PATIENT ZERO -The lone survivor
My stomach was twisting in knots, the Caloric Debt threatening to return.
We descended the winding stone staircase rapidly, our footsteps slapping against the rock. Below us, the docks were in chaos. A group of young mutants—sentries armed with spears tipped with glowing violet crystals—were backing away from the water's edge, their weapons trembling in their hands.
The waterfall, usually a majestic curtain of white noise, was now a veil of suspense. We couldn't see through the crashing water. We could only hear the thud-hiss... thud-hiss of heavy machinery approaching from the other side. It sounded like a heartbeat made of iron.