Story 372: A Predator in the Dark

The tunnels were silent except for the distant dripping of water. Zara crouched low, her signal emitter pulsing faintly. The air was damp, and the metallic scent of rust lingered, mixing with the faint acrid tang of fear from the survivors lingering far behind.

Rowan kept his back to hers, his shotgun primed. "If this thing’s as fast as they say, we might not get a second chance."

Zara’s eyes scanned the darkness ahead. The crude map Marcus had provided indicated a choke point just a few meters away—a narrow passage where their plan had the best chance of succeeding. "We won’t need one. Stay sharp and trust the timing."

Behind them, Marcus’s team held their position at the perimeter, a mix of apprehension and desperation on their faces. Zara had seen that look before—people grasping at any sliver of hope, no matter how slim.