In the council room with the president, the air was thick with tension. Zarco's leaders debated strategies, their voices clashing against one another.
Suddenly, the door burst open and an aide rushed in, his face pale as paper.
"Mr. President… there's been an explosion at the wall. The barrier… it's damaged."
President Vicente rose immediately, his expression a mix of disbelief and resolve.
"Damaged? How is that possible? Activate the emergency protocol and mobilize the troops!"
The council members exchanged worried looks, fully aware that the city's safety was at stake.
"Inform the citizens, but keep them calm. We cannot allow panic to take over the streets. And… prepare the evacuation train."
A sepulchral silence fell over the room.
The evacuation train was a contingency plan that had never been used. The magnitude of the order left everyone stunned.
Heart racing, Vicente hurried to his family. When he arrived, his daughters met him with tense faces.
"Father, they told us not to leave the palace. Mom went to the market a while ago," Italia said, her voice trembling.
"Should we go look for her?" Mabel asked, her eyes wide with fear.
Vicente clenched his fists.
He couldn't remain in the palace while his wife was in danger. Despite his advisors' protests, he donned his armor, armed himself, and summoned three of his best guardians:
Abraham, Néstor, and Bruno. They would be his escort on the rescue mission.
Before leaving, he approached Luke, his trusted guardian, and the other six who remained at the palace.
"Luke, you know the evacuation plan. Depending on how you see the situation, make the wisest decision for survival. I entrust my daughters to you as my final order… until I return."
Luke and the guardians accepted the command. The president climbed into the carriage, driven by Bruno, while Abraham and Néstor rode alongside, forming a shield around him.
Luke and the guardians nodded, accepting the burden of protecting Italia and Mabel, aware that this order was more than a command: it was an oath.
The president walked out with a determined stride.
The carriage sped forward. Vicente kept his gaze fixed ahead, knowing every second counted.
Bruno, with firm hands on the reins, dodged obstacles and avoided unnecessary confrontations.
***
Within minutes, they reached their destination.
Chaos reigned in the market. What had once been a place full of life was now a battlefield. Hostiles prowled among the shattered stalls, devouring anyone they found.
President Vicente and his guardians fought valiantly, forcing their way through the hordes.
"Bastards! You picked the wrong city!" the president shouted, firing his weapon.
At last, they found the First Lady hiding in a warehouse with other survivors. With her safe, they began the return to the palace. But an ambush awaited them.
"Sir, there are too many creatures. We'll run out of ammunition," Abraham warned. "I understand… Néstor, take my wife ahead on your horse. Bruno, Abraham, and I will cover the rear," Vicente ordered.
The battle was brutal.
Hostiles leapt from rooftops, crashing down on the survivors in the carriage. Abraham managed to kill one with a shot to the head, but was bitten in the leg and fell from his horse.
Before being dragged away by hostiles, he hurled his weapon to Néstor.
"Go on!" Abraham commanded.
Bruno had been separated from the group. Out of ammo and gasping for breath, he ran through a narrow alley. But fate cornered him: three hostiles emerged from the shadows.
Calmly, he raised a knife with a defiant smile.
"Three against one… let's see what happens."
Bruno gripped the knife tightly, fists raised.
He fought hand-to-hand until death, the alley becoming a stage of sacrifice.
The president, out of ammunition, ran behind his wife and Néstor. He watched his city in ruins, creatures at his heels. He chose to separate, drawing them away.
"Hey! Follow me! Over here!"
The First Lady saw him vanish into the horde, while she and Néstor were the only ones to escape.
At the edge of a bridge spanning a river, Vicente was surrounded. He closed his eyes, seeing the image of his family.
"What are you waiting for? Come on!" he shouted, arms wide open.
He was hurled into the river by hostiles, sacrificing himself, devoured for the survival of his loved ones.
***
In the palace, Italia watched from the window, heart pounding. Suddenly, her eyes lit up as she spotted Guardian Néstor riding through the main gate.
Beside him was the First Lady.
Italia and Mabel ran to embrace her, tears of relief streaming down their faces.
"We were so worried…" Mabel said, her voice breaking.
"Wait… where's Dad?" Italia asked, looking around desperately.
Their mother held them tightly. "Your father gave me the chance to give you this hug. In it is all the love your father and I have for you…" she said, tears running down her cheeks.
But the tender moment shattered instantly. A small bloodstain on her elbow caught everyone's attention.
A bite, barely visible, marked her skin.
"Mother… your elbow… it's bleeding…" Mabel whispered.
Silence fell over the room.
Maribel, tears in her eyes, knew what it meant. There was no cure, no hope once the infection took hold.
Néstor spoke. "The city is infested. It's not safe to move through it. Abraham, Bruno, and the president gave their lives… that's why I managed to get here."
Magnus, another guardian, clenched his fists. "We have to reach the evacuation train."
"My mother is hurt! We can't move like this!" Italia cried in desperation.
The remaining guardians exchanged glances.
The decision they made would determine whether they lived… or died.
Luke spoke firmly. "Given what Néstor said, heading to the evacuation zone now would be suicide. We must secure a section of the palace. But for now… the priority is treating the First Lady's wounds."
The others nodded, accepting the decision.
"Thank you…" Italia whispered, eyes brimming with tears.
The group hurried as the roars of hostiles drew closer to the palace.
The question was not if they would survive… but how long it would take before they fell.