The night stretched long and oppressive, the faint hum of distant groans and rustling debris serving as a haunting backdrop. Within the confines of the crumbling office building, Evan lay awake, his thoughts churning like the storm of ash outside. His conversation with Lila earlier replayed in his mind.

The system had marked a location northeast of their current position. What waited there? Another lab like the one they’d escaped? Another fragment? Or perhaps something worse?

“Host is advised to proceed with caution. Anomalous Energy in marked location is significantly concentrated.”

The system’s message was cryptic, but its tone—if such a thing existed—seemed urgent.

Evan clenched his fists. Whatever lay ahead, it was becoming clear that avoiding it wasn’t an option.

The first rays of sunlight filtered through the dirty windows, casting long shadows across the broken desks and discarded papers. Claire was already awake, her crossbow slung across her back as she checked the barricades. “Everyone up,” she called softly, her voice steady but firm. “We need to move.”

Jake groaned, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. “What’s the rush? We just got here.”

“The longer we stay in one place, the more likely something finds us,” Claire said sharply. “You’ve seen what’s out there. Do you want to face another mutant like yesterday?”

Jake muttered something under his breath but didn’t argue further.

As they stepped outside, the city greeted them with its usual desolation. The air was thick with the stench of decay, and the distant ruins seemed to pulse with an unseen malevolence. Kara surveyed the street with her rifle. “Which way?”

Evan hesitated before pointing northeast. “That way.”

Claire shot him a questioning glance. “You seem pretty sure.”

“I am,” Evan replied, his tone brooking no argument.

She studied him for a moment before nodding. “Fine. But if you’re leading us into a death trap, you’d better have a plan to get us out.”

Their path led them through what had once been a suburban neighborhood. Rows of houses lined the cracked and overgrown streets, their windows dark and their doors ajar. Toys, bicycles, and other remnants of everyday life lay scattered across lawns now overtaken by weeds.

“Stay sharp,” Claire warned. “Places like this are perfect for ambushes.”

Evan’s grip on his crowbar tightened as he scanned the area. The system remained quiet, but an uneasy feeling gnawed at him. As they moved, a faint sound reached their ears—a low, rhythmic thudding, like the pounding of distant drums.

“What is that?” Lila asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jake shrugged. “Whatever it is, it’s not our problem. Let’s keep moving.”

But as they turned a corner, they saw the source.

In the center of the street stood a grotesque effigy. It was constructed from bones, scrap metal, and twisted remains of flesh, standing at least ten feet tall. At its base, symbols were scrawled in what appeared to be blood, their jagged shapes unfamiliar and unsettling. “What the hell is this?” Jake said, taking a step back.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

“Don’t touch it,” Claire ordered, her voice tight.

Kara examined the symbols, her brow furrowed. “These look... ritualistic. But why? Who would build something like this?”

“Not who,” Evan said quietly. “What.”

The system buzzed faintly, and a new message appeared in his mind.

“Warning: Anomalous Energy Spike Detected. Effigy Source Unstable. Potential Threat.”

As if on cue, the ground beneath the effigy began to tremble, and a guttural roar echoed from somewhere nearby.

“Move!” Claire shouted, and the group scattered just as the first creature emerged.

They came in waves—zombies, but not like the ones they had encountered before. These were faster, more aggressive, their bodies twisted and malformed. Some had elongated limbs that moved unnaturally, while others had jagged, bony protrusions sprouting from their skin. “They’re drawn to the effigy!” Kara yelled, firing her rifle. Evan swung his crowbar, the system enhancing his movements as he fought off a lunging infected. The creature’s head caved in with a sickening crunch, but there were more behind it.

“Claire!” Evan shouted. “Take out the effigy!”

Claire nodded, raising her crossbow. She loosed a bolt at the structure, but it bounced off harmlessly.

“It’s too sturdy!” she called. “We need another plan!”

The system buzzed again.

“Effigy Energy Core Located: Base of Structure. Host Recommended to Utilize Catalyst Burst.”

Evan’s eyes locked onto a faint glow near the effigy’s base. Gritting his teeth, he activated Catalyst Burst, the surge of energy propelling him forward. “Cover me!” he shouted.

Jake and Kara provided suppressing fire, their bullets slowing the advancing horde as Evan charged toward the effigy. He dodged a swipe from a nearby infected, leaping over debris and landing near the glowing core.

Raising his crowbar, he slammed it down with all his enhanced strength. The core cracked, and a wave of energy exploded outward, knocking him backward. The effigy began to collapse, and the horde froze momentarily before retreating, their bodies twitching violently as they crumbled to the ground. The group regrouped, breathing heavily as they surveyed the scene. The effigy lay in ruins, its strange energy dissipating into the air.

“What the hell was that?” Jake asked, his voice trembling.

“Some kind of focal point,” Kara said, wiping blood from her face. “It was controlling them—or drawing them here.”

Evan stayed silent, his mind racing. The system’s presence felt stronger now, as if it had absorbed some of the energy from the core.

“Mission Progress: Catalyst Resonance Increased. Effigy Neutralized. Host Synchronization at 15%.”

“What aren’t you telling us, Evan?” Claire asked, stepping closer.

He hesitated. “I don’t know what that thing was,” he said finally. “But it’s connected to everything else—the mutations, the labs, the fragments. Whatever Project Genesis was, it’s still active.”

Claire studied him for a long moment before nodding. “Then we keep moving. We’ll figure this out as we go.”

That night, the group set up camp in one of the abandoned houses. While the others rested, Evan sat by the window, staring out at the darkened street. The system buzzed again, and a new message appeared.

“Memory Fragment Unlocked: Host Access Granted.”

Before Evan could react, his vision blurred, and he was plunged into a vivid memory. He stood in a sterile lab, rows of computers and equipment surrounding him. Figures in lab coats moved hurriedly, their voices overlapping.

“Subject E-32 shows the highest potential for synchronization. Proceed with Phase One.”

Evan’s perspective shifted, and he saw a young man—himself—strapped to a table, wires and monitors connected to his body. The pain in his eyes was unmistakable.

“You are the key,” a voice said, cold and clinical. “Genesis will succeed.”

Evan gasped as he snapped back to reality, his heart pounding.

“What the hell was that?” he whispered, his hands trembling. The system offered no answer, its presence fading into the background once more. The next morning, Evan gathered the group and explained their new destination.

“There’s something northeast of here,” he said. “A place that might have answers about all of this.”

Claire crossed her arms. “And how do you know that?”

“I just... know,” Evan replied, his voice steady. “I can’t explain it, but I need to see what’s there.”

After a tense moment, Claire nodded. “Fine. But if this is another death trap, we’re turning back.” With their course set, the group began their march once more, the shadow of the effigy lingering in their minds. Evan didn’t know what awaited them, but one thing was clear: the answers they sought were closer than ever.