Time seemed to stand still as I desperately searched for a sanctuary, my body running on fumes and the last remnants of adrenaline pushing me forward as I stumbled through the rooms, desperate for a hiding place to meet my inevitable end. But every door I slammed open revealed nothing but small, useless spaces with no locks. The echoes of slamming doors reverberated through the air as I stumbled through the dark, my ammunition depleted and my LR lost. My mind raced with fear and desperation as I realized there was nowhere left to hide, nowhere left to die.

I could smell the smoke in the air. Kendall had come through and made the hard choice. "Good job, baby bear," I said weakly. My heart swelled; they had made it outside, at the least—another few minutes of life for my family. The smoke tickled my throat, and I coughed as memories of Michael's burning apartment floated in my mind's eye. Fuck, what I wouldn't have given to be back in that moment.

One final door stood before me. I lurched towards it, grasping at the handle and wrenching it open to reveal a room bathed in a soft red glow. A sea of writhing creatures filled the space, their tiny red eyes fixated on me. My body froze in terror as hundreds of headhumpers crawled and climbed over each other, their grotesque forms filling every inch of the room. With a surge of panic, I slammed the door shut behind me, feeling the impact of their bodies hitting against it. My grip on the handle weakened as I frantically muttered curses under my breath.

"Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck," I said in quick succession. Legs scrabbled under the door, almost snatching at my fingers. I pulled them away at the last second, barely avoiding getting skewered.

I refused to let those creatures survive the inferno and potentially escape. They would swarm the camp, tearing apart everything and everyone in their path. I had foolishly left my helmet behind, unable to warn the others of the impending danger. With a growl of frustration, I slammed my head against the door, cursing my own stupidity.

As I peered through the thickening smoke, the howls and screams of the Turned inside the main warehouse grew louder - trapped prisoners in a burning cage. But if I could just hold this door shut for a little while longer...

My heart sank as a Prowler emerged at the end of the hallway. I drew a knife with trembling hands and pointed it at it defiantly. The creature snarled and advanced towards me, its massive teeth glinting in the orange glow behind it. Panic set in as I realized that I was trapped in a concrete block hallway - no chance for the fire to reach me before these creatures broke down the door behind me. And to make matters worse, more Turned were headed my way.

The Prowler padded closer, drool dripping from its jaws as it bared its massive curved teeth. It let out a blood-curdling howl, directing its fury at the ceiling. My blood ran cold as I heard several more answering calls and two more Prowlers leapt through the flames, joining forces with their comrade.

Despite the dire situation, a laugh escaped my lips - I couldn't help it.

"Well, come on then, you fuckers!" I shouted at them. "COME AND GET ME!" I struggled to my feet, planting myself against the door and waving my pathetic weapon at them. A thought occurred to me, and I reached into my fanny pack and gripped tightly onto the object hidden inside. The creatures drew closer, their eyes glinting with hunger and anticipation. I waved the knife again, beckoning the creatures. With wild eyes, I waved the knife back and forth, taunting the snarling beasts that were closing in on me with their tails thrashing in excitement. With my arm, I reached behind me and pressed down on the door handle with my elbow.

In an instant, they were upon me, their razor-sharp claws ripping through my flesh as I was thrown backwards into the room. The Drillers scattered, circling around us like vultures waiting for their prey to weaken. Gasping for air, I felt ribs shatter under their powerful blows and screamed in agony. Ignoring the searing pain, I thrust the knife upwards into the Prowler's ribs and it let out a bloodcurdling howl.

Hot, greasy blood coated my arm and mingled with my own as it poured down into the wound on my side, reigniting the pain that had long since been forgotten.

The two remaining beasts lunged into the room, their snarls echoing off the walls as they circled around me. The door slammed shut behind them with a deafening thud, one of their tails slamming against it so hard that it bounced back and collided with the wall before settling back into its frame. I grinned. "I'm not trapped in here with you... You're trapped in here with me..."

A guttural growling filled the air, sending chills down my spine as I watched the otherworldly creatures eagerly anticipating their feast. With dread gripping my heart, I could only watch in horror as the Prowler perched upon my chest opened its gaping maw, descending towards my head.

Intense pain erupted along my face as the sharp teeth sliced through my skin like a blade across an overripe peach. My head was forced to one side, exposing my vulnerable neck to the Drillers. Panic overtook me as I realized its gruesome plan. It was not going to eat me. It meant to offer me up to the headhumpers. I fought and thrashed, only to be rewarded with the sensation of one of my eyeballs collapsing as one of the fearsome canines sank into my ocular cavity, and searing agony in my legs as the other two Prowlers clamped down on my ankles. I screamed.

Shock threatened to overwhelm me, but I held onto consciousness with all I had. I wasn't done yet. As I felt the Drillers begin to crawl over my trembling frame, and shaking in pain and fear, I withdrew the grenade I had my hand wrapped around, still inside my fanny pack, and pulled the pin with my thumb in a single motion. 

"Thanks, Mathis. Excellent parting gift. All my love to Irene," I thought. A small smile crossed my lips despite the situation as I let my arm fall to the ground, releasing the home-made explosive.

As it rolled across the ground with a metallic clatter, I snarled at the Prowler holding me captive, relishing in its terror as it realized its fate. "Enjoy your last meal, you fuckin' bitch," I spat out between clenched teeth.

Just before darkness consumed me, I felt the creature release its hold on me in a desperate attempt to escape. Something else snatched me from behind as I rolled to the side. A searing pain enveloped my spine. But it was too late. Mirth rose up inside me as my vision blurred, blood spilling from my ruined eye to my good one. Fuck 'em all.

The explosion engulfed us all in a fiery inferno, and I welcomed oblivion with open arms.