Horrific Shorts: Zombie Edition

Zara crouched on the castle's rooftop, her gloved fingers gripping a battered two-way radio. The cold wind whipped through her hair as she adjusted the frequency dial, her sharp eyes scanning the surrounding wilderness. The castle, once a grand fortress, was now a crumbling ruin draped in vines and mist, its ancient walls providing a fleeting refuge from the chaos below.

"Come in, base. Do you read me?" Zara's voice was calm but edged with urgency. The radio crackled with static, and she frowned, smacking the device lightly.

"Still no signal?" Callum asked, leaning against the parapet with her rifle slung over her shoulder. She kept her gaze on the tree line, where faint movements hinted at lurking threats.

"Something's jamming the frequencies," Zara muttered, her frustration simmering. "Either that, or we're too deep in this dead zone."

Callum tilted her head. "Dead zone... or someone doesn't want us calling for help?"

Zara didn't respond immediately. Instead, she tapped a sequence on the radio's side panel, trying an encrypted channel. "If there's anyone out there, we need immediate extraction. Coordinates—" A sudden screech of static made her wince and pull the radio away. Then, through the noise, a voice broke through.

"...un... stand by… near... breach—" The signal cut out again.

"What was that?" Callum straightened, her grip tightening on her weapon.

"Hard to tell," Zara replied, her brow furrowed. "But it's close. Someone's alive out there."

Before they could process further, a low growl rose from the base of the castle. Zara instinctively pulled her handgun, her body tense. Callum moved to the edge of the roof and peered over, her expression darkening.

"They've found us."

Below, the shadowy figures of crawlers were converging, their grotesque forms climbing over the castle's outer walls. The horde moved with a chilling determination, their guttural snarls echoing through the night.

Zara's mind raced. "We can't fight them all. We need to get higher."

"Higher? There's no way out except down," Callum shot back.

Zara pointed to the central tower, its spire rising above the surrounding fog. "We climb. If we're lucky, the higher altitude might clear the signal."

"And if it doesn't?"

"Then we make them come to us. Fewer entry points mean we can control the fight."
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Callum nodded reluctantly. "Let's move."

The pair navigated the rooftop, leaping over gaps where the stone had crumbled away. The cold air burned in their lungs, but neither slowed. Reaching the base of the central tower, Zara kicked open a rusted hatch, revealing a winding staircase.

The tower creaked under their weight as they ascended, each step echoing ominously. Halfway up, Zara paused, her radio crackling again.

"...repeat, coordinates confirmed. Assistance—"

"Base?!" Zara gripped the device, her pulse quickening. But before she could respond, the staircase shuddered violently. A crawler, faster and more grotesque than the others, had scaled the outer wall and burst through a nearby window.

"Go!" Zara shouted, firing a shot into the creature's chest. Callum pushed ahead, climbing as the structure groaned under the assault.

They reached the top just as the horde began spilling into the lower levels. Zara keyed the radio one last time.

"This is Kincaid. We're at the tower. Extraction needed—now!"

Above them, a faint light pierced the fog. Hope—or something else—was coming.