Night fell over Viremont City like a heavy curtain.
The streets were darker now than they had ever been before the outbreak. Streetlights no longer worked in most districts. Power grids had failed in several areas weeks ago, leaving entire neighborhoods in silence.
But around the towering headquarters of Alps Builders, a few emergency systems were still active.
Hidden cameras monitored the perimeter.
Motion sensors guarded the entrances.
And the alarm system, designed for corporate security, remained fully operational.
Which was unfortunate for the people creeping toward the building that night.
---
Five figures moved cautiously along the side of the street. They had been watching the building for two days. From the outside it looked abandoned but it's not. No lights.No movement.
But buildings like this always had something worth taking. Food, equipment and maybe even weapons. One of the men whispered, "This place belonged to a big company. There has to be supplies inside."
Another man nodded. "Let's just get in and get out." A woman in the group tightened her grip on a crowbar. "Quick and quiet."
They approached the rear entrance first. The door looked sturdy, but the glass beside it seemed weak. One man lifted a metal pipe. He hesitated only a second then he swung.
The pipe struck the glass with a sharp crack. The sound echoed through the empty street.
For one brief moment… Nothing happened.
Then the building screamed. The alarm system exploded into life.
A piercing metallic siren blasted through the night, echoing across several city blocks. The sound was deafening. "Shit!" one of the men shouted. They panicked immediately. "Turn it off!"
"How?!" But the alarm didn't stop.
The security system was designed to keep screaming until authorized personnel shut it down. And the noise traveled far. Very far.
The first infected appeared within seconds.
From the end of the street.
A shadow running unnaturally fast.
Then another, then five more, the group froze. "Oh God…"
The infected sprinted toward the sound like predators chasing prey. "Run!" someone shouted.
The group scattered, but it was already too late. More infected poured from nearby alleys. Their red eyes reflected in the dim streetlight. Their movements were fast.
Hungry, terrifying..
One of the survivors raised a handgun and fired. The gunshot echoed through the street.
The infected barely slowed. Two of them leaped forward. The woman with the crowbar screamed as they tackled her to the pavement.
The others tried to escape. But the noise had called too many.
Within seconds the street was swarming.
The survivors swung their weapons wildly, trying to fight through the crowd. Another gunshot then another but the infected didn't stop. They dragged the survivors down one by one.
The screams echoed for several long seconds. Then the sounds became wet.
Horrible.. Flesh tearing.. Bones cracking.
And finally…
Silence.
---
High above the street, Kevin stood by the tinted window of an upper floor office. He had been watching the entire scene. Chelsea stood beside him, pale. "Oh my God…"
Kevin crossed his arms. "They asked for it."
Chelsea stared at the carnage below.
The infected were still tearing apart the bodies. Some fought each other over pieces of flesh.
Kevin smiled faintly. "Breaking into my building?" He shook his head. "They deserved it."
Chelsea shivered slightly. "Kevin… that's horrible."
Kevin didn't look disturbed at all. "They were thieves."
He turned away from the window. "If they got inside, they would've taken our food."
Chelsea didn't argue.
Outside survival meant cruelty sometimes. But watching people get eaten alive… Still made her uneasy.
---
Several kilometers away, deep beneath the forest floor, Mia's tablet screen suddenly lit up.
A notification appeared.
ALPS BUILDERS SECURITY ALERT
Attempted breach detected.
Mia sat up immediately. She opened the monitoring application.
Years earlier, the security systems of Alps Builders had been designed with remote management capabilities.
Most executives only used the system for convenience. But Mia had quietly installed additional private access protocols long before the outbreak.
Her tablet displayed multiple camera feeds.
She watched the footage calmly.
The attempted break-in. The alarm triggering.
The infected arriving. The desperate fight.
Then the brutal end.
Mia's expression remained unreadable. She switched to another camera.
Kevin appeared on screen, standing by the office window. Chelsea beside him. Mia leaned back slightly. "So you're still there."
Of course she already knew. Hidden cameras inside the building had recorded everything since the outbreak began.
Their arguments.
Their conversations.
Even their intimate moments.
Kevin and Chelsea believed they had found a perfect shelter. They had no idea someone was watching. Mia didn't plan to remove them from the building.
Not yet.
Let them enjoy their temporary safety. Let them believe they were clever. When the time came…
She would make sure they realized exactly whose building they had been hiding in. And that realization would hurt far more than simply throwing them out.
Mia closed the monitoring feed.
For now, she would let them continue their little illusion.
---
Later that night, everyone gathered in the bunker's common room. The emergency radio sat on the table. Static crackled through the speaker. Then a voice broke through.
"This is an international emergency broadcast."
Michael turned the volume higher. The announcer continued. "Global situation reports confirm that several countries have lost control of infected populations."
The room fell silent.
"Large regions of Brazil are now considered complete infection zones."
Helen gasped softly. The broadcast continued. "Government forces have retreated from multiple cities after severe military losses."
Luis exchanged a glance with Mia. The radio continued listing updates. "Several nations including Canada and Australia have begun constructing fortified evacuation shelters."
Olivia leaned forward. "They're evacuating civilians?"
Michael frowned thoughtfully. "That sounds promising."
The broadcast explained further. "These secure zones are designed to house survivors and provide food and protection."
Frederick crossed his arms. "If they're offering evacuation, it means the situation is worse than we thought."
Michael nodded slowly. "Do you think the government here will do the same?"
Frederick looked uncertain. "Maybe."
Helen spoke quietly. "If they create evacuation shelters… would we go?"
The room grew thoughtful. Olivia answered first. "I wouldn't."
Everyone looked at her.
She shook her head firmly. "We're safer here." She gestured around the bunker. "This place is secure." She lowered her voice slightly. "And we don't know who might enter those shelters."
Luis understood her concern immediately. "If infected people slip in…"
Olivia nodded. "Exactly."
Helen slowly agreed. "You're right."
Crowded shelters could become death traps if even one infected person entered.
Michael sighed. "Still… for people trapped in the city, evacuation might be their only chance."
Mia remained quiet during the discussion. Her mind was already racing. Evacuation zones. Safe shelters. She had seen those before. In the future she came from and she knew the terrible truth. Most of them eventually failed because the infected always found a way in.
The bunker was different. Hidden. Quiet.
Unknown.
And for now…
It was still their safest place in a dying world.