Relationship between Gabriella and Amber
Amber obeyed her mother without question, convinced that Gabriella was infallible. Gabriella, though strict and emotionally distant, felt a deep attachment to her daughter—someone she was determined to protect at all costs.
Gabriella: (murmuring to herself after reading Amber's message)
"Don't worry, sweetheart. Mommy's watching over you, as always."
Their relationship was marked by mutual respect, but also a certain coldness. Amber admired her mother's strength, while Gabriella saw Amber as one of the few precious things in her life—a responsibility she could never neglect.
---
The Following Morning – Inside Life Corp's Secure Refuge
The day after the incident, Amber and her friends woke up in unexpectedly comfortable surroundings, despite the catastrophe that had plunged the world into chaos. The common area of the bunker was well-equipped, with leather couches, screens displaying news bulletins, and artificial lighting that mimicked the softness of a morning glow. Still, tension filled the room—each of them coping with the brutal truth in their own way.
---
The Harsh Truth
The silence was broken by the mechanical voice of a screen on the wall:
News Presenter:
"We confirm that the zombie outbreak has now reached a global scale. Quarantine zones are overwhelmed, and the situation is considered critical in many countries. Authorities are urging all citizens to stay sheltered and avoid any unnecessary movement."
The young faces froze. The inevitable truth sank in: there was nowhere left to run.
---
Reactions in the Bunker
Amber Sanchez, true to her nature, remained impassive, nervously fidgeting with her phone.
Amber: (calm but sharp)
"We're safe here. Mom wouldn't have sent us to this place if it wasn't secure. So don't panic."
Véra Nelson let out a short laugh, arms crossed.
Véra: (provoking Amber)
"Yeah, unless your dear mom has a few secrets she hasn't shared. I mean, we are talking about Life Corp, right? Not exactly a daycare for spoiled kids."
Loïs Mercer, comfortably lounging, twirled a gold bracelet around her wrist.
Loïs: (with a greedy tone, eyes narrowed)
"I wonder how much they charge for a bunker like this. Probably a fortune… But hey, lucky for us we're not paying, right?"
Gary Wilson, leaning against a wall, crossed his arms and shrugged.
Gary: (arrogant, shooting a scornful look at Véra)
"Honestly, who cares what Life Corp's hiding? As long as they keep us alive, that's all that matters. If some people here wanna waste time asking useless questions, that's on them."
Harry Olegh, seated on a couch, nodded without much thought.
Harry: (passively following)
"Yeah, Gary's right. No need to overthink it. We're better off here than out there, that's for sure."
Liam Wellington ran a hand through his neatly combed hair and adjusted the collar of his shirt.
Relationship between Gabriella and Amber
Amber obeyed her mother without question, convinced that Gabriella was infallible. Gabriella, though strict and distant, felt a deep attachment to her daughter, whom she wanted to protect at all costs.
Gabriella: (murmuring to herself after reading Amber's message)
"Don't worry, my dear. Mom is watching over you, as always."
Their relationship was marked by mutual respect but also a certain coldness. Amber admired her mother's strength, while Gabriella saw in Amber the responsibility of protecting one of the few things precious to her.
The Day After the Events
The day after the events, in Life Corp's secure shelter, Amber and her friends woke up in unexpected comfort, despite the catastrophe that had plunged the entire world into chaos. The bunker's common room was well-equipped, with leather sofas, screens broadcasting news bulletins, and artificial lighting that reproduced a soft morning ambiance. But the atmosphere among them was tense, each digesting the brutal reality in their own way.
The Harsh Truth
The silence was broken by the mechanical voice of a wall screen:
News Anchor:
"We confirm that the zombie invasion has spread globally. Quarantine zones are saturated, and the situation is deemed critical in many countries. Authorities are asking the population to stay sheltered and avoid any unnecessary movement."
The young people's faces froze. The inevitable truth struck them: there was nowhere to run.
Reactions in the Bunker
Amber Sanchez, true to her character, remained impassive, nervously playing with her phone.
Amber: (in a calm but sharp tone)
"We're safe here. Mom wouldn't have sent us to this place if it wasn't secure. So, no panic."
Véra Nelson chuckled slightly, arms crossed.
Véra: (provoking Amber)
"Yeah, unless your dear mom has other little secrets to hide from us. After all, we're talking about Life Corp here, right? It's not exactly a daycare for rich kids."
Loïs Mercer, comfortably seated, played with a gold bracelet around her wrist.
Loïs: (in a mercenary tone, eyes narrowed)
"I wonder how much they charge for a bunker like this. Probably a fortune... But hey, luckily we don't have to pay, right?"
Gary Wilson, leaning against a wall, crossed his arms and shrugged.
Gary: (arrogant, casting a disdainful glance at Véra)
"Honestly, who cares what Life Corp is hiding? As long as they keep us alive, that's all that matters. If some here prefer to ask useless questions, that's their problem."
Harry Olegh, sitting on a sofa, nodded without much thought.
Harry: (follower, in a passive tone)
"Yeah, Gary's right. No need to overthink it. We're better here than outside, that's for sure."
Liam Wellington, meanwhile, ran a hand through his carefully styled hair and adjusted the collar of his shirt.
Liam: (narcissistic, looking at himself in a reflective surface)
"Honestly, I don't mind waiting here. They could have thought to include a proper mirror, though. It's scandalous, isn't it?"
Amber rolled her eyes, visibly annoyed.
Amber: (dryly)
"Seriously, Liam? Zombies are invading the world, and you're complaining about not having a luxury mirror?"
Gabriella Sanchez Intervenes
Gabriella, after a morning spent making calls to the young people's parents, entered the room, her authoritative demeanor immediately imposing silence. She advanced, adjusting the collar of her white blouse.
Gabriella: (calm but firm)
"I know all this is hard to accept. But know that you are safe here. Your parents have been informed, and I assured them that we will do everything to protect you."
Amber straightened slightly, like an attentive student before her teacher, while her friends listened with varying degrees of seriousness.
Gabriella: (looking each young person in the eye)
"Life Corp has the necessary resources to manage this crisis. We have protocols in place for your safety, but that means you must follow my instructions to the letter. Is that clear?"
A murmur of assent spread through the room. Gabriella paused for a moment in front of Amber, placing a hand on her daughter's shoulder.
Gabriella: (in a softer, almost maternal tone)
"Amber, I'm counting on you to help them stay calm."
Amber nodded immediately, her obedient attitude betraying the deference she felt toward her mother.
Amber: (with determination)
"Yes, Mom. I'll do what's necessary."
Gabriella inclined her head slightly, satisfied, then left the room to oversee other operations.
Clyde Separated from the Group
One name was missing: Clyde. Upon arrival at the bunker, in the chaos of disembarking from the convoy, he had been redirected to another section of the building for unknown reasons. Amber, though intrigued, had asked no questions.
Amber: (in a detached tone, looking at her friends)
"Clyde is fine, I'm sure. If he's not here, there's a good reason. So no need to worry."
But in the silence that followed, even Amber seemed uncertain of her own words.
In the shadows of a secret room, isolated from the others, Clyde found himself in an environment radically different from what he had known so far. The decor was both minimalist and intimidating. The pentagonal arena seemed made for confrontation. The floor was hard, paved with solid materials that echoed under his steps, and metal barriers were arranged around the room, as if a gladiator fight could take place at any moment. The room was silent, except for the slight sound of wind blowing through the untinted bay window visible on the ceiling, letting in daylight that reflected off the metallic surfaces. A cold and clinical environment, perfect for an experience no human had ever undergone.
Clyde, alone, scrutinized the surroundings, a slight unease forming within him. He wondered what he was doing here, away from his friends, away from his group, but he knew that his past decisions had led him to this situation. He was there, in this arena, with his ambition to dominate and his thirst for power. Clyde wasn't the type to submit or accept his situation without understanding the stakes. He was a gang leader, a man whose physical strength and determination had allowed him to take control of his territory, and he fully intended to maintain this position in this new chaotic world.
Gabriella Sanchez made her entrance into the room, followed by two Life Corp security members. She advanced toward him, her heels echoing on the metallic floor, her gaze cold and piercing. A subtle smile formed on her face as she stopped in front of him, evaluating him silently.
Gabriella: (in a calm and calculating tone)
"Clyde, I've observed your journey. You have impressive strength, certainly, but that's not what interests me. What I appreciate about you is your ability to lead, to understand what it takes to impose your will."
She paused, staring at him intensely. Gabriella knew exactly how to manipulate individuals like Clyde, those who had a thirst for power but lacked self-control.
Gabriella: (more seriously, almost as an offer)
"I offer you an opportunity. A chance to become something greater, a modified human, but not like the others. You can keep your mind
but your body and abilities will be pushed beyond all limits."
Clyde raised his eyebrows, intrigued by the offer but also cautious. The temptation of immense power echoed his ambitions, and he knew that if he let this opportunity slip by, he might regret it for the rest of his life.
Clyde: (crossing his arms, his gaze defiant)
"Modified, huh? And why would I be interested in becoming a guinea pig for you, Gabriella? What exactly is Life Corp trying to achieve here?"
Gabriella remained calm, her smile widening slightly, a gleam of superiority in her eyes. She knew he wasn't one to submit easily, but she was convinced he had a hidden weakness: his burning ambition.
Gabriella: (with a tone both challenging and enticing)
"This isn't just a test, Clyde. It's a chance to take full control of the world falling apart around us. The only question is whether you have the strength to seize that opportunity. To become more than just a man, more than just a gang leader. But you'll have to keep your soul intact. Don't become a puppet. The choice is yours."
Though still cautious, Clyde couldn't ignore the massive potential this offer represented. His strength, combined with enhanced physical and mental abilities, could make him a major player in this apocalyptic world.
He started to consider it seriously. But before he could respond, one of Gabriella's guards approached and discreetly placed a small vial in his hand—its contents glowing with a strange, shimmering light.
Gabriella: (firmly)
"This is what you must ingest if you accept. It won't be easy. The modifications will cause pain and changes. But you'll become stronger, more resilient. You could be the one to redefine the world's order."
Clyde looked at the vial, weighing his options. His ambitions were great, and this offer could be what propelled him to a level he'd never imagined. A radical transformation of body and mind, with the promise that he would remain in control.
Clyde: (after a long silence, eyes filled with determination)
"You've convinced me, Gabriella. I'll take control of this world—and Life Corp won't regret choosing me."
Gabriella smiled, satisfied. She knew he had made the right decision—for her, and for Life Corp.
Clyde was about to become one of their experiments.
The transformation was near.