Undead Rewind

Chapter 5: A New Day

The first light of dawn filtered through the broken windows of the clinic, casting long shadows across the worn floors. The sun had barely risen, but Leo was already awake, staring out into the distance. The remnants of the previous night's discovery weighed heavily on his mind.

The air was cool, carrying a faint breeze that rustled the leaves of the surrounding trees. It almost felt peaceful—almost.

"We need to move out soon," Leo muttered to himself, turning to face the others.

Jenna was the first to stir, rubbing her eyes as she sat up. The dog, curled up beside her, lifted its head, alert but calm. "Already?" she asked, her voice groggy from sleep.

Leo nodded, his expression unreadable. "We don't have time to waste. That terminal we accessed last night...  It might have sent a signal that we accessed it, and god knows who received it. Taking precautions is better than waiting for something to go wrong.

Jenna blinked, the weight of Leo's words sinking in. She glanced at the dog beside her, its sharp eyes betraying the same alertness she now felt creeping into her. "Right," she mumbled, shaking off the sleep and reaching for her gear. "We can't risk staying here."

Marcus, already up and checking his weapons, looked over. "So what's the plan? We head straight to the next location or take a detour? If that terminal sent a signal, we could have company waiting for us at the next stop."

Leo rubbed his chin, pacing slowly. "We can't be sure. But we do know we're running out of time. That next facility could hold answers—or more nightmares. Either way, it's our best shot at figuring out how deep this mess goes." He turned toward Sophie, who was folding a map they had found in the clinic. "What's the fastest route?"

Sophie looked up, pointing to a spot on the map, just north of where they were. "There's a forest path we can take. It'll cut some time, but it's more isolated. Less chance of running into... surprises."

"Or more likely to get ambushed," Marcus added darkly.

"Every path has its risks," Leo said, his voice steady. "But staying here is a bigger one."

Jenna stood, shouldering her backpack. "Then we leave now. Before anyone—or anything—has the chance to catch up."

The squad quickly packed their gear, the dog trailing closely behind Jenna as they prepared to leave. The quiet morning, once almost peaceful, now felt unnerving. The shadows in the clinic seemed longer, darker, as if they were being watched. Leo couldn't shake the feeling that time was slipping away from them.

As they stepped outside, the morning sun had fully risen, casting an orange glow over the landscape. The world felt deceptively calm, but every member of the squad knew better. They had learned too much to trust in appearances.

"Keep sharp," Leo said quietly, leading the way. "We don't know what's out there."

The group moved swiftly, their boots crunching against the gravel as they left the clinic behind. The weight of their discovery—of everything they had uncovered about the experiments, the creatures, and the betrayal of humanity—still lingered heavily. But now, it wasn't just about survival. It was about finding the truth, exposing it, and hopefully putting an end to the nightmare that had engulfed the world.

They entered the forest, the trees growing denser, their thick branches overhead casting a shadow that swallowed the sunlight. The air grew cooler, and the sounds of the clinic faded behind them, replaced by the soft rustling of leaves and distant bird calls.

Leo walked at the front of the group, his senses on high alert. The path ahead was uncertain, but one thing was clear—they couldn't stop.

The forest closed in around them, the thick canopy above blocking out most of the sunlight. Every rustle in the underbrush and snap of a twig set them on edge, the tension palpable among the squad. Leo led the way with his rifle in hand, constantly scanning the dense foliage for any sign of movement.