The roar of the approaching horde was a physical force, pressing in on Ethan and Marcus. Ahead, the two Brutes lumbered, their massive forms filling the narrow street. They were trapped.
**\[Threat Detected: Large Zombie Horde! Threat Level: Extreme!]**
**\[Threat Detected: Brute (2)! Threat Level: Extreme!]**
"The alleyway!" Ethan yelled over the rising crescendo of groans, pointing to a barely visible gap between two derelict buildings to their right. It looked like a blind alley, but it was their only chance.
Marcus, understanding instantly, gunned his bike. "Tight fit! Stick to my rear wheel!"
The two Brutes were closer now, one raising a massive arm for a crushing blow. Ethan, despite his aching ribs, pulled out his pistol. He aimed and fired rapidly, targeting the Brutes' milky eyes. His **RangedAccuracy** (Tier 1) was good, but these weren't the coordinated, hardened Brutes from Sierra One. Even so, the bullets merely staggered them, buying precious seconds.
As Marcus swung his dirt bike sharply into the alley, Ethan followed, scraping against the crumbling brick walls. The gap was even narrower than it looked, forcing them to lean hard into the turn, their bikes almost horizontal. The roar of the horde surged as they realized their prey was attempting an escape.
The alley was a claustrophobic tunnel of debris and shadows. Marcus, relying on his hunting instincts, navigated deftly, dodging overturned trash cans and fallen planks. Ethan, pushing his **Agility** (10, even with injury penalty) to its limits, mirrored his movements, his bike whining in protest.
Suddenly, the alley opened into a small, overgrown backyard. Beyond it, a chain-link fence, partially collapsed, offered a sliver of hope.
"Through here!" Marcus shouted, already dismounting and yanking a section of the fence wider.
They abandoned their bikes, knowing they were too slow to make it through the thick brush beyond the fence. The roar of the horde was right behind them now, their shambling forms already beginning to spill into the alleyway they had just exited. The Brutes, though slower, were tearing through the debris, determined.
**\[Warning! Evasion Critical! Infected in pursuit!]**
Ethan and Marcus scrambled through the fence, pushing into what appeared to be a dense, overgrown park or nature preserve. The thick vegetation offered cover, but also obscured their path.
"Stay low! Quiet!" Marcus hissed, drawing his hunting knife. He moved like a shadow through the undergrowth, his experience as a hunter instantly kicking in.
Ethan followed, his hatchet ready, his **AnomalySense** still picking up the pervasive presence of the uncoordinated horde behind them. The feeling of absolute dread was immense. His arm screamed in protest with every swing needed to clear branches, his ribs aching with every heavy breath.
They ran for what felt like an eternity, the sounds of the horde gradually fading behind them as they plunged deeper into the wilderness. The dense trees provided a natural barrier, and the infected, mindless without the Alpha's guidance, seemed less inclined to venture off the familiar paved roads.
Finally, Marcus held up a hand, signaling a halt. They crouched behind a fallen tree, panting, their lungs burning. The only sounds now were their ragged breathing and the rustle of leaves in the wind. They had escaped, but it had been a harrowing, close call.
"That... was too close," Marcus gasped, wiping sweat from his brow. "Thought we were done for back there."
Ethan nodded, trying to catch his breath. His entire body ached, but they were alive. They had lost their bikes, a significant setback for their reconnaissance mission, but they had survived the gauntlet.
**\[Sub-Objective: Maintain stealth and avoid large concentrations of infected. Status: Successful (Partial Evasion). Experience Gained: 50 EXP.]**
**\[Current Experience: 405/600.]**
Their mission had just become a lot harder. They were on foot, deep in unfamiliar wilderness, with hundreds of miles still to cover to reach the Midwest Biomedical Research Institute. The thought of Anya and Jax following in the truck, heading for the same urban gauntlet, sent a fresh wave of anxiety through Ethan. They needed a new plan. Fast.
---
How will Ethan and Marcus continue their journey without their bikes?