Issue #5 “The Infection Spreads”

Chapter 5 — Nowhere is Safe

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The depot was cold, and the air inside stank of stale oil and rust. The faint metallic scent clung to the back of Harper’s throat as he paced near the boarded-up window. The street outside was barely visible through the narrow gaps in the planks, but enough light crept in to reveal the figures moving in the distance — shadows stumbling aimlessly through the fog.

“They’re spreading,” Harper muttered. His voice was low, as if speaking too loudly might draw them closer.

“They’re looking for something,” Renee said from her corner of the room. She sat on a crate, carefully examining the blood sample she’d drawn back at the gas station. Her fingers trembled slightly as she held the vial to the light, the dark liquid swirling unnaturally inside the glass. “This stuff… it’s moving,” she murmured. “It’s alive.”

“What the hell does that mean?” Ethan asked, pacing on the other side of the room. His hunting knife was out again, flicking between his fingers like a nervous tic.

“It’s not just infected blood,” Renee continued. “It’s active. The cells are still replicating, breaking down and rebuilding like they’re feeding on themselves.” She set the vial down, her face tight with exhaustion. “It’s like a virus… but it’s moving too fast. Almost intelligent.”

“Intelligent?” Ethan scoffed. “That’s crazy.”

“I know what I’m seeing,” Renee said sharply.

“Then tell me this,” Ethan pressed. “If you know what’s happening, what’s the cure?”

“There isn’t one,” Renee said. “Not yet.”

“Not yet?” Ethan barked a laugh that had no humor in it. “We’re holed up in a warehouse, the whole town’s turning into… into them, and you’re still playing scientist?”

“Stop,” Harper cut in, stepping between them. “We’re all tired, but fighting each other isn’t helping.”

“Yeah?” Ethan shot back. “Tell me what is helping.”

“We make a plan,” Harper said. “We figure out what’s happening here and how we stop it.”

“You think we can stop this?” Ethan’s voice was low, grim. “Look at them. It’s already too late.”

Harper said nothing. He couldn’t argue with what he’d seen. The streets of Lakeshore weren’t just dangerous — they were gone. The town he knew — the town where he’d grown up — was disappearing under the weight of something unnatural.

“I need a lab,” Renee said suddenly.

“What?” Harper asked.

“A lab,” Renee repeated. “I need proper equipment — microscopes, tests… something better than a gas station cooler and a vial of blood.” She stood, pacing now, her fingers drumming against her arm. “I can’t just look at this stuff under bad lighting and guess. If I can analyze it — really analyze it — I might be able to figure out how it spreads… and how we stop it.”

“The hospital’s too far,” Harper said. “And it’s probably overrun by now.”

“There’s the university,” Renee said. “They’ve got a bio lab — sterile equipment, proper tools…”

“Great,” Ethan muttered. “And how exactly do we get across town when they are everywhere?”

“We move carefully,” Renee said. “Use side streets, stay quiet — no vehicles.”

“That’s suicide,” Ethan snapped.

“It’s our only shot,” Harper cut in. “If Renee thinks she can find answers… we have to try.”

Ethan shook his head, muttering under his breath. “Fine,” he said finally. “But if this goes south…”

“We stick together,” Harper finished. “No one gets left behind.”

“Yeah,” Ethan muttered. “We’ll see.”

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The morning light barely cut through the fog when they left the depot. The air was cold, heavy with the scent of rot. The streets were unnervingly quiet — no dogs barking, no birds calling. Just silence, broken only by the occasional scrape of footsteps somewhere in the distance.

They kept low, hugging the walls as they moved. Harper led the way, his EMT instincts sharpening every movement — watching every corner, listening for the slightest hint of trouble. Renee moved close behind, clutching her satchel like a lifeline. Ethan took the rear, his knife gripped tightly in his fist.

They passed darkened homes, their windows shattered and doors hanging open. The town felt hollow — gutted from the inside.

“Down,” Harper hissed, flattening himself against a crumbling brick wall. Across the street, two figures staggered down the road. They moved with a strange rhythm — not quite limping, but not walking either. Their heads lolled, their bodies swaying like marionettes.

“Those two,” Renee whispered. “They’re… different.”

“What do you mean?” Harper asked.

“They’re aware,” Renee said. “Look at the way they’re moving — they’re not just wandering like the others.”

The figures paused at the corner, their heads turning slowly — scanning the streets.

“Shit,” Ethan whispered. “They’re looking.”

One of the figures turned its face toward them, a gaping tear splitting its cheek. Its grey skin was stretched tight, and its empty eyes seemed to focus — really focus — on the alley where they hid.

It let out a wet growl, guttural and low.

“Move,” Harper whispered. “Now.”

They broke away from the wall and hurried down the alley. Behind them, the figures let out a shriek — sharp and violent.

“They’re following!” Ethan shouted.

“Faster!” Harper barked.

They sprinted down the narrow alley, weaving between dumpsters and piles of abandoned trash. The footsteps behind them grew louder, the guttural snarls closing in. Harper risked a glance back — the figures were gaining, their twisted limbs pumping faster than they should have been able to move.

“There!” Renee cried, pointing ahead.

The alley opened into an old service yard behind the university. A chain-link gate stood between them and the building’s entrance.

“Climb!” Harper shouted.

Renee went first, scrambling up the metal links, her fingers white with strain. Ethan was next, vaulting over the top in one swift motion. Harper climbed last, gripping the cold steel just as the nearest figure lunged for his ankle.

“Go! Go!” Ethan barked from the other side.

Harper swung his foot down hard, smashing his boot into the creature’s face. The thing staggered back with a sickening crunch, but Harper didn’t stop to watch. He hauled himself over the top and landed hard beside the others.

“Inside,” Renee gasped, pointing to the lab’s side door.

Harper fumbled for the handle, heart pounding. It turned — unlocked. They stumbled inside and slammed the door shut just as the creatures reached the gate.

The pounding started seconds later, the gate rattling violently as the things outside clawed and slammed against the chain links.

“Won’t hold,” Ethan muttered.

“We won’t need long,” Renee said. “I just need enough time to find out what this thing is.”

“Make it fast,” Harper muttered, gripping his broom handle like a spear.

Outside, the creatures shrieked and slammed harder against the fence — their twisted faces pressed between the chain links, teeth gnashing.

Harper swallowed hard.

He knew they weren’t just fighting time anymore. They were fighting something that didn’t know how to stop.

To Be Continued…