, stepping closer. Bayo nodded, though his exhaustion was evident. “Yeah... for now.” Major Erickson approached the group, his face set in a grim expression. He surveyed the scene, his sharp eyes taking in the scattered corpses of zombies and the soldiers who had fallen in battle. His radio crackled to life, breaking the uneasy silence. “This is Echo Base. Major, your package h
Rachel hovered in the helicopter, her camera zoomed in on the chaos below. Her live feed broadcasted to millions worldwide, capturing a battle no one could have imagined. Below her, the scene was apocalyptic: zombies clawing and thrashing, their hunger insatiable. In their midst, Luke fought with a ferocity that demanded attention. “This is Rachel, live from the heart of what might be the most pivotal moment in human history,” she said into her headset. “What you’re witnessing isn’t just survival—it’s war. And leading it are three individuals who may very well change the tide of this conflict.” The camera focused on Luke, his enhanced strength on full display as he tore through the horde. To the side, Bayo stood like an immovable wall, holding the zombies at bay through sheer will and some mysterious connection to them. Above it all, Akin stood on the roof of an overturned military truck, his commanding presence undeniable. His laughter echoed across the battlefield as he spread h
Bayo’s knees wobbled as the weight of the horde's relentless advance seemed to press down on his chest. The battlefield was chaos— filled with growls, screams, and the sharp sounds of gunfire. Every breath he took felt heavier, like something primal was clawing at the edges of his mind. His vision blurred momentarily as he stumbled back, clutching his head. “Bayo, what’s wrong?” Luke’s voice barely reached him over the noise. “I… I don’t know,” Bayo murmured, his words barely audible. The moment Akin had stepped forward, the air had shifted. There was a palpable charge, a sense of inevitability. And for Bayo, something else entirely—a flood of raw emotion that wasn’t his. At first, it was faint, like static on a weak signal. But now it roared through him with a ferocity he couldn’t ignore. He gritted his teeth, his head pounding with every passing second. Rage. Hunger. A deep, unrelenting hunger that burned hotter than anything he had ever felt. --- The horde pressed forward, t
Luke paced restlessly near the makeshift shelter they had found for Mira and his parents, hidden away in an abandoned building far from the chaos of the encampment. Mira sat beside Laura, comforting her as Samuel kept watch by the entrance. Bayo leaned against the wall, sharpening his machete, his eyes scanning their surroundings with the same sharpness as his blade. “You feel it, don’t you?” Luke said suddenly, breaking the silence. Bayo looked up, his expression unreadable. “Yeah. Something’s off.” Luke clenched his fists. His enhanced senses were screaming at him. Ever since the attack started, there had been an inexplicable pull—like a thread connecting him to Akin. It was faint at first, but now it was undeniable, like a beacon drawing him toward the source of the chaos. “What do you think he’s up to?” Luke asked, his voice low. Bayo sighed, sheathing his machete he had picked from a fallen soldier. “You know what he’s capable of, Luke. He’s not the same person you knew
The air reeked of blood, smoke, and decay as Major Erickson crouched behind an overturned truck, reloading his rifle with trembling hands. Around him, the remnants of his unit fought desperately to hold their ground against the horde. Their once-tight defensive line had shattered, replaced by chaotic clusters of men and women firing in every direction.Erickson’s radio crackled, static-laced screams filling the channel. He shut it off, his jaw tightening. There was no point in calling for reinforcements; they were on their own.From his position, Erickson could see the focal point of the horde: Akin. The boy was slumped against a steel barricade as Erickson had freed him in an attempt to escape with his prisoner but had to drop him to save himself as the zombie seemed to focus on him furiously,Akin lay on the ground in a sitting position his semi-conscious form eerily still despite the chaos. His head lolled as if the drugs coursing through his veins had tethered him to some half-drea