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Chapter 17: The Train Horn’s Call
The train horn echoed through the ruins of Palatka like a death knell. It was the first unnatural sound they had heard in hours—something human-made, something deliberate.
Wallace and Vanessa exchanged a look.
“We’re not alone,” Vanessa whispered.
Wallace’s grip tightened around the rusted crowbar he had picked up in the auto shop. “No. We’re not.”
The infected outside stood motionless, their heads tilted, as if listening to the horn. Then, as if commanded, they turned—all at once—and began moving toward the train yard.
Wallace swallowed hard. “They’re answering it.”
Vanessa peeked through the broken window. “If they’re heading there, does that mean—”
Wallace didn’t let her finish. “It means we have to get there first.”
They slipped out of the auto shop, sticking to the shadows, weaving through the debris-littered streets as the horde lumbered toward the train yard. The closer they got, the stronger the stench of decay became.
Then they saw it.
The yard was intact—fenced off with barbed wire, the tracks still functional. But more importantly, there were lights.
Bright, artificial floodlights.
And standing in front of the largest warehouse at the edge of the tracks was a black truck.
A government-issued black truck.
Vanessa sucked in a breath. “Wallace… what if this isn’t a rescue?”
Wallace already knew the answer.
“It’s not.”
Chapter 18: The Architects of the End
They slipped through a broken section of fencing and moved toward the warehouse, avoiding the pools of black sludge that had begun creeping onto the train tracks.
A group of men stood outside the black truck, dressed in tactical gear, hazmat suits, and armed with rifles.
Vanessa tensed. “What the hell is this?”
Wallace motioned for her to stay low. “They’re not survivors. They’re the ones who started this.”
The men weren’t in a hurry. They were waiting.
Waiting for the infected horde to arrive.
A voice crackled over their radios.
“Test site confirmed. Full mutation achieved. Begin containment protocol.”
Vanessa’s eyes widened. “Containment? You mean they’re—”
Wallace gritted his teeth. “They’re not here to help.”
One of the men turned to another. “We can’t let this spread beyond Palatka. Burn everything. No survivors.”
Vanessa covered her mouth to stifle a gasp.
Wallace felt rage burning in his chest. “They’re going to wipe it all out. Kill anyone left.”
Vanessa’s breathing was shallow. “Wallace, we have to stop them.”
He didn’t hesitate. “Then we take the train.”
Chapter 19: The Escape Plan
They circled around the warehouse, keeping low as the first of the infected reached the fence. The tactical team didn’t panic—they were prepared.
The soldiers raised their rifles. Suppressors hissed.
The infected dropped one by one.
Wallace clenched his jaw. They don’t even see them as people anymore.
Then, he saw it.
The train.
An old diesel locomotive, still intact, its engines humming. But it wasn’t just any train.
It was stacked with barrels—containers marked BIOHAZARD.
Vanessa cursed under her breath. “Oh my God. They’re going to burn it all. They’re turning the whole town into a grave.”
Wallace grabbed her arm. “Then we steal it first.”
They moved quickly, keeping low, slipping past the soldiers engaged with the growing horde. The infected weren’t dying fast enough now—the mutation was too advanced.
Wallace reached the side of the locomotive. The cabin door was open.
He climbed inside, pulling Vanessa up after him.
The controls were still active.
Wallace’s fingers trembled as he ran them across the dials. “I don’t know how long this thing has been fueled, but if I can get it moving—”
A shout from below.
“HEY! GET OFF THE TRAIN!”
Vanessa grabbed the rifle from the emergency rack inside the cabin and fired.
The soldier dropped.
“GO! NOW!” she screamed.
Wallace threw the lever forward.
The train lurched.
The entire yard erupted into chaos.
Chapter 20: The Black Horizon
The train picked up speed, rolling forward just as the infected breached the fence.
Wallace looked ahead. The tracks led out of town—but where?
Vanessa leaned out of the cabin, firing at approaching soldiers trying to stop them. Bullets ricocheted off the metal hull.
Then—
A massive explosion rocked the train yard.
The black truck erupted into fire as something detonated inside the warehouse.
Wallace gritted his teeth. “They’re making sure nothing gets out.”
Vanessa ducked back inside. “We have to jump before we reach the end of the line.”
Wallace’s chest tightened. “And if there is no end of the line?”
Vanessa hesitated.
Then, from behind them—
A sickening wet thud.
They turned.
Something was on the train.
Something that had been human once.
Mercer.
Or what was left of her.
Her body had fully transformed, her arms elongated, her head tilted at an unnatural angle. Her mouth stretched in a horrific grin.
And then she spoke.
"You think you can leave?"
Wallace’s blood ran cold.
Vanessa raised the rifle. “She’s not Mercer anymore.”
Wallace swallowed hard. “Then let’s make sure she doesn’t follow us.”
Mercer lunged.
Vanessa fired.
The train raced into the black horizon.
And behind them—
Palatka burned.
To be continued…