The Infected Soldier
897 Words
Chapter 9 — The Infected Soldier
The metal container shook again.
The loud bang echoed across the quiet section of the camp.
Marcus stepped forward slowly, keeping his eyes on the dented steel door.
“What’s inside?” he asked the guard.
The soldier tightened his grip on his rifle.
“That’s classified.”
Another violent slam came from inside the container.
Tyler jumped back.
“Yeah… that definitely isn’t supplies.”
The guards exchanged nervous looks.
Marcus noticed it immediately.
They were scared.
Not of Marcus.
Of whatever was inside the container.
Jade moved closer beside him.
“Open it,” she said calmly.
“That’s not happening,” the guard replied.
Lucas crossed his arms.
“If you won’t tell us, we’ll find out eventually.”
Before the situation could escalate further, a familiar voice spoke behind them.
“That won’t be necessary.”
Captain Reeves walked toward the group, his boots crunching on the gravel ground.
The guards immediately stepped aside.
Reeves looked at Marcus.
“I was hoping you wouldn’t get curious.”
Marcus didn’t look away from the container.
“You locked something dangerous inside there.”
Reeves sighed.
“Yes.”
Another violent crash came from inside the metal box.
The container shook so hard that dust fell from the top edges.
Elena’s face turned pale.
“That doesn’t sound like a normal infected.”
Reeves studied her for a moment.
“You’re a doctor.”
“Yes.”
“Then you’ll understand this better than the others.”
Marcus glanced at him.
“Explain.”
Reeves walked to the container and knocked twice on the metal wall.
Immediately, something slammed against it from the inside.
Hard.
Fast.
Tyler stepped back again.
“Okay… I officially hate this thing.”
Reeves turned to the group.
“The infected inside this container are… different.”
“Different how?” Lucas asked.
“The virus is mutating,” Reeves said.
“We’ve begun seeing new variants of the infected.”
Marcus felt a chill run through him.
“What kind of variants?”
Reeves opened a small observation slot on the container door.
“Take a look.”
Marcus stepped forward and carefully looked through the narrow opening.
Inside the container were several heavy cages.
Each cage held a soldier.
Or what used to be a soldier.
Their uniforms were torn and soaked with blood.
But their bodies moved in disturbing ways.
Too fast.
Too aggressive.
One of them suddenly turned and slammed against the cage bars with terrifying speed.
Marcus stepped back immediately.
“That thing moved faster than a normal zombie.”
Reeves nodded.
“Exactly.”
Elena stepped forward and looked through the slot.
Her expression changed instantly.
“Oh my God…”
“What?” Tyler asked nervously.
Elena turned toward the group.
“The virus is affecting their nervous system differently.”
“What does that mean?” Lucas asked.
“It means they’re evolving.”
Marcus looked back at Reeves.
“You’re studying them.”
“Yes.”
“And experimenting.”
Reeves didn’t deny it.
“We’re trying to understand the mutation before it spreads further.”
Another infected soldier inside the container slammed violently against the cage bars.
The metal rattled loudly.
Jade shook her head.
“That cage won’t hold forever.”
Reeves closed the observation slot.
“It will hold long enough.”
Marcus didn’t like the confidence in his voice.
“How many of these mutated infected exist?”
Reeves hesitated.
“Not many… yet.”
The answer didn’t comfort anyone.
Tyler rubbed the back of his neck.
“So let me get this straight.”
“The virus that destroyed the world is now getting worse?”
Reeves didn’t respond.
That silence was enough.
Lucas kicked the dirt angrily.
“This keeps getting better and better.”
Marcus looked around the camp.
Soldiers were watching them from a distance.
Everyone looked exhausted.
Everyone looked afraid.
“How long have you been running these experiments?” Marcus asked.
“Three weeks,” Reeves replied.
Elena looked shocked.
“You’ve been keeping infected soldiers alive that long?”
“They’re useful for research.”
Jade narrowed her eyes.
“Or weapons.”
Reeves smiled slightly.
“You’re very perceptive.”
Marcus stepped closer to him.
“If those things escape, this camp won’t survive.”
Reeves didn’t seem worried.
“They won’t escape.”
At that exact moment—
CLANG!
The entire container shook violently.
One of the cages inside had been hit so hard that the metal bars bent outward.
Tyler’s eyes widened.
“Yeah… about that…”
The infected soldier inside the cage slammed into the bars again.
And this time…
One of them snapped.
The creature forced its arm through the opening and let out a horrifying scream.
The guards raised their rifles immediately.
Marcus stepped back.
“That cage is breaking.”
Reeves’ calm expression finally faded.
The infected soldier slammed into the weakened bars again.
Once.
Twice.
Then—
CRACK!
The cage door burst open.
Inside the container, the mutated infected soldier stood up slowly.
Its head twitched.
Its eyes locked onto the small observation window.
And then it began sprinting toward the container door.
Faster than any zombie Marcus had ever seen.
Reeves’ voice turned sharp.
“Everyone get back
the creature has found a way in.
- Writer
