Daybreak Chapter 1

The zombie horde was a relentless wave, crashing against the Compound's defenses. Yet, Sarah, captain of the Gifted Squad, had led her entire team to the Exchange District, all to celebrate her ex-boyfriend Liam’s birthday.

Command had ordered me to bring my wife back. I refused, point blank.

In my last life, when the dead swarmed our walls, I’d driven like a madman, chasing them down, fighting tooth and nail to push back the tide of horrors. But Liam, caught by the lingering infected, had been torn apart, his limbs gnawed away, leaving only a severed head. Sarah, blind to the danger, had plunged into the horde, cradling Liam's mangled remains back to the Compound, then locked herself away for seven days and seven nights.

When she emerged, it was as if nothing had happened.

It wasn't until the serum I spearheaded finally proved successful, ushering humanity into a new age, that the truth revealed itself. On the night we celebrated our victory, she drugged me, then tossed me into a writhing pile of zombies.

Amidst my screams, her voice cut through the air, icy and devoid of all warmth:

"You jealous monster, you deliberately lured the zombies here, sent me away, just so Liam would be unprotected, left to die a gruesome death in that horde."

"Besides, this serum? You stole his research data. Why should you be the one showered with praise?"

"Die!"

When I opened my eyes again, I was back. Back to the very day the zombie horde attacked.

This time, she wanted to celebrate Liam’s birthday? Fine by me. Let her.

…

The cacophony of gunfire and screams was my awakening. I strode towards the door, pushing it open just as the Commander burst in.

"Dr. Ethan, the horde's here! Get your wife to rally the Gifted for a counterattack, fast!"

I was about to speak when Mike, the logistics chief’s frantic voice cut through. "Commander, we've searched everywhere! All the Gifted are gone. Even the few remaining SUVs are missing!"

A wave of panic rippled through most of the Compound’s residents. The Commander froze, a stunned silence falling over him.

"Where are they?!"

I sighed, a weary weight in my voice. "They all followed Sarah to celebrate Liam's birthday."

"What?!" The Commander's face contorted in disbelief. "Yesterday, we had a Compound-wide alert about the incoming horde, told the Gifted to be on high alert, and today they all went out for a birthday party?"

Behind us, the few survivors left on this level overheard. Their faces twisted with raw resentment. To celebrate Liam's birthday, they’d willingly ignored the danger pressing down on every soul in the Compound.

As we spoke, the horde surged closer. Another volley of gunfire ripped through the air. People ducked, screaming, the area dissolving into chaos.

The Commander stepped forward, his voice cutting through the panic. "Those with firearms, secure the main gate! Everyone else, get to the research lab's basement. Don't come out until you hear our all-clear!"

After organizing the survivors, the Commander turned to me. "Dr. Ethan, you're a pyro-kinetic, and you know the zombies' weaknesses. We still have one car left at the lab. Drive it, catch up with the Gifted, and get them back here to save us!"

I shook my head, a difficult truth etched on my face. "Commander, it's not that I don't want to go. Even if I went, Sarah and her squad wouldn't believe a word I said."

The words hung heavy in the air, creating a suffocating silence. Ever since Liam arrived at the Compound as a researcher, Sarah’s infatuation with him had been blatant. Everyone knew we fought constantly because of Liam, that divorce papers had been drafted countless times.

Just as everyone watched me, helpless, Mike, the logistics chief, stepped forward, offering a lifeline. "I'll go! I have a gun and explosives. I can make it out there. The cure is in its final stages, Doctor, we can't risk you!"

The Commander agreed. Mike, with a desperate urgency, peeled out of the Compound through the emergency exit.

The Commander organized the survivors into the basement and, taking those with weapons, joined the defense against the horde.

Two hours later, Mike returned.

Hopes soared, then crashed. He was alone.

"Captain, what happened?" a logistics team member asked, his voice filled with dread.

Mike, eyes bloodshot, crumpled to his knees. "I failed you all. I couldn't convince the Gifted to come back! Sarah called me heartless, said I was colluding with Dr. Ethan to trick them."

"I begged them, pleaded! But they used their abilities to trap me. Said I'd get what I deserved!"

He was covered in wounds, his little car a mangled wreck. God knew what he’d endured out there. Listening to his account, the survivors erupted, cursing Sarah and her squad.

"What kind of Gifted Captain? She's nothing but a faithless wretch, always wrapped around Liam, ignoring the Compound's desperate plight!"

Their indignation raged, then a thunderous crash from outside silenced them. The panicked residents didn't know what it was. The Commander returned, his face grim, gun clutched in hand. "The Apex Zombie. It's here. It's directing the horde, and the main gate won't hold much longer."

"Are we really going to die here?" A survivor’s voice broke, tears mingling with terror in their eyes.

I looked at the soot-stained faces, my comm in hand. "I contacted the Alliance Military rescue team in advance, but they need time. We have to hold out!"

"I'll go find Gifted from nearby outposts. I'll beg them for help, anything to buy us more time!"

Mike's eyes lit up. He immediately tried to rise, but after only two steps, his body swayed precariously. Everyone rushed to support him. Forcing him to sit, they saw it—not just wounds from Gifted abilities, but a massive zombie claw mark on his back.

Mike managed a bitter smile. "Let me go! I'm already infected. If I can bring back help in my final hours, that's my last value!"

The logistics team turned away, unable to bear the sight. Soaked sobs broke out among the survivors.

"Don't go. I'll do it!"

I pulled a vial of pale blue liquid from my jacket. Hesitantly, I held it out to Mike. "This is the latest version of the serum. It's been successful on animals. I don't know if it'll work on humans, but at this point, it's all we've got."

Without waiting for anyone to object, I clambered into the rickety little car, preparing to leave. The Commander hurried over, his words urgent. "Dr. Ethan, hurry! Our ammunition will last two hours, tops!"

I nodded, my jaw set.

Just as I cleared the Compound's perimeter, a vehicle sped towards me. My eyes lit up. I slammed on the brakes, waving wildly.

It was Chris, captain of the Gifted squad from the next outpost over. I practically ripped the car door open, seizing his arm, my voice tight with relief. "Chris, what are you doing here?! No time to explain, get to the Compound—"

He yanked his arm free, a sneer twisting his lips. "Still putting on a show, huh?"