Reality Hacker: Apocalypse Loop

Future-Ethan's attention snapped to Wan'er, cowering in the corner, her eyes flicking up and down like a captured rat in a maze. 

"The Serenity Squad?" Wang Zi Chen asked.

John's prosthetic fist tightened. "When did I report the siege? They ran to the mayor's office."

"Using us as bait? Or saving themselves?" Wang slammed his fist down on the console.

"Both." The air around John turned icy. "It will be foolish to expect rescue."

"But your fortress..." Wang's voice broke. "Ethan said my bunker fell. Is this—"

"It. Will. Hold." John cut him off. "Nothing gets through these walls."

Present-Ethan flinched.

If this "holds"... why am I seeing this from death's beyond?

Hours crept by. 

> SURVEILLANCE FEED [ALL SECTORS]

[ 16:30: Greyskins assemble rocket launchers ] 

[ 17:12: grenade priming sequence initiated ] 

Cold and deliberate military style.

BOOM! 

Outer gates evaporated. Reinforced walls buckled like wet cardboard.

"WHEN DID ZOMBIES START USING GRENADE LAUNCHERS?!" Wang fumbled for a cigarette as he got lighter out of his pocket, and nearly dropped it as he trembled.

John reached for his own lighter and the smoke bobbed on his lips. "Your great plan?"

"Armored vehicle. One last run?"

Wang stared blankly. They arrived in it. The Horde was waiting.

Future-Ethan stepped forward. "Staying means death. That vehicle is our only chance."

They sprinted to the garage. A single exit loomed ahead.

"ONE EXIT?!" Wang yelled. "Rabbits dig three burrows!"

"If this falls..." John's face turned tombstone-gray. "...escape was never planned. These aren't zombies. They're soldiers."

Engines roared as they crashed through collapsing debris. 

CRUNCH! 

Greyskins flew like broken dolls.

Freedom sparkled.

THUD! 

The world turned upside down.

The vehicle plunged into a pit as Wang shouted: 

"WHO DIGS TRAPS FOR TANKS?!"

John's broken whisper: 

"HOW DID THEY KNOW MY BLIND SPOTS?!"

Blackness.

PRESENT

Ethan gasped awake. "Vision?" Wang's knuckles turned white on the wheel. Wan'er's worried eyes locked on him.

"Yeah." Rubbing his temples, five death-replays came to mind—a missed detail glinting like a razor.

"Stop the vehicle."

"ARE YOU INSANE?" Wang pointed at the horde in the rearview.

"Let me out. Take Wan'er to John's fortress—" 

"But you said it's not safe—"

"—then LEAVE IMMEDIATELY." Ethan grabbed Wang's arm. "Go to City Hall. John's meeting with the Serenity Squad is there."

"Meeting? Since when—"

"Mayor Lu Mingtian and his son Lu Zitao." Ethan's eyes burned. "They're the masterminds."

"But they're CIVILIANS!"

"They're the FINAL BOSS."

Ethan jumped out, his final warning slicing through the air: "Get John and GO! That fortress won't last an hour!"

The armored beast sped away. Ethan sprinted north into the corpse-city. Wang watched him disappear, muttering, "I'm starting to hate prophets."