The next morning, the safe house was eerily quiet. The air outside the cabin was still, the dense forest surrounding them a silent guardian against the dangers that lurked beyond. Inside, the survivors huddled around the small table, their faces illuminated by the faint glow of a lantern. The documents and data files they had recovered from the facility were spread out before them, but the weight of what they had learned the night before hung heavily in the air.

Corey rubbed his tired eyes, his mind racing as he tried to make sense of everything. They had a better understanding of what they were up against now, but that knowledge only made the situation direr. The enhanced creatures were more than just mutations—they were the product of deliberate experimentation, a weaponised version of the virus that was spreading faster than anyone had anticipated.

“We don’t have much time,” Dr. Moloi said, his voice breaking the silence. He stood by the window, staring out into the forest as if expecting the creatures to appear at any moment. “The virus is evolving, and if we don’t act soon, it will be unstoppable.”

D’Souza leaned forward, his arms resting on the table as he studied the maps and documents in front of him. “You said there’s a weakness in the virus. Something we can use to stop it. What did you find in the data?”

Dr. Moloi turned to face the group, his expression grim. “The virus can’t adapt to extreme temperatures—both heat and cold. The experiments show that the enhanced subjects struggled to maintain their regenerative abilities in environments with drastic temperature changes. It weakens them, makes them vulnerable.”

Palesa frowned, crossing her arms over her chest. “So what’s the plan? We lure them into a freezer and hope for the best?”

“It’s more complicated than that,” Dr. Moloi said, shaking his head. “We need to create a large-scale temperature shift—something that can affect a wide area and keep the virus from adapting. There’s a facility not far from here, built into the mountains. It was originally designed as a research centre for the VX-9 project, but it’s also equipped with temperature control systems—massive refrigeration units that could create a cold zone large enough to stop the spread of the virus.”

Corey’s mind began to turn over the possibilities. “So, if we can get to the facility, we could use the refrigeration units to weaken the creatures and stop the virus from spreading?”

Dr. Moloi nodded. “That’s the idea. But the facility is most likely in rough shape. We’d need to restore power and recalibrate the systems, and we don’t know if the enhanced creatures are already there.”

D’Souza leaned back in his chair, his brow furrowed. “It’s a risk. But if it works, we could slow the spread of the virus and buy ourselves some time.”

“We don’t have any other options,” Corey said, glancing at the others. “We need to take that risk. If we don’t, there won’t be any place left for us to run.”

Ntlentle, who had been listening quietly, looked up from the map she had been studying. Her expression was tense, but there was a fire in her eyes. “We should do it. It’s the only chance we have. And we can’t wait for those creatures to find us here.”

Ornelas, sitting beside her, nodded in agreement. “We’ve come this far. We can’t back down now.”

Dr. Moloi exhaled, the weight of the decision heavy on his shoulders. “Then it’s settled. We head for the mountain facility.”

Palesa stood up, gathering her things. “We’ll need to move fast. If the creatures find us before we get there, we’ll be trapped.”

D’Souza nodded, his face set in determination. “We leave at first light. Everyone, get what rest you can. It’s going to be a long trek.”

As the group dispersed, Corey lingered near the window, staring out at the forest. His thoughts drifted back to everything they had been through—the loss of Sanctuary, the horrors of the facility, the truth about the virus. The weight of it all threatened to crush him, but he knew they couldn’t afford to break now.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

“Corey?”

He turned to see Ntlentle standing behind him, her expression soft but concerned. “You alright?”

Corey forced a smile, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just... thinking.”

She stepped closer, her presence grounding him. “It’s a lot to take in. I’m still trying to wrap my head around it all.”

“Same,” Corey admitted. “I just keep thinking about all the people we’ve lost. Everyone at Sanctuary. I still don’t know if my parents are alive. And now, we’re facing something even worse.”

Ntlentle nodded, her gaze distant as she stared out into the trees. “We’ve lost so much already, but we can’t let that stop us. My father... I thought he was dead, but we found him. Maybe we’ll find your parents too. And I know my dad made mistakes, but he’s trying to make things right. We all are.”

Corey looked at her, admiring the quiet strength in her voice. Despite everything she had been through—the weight of her father’s involvement in the project, the danger that surrounded them—she remained resolute and kind.

“Thank you for saying that. And for everything else,” Corey said quietly. “I don’t know if we’d have made it this far without you.”

Ntlentle smiled, a small but genuine expression that warmed him in a way he hadn’t felt in a long time. “We’ve got each other’s backs, right?”

“Right,” Corey said, his heart feeling lighter for the first time in days. “Always.”

***

The next morning, the group set out at dawn, the first light of the sun casting long shadows over the forest as they made their way toward the mountain facility. Dr. Moloi led the way, guiding them through the dense undergrowth with the confidence of someone who had spent years navigating the area. D’Souza and Palesa stayed close behind, keeping a vigilant watch for any sign of danger, while Corey, Ornelas, and Ntlentle brought up the rear.

The journey was gruelling, the terrain rough and unforgiving as they climbed higher into the mountains. The air grew thinner, colder, as they ascended, and Corey could feel the strain in his muscles as they pushed on. But they couldn’t afford to slow down—not with the threat of the enhanced creatures still looming.

After hours of climbing, the dense forest began to thin, revealing the rocky slopes of the mountainside. And there, perched high above them, was the facility—a sprawling complex built into the cliffs, its towering walls partially obscured by the mist that clung to the peaks.

“That’s it,” Dr. Moloi said, pointing toward the facility. “The main refrigeration units are inside. We just need to get the power back on and recalibrate the systems.”

“Looks quiet,” D’Souza said, scanning the area with binoculars. “But that doesn’t mean it’s empty.”

Corey felt a knot of tension form in his stomach as they approached the facility’s main entrance. The building loomed over them, its weathered exterior covered in vines and moss. The doors were rusted, but still intact, and as they entered, the temperature dropped noticeably.

The interior was cold and dark, the air thick with the scent of mildew and decay. The walls were lined with old machinery and control panels, most of which had been abandoned for years. But as they ventured deeper into the facility, Corey couldn’t shake the feeling that they weren’t alone.

“We need to find the control room,” Dr. Moloi said, his voice echoing through the empty halls. “That’s where we’ll be able to access the main systems.”

They moved cautiously through the facility, their footsteps echoing off the metal walls. Every sound seemed amplified in the silence, every creak and groan of the old building setting their nerves on edge.

Finally, they reached the control room—a large, circular chamber filled with rows of consoles and monitors. The screens were dark, the machinery dormant, but the faint hum of residual power still coursed through the walls.

“We’re here,” Dr. Moloi said, moving to the main console. “Let’s get to work.”

As Dr. Moloi and Palesa began working to restore power to the refrigeration units, Corey kept watch at the door, his senses on high alert. The cold air pricked at his skin, and the silence in the facility felt oppressive, as if something was waiting just beyond the walls.

And then, out of the corner of his eye, Corey saw movement—a shadow flitting across the hallway outside the control room.

He froze, his heart skipping a beat. “We’re not alone,” he whispered, gripping his machete tightly.

Ornelas stepped up beside him, his bow drawn. “What is it?”

Before Corey could answer, the lights in the control room flickered, casting the room in an eerie glow. The screens on the monitors blinked to life, showing a series of distorted images—blurry figures moving through the facility, their eyes glowing with that familiar, sickly green light.

“The creatures,” Ntlentle whispered, her voice trembling. “They’re here.”

The group sprang into action, weapons drawn as they prepared for the worst. The temperature in the room dropped even further, the cold biting into their skin as the creatures closed in.

“We need more time!” Dr. Moloi shouted, his hands flying over the controls as he worked to restore the refrigeration units. “I’m almost there!”

But time was running out. The creatures were moving fast, their distorted forms visible on the monitors as they approached the control room. Corey’s heart pounded in his chest, his body tensing as he prepared for the fight of their lives.