The team gathered in a dimly lit corner of the food court, finally taking a moment to rest after their brutal fight with the Slasher. They had pushed themselves to the brink, and the quiet was almost surreal. Lex leaned back, letting herself breathe deeply for the first time in what felt like hours. Around her, her friends—her chosen family—unwrapped cans, cracked open water bottles, and shared a rare moment of peace.
“Alright, let’s eat,” she said, popping open a dented can of fruit. The others followed suit, the simple act of eating grounding them after the harrowing battle. They ate in silence for a while, each savoring the small comfort of food and companionship.
Maya was the first to speak, her eyes fixed on her cracked phone screen. She looked almost lost in thought as she tapped through old messages and photos. “I keep thinking about my brother and sister, Taylor and Amy. They were so excited for the anime expo this year… I just hope they’re safe.” Her voice was soft, tinged with worry.
Brandon nodded, his face mirroring her concern. “Same here. My half-sister was supposed to arrive in town this week. She’s taking the train, and I just… I can’t imagine what it’s like out there right now.”
Damien leaned back, giving a small, almost bitter laugh. “I get it. My friends Jacob and Eddie—those guys are probably out there at some crowded k-pop concert, head full of Twice songs, completely clueless that we’re here fighting zombies.” He shook his head, his smile faltering. “I just… hope they’re safe.”
Sophie’s eyes were downcast as she picked at a granola bar. She glanced up, her voice barely above a whisper. “I worry about Isaac too. He was supposed to go to this novelist event at the Grant Library. He always joked about how he’d be safe there with all his books…” Her voice trailed off, the familiar fear returning to her eyes. “Now, I'm worried about my brother.”
Lex listened quietly, gnawing at her own worries. She’d tried to put the thought out of her mind, but sitting here with her friends, sharing the names and faces of those they missed, made it hard to ignore. She hadn’t wanted to bring it up, but Damien noticed her expression, raising an eyebrow.
“Lex,” he said, leaning forward with a curious look. “Got anyone you’re worried about out there?”
Lex hesitated, knowing what they’d all say. But the memories came back anyway—of long summers spent with her childhood friend Kyle, their adventures, and his grin when he’d told her about his recent win. “My friend… Kyle,” she admitted, almost reluctantly. “We grew up together. He’d just won a martial arts tournament, and he got this crazy bonus prize—a pair of cruise tickets. He invited me to go, but…” Her voice trailed off, guilt prickling at her.
Her friends’ eyes widened, and they stared at her in mock indignation.
“Wait—so he invites you to go on a cruise, and you just leave him hanging?” Brandon asked, a teasing smirk on his face.
“It’s not like that,” Lex protested, rolling her eyes as her cheeks flushed. “We’re just… friends. And anyway, he’s probably already on the ship by now, enjoying himself.”
“Oh, just friends?” Maya asked, nudging her with a sly grin. “Sure, that’s why he wins tickets and invites you along, huh?”
Damien raised his hands in mock surrender, grinning widely. “Alright, I think we’re all seeing what’s going on here. Just admit it, Lex—Kyle is the future brother-in-law we’ll all be meeting soon.”
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Lex flushed, laughing despite herself. “Oh, please! We’re friends, that’s all! Kyle would probably laugh if he heard you all talking like this.”
They kept laughing, the tension of the past few days easing in a rare moment of joy. Even Lex found herself relaxing, appreciating the warmth of her friends’ teasing. The laughter lifted their spirits, if only for a little while.
The lighthearted moment faded as Sophie’s face grew serious, and she looked at Lex, her expression turning solemn. “While we were in the control room… I saw something in the files,” she said, her voice soft but steady.
The others grew quiet, leaning in as Sophie continued. “There was more information. About the Hive Mind’s zombie bosses. The Slasher we fought… it’s just one of many.” She swallowed, gathering her thoughts. “There were at least four more listed. And they’re even worse than the Slasher.”
A cold silence fell over them. Lex could feel a chill creeping through her as she looked at Sophie. “What did you see?”
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[Flashback]
The control room was dim, the screens casting cold, flickering light as Sophie worked, her fingers flying across the keyboard. She’d hacked into files she hadn’t intended to access, a directory labeled [HIVE BOSS ZOMBIE VARIANTS]. Each entry was marked as a high-threat, lethal creature, designed specifically to hunt and destroy.
Her pulse quickened as she read through the profiles. There were four more variants listed—each with names that seemed pulled from nightmares.
[HIVE BOSS: THE TITAN]
Designation: Z-BV-02-TITAN
Purpose: Heavy assault, crowd control
Characteristics: Towering, heavily armored; capable of delivering blunt force trauma; resistant to most physical damage.
Weakness: Requires sustained attacks to the tendons at the back of its legs; exposure in the chest cavity.
[HIVE BOSS: THE BANSHEE]
Designation: Z-BV-07-BNSHE
Purpose: Area disruption, psychological impact
Characteristics: Emaciated, with elongated limbs; emits a high-pitched scream that can paralyze or disorient.
Weakness: Throat and lower jaw susceptible to concussive force; vulnerable if throat is struck.
[HIVE BOSS: THE SIREN QUEEN]
Designation: Z-BV-04-SRNQ
Purpose: Psychological manipulation, illusion-based attacks
Characteristics: Possesses advanced mimicry abilities, capable of appearing human to lure survivors; emits pheromones that induce hallucinations.
Weakness: Must maintain eye contact to maintain control; vulnerable at the throat.
[UNKNOWN VARIANT: THE WRATH]
Designation: Z-BV-??-WRTH
Data Status: INCOMPLETE
Purpose: UNKNOWN
Characteristics: UNKNOWN
Weakness: Data corrupted.
Additional Notes: Sightings indicate unparalleled aggression. Termination attempts have consistently failed
[End Flashback]
Sophie looked up, her face pale as she finished sharing what she’d found. “The Slasher… that was just the beginning. If the Hive Mind has other monsters like these, then there’s no telling how dangerous it’ll get." But there was one profile that bothered her. "The Wraith." “There was nothing about it. No purpose, no characteristics… just corrupted data and a warning that it couldn’t be stopped.” She glanced around the group, her eyes wide. The group sat in stunned silence, the weight of her words pressing down on them.
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Lex clenched her fists, forcing herself to look at each of her friends, her resolve hardening. “Then we’ll be ready,” she said, her voice steady, even though her heart raced. “Whatever the Hive Mind throws at us, whatever monsters are out there… we’ll face it. Together.”
They all nodded, determination flashing in their eyes. Each of them knew the risks. The mall was more dangerous than ever, and the Hive Mind had unleashed horrors beyond anything they’d imagined. But sitting here, with these people who’d become their family, they knew they’d fight until the end.
As they finished their meal, each of them took a moment to remember those they loved—the people they were fighting for. And in that quiet, as they shared stories and laughter, they found a renewed sense of hope.
For now, they would rest. But soon, they would be ready to face whatever horrors awaited them in the shadows.