"Good evening," the newscaster said, her expression professional, but visibly strained. "We interrupt regular programming to bring you a developing situation out of Aster City, specifically the Northbridge District, following a violent outbreak that occurred late last night at approximately nine p.m."
A footage rolled beside her shoulder, showing shaky phone recordings, and screams of a frightened crowd.
"According to eyewitness videos circulating online, what began as a physical altercation between a werewolf identified as Ken Hart and a human male nad Noah Lux quickly escalated into sothing far more disturbing. Clips show Noah exhibiting extre physical resilience, abnormal strength, and violent behavior inconsistent with any known human condition."
Right at that mont, the video cut to a freeze-fra of Noah’s gaunt face, his eyes bloodshot, and mouth sared with blood.
"Authorities confirm that the situation turned fatal when Noah attacked Ken, resulting in Hart’s death at the scene. Monts later, Noah reportedly began attacking bystanders, displaying what witnesses described as feral behavior, including biting and cannibalism."
The anchor swallowed before continuing.
"At this ti, officials are investigating what they believe may be a rapid-onset infection. Sources within ergency response units suggest the condition causes extre aggression, loss of higher cognitive function, and a compulsion toward flesh consumption."
A new headline flashed: UNCONFIRD VIRAL OUTBREAK.
"Online, the phenonon has already been dubbed the ’Zombie Virus’—a term authorities urge the public not to sensationalize. However, they have confird multiple similar incidents within a three-block radius of the original outbreak."
The cara returned to the newscaster.
"As a result, the city has issued an imdiate curfew across Aster City. All individuals present in the Northbridge District during the incident are currently being identified, tracked, and placed under mandatory quarantine for observation.
"Residents living near the affected area are strongly advised to remain indoors, lock all doors and windows, and not to allow anyone inside, even if the individual is known to them. Authorities stress that the infection may not be imdiately visible."
Her voice lowered, grave.
"Special containnt units are currently deployed as officials race to curb what they describe as a potentially catastrophic spread. While investigations are ongoing, ergency services warn that failure to contain this outbreak could pose a serious threat to public safety, possibly even to human survival itself."
Vera Turner’s attention snapped up when her brother rushed into the office and said,
"You have to co see this."
At once, she lowered the remote onto the table and hurried after her brother.
Vera barely made it three steps before she stopped short. Strapped to a tal stretcher in the center of the space was what used to be a human. If that word still applied.
The man’s limbs were bound tightly with restraints, the thick straps cutting into his skin that looked pale and clammy. His chest rose and fell in shallow, erratic breaths, each one accompanied by a low, animalistic growl that vibrated from deep in his throat.
The sound alone made Vera’s stomach twist.
His face was wrong with the structure warped, his cheekbones protruding unnaturally as if the flesh had shrunk away from the bone. And his teeth were sharper now as if they had been filed while saliva
foad at the corners of his mouth, dripping down his chin.
Patches of his hair had fallen out entirely, leaving raw-looking skin behind, while the rest clung to his scalp in brittle, uneven tufts. His eyes were bloodshot, the whites veined with angry red, pupils blown wide and unfocused as they tracked movent in the room with feral intensity.
He lunged against the restraints the mont Vera stepped closer, snarling loudly. She flinched before she could stop herself.
Joseph moved beside her, lowering his voice. "We couldn’t get to the boy. Noah. He disappeared after the incident." His jaw tightened. "This is one of the infected we could actually get our hands on."
"Infected," Vera echoed flatly.
"The city’s on lockdown," Joseph continued. "There are police everywhere. Even Military presence too, from what I hear. They’re calling it crowd control, but we all know the truth."
Before Vera could respond, their mother, Moira Turner, entered with Patrick close behind her.
Patrick didn’t even waste ti, already pulling on his gloves as he approached the stretcher with an unreadable face. He tried to touch the creature but he snapped suddenly, his teeth clicking inches from Patrick’s wrist. Thankfully, Patrick withdrew his hand just in ti, his eyes narrowing.
"Wheel him into the lab now," he ordered calmly.
Two n moved at once, gripping the stretcher and pushing it forward as the infected thrashed, and growled louder. His body arched unnaturally as they wheeled him through into the lab beyond.
Vera turned to Patrick. "You can figure this out, right?"
"And for once," Patrick said dryly, "My older sister wants to clean up her ss." Then he walked away, already focused on the task ahead.
Vera watched him go, jaw tight.
Joseph said to her. "I don’t know about you, but this is bad, Vera."
"Shut up," she snapped, already moving.
She stopped outside the lab, its walls made entirely of thick, transparent glass. From here, they could see everything.
Inside, Patrick and the other doctors strapped the infected man onto a reinforced table, securing his limbs, chest, and finally his forehead, locking his head in place so he couldn’t bite. The man scread, thrashed, snarled with pure rage and hunger.
Vera didn’t stay to watch. Sure that Patrick was working on the "situation", she turned and walked away, choosing to wait until he was done.
Two hours and a few minutes later, Patrick stepped into the office where the rest of his family waited.
Vera was on her feet instantly. "How did it go? Were you able to get the infection out of him?"
Patrick stopped in the doorway and fixed her with a hard, unblinking stare.
"There’s no getting the infection out of him," he said flatly. "He is the infection."
Silence fell.
"Excuse ?" Vera said slowly.
Moira’s brows knitted together. "Explain yourself, son."
Patrick gulped. "We’re looking at a zombie infestation."
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