Before the Zombie King Hatched, They Locked Me Up

“I have emergency authorization for Operation Dawn, issued directly by High Command. The target is red-level, top priority.”

“I’m ordering you to open the gate now!”

I tried to wrench my arm free from the guard holding me.

The guard captain’s hand was like an iron clamp, unmoving.

“Captain Hale, last week, the North District outpost was wiped out because of a wound that had ‘already been treated.’”

“Seventeen people. Only one survived, and he’s still losing his mind in quarantine.”

“Captain Hale, I can’t take that risk.”

I understood what he meant.

I knew he wasn’t trying to make things difficult for me. He was only doing what he believed was right.

But if this dragged on any longer, it really would be too late.

Once the zombie king awakened, the entire base would fall.

Including him.

“This way, Captain Hale.”

Two guards seized my arms and dragged me toward the quarantine corridor.

My gaze locked on Ethan, who stood only a few steps away.

His face was pale, and his voice trembled.

“Captain… I really didn’t mean to… I just… I suddenly remembered. You were coughing so badly on the way back, and I happened to see it when that rat scratched you…”

“I didn’t say anything then, but the more I thought about it, the more scared I got…”

As he spoke, he lowered his head, not daring to look at me.

The sight of him acting like a frightened little quail made my lungs nearly explode with rage.

“Shut up!”

I glanced at the countdown.

’25 minutes and 14 seconds.’

“Run a thorough check on Captain Hale,” the guard captain ordered coldly.

More guards surrounded me.

Riot shields pressed against my body, and their weapons locked firmly on my vital points.

I was dragged toward the dim corridor.

The alloy door to the quarantine room slammed shut, cutting me off from the outside world completely.

The air was thick with the mixed smell of disinfectant and rust, heavy enough to suffocate.

I was locked into a metal chair.

The electromagnetic restraints snapped shut with a cold, biting click.

“The examiner will be here soon.”

After saying that, the guard captain turned and left.

‘Countdown: 20 minutes and 17 seconds.’

I stared hard at the numbers ticking down on my watch.

The zombie king in the lab was about to awaken.

“Let me out! We’re running out of time!”

I shouted at the one-way glass.

Outside the glass, the two guards ignored me completely.

Ethan walked in through a side door and stopped in front of the observation window.

“Captain, save your strength.”

“Just cooperate with the exam. It won’t take long.”

Just then, the side door opened again, and a middle-aged woman walked in.

The badge on her chest read:

‘Level Three Examiner, Margaret Leedon’

She lifted her eyes, her gaze sharp.

“The report says you were scratched by a mutated rat. Have you experienced any headaches, fever, or abnormal emotional responses?”

“No. Everything is normal. I’m carrying out an emergency mission.”

I was so anxious I felt like the veins in my head were about to burst.

Ethan cut in, his voice not loud, but perfectly clear.

“But Captain, before we left, when we were gathering, I think I heard you say your head hurt… And in the vehicle, you didn’t look well either.”

Margaret’s gaze snapped back to me.

“Ethan Cross! What the hell are you talking about?”

I was so furious my vision blurred.

“Captain, I’m only saying what I saw and remembered. This is for your own good, and for everyone else’s safety.”

“And in the vehicle, Captain kept looking down at his personal terminal. He was extremely focused.”

He paused, a trace of confusion and concern appearing on his face.