LOST CHASING THE SUN

THE MASKED MENS MYSTERY

The masked man stood in the shadows, watching us as we ate our breakfast. His presence made me uneasy. Something about him felt off. He wasn’t just another hungry survivor—he had a purpose, a plan.

After we finished eating, the commander walked a few steps away, and the masked man followed. I stayed back but kept my eyes on them.

“I know who you are,” the masked man said in a low voice. “You have connections to the bigger company. That makes you valuable.”

The commander didn’t react. He simply stared at the man, waiting for him to continue.

“I need you,” the masked man went on. “The Hunter Tacs are a problem. If we take them out, the company will reward us with enough food and supplies to last weeks.”

The commander crossed his arms. “What’s in it for me?”

“We know where the mad scientist is,” the masked man said. “The one who started this whole mess. We can give you his location. The company would want that information, wouldn’t they?”

I stepped forward, my anger boiling. “So we’re just making deals now? Trading with the same people who would turn us into lab rats?”

The commander shot me a warning glance. “We need supplies, Zeir.”

I clenched my fists. “We can find another way.”

“There is no other way,” the masked man said. “The company controls everything. You either trade with them or starve.”

I wanted to argue, but deep down, I knew he was right. The world was ruined. If we didn’t take what we could get, we wouldn’t last long.

We followed the masked man to a hidden tunnel entrance. It was dark and smelled of damp earth. He led us through narrow paths, passing others who were desperate for food. They paid the masked man for delivery services, handing over whatever valuables they had left—gold, weapons, even clothing.

When we reached the end of the tunnel, we climbed out into a destroyed part of the city. A supply store stood before us, its windows shattered. We stepped inside, but the shelves were empty.

“Where’s the food?” I asked.

“Already taken,” the masked man said.

“Can’t we find another store?”

The commander shook his head. “Too risky. This was our best chance.”

I let out a frustrated sigh. “Making deals with the company for food is just as risky as being turned into test subjects.”

Nobody responded.

We moved through the city, climbing onto a few old trucks. The masked man’s troops rode with us, dressed in armor and carrying weapons. The drive was long and silent. The city around us was broken—crumbling buildings, abandoned cars, and streets littered with bones. It was a graveyard, a reminder of everything we had lost.

We parked on the outskirts and continued on foot. The masked man led the way, his men surrounding us.

Then we saw it.

A Hunter Tac.

It lay in the middle of the street, looking weak and sickly. Its massive body rose and fell with each breath. Its claws twitched slightly, but it didn’t move.

“It’s an easy target,” one of the men said.

I frowned. Something was off.

I stepped closer, studying the creature’s body. It wasn’t just resting—it was curled protectively.

“This isn’t just a Tac,” I said. “It’s a breeding Tac.”

The group turned to me.

“What do you mean?” the commander asked.

“It’s protecting something,” I said. “Its eggs must be nearby.”

A slow grin spread across the masked man’s face. “Then we take the eggs, too.”

I wanted to protest, but there was no use. The men spread out, searching for the eggs while a few stayed behind to injure the Tac just enough to keep it from fighting back. When they found the eggs, they loaded them into a truck, then did the same with the Tac.

The masked man smiled. “Time to make a deal.”

We drove to the company’s trading outpost. The masked man stepped forward first, leading the negotiations. I watched as the company representatives examined the Tac and its eggs, nodding in approval.

“You’ve done well,” one of them said.

“We expect fair payment,” the masked man replied.

One of the company men smirked. “Of course.”

The deal was made. Food and supplies were handed over. The masked man turned back to us, satisfied.

“We won’t be needing the commander anymore,” he said suddenly.

I froze.

“What?” the commander asked.

Before he could react, one of the masked man’s men raised a gun.

A shot rang out.

The commander collapsed, blood pooling beneath him.

I screamed.

I turned to run, but they grabbed me.

“She knows too much,” the masked man said. “She comes with us.”

I fought, kicking and screaming, but a heavy blow struck the side of my head.

Everything went black.