The snarls grew louder. Heavy footsteps shuffled in the dark corridor, joined by the stench of rotting flesh.
Ben gripped the rusted pipe with both hands, his palms slick with sweat. His pulse thundered in his ears, drowning out everything else.
Lena stood beside him, calm as stone, her knife gleaming faintly in the dim light. She glanced at him once, sharp and steady."Breathe. Don't think too much. Just follow instinct."
"I—I don't know what you mean," Ben stammered.
"You will."
The first creature lurched into view—a swollen corpse, its eyes clouded white, jaw snapping as it rushed forward. More shadows shifted behind it, at least three more following.
Ben froze. His legs screamed to run. His body felt weak, brittle, like he would shatter under a single blow.
But when the first zombie lunged, something inside him snapped loose.
Heat exploded in his chest, racing through his veins. His muscles tightened, his vision sharpened, and the fear in his gut burned away into something else—raw, savage rage.
He swung.
The pipe smashed through the zombie's skull with a sickening crack, sending bone fragments spraying across the wall. The body collapsed instantly, lifeless.
Ben staggered back, horrified. I did that?
Another came at him. Without thinking, his arm lashed out, faster than he thought possible. The impact shattered ribs, folding the monster into the floor.
"Good," Lena's voice cut through the chaos, sharp and commanding. "Don't stop now—use it!"
Ben's body obeyed before his mind could catch up. He tore through the creatures, each swing fueled by that unnatural strength. Bones broke. Skulls burst. Flesh split.
When the last one fell, silence returned—broken only by Ben's ragged breathing.
The pipe bent in his trembling hands. His arms shook, veins bulging unnaturally beneath his skin. He dropped the weapon, gasping as the burning inside him began to fade.
"What… what's happening to me?" His voice cracked.
Lena sheathed her knife, eyes gleaming with something between satisfaction and unease. She stepped closer, tilting her head as she studied him."You're starting to wake up."
Ben's heart sank at the way she said it. Like she had been waiting for this.
"Wake up to what?" he demanded.
Lena smiled faintly, but it didn't reach her eyes."To what you really are."