Ethan ran.
Every inch of his body screamed in agony, but he forced himself to keep moving. His ribs ached from the brutal beating, and blood dripped from a gash above his eye, clouding his vision. But none of that mattered. If he stopped, he was dead.
Behind him, the Level 2 Mutant howled in rage. The bullet wound in its chest still bled thick, dark fluid, but it wasn't enough to put it down. It was angry now. Enraged. And it wanted blood.
Ethan's breath was ragged as he tore through the streets, leaping over debris and broken pavement. His car wasn't far—just a few blocks down, in the parking lot near the old supply store. If he could just make it there…
Another monstrous roar split the air. The creature was following him.
Ethan risked a glance back—and his stomach dropped.
It was fast.
Far too fast for something its size.
The towering beast sprinted on all fours, its massive arms propelling it forward like a rabid animal. Each step shattered the pavement beneath it. It was closing in.
"Shit, shit, shit—!"
Ethan spotted his car up ahead—a rugged, military-green truck reinforced with steel plating. It was an old hunter's vehicle, one he had modified himself over the years. And inside? His guns. His ammo. His last hope.
He pushed his legs harder, sprinting at full speed.
Fifty feet away.
The beast let out a guttural growl.
Thirty feet.
Ethan reached into his belt, gripping one of his hunting knives.
Fifteen feet.
The monster leaped.
Ten feet.
Ethan twisted mid-stride, launching his knife directly into the creature's eye.
The blade sank deep, and the monster let out an ear-piercing screech. It tumbled midair, crashing into a pile of rubble. A second's hesitation—that was all Ethan needed.
He lunged forward, gripping the truck's door handle and yanking it open. He scrambled inside, slamming the door shut just as the beast recovered, its bloodied eye socket leaking black ichor.
It roared in fury, slamming a clawed hand against the reinforced glass. The window cracked but held.
Ethan didn't waste time. He reached into the back seat, tearing open a duffel bag filled with ammunition. His hands moved on instinct, grabbing his trusty Remington shotgun and loading shells one by one.
Outside, the monster shrieked, raising a massive fist.
Ethan pumped the shotgun.
The beast slammed its fist down—
BOOM!
Ethan fired. Point-blank.
The shell tore through the creature's arm, sending chunks of flesh and bone flying. The monster recoiled, howling in agony.
Ethan didn't stop.
He kicked the door open, rolled out, and took aim.
BOOM! Another shot—straight to its kneecap. The mutant stumbled, its leg nearly giving out beneath it.
For the first time, Ethan saw fear in its glowing red eyes.
He smirked.
"Not so tough now, are you?"
The monster roared and lunged—but Ethan was ready.
In one smooth motion, he switched weapons—grabbing his M4 rifle from the truck, flipping the safety off, and unloading a full burst. Bullets ripped through the creature's body, each shot sending dark blood spraying into the air.
It stumbled back, wheezing.
Then, with one final, deafening BOOM, Ethan fired his shotgun straight into its skull.
Silence.
The massive creature swayed for a moment, its body shuddering. Then, it collapsed, shaking the earth as it crashed to the ground.
Ethan exhaled sharply, wiping the blood from his forehead.
But then—something strange happened.
The creature's body began to twitch.
A small, glowing sphere emerged from its chest, hovering in the air. It pulsed with an eerie, crimson light.
Ethan's grip on his gun tightened. What the hell was this?
Before he could react—the sphere shattered.
And from the fragments came a horrifying, inhuman screech.
Ethan's blood ran cold.
Because in the distance—he heard something else.
More screeches.
Hundreds of them.
And they were all coming straight for him.