That light.
It had no warmth, yet it was enough to sear the retinas. It did not come from heaven; it was a beam of judgment bursting from the cracks of a hellish gate. The intense glare tore through the new night, illuminating every despairing face in the plaza with a deathly, pale hue.
"Screee—!"
A shrill, distorted shriek erupted from the darkness. The sound was no longer the excitement of a predator, but a cry of pain and terror. The Night Demon lurking in the shadows had been struck head-on by the sudden brilliance. Its world had turned from night to day in an instant, catching it completely off guard.
Leon heard the ear-piercing scrape of claws against the pavement as the creature retreated into the deep shadows at high speed.
The sudden turn of events left everyone frozen. Rick slumped on the cold ground, his head tilted back, eyes tearing up reflexively from the glare. Shane leaned against the Jeep, his grimace of defeat locked in place. Glenn, T-Dog, Andrea—they were like sculptures.
Then, from the opening crack of the door, came a raspy, tense, and neurotic voice.
"If you want to live, get the hell in here! Fast!"
The owner of the voice was a middle-aged man standing at the source of the light. He held an M4 rifle, its dark muzzle pointed straight at them. The command was a thunderclap breaking the silence. It was the starting pistol for survival.
"Move!" Shane shouted.
He sprang up, discarding all dignity as he scrambled toward the rising steel shutter. The survivors rushed like mad toward that narrow gate of life. Carol stumbled as she ran, clutching Sophia. Lori pulled Carl with one hand while Rick hauled her up; the family supported each other as they sprinted toward the light.
Daryl stowed his crossbow and moved swiftly along the flank, his eyes fixed warily on the darkness where the Night Demon had vanished. Merle was supported by T-Dog and Glenn; the pain from his severed wrist left him deathly pale, but he used his one good hand to desperately push the people in front of him forward.
"Leon!" Amy cried. Her legs had gone weak.
Leon didn't say a word. He scooped Amy up in his arms and, with a steadiness that defied the chaos, took long strides toward the gate. His muscles tensed; the explosive power granted by his Super Physique allowed him to carry her with ease while weaving through the crowd.
Amy clung to his neck, burying her face in his chest. She could see nothing but the blur of white light, hearing only the heavy breathing of the group and Leon's steady, powerful heartbeat.
"Get in!" the man with the gun barked.
The crowd filed in. Rick was the last to enter. Leon, carrying Amy, followed a second behind. The moment he crossed the threshold, he glanced back.
On the plaza, dozens of walkers attracted by the noise were stumbling from the darkness toward the light. Deeper still, the terrifying silhouette of the Night Demon seemed to be readjusting, waiting for the glare to fade.
"Close the door!" Rick growled.
CLANG. BAM.
The steel shutter slammed down with finality. The heavy metallic impact made the entire space hum. Outside, the shrieks and roars were cut off.
The world was split in two. Outside was hell. Inside... was it heaven?
"Huff... Huff... Huff..."
The survivors were drained. Shane slid down the iron door until he sat on the floor, sweat dripping from his jaw. Rick collapsed to his knees, pulling Lori and Carl into a tight embrace, his body trembling from the aftershock. Dale, Carol, Glenn—everyone collapsed, greedily inhaling the air. It was free of the scent of blood; it smelled only of disinfectant.
Leon gently set Amy down. Her body was still shaking, but she looked up at him with blue eyes filled with the tears of a survivor.
"Don't move."
The voice rang out again. Only then did the group see their savior clearly. He was in his forties, wearing a yellowed lab coat. His hair was a mess, and stubble covered his chin. His eyes were bloodshot, with deep dark circles that suggested he hadn't slept for days. His gaze was weary and neurotic, hiding a despair that had solidified into something tangible.
The rifle was pointed steadily at them.
"Everyone must undergo a blood test," he said. "Otherwise, I'll throw you all back out."
The hope that had risen was instantly doused. Rick stood up, raising his hands. "We aren't infected, sir. I promise."
He tried to step forward to negotiate, but the muzzle snapped toward him.
"My name is Rick Grimes. I'm a Deputy Sheriff. We just need a safe place. We have children..."
"I don't care what you are," the man interrupted. "In this place, what I say is the rule. Blood tests. Now."
In that moment of tension, a cold, mechanical prompt rang in Leon's mind.
[Ding! First sign-in at "CDC" successful!]
[Reward: Passive Skill "Spider-Sense"!]
The reward hit him instantly. Leon's heartbeat didn't change, but his brain received a massive stream of information. It wasn't sight or hearing, but a sixth sense that transcended the others. An absolute foreknowledge of danger.
An invisible web of perception unfurled in his mind. Immediately, Leon received two clear alerts.
The first came from the man with the gun. Leon sensed a deep-seated, massive despair, like a black hole. This man's spirit had reached its end; he was a walking corpse.
The second came from the core of the building. Leon sensed a massive amount of energy counting down. It was a pulse of self-destruction. This sanctuary was a giant time bomb.
Rick was still in a standoff. Shane's hand moved quietly toward his sidearm.
"We'll cooperate," Leon spoke up.
He calmly met the gaze of the man with the gun and stepped forward, extending his arm. "We are willing to undergo the test."
The man, Dr. Jenner, was stunned for a moment. He scrutinized Leon, trying to read the young man's face, but saw only a calmness that transcended his age.
Finally, Jenner lowered his gun. "Fine."
He turned toward a nearby console, his voice numb. "Follow me."
The survivors looked at each other and finally breathed a sigh of relief. Jenner watched the glass screen as the blood tests came back negative. A complex expression flickered across his ashen face.
He turned to the group. "Welcome to Zone 1," Jenner said, his voice hollow. "You're safe for now."