Me and my brothers live almost right in the middle of windsor. We only need to walk about thirty to forty minutes to get to the river and we decided to just use the main street. It was always a good spot to live because whatever we needed we could walk to, or just have a ten minute drive. At this time of day the city shoulda been bustling, with cars on the road, people walking on the sidewalks or popping into stores, maybe taking their dog for a walk. None of that was seen.

Broken gla.s.s, dark store windows, abandoned cars and trucks, and looted stores are what awaited us on our walk through the city. It was only then that it hit me how easy I've had it, with how we were prepared with both a internal water system and a backup generator. Since the beginning my family has had water, electricity, and food. Looking around it is obvious how unprepared most were. Looking back and forth at the chaos, it sadden me that the game had not even started but our world was already not the same.

I hear gunshots in the distance and jump, constantly checking my surroundings while Derek and the twins looked like they were going on a pleasure stroll. Seeing my reaction earns me some giggles from the girls and a smirk from Derek, he starts to walk beside me while patting my shoulder.

"Don't worry little cub, you'll get used to the tension eventually. Just relax a little, me and the girls have been through worse and survived just fine."

Piff. Hearing Derek the twins just gave a light reaction. Frowning at their reaction he questions them, only to get the reply.

"Everytime we wind up in an actual situation you always need to be saved. I'm actually more worried with you in the general area."

I started to relax as they started bantering back and forth. We made good progress until we arrived at the casino by the river front and was shocked at the sight. This was always a busy area, with people coming to gamble or watch whoever was performing, today the seen was a complete transformation. Wrecked cars, some still on fire. The several broken windows with smoke coming out of them randomly on different floors. A sight straight from h.e.l.l was created, especially with the blood stains and puddles on the ground. What was most disturbing though was the lack of bodies. Not that I was hoping for a horror show, but with the amount of blood all over the place.

I can tell from the way the other three started moving that something wasn't right, you could see they tensed up as they slowly walked along the street. All of a sudden Derek grabbed the shotgun hanging on his back and turned the safety off. He starts aiming towards the parking garage across from the casino that was connected by a bridgeway on the third floor.

I don't see anything but parked cars and a broken toll booth, but its it's so dark I couldn't be sure. Just a few seconds later the twins started to prepare as well with Jessica pulling out two automatic pistols and jasmine turning the safety off her a.s.sault rifle. They flank either side of Derek while I try not to get in the way. I pull my machete off my back with my right hand while my left grabs my pistol.

Hanging towards the back I start hearing something coming from the parking garage. It was quite at first, then I felt Frost wrap herself around my neck, not strangling me simply getting a better grip, almost like something is making her nervous. That's when I heard it clearly for the first time, scratching sounds like knives constantly taping and running across pavement. Louder and louder until finally the first squeak was heard. The girls faces went a shade paler as we saw a black ma.s.s start flowing towards us. All I could see in that ma.s.s was a sea of red eyes.

The trio unleas.h.i.+ng a wave of fire and metal that seemingly disappeared into a dark void with only some snarls of rage and screams of pain to show for their effort. After they emptied their clips they started to reload when finally the sea of red eyes and black bodies reached the parking garage entrance.

"s.h.i.+t! Retreat back the way we came and go around, don't stop running until we get to the garage. MOVE IT!"

With that Derek stops loading sh.e.l.ls and reholsters his shotgun only to take out two grenades in a smooth motion seemingly practiced thousands of times. Before I could react in any way he throws them at the entrance.

BOOM

BOOM

CRASH

The two explosions quickly collapsed the entrance as the smell of burnt meat and hair fills the air. I wasn't prepared for the shock wave and was launched away, falling onto my back. Derek grabs the front of my vest and pulls me up. He pushes me in the right direction and I start running.

I see the twins slightly ahead and use them as my destination while I try to clear my head. The ringing is coming from everywhere and I'm barely able to run with the help of Derek until it finally starts to get better. The only thing is once the ringing stopped the shrieking and scratching coming from the rats is deafening.

I glance back and immediately regret it as I see a wave of black following us through the cracks and other exits. I realize that as we were running Derek had been throwing incendiaries behind us, I could see huge groups of rats on fire, screaming in agony. This almost scares the p.i.s.s out of me and I start running even faster.

Even before we started to evolve I was in good shape and the other three had military training, so we could move it when we needed to. Now after a few days and that all round upgrade from the third task, we must have been running like track stars. The buildings blurred past us when we finally saw our destination. The twins reach the door first and pull out two keys, they get on either side and insert their key into the hole and turn them. With a loud unlocking sound they hurriedly open the door and ran inside. Seconds later I ran through the entrance, only my eyes didn't adapt to the darker room fast enough and I ran into the wall. Derek was on my heels and grabbed the door to close it. Just as the door was about to close an impact slammed it shut from the other side. The twins quickly locked it with the metal bolts on either side of it. The rat h.o.a.rd went ballistic, scratching, pounding, I think I heard some biting, but the door held thankfully.

Sore from both the long distance sprint and slamming into a wall I get up a little slow. We all start catching our breath and I ask the door will hold.

"The door is reinforced steel and the walls have a two inch metal plate, we built this place to survive heavy gunfire I'm sure it can handle some rats."

Jessica gave me some rea.s.surance after she was able to breathe normally again. I was told to stay there for a moment while the twins went deeper inside. A few minutes later the lights turned on, blinding me with the sudden brightness.

I opened my eyes and was astounded at what I saw. A fully armored transport that looked like a tank and a bus had a baby then gave the baby steroids. It was about ten meters long and three and a half meters tall. Looking like a metal monster just sleeping away. The twins came back and saw me staring and had a satisfied grin on their faces. They came to my sides and linked arms with me as they started to give me a tour. Derek just shook his head and muttered about saving the day with no thanks as he watched them take me away.