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Cairo, Egypt – January 2025
The city's heart pulsed with chaos. The once-bustling streets now echoed with screams, screeching tires, and the occasional distant explosion. What began as a handful of strange incidents had spiraled into a full-blown crisis. The infection spread faster than anyone could have imagined, and Cairo—a city of over twenty million—was quickly becoming unrecognizable.
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Adam: Racing Against the Clock
Adam maneuvered through the crowded streets, his heart pounding. The abandoned cars and fleeing crowds turned the usually gridlocked roads into a nightmarish maze. With his backpack slung over his shoulder, he darted down an alley, trying to reach Leila’s hospital.
His phone buzzed in his pocket. Pulling it out, he saw Youssef’s name flashing.
“Adam!” Youssef shouted, his voice barely audible over the background noise of shouting and breaking glass. “The streets are insane. I’m heading to the shop to grab supplies. You need anything?”
“No, just get safe,” Adam replied quickly. “I’m checking on Leila.”
“Be careful,” Youssef warned. “I saw a guy—he just… collapsed, and then he was biting someone. It’s like—”
“Later,” Adam interrupted, cutting the call. He couldn’t let his mind dwell on what Youssef had said. He had to focus.
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Leila: The Collapse of Order
At Al Qasr El Eyni Hospital, Leila stood frozen as chaos erupted around her. The emergency ward, usually loud and bustling, had turned into a war zone. Patients—once restrained—were now lashing out violently, their movements animalistic.
“Get back!” shouted a security guard, his baton raised defensively.
Leila ducked as a chair flew past her, shattering against the wall. She grabbed a scalpel from a nearby tray, her hand trembling as a patient lunged toward her.
“Dr. Hanan!” Leila screamed, looking around frantically.
But Dr. Hanan was already on the ground, pinned beneath another patient. Blood pooled around her, and her wide eyes locked onto Leila’s. “Run,” she mouthed.
Leila backed away, her breath shallow. As the patient advanced, she swung the scalpel blindly, cutting deep into his arm. He didn’t even flinch.
“Help me!” a nurse cried from across the room, but Leila couldn’t move. Her feet felt glued to the floor.
It was only when the fire alarm blared, triggered by someone smashing a glass panel, that Leila snapped out of her daze. She dropped the scalpel and bolted toward the exit, dodging flailing limbs and overturned equipment.
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Youssef: The Mechanic’s Fortress
Youssef leaned against the metal shutters of his repair shop, his breathing heavy. He had spent the last half hour gathering tools, fuel canisters, and anything else he thought might be useful. His shop was his sanctuary, and he wasn’t about to leave it unprotected.
He peered through a crack in the shutters at the street outside. People were running in every direction, some carrying bags, others clutching children. But what caught his attention was a man staggering unnaturally, his head tilted at an odd angle.
“Is he… drunk?” Youssef muttered, narrowing his eyes.
The man suddenly lunged at a passerby, knocking them to the ground. Youssef’s stomach churned as he watched the attacker sink his teeth into the victim’s shoulder.
“Hell no,” Youssef whispered, stepping back. He grabbed a heavy wrench and locked the shop’s doors.
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Noor: A Plan in Motion
In the maze-like backstreets of downtown Cairo, Noor moved with purpose. She clutched her duffel bag tightly, her eyes scanning for any signs of danger. Her phone buzzed again, and she glanced at the screen:
“Facility compromised. Proceed to secondary site.”
Her pulse quickened. She knew what this meant: the outbreak wasn’t a random accident. It was deliberate.
She rounded a corner and froze. Ahead of her, two figures were hunched over what looked like a lifeless body. As she stepped closer, the figures turned, their faces smeared with blood.
Noor’s instincts kicked in. She reached into her bag and pulled out a small stun gun. The creatures—no, they were still human, but barely—lunged at her. She pressed the trigger, sending one convulsing to the ground. The other hesitated just long enough for Noor to sprint past them, her heart hammering in her chest.
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The Convergence
By midnight, the infection had spread across the entire city. Roads were blocked, communication was spotty, and law enforcement was overwhelmed. Survivors were left to fend for themselves, and the city of Cairo became a labyrinth of fear.
Adam reached the hospital just as Leila stumbled out, her clothes stained with blood.
“Leila!” he called, rushing to her side.
She looked at him, her eyes wide with shock. “Adam… it’s everywhere. The patients—” She stopped, her voice breaking.
“I know,” Adam said firmly, gripping her shoulder. “We need to move.”
Before she could respond, a car screeched to a halt nearby. Youssef leaned out of the driver’s seat, waving frantically.
“Get in!” he shouted. “This place is falling apart!”
Adam and Leila didn’t hesitate. As they climbed into the car, Youssef gestured to the backseat. “We’ve got a problem,” he said grimly.
Noor sat in the back, her face pale but determined. She clutched her duffel bag tightly, her eyes darting nervously out the window.
“Who’s this?” Adam asked, glancing at her.
“No time,” Youssef said, slamming the gas pedal. “She knows something, and I think we’re going to need her.”
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Dawn Approaches
The car sped through the desolate streets as the first light of dawn began to break over the horizon. The four of them sat in tense silence, each grappling with the horrors they had just witnessed.
In the distance, plumes of smoke rose into the sky, and the faint sounds of sirens and screams reminded them that this was only the beginning.
As the sun rose over Cairo, it illuminated a city forever changed—a city on the brink of destruction.
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