The people of Bloomshore weren't prepared for what came off the helicopters.
The first transport landed at 0800 hours in the converted stadium parking lot. Soldiers jumped out, weapons ready, scanning for threats even though they were fifty miles from Linkon and theoretically safe.
Then the evacuees emerged.
Skeletons.
That's what they looked like. Skin stretched over bones, eyes sunken so deep they looked like skulls, moving with jerky, uncoordinated motions like puppets with cut strings.
They were so thin. Emaciated beyond what starvation should be able to do in just two weeks. Some could barely walk, leaning on soldiers for support. Others moved with wild energy, looking around frantically, flinching at every sound.
The shelter volunteers rushed forward with blankets and water and prepared food—
The evacuees attacked the food.
Not gratefully. Not with relief. Attacked.
They tore through the supply tables like animals, shoving food into their mouths so fast they choked, fighting each other over protein bars even though there were *boxes* of them. A woman bit a man's hand when he reached for the same water bottle. Two teenagers tackled each other over a can of soup.
The volunteers backed away, horrified.
"What happened to them?" someone whispered.
A soldier shook his head grimly. "Linkon City. That's what happened."
More helicopters landed. More skeletal evacuees stumbled out, wild-eyed and traumatized. Some ran when they heard the helicopter rotors—mistaking the sound for thunder or gunshots, diving for cover, screaming. Some just stood there, staring at nothing, completely catatonic.
None of them looked human anymore. They looked like *survivors* of something no one should survive.
The temporary shelter filled quickly. Medical tents set up. Psychiatrists called in. Aid organizations mobilizing.
And in the midst of the chaos, two people stood at the edge of the crowd, staring at the evacuees with growing horror.
Dr. William Li and Dr. Sophia Li.
Zayne's parents.
William gripped his wife's hand so tightly she winced. "He's in there. Our son is in that."
Sophia's face was pale, eyes locked on the skeletal people being guided to medical tents. "Linkon City. He works at Akso Hospital. Oh god, William—"
"Ma'am? Sir?"
They turned to find a young military soldier approaching, tablet in hand. He looked exhausted—dark circles under his eyes, blood on his uniform, the thousand-yard stare of someone who'd seen too much combat.
"I'm looking for family of Linkon residents," the soldier said. "We're trying to contact next of kin for—"
"Our son," William interrupted. "Dr. Zayne Li. He works at Akso Hospital. Is he—did he—"
The soldier's expression shifted to something like pity. "Akso Hospital fell on Day 5 of the outbreak, sir. Complete loss. No survivors confirmed from that location."
Sophia made a sound like she'd been punched.
"But," the soldier continued quickly, "we haven't finished searching. There are still survivors hiding throughout the city. If your son is resourceful—"
"He's a cardiologist," William said desperately. "Award-winning surgeon. Top of his field. He's smart. He's—he has to be alive. He has to be."
The soldier nodded noncommittally. "We're doing everything we can, sir. If you fill out the family contact form, we'll notify you immediately if we find him."
He handed over the tablet and moved on to the next anxious family.
William stared at the form with shaking hands. Name. Age. Last known location. Distinguishing features.
Akso Hospital. Complete loss. No survivors confirmed.
"He's alive," Sophia whispered, gripping her husband's arm. "Zayne is smart. He's survived this long. He's alive."
William wanted to believe her. But he'd seen the evacuees—the wild eyes, the skeletal frames, the trauma so deep it had stripped away humanity.
If Zayne was still in Linkon...
If he'd survived twelve days of whatever hell had created *this*...
What would be left of his son?
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Captain Marcus Chen stood in the secure communications room, reading the message on his encrypted terminal for the third time.
Each time, it made him feel sicker.
PRIORITY ALPHA - EYES ONLY
FROM: GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
RE: LINKON CITY CONTAINMENT PROTOCOL
SITUATION SUMMARY:
Linkon City outbreak confirmed non-standard. Creatures are NOT Wanderers. Repeat: NOT standard Wanderer classification. Genetic analysis shows artificial enhancement. Source: classified government research program (see attached files).
CRITICAL INTELLIGENCE:
Two witnesses with direct knowledge of program origin remain in city:
- Specimen 21 (Nana Wang, age 21, S-class Hunter)
- Version 06 Enhanced (Dr. Zayne Li, age 27, cardiologist)
Both subjects have intimate knowledge of facility operations, specimen program, and government involvement. Both subjects are ENHANCED and pose significant security risk if evacuated to civilian population.
ORDERS:
1. Continue civilian evacuation - priority to unenhanced survivors
2. Locate and ELIMINATE Specimen 21 and Version 06 before evacuation
3. Classify as "casualties of outbreak" - no investigation
4. After final evacuation sweep: NUCLEAR STERILIZATION of Linkon City
5. Rationale for public: Prevent spread of flying creatures (vampires, hybrids) to neighboring regions
TIMELINE:
72 hours to complete evacuation and witness elimination.
Nuclear deployment authorized for Hour 73.
THIS IS A DIRECT ORDER. FAILURE TO COMPLY = TREASON.
Captain Chen closed the file and sat in silence.
They wanted him to murder survivors. Hunt down two people who'd done nothing except survive a nightmare the government had created. Execute them like rabid dogs and then vaporize the evidence.
And if he refused?
Treason. Court martial. Execution.
But if he obeyed?
He'd spend the rest of his life knowing he'd killed innocents to protect bureaucrats who'd turned people into weapons and cities into death realms.
"Captain?"
His second-in-command, Lieutenant Morrison, stood in the doorway. "Sir, we've got another transport ready. Fifty more evacuees from the western district. Should we—"
"Continue evacuation," Chen said automatically. "Priority to families with children. Standard protocol."
"Yes, sir." Morrison hesitated. "Sir, intel just flagged two individuals matching high-value descriptions. Specimen 21 and—"
"I know," Chen interrupted. "I have my orders."
Morrison's expression didn't change but something shifted in his eyes. "Are we really going to—"
"We're soldiers, Lieutenant. We follow orders."
But his voice cracked on the last word.
Morrison nodded slowly and left.
Captain Chen stared at the encrypted terminal, at the orders demanding he become a murderer, and tried to convince himself there was another way.
There wasn't.
The government wanted Linkon City erased. Wanted the specimen program buried. Wanted anyone who knew the truth *eliminated* before they could talk to journalists or lawyers or the public.
And they'd given him 72 hours to make it happen.
After that?
Nuclear fire. Complete sterilization. Every creature, every survivor, every piece of evidence reduced to radioactive ash.
Chen thought about the evacuees in Bloomshore—skeletal and traumatized but *alive*. Thought about the families waiting desperately for news of their loved ones. Thought about the two enhanced individuals somewhere in that hellscape, probably fighting to survive, probably trying to save people.
Specimen 21. Version 06.
The government's witnesses.
His *targets*.
He pulled up their files.
NANA WANG - SPECIMEN 21**
- Age: 21
- Enhancements: Full combat package, aether core implant, enhanced metabolism
- Threat Level: EXTREME
- Priority: ELIMINATE ON SIGHT
DR. ZAYNE LI - VERSION 06 ENHANCED
- Age: 27
- Enhancements: Ice evol manifestation, enhanced physiology (67% transformation)
- Threat Level: HIGH
- Priority: ELIMINATE ON SIGHT
- Note: First successful Avalon escapee (6 years ago). Memory was reset post-escape. Re-enhanced during recent facility breach.
Photos attached. Young faces. One fierce and determined. One calm and analytical.
Neither looked like threats. Both looked like people trying to survive.
People he was ordered to kill.
Captain Chen closed the files and made a decision.
He would follow orders. He would evacuate civilians. He would prepare for nuclear deployment.
But he wouldn't hunt these two. Wouldn't send squads specifically to eliminate them. If they survived the next 72 hours on their own, if they made it to evacuation...
He'd figure out what to do then.
It was a coward's compromise. Following orders while hoping circumstances made the killing unnecessary.
But it was all he could stomach.
He pulled up the evacuation map and started planning the final sweep.
72 hours.
Then nuclear fire.
And everyone still in Linkon—enhanced or not, witness or not, guilty or innocent—would burn.
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Zayne's parents sat in the family waiting area, surrounded by other anxious relatives.
On the television mounted to the wall, news coverage played on loop:
*"—unprecedented evacuation effort as military forces extract survivors from Linkon City—"*
*"—creatures confirmed NOT to be standard Wanderers, genetic analysis suggests artificial origin—"*
*"—government sources deny involvement, claim outbreak is result of natural portal instability—"*
*"—evacuation expected to complete within 72 hours before—"*
The anchor paused, touching her earpiece.
*"Breaking news: sources close to the military suggest nuclear deployment is being considered as final containment measure. Repeat: nuclear sterilization of Linkon City may be imminent to prevent spread of flying creatures to neighboring regions."*
Sophia gasped. "They're going to *bomb* it?"
William pulled her closer. "Zayne will get out. He has to. Before—"
But the words died in his throat.
Because neither of them knew if their son was even alive.
If he'd survived twelve days of creatures and chaos and hell.
If he would make it to evacuation before the bombs fell.
They sat in silence and watched the news coverage and waited for word that never came.
While in Linkon City, their son held an injured girl in a dark storage room, hiding from predators, fighting to survive just one more day.
Unaware that the government had already decided he was evidence to eliminate.
Unaware that nuclear fire was coming in 72 hours.
Unaware that evacuation wasn't meant to save him—it was meant to give soldiers time to hunt him down.
72 hours on the countdown.
And two enhanced witnesses still alive.
For now.
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To be continued.