Warning:
This chapter contains slightly disturbing descriptions of gore that might be uncomfortable for certain readers. Please read at your own discretion.
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[Jared]
The long hallway which was once filled with blaring sirens and flashes from the emergency light, was momentarily plunged into an eerie silent and pitch darkness. As Jared groped blindly in the dark to find his way toward the balcony of the fourth floor, all he could hear were the thumps of his heart as it frantically beat against his ribcage.
Amidst the deafening silence, Jared could hear nothing other than his racing heartbeats and the shuffling of his feet as he cautiously moved closely along the wall on the left side of the hallway. Vaguely, his senses began to play tricks on him in the absence of light. At one point, he thought that his eyes were closed the entire time, and on the other, additional shuffling of feet from somewhere up ahead.
The former turned out to be simply induced due to the lack of any form of light source, and his eyes were indeed opened the entire time. The latter, however, was beginning to be more and more difficult to play off as a figment of the imagination. The shuffling sounds he heard seemed to be drawing closer and were not in sync with his own footsteps.
CRASH
Jared bumped into a small table, and the vase that was on it fell and subsequently shattered.
Just then, a strong breeze howled outside the facility. The dark clouds that loomed in the night sky were blown away by the wind, revealing a soft glow of the moonlight which streamed brightly through the large glass windows.
It illuminated the hallways that were once plunged into pitch darkness, casting long, ethereal shadows on the cold, tiled floors. The atmosphere was both eerie and captivating, as the building seemed to come alive under the enchanting embrace of the moonlight.
But fuelled with fear, Jared spared no moment to stare in awe at the scene. It was obvious to him that he was not the only one on the fourth floor. Running toward the balcony, he attempted to open the large glass doors that led to it but to no avail.
GROWL
Jared looked toward the source of the sound. Two zombies were shuffling clumsily yet quickly in his direction.
“Shit.”
Jared glanced out of the window and then around him.
‘This balcony is probably the only safe way out. I don’t know where the others are but I’m definitely on my own now… I won’t be able to take on two of them at the same time and I don’t have the key to unlock the doors to the balcony. What should I do-’ Jared paused upon spotting the small table he had just knocked over.
“Yes, this should do just- Ah!”
One of the zombies nearly caught Jared by the arm. Jumping out of the way, Jared grabbed the small table and made sure to keep a distance of a few feet between him and the zombies. As the zombies shuffled closer, the rays of moonlight from the window cast light on the zombies.
“N-No way…” Jared gasped in disbelief as he backed further away.
Jared felt his heart sink as he looked at the second zombie which was crawling slowly on the floor. Despite the disheveled hair, the level of deterioration of the flesh, the number of bones that painfully protruded out from various spots of the body, and the completely crooked body- Jared once knew the person.
Despite their brief acquaintances, Jared felt a pang of sorrow. He did suspect that it could be the case, but he has been in complete denial the entire time.
“I’d hoped that you simply ran away… Samantha…”
But there was no sign of recognition at the sound of her own name. It was not as if Jared wanted her to still be alive with her body in such a state. If anything, he was glad that Samantha was no longer conscious to feel the excruciating pain from her wounds. Nonetheless, it was the first time Jared had witnessed someone he was personally close with to be in a broken and zombified state.
The groan of the other zombie brought Jared back to his senses. Although the other zombie was limping towards Jared, it was not in any better shape. With a disheveled look and limps twisted in odd angles, it was clear that this other zombie endured a similar impact as Samantha.
‘But who is he?’ Jared thought as he observed the zombie while holding up the small table as a form of shield and keeping a safe distance away, ‘I can’t really see since his clothes are matted with blood, but it looks fitting and black, similar to what- Oh… Was Boyan an Asian man? Brien and the others didn’t tell us much about his appearance but based on the size, this zombie looked like it could have been lean and maybe muscular. The deterioration of flesh isn’t as bad as Samantha’s… Or am I jumping to conclusions?’
CRASH
“Shit,” Jared instantly checked on both ends of the long hallway.
Although the crash sounded relatively close, there were no signs of other zombies. Even so, Jared was certain that every moment he continued to stay would only increase the chances of him falling into fatal danger.
Jared stilled his frantically beating heart and sighed.
“I can’t stay here any longer… I’m sorry, Samantha,” Jared said sadly as he circled around both her and assumedly Boyan, “Thank you for being my friend.”
Using the small table he had, Jared started hammering down on the door latch. After a few swings, the latch broke off, and the glass doors swung open as another strong breeze blew.
Jared cautiously climbed up the ledge of the balcony and looked out towards the closest tree branch. It was a good three feet away. He then observed the vast grounds below. There were no zombies at all.
‘All the zombies in the area must have been drawn into the facility due to the alarms blaring earlier. Maybe once this is all over, I’ll have to find out if the others have made it out alive and how exactly the zombies broke in. Until then…’
Jared looked back at Samantha for a final time.
“Farewell, my friend.”
[Jared]“Hah… Hah…”Scenes of trees whizzed past in a fury of blur as Jared sprinted as fast as his legs carried him. He paid no mind to the minor sprain he had obtained from jumping the three feet gap between the balcony and a nearby tree, and then clumsily climbing down the sturdy yet rough trunk. It was running as if he was being chased by the hounds of hell.‘Well, not hounds but zombies… But either way, death would come very painfully. I just hope that the others are alright. With the horde of zombies on practically every floor, the others are either already dead or have long escaped.’At that thought, Jared felt his heart throb painfully against his chest as all the air within his body seemed to be sucked out. But Jared simply reasoned that his body was not fit to endure such a burst of energy usage. In fact, the last time he ever did something physical was when there were compulsory PE classes in school.“Hah… Hah…” Jared smiled despite feeling his throat burn.‘I remember not
[Jared][Back in the past…]“Hello, everyone. It’s Jared, and this is World Crafter. I know it has been a long while since I’ve last streamed or even uploaded anything online, but my exam is finally over! I’ll start playing more regularly from today onwards!”Jared double-checked on his play settings, before smiling into the camera again.“I caught little snippets of the new mob and biome the game creators have made and I can’t wait to play in a new world… in a beta version, to be exact. Hahaha.”------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[[Super chat]][Welcome back!][Miss you! uwu][Jaredddddd! Glad that you’re back!][The new mobs? Especially The Thing? Ughhh][Bruh… Doesn’t he know that the game creators have beefed up the hostile mobs really high af?][Lmao. I wonder if he’s going to explore the Dark City~][He just returned… There’s no way he’ll immediately go to the Dark City, right?][Why not? Just cheese it by
[Mike][17 November 2021, Wednesday]The air was crisp as the late autumn leaves crunched beneath Mike’s combat boots, echoing through the dense forest. With each step, he moved cautiously, blending into the muted palette of earthly tones. The forest seemed to hold its breath in the faint early morning sunlight that was mostly blocked out by the tall trees.In the days after escaping the zombie-invaded facility, Mike had grown accustomed to the muted and barren landscape of the forest. The blaring alarms, fire, and explosions at the facility had drawn all the zombies within the county towards it. Out here and quite a distance away from the facility, there were seemingly no zombies remaining. ‘It would probably take a long time for those zombies to naturally wander out from the facility- assuming that they remained in one piece after those countless explosions.’Even so, he found an unusual sense of discomfort in the current silence of the forest. The absence of the usual rustle of le
[Mike][18 November 2021, Thursday--- the following day]Even though it was the afternoon, the forest was dimly lit by the muted sunlight penetrating the thick canopy of trees. If one wasn't particularly attentive to the time, the day could easily be mistaken for evening. The occasional cool breeze of autumn that swept through the forest only added to the illusion, contributing to the atmospheric ambiguity of the surroundings.Scrape, Scrape, Scrape.Mike looked up towards the canopy of trees. The scant sunlight that managed to filter through the forest canopy resembled twinkling lights as the passing breeze playfully teased the leaves.‘Have I ever felt this calm during these recent weeks we’ve been traversing this dense forest?’“Hm…” David grumbled beside Mike.Scrape, Scrape.Adamant to not look at his grumpy comrade, Mike wiggled slightly away without ever getting up. It was the first time since leaving the facility that he had time to appreciate the intricate pattern that the ca
[Jared][18 November 2021, Thursday--- that evening]The flames of the campfire flickered as its embers emitted warmth in the midst of the cool night air. The flames cast a soft glow in the clearing of the forest that was plunged into an almost pitch darkness. The small group was huddled together, their faces illuminated by the flames of the campfire as they awaited for the rabbit stew to cook over the fire. The quiet settled over the group like a heavy blanket. It was not unsettling nor unnerving in any sense, but rather a shared acknowledgment of the challenges that lay ahead. Earlier in the day, there had been scattered conversations as they foraged for supplies or tended to their makeshift shelter. But now, as the darkness enveloped the landscape, a somber mood descended upon the group.Jared glanced at the small group gathered around the fire.David was busy filing off the makeshift spear he had carved out of a long branch earlier that day, while Mike continued to watch over the
[21 November 2021, Sunday]The small group moved cautiously through the dense forest, their footsteps muffled by a carpet of fallen leaves. The dark canopy overhead swallowed the feeble light of the moon, casting an eerie glow on the uneven path beneath their feet. Hours of traveling in the oppressive silence and pitch-black darkness had left the group both physically exhausted and mentally drained. Every rustle of leaves or snap of a twig sent shivers down their spines, their senses heightened by the unknown lurking in the shadows.As they trudged on through the silent forest, a sense of isolation enveloped them. The air was thick with an unspoken tension, and each member of the group clutched their makeshift weapons a little tighter. The only sounds that accompanied them were the muted crunch of leaves and the occasional whisper of the wind through the trees.Many hours later, just as their weariness threatened to overwhelm them, the forest seemed to come alive. Birds chirped overhe
[Jared][21 November 2021, Sunday--- Noon]As the group approached the center of the town, the atmosphere became increasingly eerie. The once lively streets now stood still, devoid of any signs of life. The abandoned buildings loomed over them, casting long shadows that seemed to whisper secrets of the town's mysterious past.Not even Brien, the leader of the former military personnel, could shake off the unsettling feeling that tightened his chest. "This doesn't make any sense," he muttered as he glanced at both Mike and David, who also seemed to be at a loss for words.Everyone in the group exchanged nervous glances but continued on their journey, their curiosity overcoming their apprehension. But as they neared the town square, a heavy silence hung in the air. Unlike earlier, the abandoned buildings and houses looked worn down and vegetation have long started to grow along the structures. In only the course of a few months of the zombie infestation, it contradictorily looked like
Warning: This chapter contains disturbing descriptions of violence and gore that might be uncomfortable for certain readers. Please read at your own discretion.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------In a once peaceful forest, where birds of varying species chirped cheerily high up in the trees and small, young animals growled playfully as they ran about in glee, there existed a hidden haven untouched by the human presence for decades. Deep within this forest, where sunlight filtered through the dense canopy to dapple the forest floor with shifting patterns of light and shadow, lay a serene and lively playground for wildlife.The ancient trees stood tall and proud, their branches reaching towards the sky like outstretched arms embracing the heavens. Moss clung to thei
Warning: This chapter contains slightly disturbing descriptions of gore and violence that might be uncomfortable for certain readers. Please read at your own discretion.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------[Doctor Heine’s personal perspective and monologue of his thoughts and memory]Ted Kaliosky's words hit me like a sudden punch to the gut, leaving me reeling with a mix of guilt and apprehension. My mind raced as I tried to comprehend the implications of his stern reprimand. What had I done to warrant such direct intervention from the CEO himself?“I... I understand,” I managed to choke out, my voice betraying a hint of unease. “But the situation with Jared... it's more complex than initially anticipated. I believed that swift action was necessary to uncover the
Warning: This chapter contains disturbing and unhealthy thoughts and actions of manipulation that might be triggering for certain readers. Please read at your own discretion.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------[Doctor Heine’s personal perspective and monologue of his thoughts and memory]Samantha was one of the few people Gemini Enterprise had assigned to pose as staff members and patients at the facility. But of all the people sent, I was closest with Samantha as she was previously my secretary at the Gemini Enterprise laboratory. Moreover, she was a diligent and fiercely strict person- definitely someone worthy of overseeing my schedule and managing the miscellaneous matters that concerned very little of my actual work.Of course, my decision to include her in m
Warning: This chapter contains disturbing and unhealthy thoughts and actions of manipulation that might be triggering for certain readers. Please read at your own discretion.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------[Doctor Heine’s personal perspective and monologue of his thoughts and memory]As a man of science, I have often been described as one who is indifferent and emotionless – not that that ever bothered me in the very least. Being driven by the desire to acquire more knowledge and curiosity to seek what more that vast universe had to offer that had yet to be discovered by science, I deemed it a waste of time to invest my precious time in matters of the heart. Thus, I've always taken pride in being an objective and rational thinker.My days were consumed by the
Warning: This chapter contains disturbing descriptions of gore and unhealthy thoughts of self-harm that might be uncomfortable for certain readers. Please read at your own discretion.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------[Lyra]In the dense thicket of the forest, where sunlight barely pierced through the thick canopy Lyra found herself trapped in a nightmare of constant pain and despair.Every breath she took was a struggle- each inhale was a sharp stab of agony. Her eyes were glazed over with pain and exhaustion. The hike, if it could even be considered as one, was torturous and an incessant test of her endurance to pain. It felt like she was stepping on broken glass shards, except the pain was not limited to just the soles of her feet but radiated throughout her e
Warning: This chapter contains disturbing descriptions of violence and gore that might be uncomfortable for certain readers. Please read at your own discretion.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------In a once peaceful forest, where birds of varying species chirped cheerily high up in the trees and small, young animals growled playfully as they ran about in glee, there existed a hidden haven untouched by the human presence for decades. Deep within this forest, where sunlight filtered through the dense canopy to dapple the forest floor with shifting patterns of light and shadow, lay a serene and lively playground for wildlife.The ancient trees stood tall and proud, their branches reaching towards the sky like outstretched arms embracing the heavens. Moss clung to thei
[Jared][21 November 2021, Sunday--- Noon]As the group approached the center of the town, the atmosphere became increasingly eerie. The once lively streets now stood still, devoid of any signs of life. The abandoned buildings loomed over them, casting long shadows that seemed to whisper secrets of the town's mysterious past.Not even Brien, the leader of the former military personnel, could shake off the unsettling feeling that tightened his chest. "This doesn't make any sense," he muttered as he glanced at both Mike and David, who also seemed to be at a loss for words.Everyone in the group exchanged nervous glances but continued on their journey, their curiosity overcoming their apprehension. But as they neared the town square, a heavy silence hung in the air. Unlike earlier, the abandoned buildings and houses looked worn down and vegetation have long started to grow along the structures. In only the course of a few months of the zombie infestation, it contradictorily looked like
[21 November 2021, Sunday]The small group moved cautiously through the dense forest, their footsteps muffled by a carpet of fallen leaves. The dark canopy overhead swallowed the feeble light of the moon, casting an eerie glow on the uneven path beneath their feet. Hours of traveling in the oppressive silence and pitch-black darkness had left the group both physically exhausted and mentally drained. Every rustle of leaves or snap of a twig sent shivers down their spines, their senses heightened by the unknown lurking in the shadows.As they trudged on through the silent forest, a sense of isolation enveloped them. The air was thick with an unspoken tension, and each member of the group clutched their makeshift weapons a little tighter. The only sounds that accompanied them were the muted crunch of leaves and the occasional whisper of the wind through the trees.Many hours later, just as their weariness threatened to overwhelm them, the forest seemed to come alive. Birds chirped overhe
[Jared][18 November 2021, Thursday--- that evening]The flames of the campfire flickered as its embers emitted warmth in the midst of the cool night air. The flames cast a soft glow in the clearing of the forest that was plunged into an almost pitch darkness. The small group was huddled together, their faces illuminated by the flames of the campfire as they awaited for the rabbit stew to cook over the fire. The quiet settled over the group like a heavy blanket. It was not unsettling nor unnerving in any sense, but rather a shared acknowledgment of the challenges that lay ahead. Earlier in the day, there had been scattered conversations as they foraged for supplies or tended to their makeshift shelter. But now, as the darkness enveloped the landscape, a somber mood descended upon the group.Jared glanced at the small group gathered around the fire.David was busy filing off the makeshift spear he had carved out of a long branch earlier that day, while Mike continued to watch over the
[Mike][18 November 2021, Thursday--- the following day]Even though it was the afternoon, the forest was dimly lit by the muted sunlight penetrating the thick canopy of trees. If one wasn't particularly attentive to the time, the day could easily be mistaken for evening. The occasional cool breeze of autumn that swept through the forest only added to the illusion, contributing to the atmospheric ambiguity of the surroundings.Scrape, Scrape, Scrape.Mike looked up towards the canopy of trees. The scant sunlight that managed to filter through the forest canopy resembled twinkling lights as the passing breeze playfully teased the leaves.‘Have I ever felt this calm during these recent weeks we’ve been traversing this dense forest?’“Hm…” David grumbled beside Mike.Scrape, Scrape.Adamant to not look at his grumpy comrade, Mike wiggled slightly away without ever getting up. It was the first time since leaving the facility that he had time to appreciate the intricate pattern that the ca