Sarah buried her face in Bryan's shoulder, unable to watch.
Bryan replayed the scene in his mind, deeply unsettled. The bullet had hit the thing's head—but the fungal armor had stopped it. Yes, the growth had shattered, but that defensive capability was alarming.
Right now the fungus only covered half the head. What happened when it covered the entire skull? The whole body? What other abilities might it develop?
They couldn't stay here any longer. Cities might not be much better, but anything beat facing these evolving monsters.
"Come on. We need to find that truck and get out of here."
He patted Sarah's shoulder, took her hand, and hurried toward the northern edge of town.
...
Several hundred miles from the town, on the highway.
Dozens of military trucks barreled down the road. A sign ahead read: Austin — 202 miles.
Each truck carried over a dozen fully armed soldiers, resting in their seats, conserving energy for the mission ahead.
In the middle of the convoy, a soldier in the passenger seat of one truck spotted the sign and slid open a small window connecting to the rear compartment. Several men huddled around a map, planning their operation. He addressed a middle-aged man in tactical gear:
"Sir, destination's about half a day out. At this pace, we'll reach the nearest town by 1900 hours."
"Understood." The man didn't look up from the map, just nodded slightly.
The soldier closed the window and resumed watching the road.
In the rear compartment, the tactical officer raised his head and addressed the men around him.
"We're almost there. You've heard the operational plan. But there's one thing I need you to remember above all else: this mission determines our nation's survival. Failure is not an option."
"Yes, sir!"
The soldiers' faces were grim. They understood the stakes.
The officer nodded with satisfaction and continued.
"At 1900 we'll reach the town outside Austin. We'll establish a perimeter and rest for the night. Tomorrow morning, each squad leader will take their unit and systematically clear their assigned sectors. We'll establish defensive positions and use the town as a base to expand outward..."
He paused. When he spoke again, his words made everyone freeze.
"Eliminate all survivors and infected. No exceptions."
Silence filled the compartment. The squad leaders exchanged shocked glances.
"I know what you're thinking."
The officer sighed and placed a hand on the nearest leader's shoulder.
"No one wants this. But understand—our country faces an unprecedented crisis. We can only resolve it by rapidly clearing infection zones. We can't afford to account for the people still inside..."
Later, the convoy stopped to rest. The squad leaders dispersed to brief their units. Alone in the compartment, the officer slumped back, his mind churning with what his superiors had told him before departure.
"Your mission in Austin is total elimination of the city. But deliberately let some survivors escape. Let them reach the quarantine camps alive. I'll arrange for journalists to expose everything... Don't look at me like that. I know what you're thinking. The truth is, it's been almost two weeks since the outbreak, and we're no closer to a vaccine. Do you have any idea how many are infected now?"
"We can't keep waiting for a vaccine that may never come. We've proposed building large quarantine zones in every city—protect as many citizens as possible. But those bureaucrats are still playing politics, holding votes. We have to take matters into our own hands. Military high command is aligned with us. Once news of the indiscriminate killings leaks, FEDRA and the military will move to dissolve the civilian government. That's the only way to implement the policies that will save this country. Do you understand?"
The weight of that secret pressed down on him. He couldn't tell anyone—he knew he was being watched. So he kept it buried, repeating to himself like a mantra:
This is right. This is right.
...
Afternoon. Northern outskirts of town.
Bryan stood on top of a security booth, craning his neck to peer through the iron fence at the industrial complex beyond. After straining until his neck ached, he finally pulled back, rubbing the soreness.
"This is ridiculous. There's like a dozen warehouses in there and none of them have signs. How are we supposed to find anything?"
He knew the answer, of course. This wasn't any legitimate industrial zone—it was a haven for smugglers and criminals. "Farr Steel" was probably just a code name.
"What do we do? Check them one by one?"
Sarah scanned the buildings, searching for any identifying features.
She was about to give up when her gaze swept across a lot filled with junked cars. She froze, rubbed her eyes, then pointed excitedly.
"Look! That sign says 'Farr'!"
Bryan squinted in that direction but couldn't make it out. "Where? I don't see it."
"On that sign there—under 'Auto Salvage.' Two small black letters!"
He looked again and finally spotted them—tiny and nearly invisible.
"Sharp eyes. I never would have caught that."
"Obviously." Sarah lifted her chin proudly. "Don't underestimate me."
They made their way to the salvage yard. The gate wasn't locked. They slipped inside easily.
But the truck from the note was nowhere in the yard. They exchanged glances and headed for the main warehouse, its large doors sealed shut.
Red paint on the doors stopped them cold.
Sarah read the words aloud: "Monsters inside. DO NOT OPEN."
Bryan's head drooped. "You've got to be kidding me. Murphy's Law strikes again. Are we in a video game?"
Sarah elbowed him. "Quit complaining. Figure something out."
Bryan studied their options. "The main door's definitely out. We don't know how many infected are in there—opening it could unleash a whole horde."
He pointed left and right. "Let's circle the building. Look for another way in. Stay alert—there could be more infected nearby."
"Right."
Sarah picked up a length of pipe and watched Bryan head toward the right side, where overgrown weeds and dense shrubs created potential hiding spots. The left path looked much clearer—worn tire tracks in the dirt suggested regular vehicle traffic.
She knew Bryan was deliberately taking the more dangerous route. She didn't say anything, just filed it away in her heart and headed left.
The moment both disappeared around their respective corners, something inside the warehouse let out a low, hissing growl.