Story 315: Echoes in the Dark

The forest was unnervingly silent as the team regrouped. The fallen creature’s body lay in a twisted heap, steam rising from its wounds as the black ichor pooled around it. Zara crouched beside the beast, her twin blades dripping with the creature’s blood. Her eyes scanned its grotesque form, searching for clues.

“What kind of thing even is this?” Mia asked, her voice barely above a whisper. She clutched her knife tightly, her knuckles pale.

“It’s not like the usual infected,” Callum muttered, reloading his rifle. “This one feels… engineered.”

“Exactly,” Zara said, rising to her feet. “This isn’t just evolution or random mutation. Someone—or something—is pulling strings. And they know we’re here.”

Andre paced nervously. “If that’s true, then this wasn’t a random encounter. We’re being hunted.”

Zara nodded. “Which means we need answers fast. Check the perimeter, see if there are tracks or anything unusual. Callum, stay on overwatch in case more are coming.”