My short-lived respite was shattered by the distant echo of footsteps down the corridor. Instinctively, I sprang up, Beretta 92 in hand; my duty was more important than my weariness.
"Hector, it's me!" a familiar voice called out.
It was Lisa. I almost heaved a sigh of relief hearing from her again, yet the protocols couldn't be overlooked. With shaky hands, I aimed the scanner at her. I anxiously waited for the scanner's verdict, praying both for her safety and the hope that Emily was with her.
BEEP!
"Hector, please… it must be malfunctioning. It's me!" Lisa's voice trembled, her eyes pleading.
I hesitated. The scanner's insistent beep filled the air, the red light reflecting on her eyes, its message clear but incomprehensible. But could it be wrong? Before I could decide, she pushed past me. Desperately, I reached out, but she was already beyond my grasp. She made it past the gate and toward the city. I watched in shock as Lisa slipped through the gate.
"Liz, stop!" My cry, laced with panic, echoed desperately after her. But she ignored my plea, rushing deeper into the dome. Her footsteps echoed down the narrow corridor, growing fainter with each passing second.
When silence eventually took over, a fragile hope flickered within me—maybe, just maybe, the scanner was wrong. But chilling memories of those with negative readings haunted me. Straining my ears, I hoped for a sign of her safety. Yet, in the eerie quiet, the only sounds that met my ears were distant, unmistakable cries of anguish and the grotesque sound of... something feasting.
Frozen in place, I grabbed my chest as the weight of my actions bore down on me, each breath a struggle as guilt constricted my heart. As I grappled with my emotions, another silhouette slowly emerged from the shadows.
BEEP!
My scanner beeped again. Negative. But I recognized those eyes.
"Dad?" Emily whispered.
I felt tears streaming down my face, and in a voice choked with emotion, I whispered, "I love you, Em."
Closing my eyes, I pulled the trigger.
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZVvfC4vwh
and then Add to home screen.