“A couple of curious teenagers went to Kopuwai because they wanted to find out whether the old legends were true.” The classroom sat in complete silence as Mr Kitto read from the old book resting in his hands. “They found a crack near the back of the rock formation and decided to investigate. One of them kicked a loose piece of stone, revealing a hidden doorway. Inside sat an enormous egg-like object, almost the size of a person. The moment they touched it, it awakened.” A few students shifted, bored in their seats. “The egg let out a deafening shriek.

Strange teal slime burst from the top, and from the darkness emerged something that had been waiting a very long time to wake up.”Before Mr Kitto could continue, the bell rang. The class instantly came alive as chairs scraped against the floor and bags were thrown over shoulders. “Alright, that's enough horror stories for one day,” Mr Kitto said with a laugh. “Have a good afternoon, everyone.” As students filed out, Daniel remained seated. “Is that story true, Mr Kitto?” he asked. The teacher smiled. “Of course not, Daniel. It's just an old myth. Now hurry along before you're late.” Daniel nodded and left, but the story stayed in his mind. That wasn't unusual. Most people forgot stories the moment they ended. Daniel never could.

Growing up in an orphanage had left him with plenty of time to imagine things. Nature became his escape. He spent hours exploring forests, climbing hills, and wandering places other people avoided. Some people called him brave. Most called him stupid. Either way, curiosity always got the better of him. Luckily, he had friends who usually followed him into trouble. George was clever and always seemed to have a plan, though it usually benefited him more than everyone else. Eugene was quieter. He had moved to Alexandra from overseas only a year earlier, but Daniel trusted him more than almost anyone. As they walked home together, Daniel brought up the story. “What if it was real?” he asked. George groaned.

“You actually believe that stuff?” “Not believe it,” Daniel said. “I just think it would be cool to check.” Eugene shrugged. “Could be fun.” That was all the encouragement Daniel needed. The next afternoon, the three boys hiked toward Kopuwai. The rock formation stood alone on a hillside overlooking Alexandra. From a distance it looked completely ordinary. Then Daniel spotted something. “Guys.” A long crack stretched across the back of the formation. George stopped smiling. “No way.” Daniel approached slowly. The crack looked fresh, almost as though something inside had pushed against the stone. His heart began racing. “Maybe we should leave,” Eugene suggested. Daniel reached down and nudged a loose piece of rock with his foot. The stone shifted.

A section of the wall slid inward. Beyond it lay darkness. For several seconds nobody moved. Then Daniel stepped forward. “Just a quick look.” The tunnel beyond twisted underground. The air felt cold and damp. A rotten smell lingered around them. At the end of the passage sat something pale. An enormous egg. Blue veins pulsed beneath its smooth surface. Daniel stared at it. Part of him knew this was a terrible idea. Unfortunately, that part never seemed to win. He reached out and touched it. The egg instantly split apart. A shriek exploded through the chamber. The walls trembled. Blue-green slime sprayed across the floor. The boys stumbled backwards. Something moved inside. A massive skeletal hand emerged from the shell. Then another.

A creature unfolded itself from the darkness. Its skin was white as bone and small twisted wings protruded from its back. Black eyes locked onto the boys. Nobody waited around to see what happened next. They ran. Behind them, another shriek echoed through the tunnel. A cloud of blue mist burst from the creature's mouth. Daniel felt it brush against his face as they escaped. The three boys didn't stop running until they reached town. None of them spoke about what they had seen. Partly because nobody would believe them. Partly because they weren't sure they believed it themselves. The first infection appeared the next day, Ben, One of the students from school. He arrived looking pale and exhausted. Teachers assumed he was sick.

By lunchtime, he collapsed. Students crowded around him. Then Ben stood up. His eyes had turned completely white. For one horrible second, the cafeteria fell silent. Then Ben lunged at another student. Screams erupted. Tables crashed to the floor. Teachers rushed forward. Daniel stood frozen. This wasn't supposed to happen. Monsters belonged in stories. They belonged inside old books and silly legends. Not here. Not in Alexandra. Within hours, more people were infected. The virus spread faster than anyone could stop it. Authorities named it Alibinosis. Nobody knew where it had come from. Daniel did;and that knowledge sat heavily on his shoulders. Days passed. Roads were blocked, military vehicles filled the streets.

Large white barriers surrounded infected areas as officials desperately tried to contain the outbreak. Locking even the uninfected in. It didn't work. The infected continued changing. Their skin became almost completely white. Small featherless wings began growing from their backs. Some developed the ability to spit corrosive acid. Others moved so quickly they seemed impossible to escape. Every day the town grew quieter, Every day more people disappeared. Mr Kitto eventually gathered a small group of surviving students and staff. Among them were Daniel, Eugene, George, and a girl named Abigail. Everyone called her Abi. She stayed calm when everybody else panicked. Daniel quickly realised she was braver than most adults. Together they searched for food, water, and safe places to sleep.

For a while, they survived. Then Daniel noticed something strange. George kept pulling his sleeve down whenever anyone looked at him. At first Daniel ignored it. Then he noticed George wasn't eating much. He barely slept. He constantly looked nervous. The truth sat in the back of Daniel's mind like a stone he didn't want to pick up. Several days later, while crossing an abandoned street, an infected creature dropped from a rooftop. Everyone scattered. The creature lunged toward Daniel. Before it could reach him, Eugene fired a flare gun. The burning flare struck the infected creature and forced it back. As they regrouped, Daniel noticed blood dripping from George's sleeve. His stomach dropped. “George.” Nobody spoke. “Show us your arm.” George looked away.

“No.” “George.” Slowly, George rolled up his sleeve. A bite mark covered his forearm. Abi stepped backwards. Daniel felt his chest tighten. “How long?” George stayed silent. “How long!?” Daniel shouted. “A few days.” The words hit harder than Daniel expected. “You knew?” “I didn't want to be left behind.” Nobody knew what to say. White veins suddenly spread across George's neck.His body began shaking. Fear filled his eyes. “No,” he whispered. His eyes slowly turned white. The infection had finally taken over. George let out a scream and charged. Straight at Daniel. Daniel barely had time to react, Then Eugene stepped between them. George's attack struck Eugene instead. “Eugene!” Daniel shouted. The infected George stumbled away and disappeared into the ruins.

Eugene collapsed onto the ground. Daniel dropped beside him. “You didn't have to do that.” Eugene grabbed Daniel's sleeve and managed a weak smile. “You would've done the same for me.” Daniel opened his mouth to argue. No words came out. Eugene's hand slowly slipped away, skin getting paler. Daniel had to go. Before the infection got to Eugene. The world suddenly felt much smaller. Only Daniel and Abi remained. Together they continued moving through the ruined town. Smoke rose from distant fires. Military helicopters circled overhead. The government was losing control. Then one night, a radio transmission crackled through an abandoned police station. An evacuation point had been established outside the containment zone. For the first time in days, hope returned.

“We're going to make it,” Abi said. Daniel smiled. “Yeah. We are.” Daniel hadn't noticed the small scratch on Abi's shoulder yet. The next morning they began the journey. Hours later they reached the evacuation point. Nobody was there. Only silence. A cold feeling settled in Daniel's stomach. Then he heard breathing behind him. He turned. Abi stood several metres away. Her skin looked pale. Too pale. Her eyes had begun turning white. Daniel's heart sank. “No.” Abi touched the scratch on her shoulder. “I didn't want to tell you.” The words instantly reminded Daniel of George. The infection had been hiding. Again. Tears rolled down Abi's face. “I'm sorry.” For a moment, she looked completely normal. Like the girl who had survived beside him.

The girl who had laughed when everything felt hopeless. The girl who had promised they would escape together. Then the virus won. Abi screamed. White skinned wings burst from her back. Daniel ran. Across empty roads. Past abandoned cars. Toward the river. His lungs burned. His legs felt heavy. But no matter how far he ran, he could hear her behind him. Getting closer. Daniel stumbled and fell. He turned one final time. Abi stood only metres away. Tears still streamed down her face.Some part of her was still there. Still fighting. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. Then she attacked. Darkness swallowed everything. Hours later, military aircraft appeared above Alexandra. The town had officially been declared lost. There were no survivors left to save.

A single bomb fell from the sky. A blinding flash consumed the valley. Buildings disappeared. Roads crumbled. Fire swept across the landscape. The outbreak appeared finished. Silence returned. Far below, beside the river, something moved. A pale figure lay half-submerged in the water. For several moments it remained motionless. Then one finger twitched. Slowly, the creature dragged itself onto the shore. Its white eyes opened. It disappeared into the darkness. The outbreak wasn't over. It had only survived. Crawling towards its next victim. I I I I I I The End