The bus was moments away from leaving the Safe OG Bases when it screeched to a halt at the last checkpoint. The air outside was dry, metallic, humming faintly with generators and distant sirens.
A guard climbed up the steps, palm slapping the metal wall.
"Crew info?"
The driver exhaled, almost annoyed, and called out, "Captain!"
Malisha stepped forward, arms folded, her expression the exact mix of bored and irritated.
"Well, is it necessary every single time? Anyway—"
Her voice turned crisp, practiced.
"Captain Malisha Ramaniya — total missions: 250, all successful. Range: High. Age: 18.
First Mate Aditya Sharma — missions: 210, successful: 200. Range: Mid to Lower High. Age: 19.
Nurse Siya Shekhavat — missions: 50, patient-saving rate: 80%. Age: 25.
Driver Raghav — missions: 230, all successful. Range: Lower High. Age: 26.
Helper Dweep Jain — missions: 0, recommended. Range: Low. Age: 23.
We're heading to the Western Red Zone in a Level Z high-combat bus. Mission: rescue, clean, and extract approximately ten survivors. Estimated return: two to three days. That's all."
The guard raised one eyebrow.
"Five people? One rookie? One mid-rank? To the Western Red Zone?"
He snorted. "Sounds like a suicide run. Either you're a damn good captain… or they want to get rid of you."
"I bet it's both," Malisha replied with a small, lazy smirk.
The massive steel gates rumbled open behind them. The bus rolled out, leaving the Safe Zones—and their false sense of peace—behind.
---
On the Road
The engine growled while Raghav drove with his shoulders tight, knuckles white on the steering wheel.
Inside, the air smelled faintly of disinfectant and gun oil.
"The world has really become the worst," Siya murmured, staring outside.
Through the windows: towns crushed into skeletons, cars overturned and rust-eaten, dried blood trails stretching like forgotten warnings. Zombies shuffled, crawled, some dragging themselves with half their bodies missing. A few sprinted, tripped, broke, reassembled movement in ways that should've been impossible.
Aditya immediately blacked out the windows.
"Still the same as it was four years ago," he muttered. "Honestly… calmer. Safer. At least for the ones in the Safe Zones."
Malisha nodded. "Agreed. Fewer zombies, more assholes. Anyway… Dweep, why do you look like you're driving into your funeral?"
"Is this really a suicide mission?" he whispered. "Are we going to die?"
Malisha and Aditya exchanged a single glance—then leaned in and whispered together, "Possibly."
And burst into laughter.
"Works every damn time," Aditya wheezed. "We're so going to hell."
Siya snapped, "Is this a joke to you two?! Five people in the Western Red Zone—does that not sound suspicious to you?"
Malisha's smile faded. She sat straighter.
"No, you're right. Survivors in the Western Zone after four years? That place is practically a new hub. Suspicious as hell."
Siya threw up her hands.
"I wasn't even talking about the mission! I meant us! Our lives! And I don't know why people hype you so much—you're just… sorry, but a brat! Aren't captains supposed to be responsible?"
Silence filled the bus like pressure.
Malisha finally answered, calm and even:
"Makes sense. If you think I won't take responsibility, then take the lead instead. Tell me, Siya—can you handle responsibility for everyone here… and the ones waiting to be saved? If you can, I'll happily work under you."
Siya's voice cracked. "I… no. I'm sorry. I was overwhelmed. I can't."
"Don't apologize. Doubting me is fair. At least you say it out loud—most people just whisper it."
Even Aditya blinked at the truth of that.
Raghav suddenly gasped, "Captain—we've crossed into the Red Zone."
Malisha stood and moved beside the driver.
---
The Red Zone
The air felt thicker here—humid with rot, heavy as if carrying a thousand unseen eyes.
More zombies. More vultures. Packs of wild dogs pacing sidewalks. Buildings half-collapsed, half-eaten by time.
Malisha casually flipped down the mirror, fixing her hair, applying a thin layer of skincare like she was preparing for a photoshoot instead of war.
"I don't feel any difference," Dweep said nervously.
"You will," Aditya replied. "The deeper we go, the uglier it gets."
After forty-five minutes, the bus screeched to a halt.
A crowd blocked the road—scavengers. Ragged clothes, wild eyes, bloodstained arms. A massive man slammed his fist onto the bus.
"Come on out! Not like we'll eat you!"
Malisha sighed, irritation flashing across her face. The dogs inside stiffened instantly.
"Scavengers," she muttered.
"I'll go," Aditya whispered. "They hate girls leading. And orders say avoid creating a scene."
"No. I'll go. Time they learn girls lead too."
She opened the gate.
Her three dogs—a towering St. Bernard and two German Shepherds—jumped down, growling like a warning hymn.
She pulled a gun from the kitchen rack.
"Aditya—roof. Position. Turn on all decoys."
"Decoys? Wait—"
"You'll understand. Move."
She glanced at Siya and Dweep, voice surprisingly gentle. "Stay calm. I've got it."
Then she stepped out, hands in pockets, gun hidden, dogs flanking like disciplined soldiers.
"Well then," she called out, bored, "who touched my bus? I just cleaned it. Repairs cost money, you know."
The scavengers froze at her confidence.
Malisha exhaled dramatically. "Okay. Who's the leader? Why stop an OG rescue vehicle?"
A middle-aged woman pushed forward, expression sharp.
"We liked your dogs. Three difficult breeds in this world? Impressive."
Her eyes glinted. "What did your parents feed you to grow this bold?"
She smiled coldly. "I'm the leader."
Malisha eyed her up and down, then smiled back. "Didn't expect a woman, honestly. Nice change. And yes—they're my dogs. Healthy, deadly, well-trained."
"One shot and they're dead," the woman replied. "The last leader here was a man. I killed him. He annoyed me. Now I run this place—collect food… and slaves. And you'd make a perfect one."
Malisha's eyes turned glacier-cold.
"Well… speaking of taking shots—"
Red dots appeared on every scavenger's forehead.
Aditya had activated the roof guns.
Malisha smiled wider. "You really thought stopping an OG bus was smart? Adorable."
---
Inside the Bus
Dweep whispered, "They're real… scavengers eat infected bodies—"
"Yes," Siya said, trembling. "OGs trade information so they let us pass… but they're unpredictable. They still enslave the strong and kill the weak. And no one—no one—steps out like she did. I understand now why she's the youngest high-range captain."
---
Outside
The scavenger leader squinted. "How old even are you? Is this some rebel prank? OG captains don't act like this. And these aren't standard uniforms."
"Uniforms give me the ick," Malisha said casually. "Anyway—why are you here? Scavengers avoid Red Zone edges. This is unusual. You're hiding something."
She leaned in. "What is it? I won't kill anyone if they behave. And I adore gossip. Also—you look hungry."
The leader hesitated.
Then whispered:
"You know… the Queen Conquera?"
The world around them fell silent. Even the dogs stilled.
"She's back."
A chill went through the air.
"Our supreme leader—rank 95—went to a meeting of elites. Three nights ago, the place was attacked. He's the only survivor. The only one who ever survived her. We're hiding him. Waiting for supplies. Hoping the OGs would help. But if you're going deeper… then you're worse off than us."
Malisha's face went unreadable.
"Queen Conquera is a myth," she said quietly. "Died two years ago. Ranks gathering probably killed each other."
She signaled Dweep to bring food and meds, handing them over.
The leader insisted, "She's alive. Rank 2. If you survive… inform us. We'll pay well."
"Fear the Red Zone," Malisha replied. "Not someone who doesn't exist."
---
Aftermath
When the bus finally pulled away, tension clung to everyone like dust.
Aditya climbed down from the roof, still shaken.
He sat with the others. Malisha watched the ruined world pass by. Dweep sat stiff like he'd swallowed fear whole.
"You okay?" Aditya asked.
Everyone looked at him.
Malisha blinked. "Asking me?"
"No. Them."
Malisha turned to Siya and Dweep with a warm smile. "Relax. I won't eat you."
The bus burst into weak laughter.
"We gave them food because we had extra," Malisha explained lightly. "And you need theatrics to survive."
"It's not that!" Siya cried. "You could've died! It could've gone wrong in a hundred ways!"
Malisha softened. "Aditya and the dogs had my back. And you know how to shoot too."
"Yeah, I basically saved the operation," Aditya bragged.
More laughter.
Then Dweep whispered, "So… the ranks… Queen Conquera… it's all real?"
Silence dropped again.
Siya explained, "Ranks are power. Skills, kills, area control, slaves… time taken. After the world fell, mafias and monarchs ruled. Power meant rank. Rank meant terror."
Aditya added, "OGs came later—to reduce casualties, keep dictators connected, stop chaos."
Malisha cut in, trying to break the heaviness. "And that's the background story—end."
But the fear lingered.
"She doesn't exist," Malisha said firmly. "Maybe the top ten don't. Not a single trace ever found. Don't waste energy on ghosts."
Aditya smirked. "We'll believe it when it's a hot guy. Mal, aren't you clinically single? Is the loneliness leaking into your denial?"
The entire bus howled laughing. Malisha smacked him.
"Oh—and that decoy system? It's insane," Aditya added.
Malisha blinked. "Why would I install a fake system? Decoy means one person can control all guns."
Aditya's eyes widened. "You mean they were REAL? That's illegal! What if I shot you?!"
"The joke's on you," Malisha said sweetly. "I'm allowed to do whatever I want. If I wasn't prepared, then yes—it would've been suicide. Right, Siya?"
Siya nodded instantly.
"Wouldn't you get suspended?" Dweep asked softly.
"They can't afford to suspend me," Malisha replied with a calm, frighteningly confident smile.
She returned to her seat beside the driver, eyes locked on the darkening road ahead.