The leader walked closer to Alpha.
"Ferron,"
He extended his hand.
"Pleasure cooperating with you,"
Alpha's arms twitched involuntarily.
Pain resurfaced in his mind. The pain he felt the day they cut off his own arms and transplanted bear arms. It was still fresh in his mind.
'HUMANS!!'
Hatred exploded in his heart.
'You dare ask for a handshake after what you've done to me?'
Right now, he wanted to twist this human's neck, but he knew better.
Alpha suppressed his emotions.
He wouldn't let a moment of carelessness ruin his plans.
He finally escaped that hell, he finally has the opportunity to get revenge. The hatred he harbored, he would slowly repay it, but not now.
Alpha suppressed his emotions.
"I would rather our names stay anonymous."
He nodded.
"Call me Alpha,"
"Haha..."
Ferron laughed faintly.
He ignored Alpha's behavior. No! He didn't care.
He didn't put anyone in his eyes. No such things as friends or companions, just tools. Tools for his survival, and Anne, a tool for his pleasure.
In this dying world, he liked one thing. Absolute freedom.
If he didn't like someone, just cut him down. If a woman enters his eyes, pin her down—no need to restrict himself.
"Brother Alpha,"
A smile flashed on Ferron's face.
"I have good news. Just this morning, we located a military group a few kilometers from here."
Alpha's heart jumped.
Finally, he found a military group.
Coming here was the right decision.
"Perfect,"
Malice flashed in his eyes.
"I would trouble you to lead the way,"
Ferron nodded. He had no complaint.
After all, the person before him was his golden duck. What complaints could he have?
"No problem. If we depart now, we should arrive before sunrise."
"BROTHERS!"
He turned back, roaring.
"Follow me to escort this brother,"
The people erupted in cheers.
Alpha clicked his tongue internally.
No grief, remorse, or even a crumb of humanity.
They rejoiced, as if two of their members didn't just die.
'Bloodthirsty demons, feeding on the blood of their brothers,'
The hatred within Alpha intensified, but he didn't act.
Ferron prepared the group.
In just half an hour, they departed.
Ferron led a group of 30 men to escort Alpha, while the two co-leaders remained in the base with the rest of the group, protecting it.
.
.
.
The group walked in silence, alert for demons and zombies.
Ferron attempted to start a conversation with Alpha, but only received cold silence in return.
The hours passed in silence, and an hour before dawn, they arrived.
A man from the group brought forward two night-vision binoculars.
Alpha and Ferron each took a pair of binoculars.
"That building down there,"
Ferron pointed.
They stood atop a rubble hill, observing an almost-collapsed building in the distance.
The entrances were barricaded with massive boulders.
But through the gaps, Alpha could see the people inside.
"This is it,"
Alpha lowered the binoculars.
"I'll infiltrate this group,"
Crack!
The bones in his body cracked.
His flesh, skin, and bones twitched in strange ways.
The arms shortened, the hair fell off.
Before the very eyes of the people, Alpha's body shrank.
He changed shape.
Grey hair grew on his skin, and a long, thin tail grew out.
Alpha transformed into a rat.
The eyes of everyone widened. Shock. Amazement.
But Alpha didn't care.
Swoosh!
He ran forward.
The tiny body moved through the gaps of the debris.
Ferron quickly recovered his emotions.
With his binoculars, he watched as the rat rapidly approached the military's temporary shelter.
The rat didn't stop.
It continued running until it reached near the base.
The red eyes shone as Alpha hid between two rocks, observing the building.
Deep hate burned behind those red eyes, but they remained calm. Focused.
Now, he waited.
.
.
.
The time passed.
The night started brightening.
But Alpha remained unmoving, patient, unbothered by the ticking of time.
Thud!
Then, the rocks blocking the entrance moved.
His patience paid off.
Two men appeared at the entrance. Two almost identical young men wearing military uniforms. Jin and Jim.
"Brother, hurry and go."
One said to the other.
"I need to relieve myself as well."
The other nodded and rushed out.
They had to go one by one. Everyone else was still sleeping; they were the only ones awake, responsible for keeping watch.
And they couldn't both go and leave the base without anyone awake.
Alpha's rat moustaches moved. The lips showed something of a smile.
Silently, Alpha followed behind the young man.
The young man went behind a pile of rubble and took his pants off, crouching.
But unbeknownst to him, a figure slowly emerged behind.
Alpha transformed back into his human form.
SHLUCK!
The claws tore the throat.
"Ughh..."
The young man glanced back in horror, his throat gurgled as he choked on his blood.
Blood splashed on the ground—a puddle formed, covering the smelly waste he produced when relieving himself.
"Ughh...brothhhh..."
The man's eyes slowly closed.
His arm extended, reaching for the military shelter not far away.
Even in his last moment, he had his twin brother on his mind.
Tears welled in his eyes.
He wanted to warn him. Save him. Help him. But he knew.
This was the end.
Unexpectedly, he met his end in such a disgusting way.
Worse than a dog.
Swoosh!
Alpha turned abruptly, staring into the distant rubble hill. The one Ferron was on.
He pointed at the tower in the distance and then at the corpse at his feet.
His claw slid across his throat, making a killing gesture.
.
.
.
"BOSS!"
A man exclaimed, holding binoculars.
He stood next to Ferron.
"He is threatening us!"
His voice was grave, threatening.
"He played us!"
Anger erupted in the eyes of the small group.
Blood! They wanted his blood!
But Ferron smiled.
"Calm down,"
He assured.
"He wants us to lure the demons to the body. He wants demons to attack the group."
Confusion spread.
"But won't that put him in danger as well?"
Ferron nodded.
"It will, but in the chaos, they will escape, and he can more easily get used to his new identity. If no chaos ensues, the military will find the bodies. He will be exposed."
The people listened intently and nodded in amazement.
Such a meticulous individual.
"Besides,"
With a broad smile, Ferron glanced back.
"What if he plays us? I don't lose anything. I can only gain from this deal."
"The boss is wise,"
"We'll follow the boss forever!"
The members burst into praise, and Ferron enjoyed it for a few minutes.
"Alright,"
But ultimately, his face turned stone cold.
"The blood will attract demons and zombies. We also need to help and attract even more."
He glanced at the sky.
"We don't have much time,"
Dawn was merely half an hour away.
They had to attract trouble, or every plan would fall into water.
Alpha would be exposed.
...
Crack! Crack!
Alpha stared coldly at the corpse.
His facial skin moved, as if hundreds of centipedes crawled underneath his skin.
His entire body structure changed.
Alpha transformed into the young man.
He walked back. His expression grim, eyes cold and merciless.
"Jim,"
Jin spoke.
Sweat covered his forehead, and joy flashed on his fear-struck face.
"What took you so long?"
He questioned in fear and concern.
"You know how it is," Jim shrugged. "I can't control it,"
But Jin instantly frowned.
Something was wrong.
He could tell.
Jim's voice sounded off, emotionless, not like his usual self.
"Well, no matter," Jin grabbed his crouch. "I can't hold it in anymore. We'll talk when I come back."
Jin rushed to where Jim had just returned from.
A cold, murderous light flashed in Jim's eyes.
Going in that direction sealed his fate.
...
"W-What is this?"
Horror, fear, and disbelief struck Jin.
He saw the corpse of his brother.
'But I just met Jim?'
He stumbled backward.
"No..."
His eyes trembled.
He realized what was off about his brother.
That was not his brother at all.
Thud!
But as he walked back, he bumped into something.
He slowly turned his head back.
"Where are you going, brother?"
Jin's heart stopped.
He saw Jim's cold, expressionless face.
No, it was half Jim's face, half Alpha's; the skin twitched, as if bugs crawled underneath, as if everything was a result of a failed transformation.
Cold eyes stared at him as if he wasn't staring at a human being, but a mere pile of flesh.
Shluck!
Before he could react, a claw slashed his throat.
"Y-You..."
He tried to grab Jim's neck, but too late. He realized too late.
Blood splashed down.
Life quickly faded away.
Thud!
Jin collapsed beside his brother.
Together in life. Together in death.
Alpha, disguised as Jim, walked back to the shelter.
The group was asleep.
A group composed mainly of awakened civilians and a few soldiers to lead.
Alpha carefully searched through the backpacks for a new, clean military uniform.
He changed his bloody clothes outside and threw them on top of the corpses.
He then returned and sat in the shelter.
His blood boiled, murderous intent flashed in his eyes.
Staring at the defenseless group of over 30 people, intrusive thoughts assaulted his mind.
He could easily slaughter them, rip them apart.
But in the end, he suppressed his emotions.
His goal was beyond.
Only if he infiltrated the military could he kill more humans. Only then could he cause more damage and despair.
Only then could he get his revenge.
.
.
.
Soon, the first rays of daylight arrived.
Screeeech!
And with it, a demonic cry.