The next morning, the group was packed and ready to go. They stood outside the facility, the air cold and sharp with the early dawn chill. The mist clung to the mountains, wrapping the landscape in an eerie silence.
Corey adjusted his pack, glancing at Ntlentle, who stood beside him, her expression calm but focused. Ornelas was behind them, his bow slung over his shoulder, while D’Souza and Palesa were double-checking their weapons. Dr. Moloi brought up the rear, his pack filled with tools and equipment they might need to access the facility.
They set off into the mountains, the path steep and treacherous as they climbed higher. The landscape around them was harsh, jagged rocks and thick forests that offered little in the way of shelter. The journey was slow, but they moved with purpose, driven by the knowledge that the fate of whatever remained of the world might depend on what they found at the facility.
Hours passed, the sun climbing higher in the sky as they made their way deeper into the mountains. The air grew colder, and the wind picked up, howling through the narrow valleys and pushing against them with icy fingers.
“We’re getting close,” Dr. Moloi said, his voice barely audible over the wind. “The facility should be just over the next ridge.”
But as they reached the top of the ridge, Corey’s heart sank. Below them, nestled in a narrow valley, was the facility—a massive, bunker-like structure built into the side of the mountain. But it wasn’t the facility that sent a wave of dread washing over him.
It was the fact that the entrance had been completely caved in.
The reinforced doors were buried under tons of rock and debris, the result of some catastrophic event. The facility itself looked intact, but there was no way in—not without heavy equipment and time they didn’t have.
“Damn it,” D’Souza muttered, his face grim as he scanned the blocked entrance. “How are we supposed to get in there?”
“There’s another way in,” Dr. Moloi offered. “A service tunnel on the far side of the facility. It’s smaller, but it might still be intact. If we can find it, we can use it to access the lower levels.”
“Then we go around,” Palesa said, already moving toward the path that would take them to the other side.
The group followed, making their way around the facility’s perimeter. The wind howled louder now, and Corey’s sense of unease grew with every step.
Finally, they reached the far side of the facility, where a narrow, half-buried tunnel entrance was visible through the snow and debris.
“This is it,” Dr. Moloi said, pulling out a flashlight and shining it into the tunnel. “It’ll be tight, but we can make it through.”
Corey took a deep breath, steeling himself. “Let’s go.”
One by one, they entered the tunnel, the darkness swallowing them as they descended deeper into the mountain. The air was cold and stale, and the walls were lined with rusted pipes and wires. The ground beneath their feet was uneven, littered with debris from the cave-in.
The deeper they went, the colder it became. Corey could feel the weight of the mountain pressing down on them, the oppressive silence broken only by the sound of their footsteps and the occasional drip of water from the ceiling.
After what felt like hours, they finally reached a heavy metal door at the end of the tunnel. Dr. Moloi stepped forward, inspecting the door carefully before pulling out a set of tools and working on the lock.
“Give me a minute,” he muttered, his hands steady as he worked. “This lock is busted, but I think I can get it open.”
Corey stood back, his heart pounding in his chest. He could feel the weight of the moment—the sense that whatever was behind that door would change everything. Whether it would be for better or worse, he didn’t know.
Finally, with a soft click, the lock gave way, and the door creaked open.
The air that rushed out was freezing, sending a chill down Corey’s spine. Beyond the door was a long, dark corridor, the walls lined with the decaying remnants of the facility’s past. Old wires hung from the ceiling like cobwebs, and the floor was littered with dust and debris. The cold air that rushed out was tinged with a metallic scent, the smell of old machinery and something darker—decay.
Corey exchanged a glance with Ntlentle. Her face was tense, but there was no hesitation in her eyes. She gripped her blade tightly, ready for whatever lay ahead. Ornelas, standing beside her, gave a firm nod, his bow at the ready.
“Let’s move,” Corey said quietly, his breath visible in the freezing air.
One by one, the group stepped through the door and into the dark corridor, their flashlights flickering as they illuminated the path ahead. The cold was biting, more intense than anything they had felt on the surface. It seemed to sap the strength from their limbs as they moved deeper into the abandoned facility.
The corridor was narrow and claustrophobic, the walls lined with rusting pipes that dripped occasionally, echoing in the stillness. The only sound was the crunch of their boots on the dusty floor and the occasional groan of the facility settling deeper into the mountain.
Dr. Moloi led the way, his flashlight sweeping the walls as he searched for signs of the research lab they were looking for. His face was tense, his expression unreadable, though Corey could tell he was deeply uneasy.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
"How far down do we need to go?" Palesa asked, her voice low, as if she was afraid to disturb whatever was lurking in the dark.
"The research labs should be in the lower levels," Dr. Moloi replied, his eyes never leaving the corridor ahead. "If we can access the main control room, we’ll have a better idea of what we’re dealing with. The stabilising agent will be stored in the highest security lab."
"That’s where we’ll find answers," D’Souza added, scanning the shadows with his pistol raised. "Let’s hope we’re not too late."
As they continued, Corey’s sense of dread deepened. The air grew colder and the silence heavier, the oppressive weight of the mountain bearing down on them. Every step felt like they were walking into the jaws of something ancient and terrible. He couldn’t shake the feeling that they were not alone.
Suddenly, there was a soft clatter behind them—a loose pipe rattling against the wall. Corey whipped around, his heart pounding, his machete raised. The others froze, their weapons at the ready.
"What was that?" Ornelas whispered, his voice tight with fear.
Corey held his breath, listening intently, but all he could hear was the echo of the rattle fading into the distance. For a moment, everything was still, and then…
A low growl echoed through the corridor, coming from somewhere deeper within the facility.
“They’re here,” Ntlentle said, her voice a whisper, her eyes wide with fear but also hardened with resolve.
Corey’s stomach tightened. The creatures—they had followed them inside.
“We have to keep moving,” Dr. Moloi urged, picking up the pace. “If we get to the control room, we can seal the lower levels. It’s the only way to stop them from reaching us.”
The group hurried forward, their footsteps echoing down the cold, metallic hallways. The growling grew louder, more insistent, as if the creatures were closing in. The sound of something scraping against the walls sent shivers down Corey’s spine.
The corridor eventually opened into a large central chamber, its high ceiling filled with exposed beams and ancient machinery. In the centre of the room was a massive console, its screens long since shattered, but the power cables running from the ceiling hummed faintly with life.
“This is it,” Dr. Moloi said, rushing to the console. “I need to bring the systems online. That should give us access to the security doors and allow us to isolate the labs.”
Corey, D’Souza, and Ornelas fanned out, keeping their eyes on the entrances to the chamber. The growling was getting closer. Whatever was out there knew they were here, and it wasn’t going to give them much time.
“Come on, come on…” Dr. Moloi muttered under his breath as he worked, his fingers flying over the dusty keyboard.
The lights in the chamber flickered once, twice, then came to life. The console beeped, and a low hum reverberated through the room as the facility’s dormant systems began to power up.
"Got it," Dr. Moloi said, his voice triumphant but tense. "I’ve isolated the labs and activated the security doors. We’re locked in, and the lower levels are sealed."
"Good," D’Souza said, still scanning the shadows. "But that’s not going to stop them from trying to get through."
"How long do we have?" Ntlentle asked, her voice tight with urgency.
"Not long," Dr. Moloi admitted. "We have to move quickly. The stabilising agent should be in one of the secure labs just beyond this room. If it’s still here, we’ll find it."
Corey nodded, adrenaline flooding his system. "Then let’s go."
The group moved toward the far side of the chamber, where a reinforced door marked with heavy security symbols stood slightly ajar. The growling was louder now, echoing through the corridors like a haunting promise of violence.
Corey’s hand tightened around his machete as they approached the door. Ornelas knocked an arrow, ready to fire at a moment’s notice. Every sense was on high alert, the tension between them thick enough to cut through.
Dr. Moloi reached the door first, his hands trembling slightly as he pushed it open. The room beyond was dark, illuminated only by the flickering lights overhead. A row of long, sterile tables filled the centre of the room, and against the back wall was a glass case filled with vials and syringes—the remnants of the facility’s research.
"There," Dr. Moloi said, pointing to the glass case. "That’s where the stabilising agent will be stored."
Palesa and Ntlentle rushed forward, examining the vials inside the case. "It’s still here," Palesa said, her voice filled with relief. "We’ve found it."
Ntlentle pulled one of the vials from the case, holding it up to the light. The liquid inside shimmered faintly, a pale blue substance that seemed to glow in the dim light. "This is it," she said, her voice filled with awe. "The stabilising agent."
Corey felt a surge of hope—this was it, their chance to stop the virus from evolving further. But before they could celebrate, a deafening crash echoed through the facility, followed by a guttural roar that made the hair on the back of Corey’s neck stand on end.
"They’ve breached the door," D’Souza said, his voice grim. "They’re coming."
Corey’s heart raced as the walls around them shuddered. The creatures had broken through the security doors, and they were closing in fast.
"We need to get out of here," Dr. Moloi said urgently, grabbing the remaining vials from the case and stuffing them into his pack. "Now!"
"Go!" Corey shouted, leading the way out of the lab and back into the central chamber.
But as they entered the chamber, Corey’s blood ran cold. The creatures were there, emerging from the darkened corridors like shadows come to life. Their eyes glowed with that sickly green light, their twisted forms barely recognisable as human anymore.
They moved with terrifying speed, their snarls filling the room as they closed in on the group.
"Keep moving!" D’Souza shouted, firing his pistol at the closest creature. The bullets slowed it down, but it wasn’t enough. The creatures were relentless, driven by a hunger that couldn’t be satisfied.
Corey swung his machete as one of the creatures lunged at him, the blade slicing through its arm. It shrieked in pain, but it didn’t stop. It kept coming, its glowing eyes locked on Corey with murderous intent.
"Get to the tunnel!" Palesa shouted, covering their escape as she fired round after round at the advancing creatures.
Ornelas loosed arrow after arrow, his hands shaking from fear but his aim steady. "There’s too many!" he yelled, his voice panicked.
Ntlentle stabbed one of the creatures in the side with her blade, pushing it back long enough for them to make it to the tunnel entrance. They scrambled inside, the cold, narrow space offering a brief moment of safety as the creatures struggled to follow.
"They’ll tear through this place in minutes," D’Souza said, his face pale as he glanced back at the collapsing door. "We need to seal the tunnel behind us."
Dr. Moloi fumbled with his tools, his hands trembling as he worked to seal the door. "I’ll do what I can, but we have to move fast. This whole place is coming down."
The ground beneath them shook, the facility groaning under the strain as the creatures pounded against the walls. Corey’s mind raced—this wasn’t just about escaping anymore. They had the stabilising agent, but they had to get it out of here before it was too late.
"Keep moving!" Corey shouted, leading the group through the narrow tunnel. "We can’t let them trap us down here."
The tunnel twisted and turned, the air growing colder and the walls more unstable with each step. The sounds of the creatures faded behind them, but the sense of danger never left.
Finally, after what felt like hours, they emerged into the open air. The wind howled through the mountains, and the sun was beginning to set, casting the landscape in a deep, foreboding shadow.
"We made it," Ornelas breathed, his voice filled with disbelief.