The Level 5 moved.
It was faster than Ethan expected, faster than anything he had faced before, its body blurring as it darted forward in a sudden burst of speed that closed the distance in seconds. It did not scream or roar like the others. It stayed silent, focused, and when it struck, it struck hard.
Karen was the first target.
The Level 5 slammed into him shoulder-first, sending him flying backward into the wall with a sickening sound. Karen's head snapped to the side as he hit the ground, his knife skidding away, and he did not get back up.
"Damn it!" Ethan shouted without thinking, understanding what that could have caused even though he didn't give a damn for him.
The zombie turned toward him.
This one was stronger. Smarter. Its movements were sharp and controlled, its eyes locked onto Ethan as if it understood exactly who the real threat was. It circled him slowly, its feet crunching over broken debris, then suddenly lunged.
