Apocalypse: Reborn with a Soul Sync Farming Space System-Chapter 149 Run!

Her voice came out softer than she intended, and her eyes shifted nervously toward the dark line of trees, which made several others instinctively glance in the same direction, as if they expected something to step out from the shadows at any moment.

Luke paused beside Helen and tilted his head slightly, listening as the wind brushed through the burnt branches that stood like thin black fingers against the pale moonlight, while the rest of the group fell quiet and waited for a sound that might confirm or dismiss the unease spreading through them.

For several seconds nothing happened. Only the wind moved through the empty land.

Luke exhaled slowly and shook his head. "Probably just the wind moving the branches."

Helen gave a short shrug before turning back toward the road. "It has to be. According to the info booklet, the infected are only in areas with enough prey. None should be around here."

The group began walking again, though their pace had slowed slightly and the distance between them had grown noticeably smaller as several people moved closer together without even realizing it, their eyes drifting more often toward the trees lining the road as if expecting something to emerge from the darkness.

Someone muttered quietly near the back of the group. "This place feels weird."

Another man snorted softly. "You wanted to leave the fortress."

"I didn’t say I wanted to walk through the middle of nowhere in the dark," the first voice replied. "And by the way were the soldiers stupid or what? I noticed he felt the knife in my boots but he said nothing."

"That’s true, I have some bread tucked inside my clothes." Another said with a satisfied grin as he brought out the bread.

"Maybe they were more concerned about the guns..."

"Speaking about one..." Luke brought out a pistol from his waist. "I didn’t steal it, I brought it along with me to the fortress. You all shouldn’t be afraid; we have weapons to protect ourselves. Those who don’t have any should pick up some sticks." He added.

A few uneasy chuckles followed as they looked for sticks, while others joked about the things they had managed to snuggle out, though the tension in the air did not ease.

They continued along the road for several minutes before a low sound rolled through the forest beside them, deep and loud enough that every single person in the group heard it clearly this time.

Their footsteps stopped almost instantly, and they all held their breath, their hearts racing in their chest.

Then someone whispered, "Tell me that was an animal."

Luke slowly turned his head toward the trees cracking the gun in his hand, while Helen’s eyes narrowed slightly, both of them staring into the darkness where the burnt trunks stood tightly packed together.

Another growl followed but this time it was closer.

Several people instinctively stepped backward.

"What the hell was that?" one man asked under his breath.

"I don’t know," Luke replied, though the tension in his shoulders had grown obvious.

A dry branch snapped somewhere inside the forest, and the sudden sound made two people jump while another man turned halfway around as if he was already considering running back the way they came.

"Maybe we should head back," the woman who had spoken earlier whispered nervously.

Helen scoffed without hesitation. "Back where? The gate is already closed and not to forget we are already blacklisted."

The reminder fell over the group like a bucket of cold water.

Then a figure moved through the darkness before slowly stepping onto the road ahead of them.

Several people let out quiet sighs of relief.

"Oh thank God," one man said. "It’s a person."

"Hey!" another called out loudly. "Are you alright?"

The figure continued walking toward them, slowly. Its steps dragged across the road as if its legs barely worked.

Luke frowned slightly. "Something’s wrong."

The figure lifted its head and the pale light of the moon fell on its face, illuminating its features.

A woman gasped loudly, her lips wobbling in horror.

The creature’s skin was grey, and dark stains covered the front of its torn clothing as if it had rolled through dried blood.

"Infected... it must be an infected," Luke said quietly.

The word had barely left his mouth when the creature opened its jaw and released a broken scream that tore through the silent night like a blade.

Several people shouted at once. "Run!"

Before anyone could react, more figures began emerging from the forest.

One stumbled out between the trees. Then another.

Then several more shapes began moving through the branches on both sides of the road.

"They’re everywhere!"

"Stop running! We should stay together and fight!" Helen shouted at the spineless followers in irritation.

Luke raised his gun and began shooting directly at the infected’s head.

The infected dropped dead one after the other.

"The commander was right, they die immediately with a bullet to their head," Helen muttered as she hid behind Luke.

The others refused Helen’s warning, and many turned around running back to the direction of the fortress.

The infected rushed forward.

Panic tore through the group instantly as people shoved past each other in desperate attempts to escape, someone tripping while another grabbed his arm and pulled him upright before sprinting down the road without looking back.

A man near the middle of the group lost his footing and slammed hard onto the ground. Two infected reached him before he could stand, burying their teeth in his neck and chest.

"Ahhh!"

His scream cut through the night.

"Oh my god! They are eating him alive!" A woman who saw the horror unfold screamed on top of her lungs.

Her legs froze to the ground, stupefied. Even as more infected rushed towards her, her gaze fixated on the man who had been ripped apart, almost as if she had been mummified.

The next second she was pushed to the ground by the infected. Her sharp scream tore through the air as she felt her body being torn apart.

Tears trickled down her face as she realized how stupid she was to actually leave safety because of greed.