Horrific Shorts: Zombie Edition-Chapter 499 : Story 499: Trial by Fire

The helicopter's engine strained as it climbed higher, pulling away from the raging inferno below. The team sat in tense silence, the crackling of fire and distant gunshots fading into the background. Rook stared out the open side door, the fiery horizon reflecting in his eyes.

"This isn't over," he said, breaking the quiet. "That wasn't just a random wildfire. Someone set it to flush us out."

Viper tightened the straps on her gear, her knuckles white. "Whoever they are, they're playing dirty. And we're running out of time."

Ghost leaned against the wall, his face obscured by his mask. "We're heading into their trap," he said flatly. "The question is, do we spring it, or do we flip the board?"

Rook's comm crackled as the pilot spoke. "Commander, we're ten minutes from the drop zone. The next area's worse—hostile terrain, and the fire's spreading faster than expected. You sure about this?"

Rook nodded, his voice firm. "We don't have a choice. That's where the intel is, and if we don't retrieve it, the mission fails."

Shadow, perched near the door with her rifle, scanned the landscape below. "The flames are cutting off all ground access," she said. "Once we're in, there's no way out except through them."

Bulwark smirked, his bulky frame filling the cramped space. "Good thing we've got the best damn team for a suicide run."

The helicopter jolted suddenly as a rocket-propelled grenade exploded nearby, the shockwave rattling the cabin.

"Hold on!" the pilot shouted, banking sharply to avoid a second shot.

"They're here!" Shadow yelled, her keen eyes spotting enemy soldiers in the distance, their silhouettes barely visible through the smoke and fire.

"Prepare for a hot drop!" Rook ordered, grabbing his weapon. "We hit the ground running. Ghost, take point. Shadow, find high ground. Bulwark, cover our rear. Viper, stick close to me."

As the helicopter descended, bullets whizzed past, and the flames below roared louder. The team jumped out one by one, landing amidst the chaos. The heat was suffocating, the smoke blinding.

"Move!" Rook shouted, leading the charge toward the burning ruins of what had once been a fortified village. Enemy forces emerged from the smoke, and the air erupted in gunfire.

Ghost moved like a phantom, his silenced pistol taking down enemies with precision. Shadow found a crumbling tower and set up her rifle, picking off targets from above. Bulwark's heavy machine gun roared, suppressing the advancing forces.

Viper spun through the chaos, her blades a blur as she cut down enemies with deadly efficiency.

Amidst the carnage, Rook spotted their objective—a reinforced bunker, half-buried under debris. "There!" he yelled, signaling the team.

Bulwark planted explosives to clear the way, and the team stormed inside. The heat was unbearable, and time was running out as the structure began to collapse.

Inside, they found a single briefcase, its contents glowing faintly. Rook grabbed it, his face set in grim determination.

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"Let's finish this," he said, as the flames closed in.