Kael Voss and Scout Finch moved cautiously down the hallway, arriving at the water park. They pressed against the walls, knowing they couldn't risk stepping into the main area. In their heavy shark-proof suits, if they fell into the pool, there was no chance they'd make it back to the surface.
After some distance, the pair noticed more and more piranhas circling them. Kael's heart skipped a beat—without the protection of their shark-proof suits, a sudden rush into the water would have them torn apart by these tiny predators.
The piranhas were incredibly efficient in their attacks, like a well-trained military force. When confronting a massive prey, they'd first target the eyes, then swarm in waves, biting a chunk before pulling back, giving space for the next one to strike. Their speed was almost unfathomable, leaving no chance for escape.
Right before their eyes, a crocodile had wandered into the water park. Its massive form was devoured in minutes. All that remained was a pile of bones. Kael and Scout exchanged a look, their faces draining of color.
Continuing their way along the wall, they managed to cover several dozen meters before reaching the visitor's passage. As they entered, the sight that greeted them was a sea of zombies. Most were floating in the water, with a few suspended, their pale claws reaching out as the light caught their attention.
Fortunately, the zombies in the water were slow and weak. With little more than a glance at them, the two ignored the undead, passing through the passageway into the changing rooms. They continued down another hallway, emerging into the main hall.
The water in the hall was murky and chaotic. Even with the diving lamps, they could only make out five or six meters ahead of them. Beyond that, everything was a blur.
Kael and Scout pressed forward, and after another few meters, a shadowy form began to take shape ahead—likely the exit to the aquarium.
Seeing the exit within reach, both exchanged a look of unspoken excitement. From the moment they had first evaded the zombies and mistakenly entered this aquarium, less than half a day had passed. In that time, they had been on the edge of death multiple times. Now, they were about to escape.
Without a word, they quickened their pace.
But suddenly, they both felt a rush of water around them. They turned to find themselves face to face with a giant python, its massive body coiled in the water. In its jaws, it held a zombie, the creature's legs kicking helplessly in the air.
"Run!" Kael shouted.
His heart raced, and he yanked Scout away, bolting toward the exit. The water level was dropping, and the exit was so close now. But just as they neared, a dark shadow swept across their path, and in an instant, they were ensnared.
It was a snake even larger than the one they'd seen earlier—its body as thick as a barrel. The moment it coiled around them, it tightened its grip, trapping them. Kael felt a sharp pain in his back and his spine creaked under the pressure. He was nearly crushed, his body screaming in agony.
His vision blurred, bloodshot eyes struggling to focus. Just when they were about to escape, was this how they were going to meet their end—wrapped in the deadly embrace of this cold-blooded creature?
Desperation surged through him. Every instinct screamed for survival. Blood roared in his ears, and without thinking, Kael drew his hunting knife and drove it deep into the snake's thick body.
The blade of the hunting knife was razor-sharp, able to pierce even the thick scales of the massive serpent.
The python hissed in pain, squeezing harder. It raised its head, preparing to strike with its massive jaws, aiming for Kael. But in that moment, Kael had already drawn his crossbow and fired the last steel bolt straight into the open mouth of the serpent.
The bolt hit its mark, and the python recoiled in pain, its head drooping. Kael couldn't believe it—it seemed like his attack had worked.
...
Though the python was dead, its body remained coiled tightly around them. Kael could feel his breath growing shallower by the second. Though there was still oxygen in their tanks, it was becoming difficult to breathe.
With the desperate will to live pushing him forward, Kael gritted his teeth and continued hacking at the snake's body, determined to break free.
Scout, though struggling for air herself, knew that if they didn't fight, they would die here. She too bit down on the pain and began slicing through the snake's massive coils with her diving knife.
Just as they were beginning to make progress, a new shadow moved in the water, sending a cold shiver down Kael's spine. A second giant python had appeared—if they didn't escape now, they wouldn't survive.
Kael's heart sank. But then, to his surprise, the second snake didn't attack. It lazily swam past them, uninterested. The massive belly of the serpent was bulging, clearly having gorged on a zombie earlier.
With a glance, Kael realized it was the same python that had devoured the zombie. It was full and moving on, likely looking for a place to digest its meal.
As the snake swam away, the two exhaled in relief, their hearts still racing. Quickly, they resumed cutting through the giant serpent's body, finally splitting it into three parts.
The delay, however, had cost them. Their oxygen levels were dangerously low. With no time to waste, Kael and Scout waded through the water, which now reached just below their waists, and rushed out of the hall.
Once outside, they were greeted by the heavy downpour. But at least the area was wide open, and there was no sign of the flooding that had plagued the aquarium.
Kael removed his breathing apparatus and surveyed their surroundings. They were in an unfamiliar place, and just as he was about to assess the situation further, Scout collapsed forward, startling him.
Kael quickly caught her, panic surging through him. Scout's face was pale from shock, likely the result of the python's attack. Kael immediately removed her breathing gear and laid her on the ground, pressing on her chest. After a few firm compressions, she coughed up a stream of water and began to cry uncontrollably.
Kael held her, glancing around at the dark, rain-soaked buildings. The heavy rain made it impossible to see clearly. They were lost.
"We need to find shelter," Kael muttered, trying to keep calm.
He looked around, feeling the weight of their situation. The area felt alien, and he knew that wandering aimlessly could lead to encountering even more threats.
Just as doubt started to creep in, Kael spotted a small door near a hallway. He helped Scout to the wall and approached the door cautiously. When he opened it, he found a staircase leading upwards.
Kael shone his light on the stairs and saw no immediate threats. He quickly returned to Scout, helped her to her feet, and led her through the small door.
Up the staircase they went, turning a corner to find a dark corridor. The hallway was sealed, with walls up to their waist and large windows above.
Peering through the glass, Kael realized this hallway led to the aquarium's staff area, with rooms for accounting, HR, and the manager's office. They had inadvertently found the staff passage.
At last, the pair had made it to what seemed like a safe haven. Though exhausted and stripped of most of their gear, they made it into an empty room, sealed the door, and collapsed to the floor.
In the dark, despite their exhaustion and lingering fear, they felt a sense of triumph. They had survived. It felt like they had been born again.