Horrific Shorts: Zombie Edition-Chapter 657: Story : The Silence Before the Storm

The stone chamber was dimly lit, the torches flickering against the damp, aged walls. General Viktor "Bloodfang" Kruger stood in quiet contemplation, his muscular arms crossed, his head slightly lowered. It had been too long since he had allowed himself a moment like this—a moment where the chaos of war was silent.

And yet, the war still echoed in his mind.

Behind him, Sergeant Darius "Hellhound" Rook entered the chamber, his boots clicking against the cold stone. He stopped a few feet away, sensing that Kruger was lost in thought. Even the ever-brutal Rook knew better than to disturb his general when he was like this.

Finally, after a long pause, Kruger spoke.

"Do you ever wonder, Rook, what we were before all of this?"

Rook hesitated, then let out a sharp breath. "Before? I was nothing. Just another soldier following orders that meant nothing. And now? Now we fight for something greater."

Kruger slowly turned his head, his scarred face partially hidden by shadow. He studied Rook for a moment before exhaling through his nose.

"I used to believe that too."

Rook furrowed his brow. "Sir?"

Kruger turned away again, his grip tightening on his own arms. "Every step I take forward, I feel the past clawing at me. I feel the man I was trying to drag me back."

The words were uncharacteristic of him, but Kruger had felt the change growing within himself. Ever since Dr. Sylvia "Plague Mistress" Voss had introduced the new variant of the serum into his system, he had been feeling something different. Something deeper.