I heard the sounds of cars, voices, and explosions merging into a single chaotic roar. The creature beat its wings and released sonic screams that reverberated through every corner, as if they came from all directions at once. Its gigantic body left destruction in its wake; the force behind it was absurd.

  But something about it felt… wrong. As if it were suffering from a deep, unbearable pain. I didn’t know whether it was caused by Acrox’s attacks or something internal—intrinsic to the monster’s very nature.

  The gunfire intensified. Explosions erupted from every side, illuminating the crimson night. The creature began to retreat. It raised its deformed wings and took flight, vanishing into the red mist.

  Its wingbeats echoed. And the farther it went, the more I felt the corruption inside me slow down—then retreat… as if it were leaving alongside the creature.

  I couldn’t believe it. I was sav—

  My vision blurred. The world spun.

  I passed out, hearing only vague shapes, distant echoes, and muffled voices as everything faded to black.

  ---

  A bright light pierced my eyes.

  A sharp jolt of pain struck my head, and I regained consciousness. I tried to move my body—pain. Pain everywhere.

  I was lying in a medical room, similar to the one my brother had been in before. My leg was wrapped in bandages; apparently, I hadn’t even noticed how badly it had been injured amid the chaos.

  I heard a beep… and the door slid open.

  It was the doctor. Dr. Helena Rhoads.

  She held a digital clipboard, and a spherical analysis drone hovered beside her, emitting small blue flashes.

  “I was waiting for you to wake up,” she said as she approached. “How are you feeling?”

  “Terrible…” I replied hoarsely. “But… my brother—how is he?”

  Anxiety flooded me. The scenes from the bus began invading my mind again. Blood. Screams. Corruption.

  The doctor noticed.

  “Show her,” she ordered.

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  The drone projected a beam of light onto the wall to my left. The surface turned transparent, like glass.

  And there he was. My brother.

  Still in a coma. Exactly as I had left him before going out.

  My chest loosened. Fear gave way to anguish. I felt a mixture of relief and pain—grateful that he hadn’t become one of those things… yet suffocated by the uncertainty of what would come next.

  “Can I go to him?” I asked, already trying to sit up.

  Dr. Helena raised her hand.

  “No. Your body is extremely fragile. You suffered serious injuries. You cannot leave this room yet.”

  I wanted to argue, but she was right. I couldn’t even stand without the world shaking.

  “What day is it?” I asked.

  “October 21st, 2075—one month before the start of winter,” she replied.

  My eyes widened.

  “So… it’s been seven days since I arrived here? I was unconscious for two whole days?”

  She nodded calmly.

  ---

  INTERLUDE — ACROX CENTRAL, NEW GRAVE SECTOR 2 – COMMAND ROOM

  The room was illuminated by cold lights. Holographic screens floated in the air, displaying data, maps, and unstable readings of the crimson mist. The atmosphere was heavy.

  “General Edmond, the girl has awakened.”

  Dr. Helena Rhoads’ voice echoed through the central panel’s speakers.

  The general—a tall man with graying hair and an exhausted expression—turned immediately toward the screen.

  “Dr. Helena.”

  “Yes, sir?” she confirmed, adjusting her glasses.

  “How is she?” Edmond asked, never taking his eyes off the monitor.

  “She has injuries across her entire body,” the doctor replied. “The most serious is on her left leg, but none are life-threatening.”

  The general let out a breath that mixed relief and tension.

  “Good.”

  He clasped his hands behind his back.

  “She is the only survivor of the Unit Seven incident.”

  He turned to another panel, projecting a map of the attack site.

  “She’s our best chance of finding out what happened there.”

  Drones had already been sent to the crash site… but all had failed.

  “We’ve already tried deploying drones, but they lose control after two hundred meters from the base,” Edmond continued. “And we’re running out of units. They’re far too valuable.”

  He switched the display to Sector Four’s records.

  “How is the research progressing in the sector with the specimen?”

  Dr. Helena took a deep breath before answering.

  “We’re analyzing the DNA, sir.”

  She entered a few commands, and a three-dimensional genetic image formed.

  “We’ve observed that specimens corrupted by the mist react differently to it. The mist… appears to weaken near the specimen.”

  A pause.

  “Perhaps we can use this to develop some form of resistance.”

  The general slowly turned back to the main screen.

  “That’s excellent.”

  His tone grew more serious—and more hopeful.

  “You and your team have my full support to advance the research.”

  “This may be our best chance.”

  “Yes, sir…” she replied, her voice low but resolute.

  The screens continued flashing red.

  And for the first time in days, a small spark of hope flickered within the Central.