The laboratory was tucked away in a pristine yet eerily quiet location, almost lifeless in appearance. Despite the steady glow of fluorescent lights, it remained barely noticeable, as though it still harbored horrors that kept people far from it.
Inside the lab, Dr. Ethan Thompson sat with his eyes fixated on a microscope, studying the cellular structure and protein reactions of the Vesper virus. He nodded in affirmation, taking notes as he observed.
Outside the sterile walls of the lab, chaos and despair reigned. Sirens wailed through the streets, occasionally drowned out by the sharp crack of gunfire echoing through the desolate city.
Yet, Dr. Thompson remained unfazed, focused entirely on his work.
Suddenly, something caught his attention under the microscope. He watched as the virus cell particles attached themselves to healthy cells. These virus cells appeared to have unique surface proteins that allowed them to latch and invade the healthy cells.
As he continued observing, the virus began to multiply rapidly within its host. With each replication, the structure and shape of the healthy cells changed dramatically. This mutation allowed the virus to evade the immune system, accelerating the damage.
The healthy cells, now corrupted, transformed into dreadful, horrofic bitter-looking forms, twisted and far removed from their original state.
Immediately Dr Thompson backed out and hurried towards his computer. He had drawn out the keyboard typing hurriedly .
To: Dr. Christiana Clay,
Head Virologist at the Governing Body — The Sovereign Hand
I write to inform you of my current ongoing investigation into the Vesper virus. I am deeply concerned by the developments I am observing. The virus, as we know, previously mutated survivors into monstrous, beast-like forms called SHADES.
However, recent findings suggest that it is evolving into something far more insidious.
This new form is not just terrifying. it is bitter. The infected cells have developed a stubborn protein layer that allows the virus to latch onto its host instantly, leaving no window for study or early intervention. This reaction renders the former research ineffective in developing a cure.
We need to act immediately. Time is no longer on our side, the Vesper virus is morphing faster than anticipated.
Moreover, the mutated malevolent entity known as Shade that still haunts the earth and scavenges for human victims, I believe they could potentially evolve or procreate something even more horrifying.
I urge you to prioritize containment and accelerate the cure development. We may be facing a catastrophe beyond our imagination.
Respectfully,
Dr. Ethan Thompson
Lead Investigator, Vesper Unit
Dr. Ethan Thompson was still reeling from the terrifying discovery he had just made under the microscope. It was enough to make him draft an urgent letter but he hadnt sent the letter yet.
Suddenly, a deep rumble shook the lab floor. At first, it sounded like distant thunder, but it grew louder with each second. The lights above flickered. Ethan froze, holding his breath.
Then the alarm went off, shrill and jarring. It nearly gave him a heart attack. Without hesitation, he hit send button on the letter displayed on his screen.
He quickly stood from his seat and rushed to secure a few chemical samples, locking them inside a protective cabinet as the blaring alarm continued.
A mechanical voice boomed through the lab:
CONTAINMENT BREACH. SECTOR 3. INITIATE LOCKDOWN PROTOCOLS. CODE RED.
Dr Ethans eyes widened. Sector 3 was compromised. That was the restricted zone the place where the virus samples were stored.
He had just discovered that the virus might be mutating into something far worse.
He hadnt even sterilized his equipment yet or properly deactivated the samples and now it had become tampered. This could spiral out of control again. He thought
Who could had accessed Sector 3? It was protected with an encrypted password. Only ten researchers worked in this lab. He was the only one aware of the password. Someone had definitely tampered with it. Ethan's Mind ran through all these myraid of thoughts.
Without wasting another second, Ethan ran to the labs public address system and grabbed the microphone. He had to act fast. He grabbed the microphone speaking into it.
EVACUATE, I REPEAT EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY; SECTOR 3 HAS BEEN COMPROMISED. EVACUATE NOW.
He spoke in an almost robotic voice with an intense urgency.
As soon as he finished, he began sealing off his part of the lab, trying to contain whatever was breaking loose.
But just then, the door burst open.
A female researcher stumbled in covered in blood, looking pale and deathly ill. Her left eye twitched uncontrollably, and her right eye had turned completely dark red.
"Ethan…"she croaked. Her voice was dry, lifeless. Her limbs moved unnaturally, as if something else was controlling her body.
Horrified, Ethan backed away. Every step he took backward, she jerked closer.
At first, it looked like a seizure. Her neck twisted at impossible angles, her body twitching violently. Her eyes rolled back, turning almost entirely black.
Then, the transformation began.
There was a sickening crack like bones shifting beneath her skin. Her back arched, her ribs protruding outward, as if something inside her was trying to escape.
Dark veins spread across her skin like spilled ink. She gasped for breath then stopped breathing completely.
Silence.
Silence
Silence
And then, the next thing. she screamed but the sound wasnt human. It was ancient. Terrifying.
Her skin tore open in places. Her hair fell out. Her jaw stretched unnaturally long, filled with black, jagged teeth. Her hands twisted into claws. Thick black blood poured from her mouth as she growled and screeched like an animal.
Her body grew longer, thinner, more twisted. Even her joints shifted into unnatural shapes.
The human she once was, was gone.
She had become a monster. A Shade.
Dr. Ethan Thompson had just witnessed how a transformation happen, an infected human turning into a SHADE
He ran.
He sprinted into a special containment room. As he approached, the heavy glass door slid open. Once inside, it sealed shut behind him.
The Shade slammed into the glass barrier.
Ethan had narrowly escaped death.
The creature clawed and shrieked at the glass, but it couldnt get through.
Ethan hit the emergency button. A panel opened, revealing sterilization chemicals. He began scrubbing it all over his lab suit as the Shade continued to slam against the glass barrier with terrifying force.
Then, suddenly, it stopped.
It tilted its head, as if listening.
And it smiled.
It had realized the glass couldn't be broken.
Ethan stared, observing the shade
"They are changing" he whispered. "They are thinking"
He paused, still watching it. These things… they re becoming intelligent he thought
"Come on… keep trying. Break it" Ethan charged calmly at the SHADE
The Shade stared back at him breathing heavily, quietly and then turned and left the room.
Ethan quickly unsealed the door, grabbed a data drive from his computer, shoved it into his suit pocket, and ran.
He had to tell someone what he had just seen.
As he sprinted down the hall, he passed shattered lights, broken glass, twitching corpses, and destruction everywhere.
He reached the main elevator. Pulling out his phone, he went live and began recording:
"This is Dr. Ethan Thompson of the Vesper Unit at Sarion. The virus... its changed. Its adapting. The newly infected some of them could be showing signs of intelligence and Coordination. If anyone hears this, get to the Black Archive. Find Kaden Mercer. He.."
A thunderous crash cut him off. The elevator doors exploded, crumpling like paper.
A new figure stepped through.
Not a SHADE.
Something worse.
Taller than any infected had seen. Its skin was armored, with glowing blue veins. Its face barely looked human.
It spoke.
"Archive" it hissed. "Where… is the Archive?"
Ethan didnt respond. Instead He ran.
The creature followed.
Behind him, the livestream was still active, recording his moment with the newly evident creature.
"Where is the Archive?" The creature roared.
Ethan didnt stop. He ran faster.
"Alert" he spoke breathlessly into the stream, "I have encountered a bioluminescent being, it's ifferent from a Shade. A new kind of monster. Its after the Archive. Protect the Archive at all costs. Find Kaden Mercer, he will help with..."
A heavy crash struck Ethan from behind. He hit the floor and slid down the hallway, fading fast.
Somewhere, someone received his message, just barely.
A scout from a group called The Reclaimers caught the last part of Ethans broadcast before the feed went silent.