8
I carefully sealed the last sample in a special container and handed it to Jake, who was standing nearby.
“Hold it tight. This is more important than your life,” I said coldly.
Jake nodded and bowed repeatedly as he took it, his fingers nervously fidgeting with the container.
His eyes darted around, occasionally glancing towards the alarm device in the corner of the lab.
“Prepare to withdraw,” I gave the order, and the team members immediately started packing up the equipment.
But as we turned around, a piercing alarm shattered the silence.
Followed by the rumbling sound of metal shutters opening, and chaotic footsteps coming from the end of the corridor.
“F*ck!” The deputy commander abruptly raised his gun, “That bastard Jake opened the isolation door!”
I looked back to see Jake already running far away.
9:49 AM
<
“Jake, wait for me!” Mia screamed as she ran after him, only to watch helplessly as he climbed up the safety ladder.
She desperately reached out trying to grab the ladder, but only grasped thin air.
Jake stood at the top, looking down at us condescendingly.
A victorious smile on his face, tightly hugging that precious sample in his arms.
“Jake… put the ladder down, I haven’t gotten up yet.” Mia’s voice trembled uncontrollably.
Jake sneered: “Why should I save you?”
He patted the sample box in his arms, “With this, I can take all the credit for this mission…”
Mia’s face instantly turned as white as paper: “This isn’t what we planned! You… you said… after we found the sample, the two of us would…”
“Idiot!” Jake laughed exaggeratedly, “You actually believed that? If it weren’t for joining Alex’s team to save my own skin, do you think I’d be willing to stick with you all day?”
“You know what? Every time I saw you arguing with Alex for my sake, I found it hilarious. Did you really think I liked you? A stupid woman like you…”
With that, he nimbly retracted the ladder, his figure disappearing into the ventilation shaft.
At this moment, the howls of the zombies were getting closer and closer.
On the way out, Mia kept following behind us, begging.
“Alex, for the sake of our years together, please give me one more chance to make amends. I… I won’t do it again.”
“Shut up!” The deputy commander interrupted harshly, “You still have the nerve to bring that up? For that beast Jake, you hindered us from evacuation, wasted precious serum, and now… you almost got us all killed!”
“Get lost! Or I’ll put a bullet in your head, you b*tch!”
I pulled out a knife from my waist and threw it in front of her.
“Take care of yourself. From now on… you’re expelled from the team.”
“By the way… I told you long ago that we’re no longer in a relationship. Stop clinging to me.”
Hearing this, Mia crawled forward on her knees, clutching my leg tightly:
“Alex, I know I was stupid and despicable…” Her tears soaked my pants, “I swear… I’ll only listen to you from now on. I’ll do whatever you say!”
I forcefully pried her fingers off: “Save it. Do you think I’d still believe you?”
She shook her head frantically.
“This time it’s different. I… I’ve finally seen Jake’s true colors… I now realize that you were the only one who truly cared for me…”
The deputy commander coldly interjected: “Now you know to regret? It’s too late!”
Mia ignored him, just looking up at me with her tear–stained face, begging: “Give me one last chance… please.”
didn’t respond, just left with the team.
As I was leaving, I only threw back one sentence:
“You’ve used up all your chances!”
As we retreated along the dark corridors of the research facility, Mia’s heart–wrenching cries still echoed behind us.
9:49 AM C
<
“Alex… please give me one more chance. Don’t leave me behind. I… I know I was wrong.”
The deputy commander spat: “Hah! She’s not sorry, she’s just scared!”
I walked silently at the front, my gun always at the ready.
The emergency lights in the research facility flickered on and off, the air filled with the stench of blood and decay. The low growls of zombies could be heard in the distance from time to time.
Just as we were about to reach the exit, a familiar wail suddenly came from ahead.
“Help… help me, please!”
