Story 375: A Dangerous Bargain

Zara kept her weapon trained on Kellan, her finger resting lightly on the trigger. His smirk didn’t falter as he raised his hands in a show of mock surrender. The hum of his makeshift control center filled the tense silence, its flickering monitors displaying maps, data streams, and power grids.

Rowan shifted uneasily beside her, glancing at Zara for direction.

“You’ve got about ten seconds to explain why we shouldn’t shut this operation down,” Zara said, her tone ice-cold.

Kellan tilted his head, his smirk softening into something almost genuine. “You’re the cautious type. Smart. But if you take this down, you’re killing the only chance you have to survive the next wave.”

“What wave?” Rowan interjected, his voice sharp.

Kellan gestured toward the monitors. “The undead aren’t the only problem anymore. Something’s driving them, organizing them. You’ve seen it yourself, haven’t you? They’re moving in patterns, striking with precision.”