The Five-Person Team

The darkness slowly enveloped the small town in the American West. The townspeople had been warned and quickly retreated to their homes. However, there were also those who were not afraid and insisted on staying outside, only to be taken to the police station and scolded for their disobedience.

"Shut up, you damn bastards! Don't think that staying here is to restrict you; it's to save you idiots and egomaniacs. Quiet down!" A police officer scolded the people locked in the detention room.

"The night has fallen, buddy! I really don't want to see the night come, it reminds me of Satan." Another police officer muttered quietly, "Hopefully, we can get through tonight peacefully."

"Hey, it's like those people were released by Umbrella Corporation. God knows how this happened. Is the world really turning into an apocalypse? Maybe I should go home and prepare food, water...and clothes and shoes too. I promised my wife. I also need to fill up my car with gas."

"God bless America!" the police officer said.

"God protect my daughter...and my wife!" The other police officer sighed, "Come on, buddy, let's stay with these idiots tonight. Maybe it'll be a stroke of luck."

"Who knows, those zombies don't play by the rules. Maybe they'll target you first, your blood might be more appealing..."

"They only eat flesh, don't they? Vampires drink blood. It's disgusting..." The two continued their conversation as they walked out of the detention room, the sound of the iron door locking behind them.

"Hey, what are you guys talking about? Zombies and vampires? Hey...did you guys deal with zombies last night? Open the door...let us out, damn it! Let us out, Mom--" Upon hearing this, some of the detainees couldn't help but shudder. In their desperation, they even called out for their mothers.

"Don't scare yourselves, how is that possible? Do you really think there's a company like Umbrella in this world? Zombies? This isn't Hollywood!" someone sneered contemptuously.

Regardless of what happened to these people, no one would care about the detainees in the detention room. But as the night slowly descended, the whole town was on high alert, with patrol cars constantly roaming the streets, preventing any residents from running out of their homes.

Meanwhile, more and more police officers and FBI agents were scattered around the outskirts of the town, on high alert. Many police dogs were released and began searching from different directions. Helicopters hovered above, shining spotlights on the ground, trying to detect something. A perimeter had been formed around the town. Drones equipped with infrared and thermal imaging cameras were also deployed, conducting low-altitude searches along the forest.

"Any discoveries yet?" Sheriff Louise asked Officer Patton, who had been keeping watch, inside a tent on the outskirts of the town. This was the temporary command center for the FBI. People inside were busy, listening to reports from the search teams outside. Bell Jensen and Edgar Paige were in charge.

"Not yet, if we don't find anything soon, we'll have to bring in Joseph and Mr. Kote," Officer Patton said to Sheriff Louise. "If you can convince them, I think...we can work together without any problems." He glanced at the two FBI agents beside him.

"We don't need their cooperation. We'll do our own thing. I don't want those two guys to get promoted and make a fortune." Sheriff Louise snorted, "I'll call Joseph!" Saying that, she turned and left the tent.

"Hey, Sheriff Louise!" Officer Patton called out to her as she walked away. "What about the fish?"

"What about it?" Sheriff Louise looked at him in surprise.

"You said Mr. Jason wanted it burned, but now it's in a freezer in Texas. What are you going to do? Let those bastards use the fish?" Officer Patton walked up to Sheriff Louise, speaking through gritted teeth.

"Don't be foolish. Mr. Jason had a reason to have it burned. If they use the fish's DNA to create more killing machines like it, who knows...you might be facing a real-life biohazard crisis?" Officer Patton slapped his forehead in frustration.

"What can I do? I've told that responsible bastard many times, but they won't destroy something so valuable. Damn it...what can I do?" Sheriff Louise complained, "If a biohazard crisis happens, it's not my problem."

"Your problem is that you, me, and our families might be the victims of this crisis. Think it through!" Officer Patton sighed heavily. He strongly disagreed with Sheriff Louise's stance. "I'll find Mr. Jason to handle this matter."

"He's not all-powerful!" Sheriff Louise watched him walk away, muttering under her breath. "Better to do something than nothing!"

Shaking her head, Sheriff Louise reluctantly took out her phone. It was most important to solve the immediate problem at hand. She called Joseph.

"Hey, Sheriff Louise, we're here already, just outside your perimeter. But your people won't let us in!" Joseph complained after answering the call. There were indeed some noises in the background, as if there was a dispute going on.

Sheriff Louise quickly went outside and saw Joseph and Mr. Kote outside the barricade. They were in a discussion with a police officer. When Joseph spotted Sheriff Louise coming out, he waved to her: "You have to convince them. I've already explained, but they wouldn't accept it." Sheriff Louise walked over and said to the officer, "I was the one who invited them..."

"Sorry, Sheriff, but the instructions from Detective Bell Jensen were clear. Unless it's Mr. Jason himself, no one else can enter. We can't allow ordinary town residents in. My apologies!" The officer looked at Sheriff Louise with regret. "Please don't put me in a difficult position."

Gritting her teeth, Sheriff Louise muttered a low "damn it" before speaking to the two men. "Alright, we won't go in. We'll find it ourselves... That shouldn't be a problem, right?" The last sentence was directed at the officer.

The officer stepped aside, saying, "I haven't received any orders to the contrary."

With that, Sheriff Louise left the perimeter and called Officer Patton. "Patton, I've met up with Joseph and Mr. Kote. Go get your weapons now. Shotguns would be best. We'll wait for you on the outskirts."

"Understood, Sheriff!" Officer Patton replied excitedly before hanging up.

When Officer Patton arrived, he wasn't alone. Another officer, Santos, was with him. He carried a thundering shotgun with a belt of ammunition wrapped around his waist.

"I'd like to help!" He said, nervously looking at Sheriff Louise. "I know... it's not exactly by the book, but there's not much going on at the station. I could do something more meaningful than serving tea and running errands. This is an opportunity, Sheriff..." he pleaded, looking expectantly at Sheriff Louise.

"Then let's do this together!" Sheriff Louise, not in the mood for small talk, nodded in agreement.

So, the five of them left the cordon, distancing themselves from the police and FBI search parties and defense forces. They stopped in an uninhabited area.

"Alright, we need to find those damned zombies now, especially that woman." Joseph addressed the group, slowly opening his hand. Emulating what Jason told him, his fingers traced a somewhat complex pattern on his palm, and finally flicked a finger.

Suddenly, with a "flutter", a bird flew out of his palm. It soared into the sky, chirping loudly. It didn't fly away, but circled over the group.

"Oh my God, Joseph... Are you a magician? I've seen tricks where a bird is pulled from a hat!" Santos exclaimed in surprise, looking at Joseph in astonishment.

"Oh, hell, are you sure bringing this guy along was a wise choice?" Sheriff Louise looked at a somewhat embarrassed Officer Patton.