The infirmary was dimly lit, a soft hum from the overhead lights filling the room. The sun had dipped below the horizon, casting a deeper shadow through the base windows. Vivian had just finished eating the sandwich Kara brought her earlier—something simple but warm. She gave a small smile of appreciation and set the empty tray aside.

  Kara, sitting near her, picked up a stray cloth and wiped off a counter. “You're looking a lot better today,” she said, glancing over at Vivian. “Honestly, you’re healing faster than anyone I’ve seen lately.”

  Vivian gave a soft chuckle, brushing some of her platinum blonde hair behind her ear. “Guess I’m just used to it.”

  Kara tilted her head slightly, studying her. “Your looks are... different. I’ve never seen anyone with face like yours.”

  Vivian hesitated for a second, then answered with a small shrug. “I look like my mother. It’s all I have left of her.”

  There was a quiet pause before Kara smiled gently. “She must’ve been beautiful.”

  Vivian didn’t respond to that, but her eyes softened for a moment.

  Just then, the lights flickered. Once. Twice. The humming sound stuttered.

  Kessler, who had been walking between the few remaining beds, checking bandages and making short notes, paused mid-step and glanced up at the lights.

  Vivian’s eyes followed his. “That’s not good,” she muttered.

  Before anyone could say another word, the door slammed open. A soldier stumbled in, panic carved into every line of his face, chest heaving like he had sprinted across the base.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “Something—something got inside!” he shouted, barely managing to keep upright.

  Kessler dropped his notepad and immediately rushed toward him. “What the hell do you mean something got inside?”

  “I don’t know!” the soldier gasped. “It’s not human. I don’t know what it is—but it’s in here. In the base.”

  The lights flickered again, longer this time. Then the sirens blared. A loud, mechanical wail ripped through the halls. All around them, the wounded began to panic, stirring in their beds, trying to sit up despite the pain.

  “Shit,” Kara muttered, her expression flashing from confusion to dread. She turned to Vivian. “You’re not in any shape to move. Please, lie back down—”

  Vivian was already sliding off the bed, ignoring the aching pull from her still-healing body. “There’s no time.”

  She put the boots kara had brought for her on and limped toward the door, balancing herself on the edge of the nearby cabinet,shivering a little since she was wearing a shirt and shorts only. Kara followed close behind, hands trembling but trying to steady herself.

  “Kessler, stay with them,” Vivian ordered, not even sure if she had the authority, but right now, it didn’t matter.

  She pushed the infirmary door open just enough to peer into the hallway. Lights sputtered and blinked in and out, casting dancing shadows across the corridor walls.

  And then—she saw it.

  Something was crawling on the ceiling. Long, spindly legs clicked against the surface. Its form was grotesque and twisted, its body built like a massive spider with thick limbs and sinewy movement, but distorted with unnatural sharpness. It made no sound. It hadn’t seen her—yet.

  Vivian’s breath caught. Quietly, slowly, she shut the door and locked it.

  Turning to Kara, her voice low but urgent, she asked, “Is there another way out?”

  Kessler was already ushering patients to the back of the room. “There’s an emergency exit, through the back. It leads to one of the storage halls. Use it.”

  Vivian nodded, then turned to the soldier who had first burst in, still frozen in place. “Hey,” she said, crouching near him, “What’s your name?”

  “W-Walker,” he whispered.

  “Okay, Walker, I need you to help that guy—” she pointed to a man with a leg wrapped in gauze—“get to the exit. You can do that, right?”

  Walker hesitated, but something in her voice snapped him out of the trance. He nodded and moved.

  Kara, shaking but determined, helped another soldier up, wrapping an arm around his back. “Come on, let’s move.”

  One by one, they began heading for the back door.

  Kessler pushed it open, urging them through. The soldier who had first warned them was the first to disappear into the dark hallway beyond. He didn’t look back.

  Kara and Vivian were the last. Two patients still hobbled behind them, struggling to walk, leaning on each other. Vivian glanced behind her just as the main door burst open.

  The creature was inside.

  Its legs extended far across the floor, clicking as it moved in sharp, unnatural spasms. Its many eyes blinked, focusing.

  Vivian grabbed the injured soldier beside her and whispered, “Go. Now.”

  Kara froze. Vivian looked at her and whispered again, “Kara—go.”

  Before anyone could take another step, the creature lunged forward—