The sun began its slow descent, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple as Ethan and Marcus pushed deeper into the sprawling nature preserve. The loss of their motorcycles was a brutal setback, turning a fast-paced reconnaissance into a grueling trek. Every step sent a jolt through Ethan's injured ribs and a throb through his arm, but the adrenaline from their narrow escape was slowly being replaced by grim determination.
**\[Objective: Conduct long-range reconnaissance to Midwest Biomedical Research Institute. Status: In Progress (Slowed).]**
"We can't keep going cross-country like this," Marcus stated, finally slowing his pace as they reached a small, overgrown clearing. He pulled out a map from his pack, its creases worn with age. "This park goes on for miles, but it eventually opens up into more suburban areas. We need wheels, and we need them fast, or Anya and Jax will be rolling into that horde."
Ethan nodded, catching his breath. "Can we find another vehicle? Something hidden, or less obvious than a motorcycle on a main road?"
"Possibly. There's an old industrial park a few miles northwest of here," Marcus pointed on the map. "Used to have a lot of delivery vans, maintenance trucks. Higher chance of finding something with keys in it, or at least easier to hotwire than a standard car."
Their immediate priority was to reach higher ground and establish contact with Anya and Jax. Marcus pulled out his walkie-talkie. "Anya, this is Marcus. You read?"
Silence, save for the crackle of static. He tried again. "Anya, Marcus. Come in. Over."
Still nothing. "Too far, probably," Marcus sighed, lowering the device. "Or too much interference from the town. They won't know we lost the bikes until they roll into that mess."
A knot tightened in Ethan's stomach. Anya and Jax, in the larger, slower truck, would be sitting ducks if they drove straight into the horde they had just escaped.
"We have to warn them," Ethan said, his voice firm. "They'll be relying on our comms for 'all clear' intel."
"Agreed," Marcus replied, stuffing the walkie-talkie back into his pack. "Which means we push for that industrial park. If we find a working vehicle, we can double back and try to meet them before they hit Millwood."
The thought of heading *back* towards the horde was chilling, but the lives of their friends depended on it.
They set off again, the silence of the forest punctuated by their footsteps and the rustle of leaves. As dusk deepened, the temperature dropped, and the distant, mournful moans of scattered shamblers carried further on the evening air. Ethan's **AnomalySense** remained a constant, low thrum, reminding him of the ever-present danger, but nothing like the concentrated malice of the Alpha.
They decided to avoid any direct confrontations, opting instead for stealth and evasion. Their light packs allowed for faster movement, but the lack of substantial food and water would become a problem if they didn't find supplies soon.
As they moved through a particularly dense section of woods, Marcus suddenly held up a hand, signaling a halt. He pointed ahead, his eyes narrowed.
Through the gaps in the trees, Ethan saw it. A flickering light, not a flashlight, but something more erratic. And sounds. Scrapes, growls, and something else—a low, rhythmic *thump*.
"Looks like a small camp," Marcus whispered, his hunting instincts on high alert. "Could be survivors, or… something else."
Ethan's **AnomalySense** tightened, a specific point of concern. Not numerous infected, but something distinct. A single, powerful presence.
**\[Threat Detected: High-level anomaly present within small group of zombies.]**
"Something else," Ethan confirmed, his voice barely a whisper. "One strong one. Something like a Brute, but smaller. And a few shamblers with it."
They had stumbled upon a small gathering of infected, and among them, a mutation that hadn't been under the Alpha's direct control. This was a new variable, a reminder that the world was still full of dangers beyond the Alpha's network.
---
What kind of new high-level anomaly might Ethan and Marcus encounter?