“How much farther is it? Sergei!”

“Quiet, idiot, do you want them to hear us?” he hissed looking back at the man.

Chernov sighed. “The wall map made it seem smaller, that’s all.”

“It’s not that far now. Actually, it should be right around here.”

Their joint journey through the narrow, concrete corridors had revealed a sorry sight of death and madness. The man they had to put down was not alone at all. Many had succumbed to the Deterrent. What had once been a hostage situation they could control had turned into a full-scale outbreak. And we handed it to whoever was behind this? They played us like a damn fiddle! That was probably the idea. Release the Deterrent and we take the fall. Bastards the lot of them!

His thoughts were interrupted by a strong grip on his shoulder. He hadn’t been paying attention and had nearly walked them right into the open arms of waiting Mortans. The giveaway was the mutated black bubbled skin forming, merging with cloth and skin. They all looked dead to the world with their icy, hunger-glazed stare. The silence was palpable with neither moving first, one stalked to the other. Until eventually something had to give.

One of them launched itself at Sergei. Its speed nearly had him. He could see the glow in their eyes and veins as black claws grappled with the barrel of his gun. Chernov soon equalised the matter as a shot to the infected’s unprotected head sent them sprawling. The others were up now. Sergei sprayed aiming for any part of the body that could slow them down. No way we have enough bullets to put them down. “Chernov, start running.”

The other man didn’t need to be told twice. Another Mortan threw itself into the fray but this time Sergei triggered his core and stumbled backwards, twisting he propelled himself down the corridor. Forcing the aether’s power to augment his every step. The pressure he applied left cracks on the floor. Chernov was waiting down the corridor, motioning with his hands.

This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

“Hurry up, man!”

Sergei soon barrelled past the man and had to focus hard to slow down. And by the time he stopped lurching this way and that, he managed to put his back to a wall and bend over. He heaved the contents of his stomach. He looked up where Chernov had been and saw the man waddle his way looking rather smug. “Sealed them off with that emergency door. Must mean this is one of those areas. High security.”

“That is rather fortunate. Dare I ask, how many shots do you think we have?”

“Not enough to get us off this rock if that’s what you’re asking. It’s not like we can outrun them either. Those cores man. I mean you’ll be fine. Me though.” Chernov shrugged, “I’m pretty fucked.”

“You don’t want this.”

“I’ll be the judge of that. Are you ready? Don’t know how long that door is going to hold them, especially if they’re persistent.” They both looked back and could see growing dents.

They really don’t know when to quit. “I’m ready, lead the way,” said Sergei gesturing the man to take the lead.

Chernov’s statement of high security hadn’t been completely incorrect. As it turns out the long corridor they had run down had led them to the one place they probably wanted nothing to do with. The faded sign sat above a metal windowed door. It had a keypad next to it and a comms system.

“Orcus,” said Chernov.

“Not our people,” said Sergei. “Privately owned. Corpers.”

Chernov groaned. “Do you think they’ll let us in?”

“Not like we can go back.”

Chernov looked back and his face paled. “We’re fucked if we can’t get in.”

“I know. Talk to them, you’re the security guy.”

Chernov approached the comm system first and pressed a button. “This is Sergeant Chernov. I’ve got with me one of the conspirators responsible for this outbreak,” he spat the words with such venom that Sergei did a double take. But behind the man’s back, he had crossed his fingers. Bold strategy. Chernov, let’s pray they take prisoners and don’t just shoot me dead.

“Is that so,” said a deep male voice. “And what do you expect us to do?”

“This is the prison, correct?”

“Well, yes.”

“Then I have a prisoner.”

“He’s clean.”

“I’d be dead if he wasn’t,” said Chernov.

“Fine. But you better not try anything. I’m sending someone your way to let you in.”

Chernov stepped back and scratched at the back of his neck. “I’m sorry to do it this way.”

“No, need. I’d probably do the same, honestly.”