Ethan knew he had to reach his sister and parents downtown – he was studying at the University of Greenwood, and the journey wouldn't be easy. Quickly, he gathered essentials he'd need for the trip. Drawing on his knowledge from biblical readings and countless apocalypse movies, he felt a mix of preparation and foreboding.
He grabbed his bag from the closet and packed some food, basic toiletries, a change or two of clothes. Alongside these, he took his aluminium baseball bat and a hunting knife – tools for uncertain dangers ahead.
Moving cautiously to the door, Ethan looked through the peephole. The passageway was gruesome – blood painted the walls, and the air was thick with screams mingling with the growls and screeches of the black creatures, the Wicked. He took a deep breath, turned the lock softly, and opened the door as gently as possible.
Peeking out, Ethan glanced left. Some people were frantically running from the black creatures; others were desperately trying to secure themselves inside their apartments. His home was part of a U-shaped apartment complex, akin to a hotel structure – he was on the left wing, with edges curving around a central space.
Looking right, he spotted a Wicked trying to force its way into an apartment – there were five apartments on each side per floor, across four floors. The creature's focus was fixed on breaking in; the occupant inside was struggling to shut the door, the Wicked's arm wedged against it, blocking closure.
Ethan gripped his aluminium bat tightly. He edged closer to the black creature, silent as he could manage. Raising the bat with tense readiness, he closed the distance to mere inches – then sprinted forward, swinging the bat hard against the Wicked's head.
The Wicked's head was shattered by the force of the baseball bat, yet it still twitched with residual life. Without hesitation, Ethan struck again – a crushing blow to the skull that sent the creature into an eternal stillness. He exhaled a brief sigh of relief.
The occupant of the apartment pushed the door open, her gaze falling upon Ethan. She was a teenage girl with striking midnight-black hair streaked with green strands. Her emerald green eyes regarded him intently; her Sandy Beige skin had a warm undertone, and her blush pink lips were slightly plump. Of average height, she wore a long-sleeved Naruto t-shirt and short jeans, an air of youthful casualness about her.
Before she could speak, two Wicked creatures burst from apartments opposite – one from the first room, another from the second. Their screeches filled the air as they charged towards Ethan, drawn by the disturbance. "Damn," Ethan cursed under his breath, tightening his grip on the bat.
The nearer Wicked closed in; Ethan swung leftwards, connecting solidly. The creature hurtled back from the impact, tumbling over the railing with brutal force.
The second Wicked lunged without pause – its jaws wide, baring sharp teeth in a biting frenzy. Ethan raised the bat instinctively to block, but the creature's teeth punched into his left shoulder, though not with extreme depth. Pain laced through him; Ethan gritted his teeth against it.
Ethan struggled momentarily with the Wicked, his stance awkward against the creature's ferocity. Quickly adapting, he kicked hard, sending the Wicked stumbling back – creating space. Seizing the reprieve, Ethan attacked without pause: a strike from the right, followed swiftly by one from the left. He capped the assault with a vertical swing like an uppercut, knocking the creature down. A final blow crashed onto its head like a hammer on a watermelon, extinguishing the Wicked's remaining vitality.
Strikingly, as the creature's life ended, its black skin transformed – hardening to a grey, obsidian-like texture streaked with dim red traces of blood veins, losing their luster. The transformation echoed the first Wicked Ethan had killed, a morbid signature of their demise.
The girl stepped forward, her voice soothing and gentle. "My name is Adeline... thanks for saving me."
Ethan replied, practicality in his tone, "Name's Ethan. You're welcome... try to protect yourself from these creatures."
Without lingering, Ethan moved towards the stairs at the passage's end. He descended carefully, senses alert for any lurking Wicked creatures, checking each step for threats as he went down.
He reached the second floor, scanning swiftly for any Wicked creatures – but they were distracted. Some were frenziedly tearing flesh from the living, chasing tenants in panicked flight; others feasted grimly on the remains of the dead, lost to their macabre hunger. Ethan moved quickly, descending further.
He hit the ground floor and broke into a sprint, heading straight for the gate in the parking lot. A Wicked crouched there, feeding on a middle-aged woman in expensive clothing – oblivious to anything else. Without hesitation, Ethan swung his bat downward, a swift lethal arc towards the creature's skull. It died silently, unaware of the blow that ended it.
Ethan pushed on, racing towards the gate. It stood open; he burst through without breaking stride. As he left, he glanced back at the apartment complex – U-topia – now engulfed in spreading chaos.
He emerged onto the street. More chaos reigned here. Cars lay crashed and burning; people fled in terror as Wicked creatures gave chase, weaving amid the wreckage and panic. The sounds of screams, shattering glass, and snarling Wicked filled the air – a nightmare scene playing out across the urban landscape.
Ethan pounded down the street, running leftward – fortunately, it was a straightforward route towards Downtown, only a kilometre away. He weaved urgently, evading crashed cars and panicked people, striking out at any Wicked that crossed his path. Above all, worry for his sister and parents drove him.
Seeking a quicker way to reach his family's neighbourhood, Ethan's eyes landed on a pizza store with delivery bikes parked outside. Keys hung on one – but the owner lay dead nearby, slumped grimly beside the bike. Trying to stifle rising nausea, Ethan slid onto the bike's seat. He stowed his aluminium bat in his hunter backpack, handle poking out visibly – a ready precaution.
He turned the ignition; the bike roared alive. The sound drew notice – a few Wicked inside the store and outside turned, rampaging towards him now. Quickly, Ethan twisted the bike into a drift, accelerating sharply down the street. He sped away, leaving the stumbling Wicked in pursuit – but falling behind as he gained speed. The bike ate up the distance towards Downtown; Ethan's focus narrowed to reaching his family.
Ethan navigated the bike through the street's hazards, swerving sharply to avoid wrecked cars strewn about. Suddenly, a Wicked leapt from a car's rooftop, lunging at him from the right. He countered instinctively – drifting leftward, dodging the creature's attack as it crashed hard into a car ahead. Ethan kept going, focus locked ahead.
Finally, landmarks of Downtown Greenshore City came into view – he was crossing the main street dividing Uptown from Downtown. He accelerated now, riding a one-way street with three junctions ahead. Ethan needed a right turn at the last one; he geared up for it.
As he approached the turn, a person burst in front of him – fleeing a Wicked, the young man stumbled and fell. The Wicked closed in, jaws bared for a deadly bite. Ethan reacted – snatching his bat from the backpack's opening, he swung hard at the Wicked's head, knocking it clear of the young male. He drifted the bike sharply to avoid a crash.
Downtown bordered the beach – palm trees swayed, umbrellas and beach chairs dotted the sand, stores and a pier stretched along the shore. Ethan carried on, having intervened to help the young man.
He pulled up in front of a two-story beach house – grey exterior, grey wall encircling it, fronted by a black steel gate. Ethan parked the bike, pushed open the gate's door, and rushed towards the house, calling urgently: "Mom! Dad! Sophia!"
As Ethan reached the front porch, a middle-aged man emerged – strikingly similar to Ethan, except for his short, white hair and differing eye color. Dressed in a crisp white shirt, black shorts, and white sandals, he carried a black baseball bat, his fit physique evident.
"Ethan, what's going on?" he asked, concern etched on his face. Ethan noticed his father was okay, aside from faint black spots staining his shorts – likely remnants of the chaos.
"Dad, something's happening all over the city – maybe worldwide," Ethan replied urgently. "I wanted to check on you guys."
Marco nodded gravely. "I know... I've seen what's going on. But what are these black things? Audrey, one of your mother's friends, turned into one of those creatures. Tried attacking us."
Ethan's worry sharpened. "Is Mom and Sophia okay?"
Marco nodded reassurance. "They're fine. Inside, safe for now."
"Get inside for now, your mother and sister have been worried about you," Marco said, his expression serious. Ethan nodded, concern for their safety lingering in his mind, and stepped into the house.
Marco followed, pausing first to scan the street outside – wary despite the current stillness. The Wicked might appear driven by animal instinct, but they weren't entirely stupid, he knew. Satisfied for the moment, he pulled the door shut behind him, securing it as he entered the relative safety of their home.