Sunlight slanted through the glass ceiling, casting fractured beams across the dim corridor as Arjun sprinted toward the gate. The military suit Serena had given him felt stiff and unfamiliar, hugging his body awkwardly, and the rifle strap kept slipping from his shoulder, forcing him to clutch it tight as he ran. The clink of metal echoed with every step, the belt of knives and ammunition adding weight to his frantic pace. As he rounded the corner, he spotted the team gathered by the Military Tactical Vehicle (MTV), Xie's anxious gaze darting toward him and Serena's face set in a thin, displeased line.

"Sorry, I'm really sorry," Arjun panted, his breath hitching as he approached.

Serena's lips pressed into a flat line, her gaze sharp as she turned to the rest of the team. "Alright, everyone, get in. We need to move. Now."

She handed Arjun a mask, cold and metallic as it pressed into his palm. He fumbled it on. "Thanks," he muttered, feeling its frigid surface settle uncomfortably on his face. He caught Xie's wide-eyed look before Xie scrambled into the driver's seat. Serena took the front, and the rest piled into the back, the tension palpable as the vehicle roared to life.

As they neared the massive lead gate, its groaning, metallic creak grew louder, echoing like a long-forgotten warning. The doors parted slowly, unveiling a wasteland beyond—the air thick with decay and shadows stretching across a scene of ruin and devastation. Arjun felt his breath fog the inside of his mask, the cold sweat prickling his skin as his memories clawed their way back: creatures, the harrowing cries of the city as it fell, his own helplessness in the face of it all.

Inside the MTV, the silence was thick, but not empty. Hiroshi's and Dmitri's eyes stayed fixed on the horizon, tense and watchful. Zuri gripped her rifle, fingers against the black metal. Arjun, trying to suppress the tremor in his hands, clutched his rifle closer, his gaze bouncing between them and the chaotic landscape blurring by.

Suddenly, a plastic bottle flung up by the wind clattered against the vehicle with a loud crack, jolting everyone. Xie yanked the brakes instinctively, and the MTV jerked to a shuddering halt. Arjun felt his heartbeat slam against his ribs.

"Xie!" Serena's tone cut through the stillness, calm but firm. "Focus. Breathe. We're not done yet."

Xie's hands tightened on the wheel, his knuckles pale. He gave a short, shaky nod, and after a beat, the MTV lurched forward again, the uneasy silence resettling like a cloak over them all.

The journey stretched on, an unending maze of wrecked buildings and abandoned streets. Arjun's eyes darted over the horizon, scanning for movement, but the desolation was absolute, unsettlingly so. A murmur from Hiroshi broke through the quiet. "Not a single creature yet...," he muttered to Serena.

She frowned. "That's not a good sign."

Finally, the MTV slowed to a stop, and Serena gestured for everyone to disembark. "Zuri, you and Arjun cover the outside. Xie, stay in the vehicle," she instructed. "The rest of you, with me."

Arjun followed Zuri, positioning himself near the vehicle while Xie sat, visibly trembling. Zuri moved with purpose, eyes scanning every shadow as she patrolled the building perimeter.

An uneasy silence hung between Arjun and Xie. Arjun glanced at Xie's trembling hands, an urge to comfort him rising in his chest. He leaned in, gently placing his hand over Xie's. "Hey... it's okay," he said softly. "I'm scared too."

Xie looked up, managing a tense smile, though his hand still shook. "No, I... I'm fine," he replied, voice tight. A moment passed before Arjun spoke again.

"Can I ask... why'd you volunteer for the raid force?"

Xie's gaze dropped, his brows furrowing as he weighed his response. "Do you... have any kids, Mr. Arjun?"

The question caught Arjun off guard. He shook his head slowly. "No."

Xie's eyes held a distant, pained glint. "I thought so. Forget it. You wouldn't understand."

Arjun hesitated, feeling a pang of empathy. "Hey, don't worry. We'll get through this."

Just as the words left his mouth, a sharp noise cut through the air—a scraping sound, harsh and sudden. Both Arjun and Xie froze, their heads snapping toward the sound. Xie's mouth twitched into a dry smirk. "Talk about timing, huh?"

Arjun gritted his teeth, his heart pounding as he aimed his rifle toward the dimly lit building. "Where's Zuri...?" he muttered, scanning for her silhouette but finding only shadows.

A chill prickled the back of his neck as he edged closer to the shadowed corner. The wind howled, and dark clouds thickened overhead, casting an even heavier gloom over the ruined landscape. His finger trembled on the trigger, his every nerve on edge as he peered into the shadows.

Then, a voice tore through the darkness. "Get down!"

Without thinking, Arjun dropped to the ground, his heart hammering in his chest as his mind raced with what might lie beyond the shadows.