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Alice lifted her head and saw Jack floating above her, leisurely and carefree, lying across a spot more than two meters high. The desert sun filtered weakly through scattered clouds, casting uneven light across the rocky terrain around them. Heat shimmered in waves from the cracked sand, and small gusts of wind stirred dust in the air, creating tiny whirlwinds that danced across the ground. The sight of Jack so relaxed, almost defying gravity, was surreal—like a calm in the eye of a storm, entirely at odds with the chaos that constantly threatened them.
She muttered under her breath, "I hope this is a dream… that when I wake up, none of this happened." Her fingers clenched the strap of the package she carried. There was a cold edge to her thoughts—a sense that even this moment of calm could shatter at any instant. She could feel the weight of responsibility pressing on her chest, a heaviness she carried not just for herself, but for the lives around her.
Jack smiled, his tone casual yet confident, as if he could read her unease without effort. "I really like you. In my mind, you're firm, resolute, and brave. No matter what comes, you always face it calmly."
Alice smiled faintly, a fleeting warmth in the harsh desert light. "That… is quite a compliment." She glanced at him, noting the relaxed ease of his posture, the subtle smile tugging at his lips. The words felt heavy with meaning—Jack was assessing her, but in a way that unsettled her.
"Just stating the facts," Jack replied, and there was no arrogance in his tone, only certainty.
Alice turned her gaze to Jack more sharply, searching for hidden intent. "You seem to know a lot. You're with the Umbrella Corporation, aren't you?"
Jack shook his head. "No, that's wrong. I'm not part of Umbrella."
Alice raised her eyebrows. "Really?"
"Of course not. You couldn't have guessed correctly."
Alice's expression darkened slightly, her thoughts sharpening. She had already made her stance clear. "Alright, Jack. I've said before I won't feel grateful to you. If you don't kill me, I will. I'll find the opportunity, and I won't hesitate." The words were soft, almost measured, but the determination behind them was undeniable. Her mind flicked through all the possibilities, the chances and risks, calculating the outcome of each.
Jack let out a soft, amused laugh, a sound that echoed slightly in the open desert. "Those words… they're certainly creative. But don't worry, I don't expect your gratitude. That kind of thing isn't necessary at all."
Alice lowered her gaze to the package she carried, the weight of it pressing against her arms and grounding her amidst the swirling heat and wind. "Jack, whatever your goal may be, I'll accompany you for now. Since you're not Umbrella, you're not my enemy—at least temporarily. Let's see what happens next."
"Where are you going?" Jill asked, her voice tinged with concern, watching Alice's retreating figure.
"I have matters I must handle myself," Alice replied, walking forward with deliberate steps, her boots crunching softly against the sandy ground. Each step felt like a small assertion of control over a world that often threatened to slip away.
Jill's eyes followed her. "Letting her go won't be simple."
Jack smirked, a small, wicked curl of the lips that seemed almost out of place in the open, quiet desert. "Naturally, it won't. I'll follow her."
"Are you a perverted stalker?" Jill asked, exasperation in her voice.
Jack shrugged. "Observation only. Doesn't mean anything else."
---
The desert stretched endlessly as the survivors rested at a roadside inn, the terrain shifting from sand to scattered rocks and scrubby plants that had somehow survived the harsh sunlight. Early morning sunlight filtered through the vehicles, their surfaces hot under the already rising sun. Inside, the survivors slept soundly, though dreams were likely restless, tainted by the long shadows of what they had escaped. In their endless flight, sleep was a rare luxury, a fragile, fleeting respite from the constant threat of danger lurking just beyond sight.
Thump!
The sound startled the blonde girl, K-Mart. Her drowsy eyes opened, glancing around before trying to go back to sleep. Her thoughts raced despite the grogginess—what had caused that sound? Instinctive caution, honed by months of survival, prickled at her senses.
Pū!
A sudden rustle of wings snapped her fully awake. She sat up, scanning carefully, every muscle tense. In the next carriage, Claire rested peacefully, seemingly oblivious to the disturbance. K-Mart's heart pounded, echoing in her ears louder than the sound of the wings.
She opened the vehicle door gently, stepping outside and feeling the coarse sand under her boots. She stood by the gate, surveying the horizon and the uneven desert terrain. Dust swirled with every gentle gust of wind, and small rocks rolled down distant slopes, disturbed by invisible currents. Nothing moved.
Just as she went to close the door, her gaze caught a large crow perched on the roof, black wings glinting in the weak sunlight.
"Gua…"
The crow let out a harsh, guttural cry. K-Mart screamed, stumbling back into the carriage, slamming the door shut. Her heart thudded violently, a mixture of fear and adrenaline flooding her senses.
"What's wrong?" Claire asked, waking instantly, her voice sharp with concern.
"Look!" K-Mart pointed shakily at the glass, her hand trembling slightly.
Claire's eyes widened, and her breath caught. "FUCK… the crows… they're everywhere!"
Black wings covered every perch—eaves, poles, power lines. Crows swarmed in a dense, chaotic mass, their cries filling the air with a discordant chorus. The wind carried the scent of dust, feathers, and something faintly metallic, like blood.
Some survivors panicked, but their long experience in escape taught them to stay calm. Claire took a steadying breath and grabbed the intercom. "Everyone, stay inside! Don't move and keep quiet!"
K-Mart squinted at the nearest crow. "Their eyes… what's wrong with them?" The birds' eyes were bloodshot and lifeless, a chilling sign that sent a shiver down her spine.
"They're infected," Claire said, frowning. "This could be trouble."
Teri lifted her camera, documenting the scene meticulously. Every detail, every movement of the crows, needed to be recorded. This was evidence—proof that danger was not just near, it was already here.
On the school bus, a canned food jar clattered to the floor with a sharp clang, echoing like a warning.
"Gua, gua…" one crow cawed.
"Gua, gua, gua, gua…" the rest answered in grating unison, launching into the air in violent, chaotic formations. Their wings cut through the morning sunlight, casting eerie shadows on the ground.
Claire's face paled. "Start the vehicles! Move us out of here!"
"Good idea," K-Mart agreed, her body tense and ready.
Engines roared to life, dust kicked up as the convoy surged forward. But the ambulance's wheel sank into soft silt, trapping it.
"We need to get to the school bus!" L.J. and a black woman leaped from the ambulance, sprinting toward it.
"Quack, quack…" the crows cried, diving in waves, their screeching chorus like the sound of an approaching storm.
Huā lā, huā lā!
The bus glass began to shatter under the relentless assault, sending shards scattering across the desert floor.
"Claire!" K-Mart shouted into the mirror, panic threading her voice.
Claire spoke quickly into the intercom. "Carlos, get back here! Rescue the people on the bus! We can't leave them!"
"Understood," Carlos replied. He maneuvered the carriage behind the school bus. "Open the back door! Everyone inside, move into this vehicle!"
Bang, bang, bang…
Carlos and the motorcade fired at the attacking crows, buying precious seconds.
"Ah!" A woman who hadn't moved in time fell under the carriage, immediately surrounded by the birds.
"Ah…" Her screams were pitiful, drowned beneath the relentless pecking and flapping of wings, blood spreading across the sand almost instantly.
---
Alice walked alone through the desert, the cries of the crows drawing her attention. The wind swept grains of sand against her boots, the heat pressing down, and the sky seemed unnaturally dark above the swirling black of wings. She looked up, seeing the massive swarm, and a cold premonition settled in her chest.
"What's going on?" she muttered, brow furrowed. Unease prickled every nerve as she ran forward, the weight of the world pressing on her shoulders with every step. Her mind raced through possibilities, calculating threats and strategies, but instinct told her one thing: danger was already here.