The air was thick with tension as the group moved through the dimly lit corridors of the facility. Each footstep echoed off the cold, metallic walls, amplifying the silence that surrounded them. August’s heartbeat was the loudest sound in his ears, a constant reminder of the stakes they were up against. Every corner they turned, every door they approached, felt like they were inching closer to an uncertain fate.

The map displayed on August’s wrist interface gave them a rough outline of the facility, but it was still a labyrinth of winding hallways and rooms. They were only getting one shot at this, and there was no room for mistakes. Sabrina was somewhere in this maze, and they had to find her—before it was too late.

The system had been eerily quiet lately, offering only brief updates and occasional warnings about security systems. There was something unsettling about its silence. August had grown used to the constant stream of information, the feeling that he had an ever-present guide, but now it seemed to be holding back. He didn’t know if that was a good sign or a bad one.

“We need to keep moving,” Lara whispered from behind him, her voice a low hiss as she stayed close. Her face was tense, eyes darting from side to side as if she could sense something they couldn’t.

Cara, walking just ahead, glanced back at August, her expression tight with worry. “This place is too quiet. Something’s not right.”

Jude didn’t say anything. He hadn’t spoken much since their conversation earlier, his thoughts seemingly a closed book. August could feel the weight of their fractured relationship bearing down on him, but there was no time for that. They were here for one reason, and that reason was Sabrina. They had to focus.

August glanced at his wrist interface again, checking the map. “We’re getting closer. The room we’re looking for should be up ahead.”

They moved cautiously, stopping at every intersection and checking for guards. The facility was unusually quiet for a place of its size—no sounds of activity, no chatter, no footsteps echoing through the hallways. It was as though the place was abandoned, or worse, waiting for them.

As they neared a large door, August paused, studying the map once more. According to the blueprints, the room behind it was where Sabrina was being held. He reached up, tapping his wrist interface to activate the hacking module. The map updated in real-time, flashing red as the system detected multiple security measures in place. He frowned.

“I’ll have to override the system to get us through,” he murmured, fingers tapping rapidly on the interface. “Hold tight.”

A few seconds later, the door in front of them began to hum as the locks disengaged. August’s eyes flickered up to the others, his mind racing. “Stay alert. If anything goes wrong, we need to be ready to fight.”

The door slid open with a soft hiss, revealing a stark, sterile room. The lights flickered overhead, casting long shadows on the floor. It was a holding area, filled with rows of empty beds, machines, and cold, lifeless equipment. And at the far end of the room, through the glass window of a secured medical chamber, August could just make out the figure he had been searching for.

Sabrina.

She was lying motionless on a table, hooked up to various machines, her face pale and drawn. Her once vibrant presence was now a distant echo, as though life had drained out of her in the wake of whatever experiments had been done to her.

But before August could take a step forward, the sound of footsteps echoed from the hallway behind them. The group froze, adrenaline surging through their veins.

“Damn it,” Jude muttered, his eyes narrowing. “We’ve got company.”

August’s mind raced, the system flashing a warning. “Mercenaries incoming. Prepare for combat.”

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Before he could even react, the door at the far end of the room opened, and a group of mercenaries filed in, their guns raised and eyes scanning the area. They had been waiting for them.

“Move!” August shouted, instinct taking over. He dove to the side, pulling out his handgun, while Jude and Lara took positions behind nearby equipment. Cara was already moving, ducking low, her eyes scanning the room for any advantage.

The mercenaries advanced, their movements calculated, trained. They were professionals, and they knew how to clear a room. But they didn’t expect the group to fight back so quickly.

August tapped into the system, activating his newly unlocked skill. Explosive Trap Deployment flashed on his interface. He barely hesitated before deploying a series of traps across the room, setting them to trigger at the right moment. The system provided him with a countdown.

The first mercenary stepped into the trap’s proximity, and the room exploded with deafening force. A fiery blast ripped through the air, sending the nearest mercenaries flying backward. August’s heart pounded as he kept moving, ducking behind cover, firing as he went. The sound of gunfire rang in his ears, a sharp contrast to the chaos of the explosion.

Sabrina’s chamber was still locked, but August could see her through the glass, her figure barely stirring. The sight of her, vulnerable and helpless, spurred him on. He had to get to her, but the mercenaries weren’t going down without a fight.

Lara was quick, her movements fluid as she dispatched one of the mercenaries with a well-placed shot to the chest. Cara had already moved to a nearby computer terminal, trying to hack into the facility’s security systems to buy them some time. Jude, despite his earlier anger and frustration, was moving with surprising precision, taking down one mercenary after another with calculated shots.

August’s mind was in overdrive, every sense heightened. He couldn’t afford to lose control, not now. He needed to focus on the task at hand.

System alert: Zombies detected in the area.

August’s stomach dropped as the notification flashed across his interface. They had more problems than just the mercenaries now.

A low growl echoed through the hallway, followed by the unmistakable sound of fast-moving footsteps. The mercenaries paused, eyes widening as they turned to face the new threat. August’s heart sank as the first wave of zombies poured into the room, their bodies twitching and jerking as they surged toward the group.

These weren’t the slow, lumbering zombies they had encountered before. These were fast—faster than any zombies he had ever seen.

Sprinters.

“Shit,” August muttered under his breath. There was no time to hesitate now. The room was filling up with the infected, their movements quick and erratic. The mercenaries fired into the oncoming horde, but it was clear they were overwhelmed. They hadn’t expected this.

August didn’t wait to see how the mercenaries fared. He focused on the next phase of their plan—getting to Sabrina.

“Cara, keep the security systems busy!” he shouted. “We need a way out of here!”

Cara didn’t hesitate. She was already typing away at the terminal, her eyes focused and intent. “Working on it!”

Jude was covering the rear, making sure none of the zombies or mercenaries snuck up on them. The room had become a warzone, the noise of gunfire, explosions, and snarling zombies filling the air.

August’s wrist interface flashed, giving him the coordinates for Sabrina’s location. He knew the way. He sprinted toward the medical chamber, diving behind a row of equipment for cover.

The security system on the medical door was still intact, but he could hack it from here. His fingers moved with precision, the hacking module buzzing as it worked. The countdown on the terminal ticked away.

System alert: Security breach imminent. Lockdown protocol engaged.

Before he could finish the override, the door to Sabrina’s chamber started to close.

“No!” August cursed, sprinting forward. He leaped over a pile of debris, his heart in his throat as he reached the door. His hand slammed onto the panel, forcing it open with brute strength.

The room beyond was dimly lit, and Sabrina was still lying on the medical table, the machines beeping sporadically. But the moment August stepped inside, the air shifted—something was wrong.

The sound of a voice echoed in his ears, cold and unnervingly familiar.

System Alert: Sabrina’s life is in danger.

August’s stomach twisted as he turned toward Sabrina, the realization sinking in.

The countdown was just beginning, and he knew they had mere moments to save her.