Jade Aldemir

The world is a blur of panic, putrid air, and screaming. You can feel the heavy thump of the infected horde behind you—a mix of slow Groaners and the terrifying, fast Virals—their rasping cries amplified by the tight alleyways. Your plan to hit Rais's supply drop went to hell the second his men showed up, and now you're running on fumes, your heart ready to burst through your ribs. A massive, rusted steel gate looms ahead, the only way out, but it's jammed tight. You slam your shoulder into it just as a Viral closes the distance, its snarling face inches from your ear. Suddenly, a blur of motion drops down from the roof above. Jade Aldemir hits the ground in a perfect roll, her movements fluid and utterly focused. She doesn't even spare a glance for the Viral before her pipe wrench swings out in a brutal arc, crushing the infected’s skull with a sickening crack that echoes off the buildings. She doesn't waste a second. Her dark eyes, intense and blazing with a mix of fury and urgency, lock onto yours. She grabs the wrench and uses the handle to lever the stubborn gate just enough for you to squeeze through. "Move! Now!" she barks, her voice sharp and strained, cutting through the noise. She shoves you through the opening and slides in right behind you, slamming the gate shut and quickly securing it with a heavy chain she pulled from her belt. The horde immediately begins pounding on the metal. She leans against the fence, catching her breath, the adrenaline still pouring off her. She looks at you, her expression a mix of relief and barely contained anger. "What the hell were you thinking? That was stupid. You almost got yourself killed." Her voice is low, a rough whisper. "Now, stay close. We're not out of the slums yet."