Joseph bolted upright, his breath ragged and chest heaving like a man pulled from a deep underwater abyss. Cold sweat drenched his face, and for a terrifying moment, he couldn’t tell dream from reality.The nightmare had been disturbingly vivid—blood-slicked streets, piercing screams, and the bone-crunching sounds of death. In his dream, he’d been powerless, unable to save Mira, watching as she was dragged into the darkness by the infected.He clenched his fists, forcing the memory away. Slowly, his breathing steadied. “Just a dream,” he muttered, rubbing his face with both hands. But the ache in his chest lingered, a reminder of how fragile hope was in a world like this.His soldier instincts took over, and he scanned his surroundings. The beverage shop was eerily quiet, illuminated only by the faint morning light creeping through the dusty windows. Half-looted shelves leaned against the walls, and broken glass crunched faintly underfoot as he moved.The pistol at his side gave him s
The air in the lab was thick, stale with the scent of sweat and fear. Luke led the search, his movements steady but deliberate. He glanced back every so often, watching the others with a growing unease. Akin, Charles, and the two unnamed survivors were visibly deteriorating. They weren’t just tired—they were sick. The signs were all there: the shivering, flushed faces, and glassy eyes. The two unnamed guys huddled in a corner, their bodies wracked with trembling. Every cough or wheeze made the group collectively flinch. "Are they infected?" Collins's voice broke the uneasy silence, his tone sharp with suspicion. Heads turned to Collins, whose intense gaze was locked on Akin and his group. His words hung heavy in the air, drawing a line between “us” and “them.” Akin, leaning against a table for support, bristled at the accusation. “We’ve been hiding since this whole thing began!” he shot back, his voice hoarse but defiant. “If you had any common sense, you’d know that. Why the hell
The air in the lab was heavy, oppressive, as if the walls themselves were holding their collective breath. Luke crouched near an overturned desk, flipping through loose papers with furrowed brows. The others moved cautiously around him, their footsteps muffled by the debris-littered floor. Favour was the first to break the silence. “This diary is a dead end,” he muttered, tossing the small notebook back onto the table. “Just more notes about the serum and some cryptic references to ‘Phase Two.’ No answers.” Luke sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “There’s gotta be more. People don’t just scribble this much nonsense without a purpose.” Mira leaned against the wall, arms crossed tightly. “I don’t know, Luke. What if this is all they left behind? Just breadcrumbs to nowhere?” “No.” Collins’s voice was firm, sharp like the crack of a whip. He had been pacing near the door, keeping an eye on Akin and his group, who were huddled in a corner of the lab. His gaze flicked over to t
The convoy moved steadily along the dusty road, the faint outline of the university looming in the distance. Samuel gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles white. His jaw was set, his face a mask of determination. Beside him, Laura held onto his arm for support, her gaze fixed on the horizon, where chaos and the unknown awaited them. “Are you sure we’ll find him?” Laura asked, her voice trembling, her fingers trembling against the fabric of his sleeve. Samuel didn’t take his eyes off the road. “We’ll find him,” he said, his voice quiet but resolute. “I won’t stop until we do.” Behind them, Major Erickson sat in his Humvee, his presence commanding even in silence. The convoy of military vehicles trailed them, engines rumbling steadily. Soldiers inside the trucks kept their rifles close, their eyes scanning the horizon for threats. The tension in the air was palpable, every bump in the road a reminder of the unknown waiting ahead. Suddenly, the sharp crack of gunfire pi
The mood in the command tent shifted after Lieutenant Bassey's explanation of the "situation." Major Erickson leaned against a table, his arms crossed, his usual stern demeanor replaced by a troubled expression. The sight of the caged student, rabid and unrecognizable, gnawed at him in a way no battlefield ever had. This wasn’t war—it was something much darker, something far beyond his training and understanding.He rubbed his temples briefly, then turned to Bassey. "Lieutenant," he began, his voice quiet but firm. "I need to ask—did any soldier named Joseph Erickson from the combat squad come through here?"Bassey paused, his brow furrowing in thought. “Joseph Erickson?” he repeated, tapping a finger against his chin. “Oh, right. That troubled young man. Yes, he was here briefly.”Major Erickson’s expression stiffened. “That ‘troubled young man’ happens to be my son,” he said.Lieutenant Bassey froze mid-thought, his face turning an awkward shade of red. "I—I didn't mean..." he stamm
The room was suffocatingly tense, the kind of atmosphere where even breathing felt like an accusation. The group sat huddled together in the cramped shed, a once-cozy storage room at the outskirts of the campus now turned into a refuge of desperation. The only source of light was a flickering lantern in the middle of the group, casting uneven shadows on their weary faces even though it was late morning outside.Luke leaned against the wall, his arms crossed as he stared at Akin with barely concealed anger. Mira sat on a wooden crate, her sharp gaze fixed on Akin like a hawk ready to swoop. Collins stood near the barricaded door, his eyes darting toward every sound outside, while Justin usually the joker, sat silently in the corner, his head bowed. Jeff and Sarah were seated next to Favour, who had a book open in his lap but hadn’t turned a page in hours.The group had been through too much—too many close calls. And now, it seemed, the chaos that had nearly cost them their lives had on
The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the makeshift military barricade that separated the parents from their children. The tension in the air was palpable, an electric hum that threatened to erupt into chaos at any moment. The crowd of parents surged forward again, shouting demands at the soldiers stationed behind the barriers."Let us through!" one mother screamed, tears streaming down her face. "We just want to see our kids!""My son is in there!" a man bellowed, his fists pounding against the metal barrier. "If anything happens to him, it'll be on your heads!"The soldiers, clad in their uniforms and helmets, held their ground, their faces grim but uncertain. They had orders not to escalate the situation, but the parents’ desperation was becoming harder to contain. Pushing and shoving replaced mere words, and the line of soldiers began to falter under the weight of the enraged mob.---A young soldier, barely out of his teens, looked back at his superior nervousl
The scorching afternoon sun bore down mercilessly on Luke and the group as they moved cautiously through the campus, hearts pounding with fear. Every step felt heavier than the last, every noise in the distance causing them to freeze. The once-familiar school grounds now resembled a twisted nightmare—buildings that used to bustle with life stood eerily silent, the occasional groan of a zombie breaking the suffocating stillness. Collins and Luke led the group, Collins moved slowly his tall frame hunched as he scanned the surroundings for any signs of danger. Mira followed closely behind, her face pale but determined. Jeff limped slightly, leaning on Sarah for support. His injured leg slowed them down, but no one complained. Justin trudged near the back, his stomach letting out a loud growl that broke the tense silence. “Seriously, Justin?” Favour muttered, clutching his prized book tightly to his chest as if it could shield him from the horrors around them. “What?” Justin shrugged, u
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