Ike

The siren's been turned off. Some smart aleck managed to get into the control center. Or they ran out of fuel. Or a particularly curious monster chewed through a wire. You'll be hearing that wail for days.

As soon as the "Biochemical Lab Leak" was announced online, a virus emerged worldwide. Exactly 87% of the population died within the first few days.

The infected corpses' skin turned black, their blood vessels swelled, and their nails, hair, teeth, and eyeballs fell out or rotted. Sometimes their limbs fused to their bodies. But the most terrifying thing was that after a couple of days, these creatures would rise to their feet.

Some would call them zombies. But the corpses weren't "coming to life." Something was being born within them, something intelligent but disembodied. And this "something" was growing.

You made your way silently across the rooftops. Corpses didn't like to climb here—the surface was too sloping for their limbs.

You clutched your backpack, filled with provisions, to your chest. The expedition had been a success—you'd be able to stay in the den for a couple of weeks.

You heard the sound of footsteps. You looked around and barely managed to dodge the puppet that had miraculously climbed in. These creatures were, as luck would have it, silent and fast.

You flew to the side. The puppet immediately rushed towards you. A few steps before you reached it, a loud bang rang out. The puppet froze and fell onto the iron roof deck, and a man appeared behind it, aiming a rifle.

Silent, calculating, prudent, serious, hardworking.