Suddenly all the dead passengers get up, leaving all the detectives in shock. 

The lifeless body was about to attack them when Smith shot them from behind.

I think it is time for me to resign," George said and Smith shot him a deadly glare.

"Get all the dead passengers to the health center," Smith ordered.

"Sir there is a survival," one of the soldiers said, As they reach where a man was lying in the pod of his blood. 

"He must have barely made it alive," one of the soldiers said.

"Take him to the health center" the commissioner ordered.

The man was placed into the ambulance which drove away.

"Didn't you say 12 passengers were in the bus," the commissioner asked.

"Yes sir but the survival made it 13," one of the inspectors answered.

How can someone come out of nowhere? 

He wasn't even there when I checked the spot he was found, Smith muttered.

"Humans makes mistake.

 Put tight security around this area. 

It is restricted for now, until we receive a shred of clear evidence for our assumption." The commissioner ordered.

As they were about to leave, they heard a roar from the right direction of the woods.

"What was that," they all muttered.

Let check it out, Smith suggested.

"Don't even think about going into the woods or we might become a ghost wandering in the woods," George said already sweating.

"Let clear out of this area," the commissioner ordered.

But the clue is right on the woods, Smith stated.

"No, but," the commissioner interrupted him, giving him a deadly glare.

"Everyone is already on a flight but you still insist on looking for the clue. 

This is a military order, you shall not disobey" the commissioner said in annoyance.

Everyone secured into their vehicles, not too long dark clouds made their way to the roadside where they had been earlier. 

The shadow had seen the humans.

The creature groaned and left.

He was a second late to dinner.

           **********

        Health Center

Everyone was looking nervous, they had just almost met death. 

Each one bore a look.

How is the victim, Smith asks the doctor.

"Hmm," the doctor signed.

"He is much worst than I thought. What can happen in the woods that can leave a man in such a critical situation," the doctor asked.

It still being searched, Smith answered.

"In recent days, many people have been flooding into the hospital, 

each one has the same symptoms as the others," the doctor said to Smith trying to know if he was aware.

Is it an epidemic, Smith asks.

"Not certainly but it is spreading not just in the town but mostly in the villages 500 kilometers from here.

There are at least 500 victims and each of them had been in the woods 10 days ago," the doctor said.

What did you mean by that, chief Dave asked as he joined the conversation.

"Just talking about the outbreaks I told you earlier," the doctor answered.

"Didn't you say it was just a minor cold," Dave replied.

"That is what we thought until we saw this," the doctor said leading them into the hospital room.

"They're all fading away each one is becoming a monster on it on," the doctor said leading them into an underground hall under the hospital.

What is this, Smith said as he saw the beds lined up in the halls.

"I have tried to conceal this not to alert anyone, 

but my fear is coming through. 

It is spreading at great speeds, not just the town but sooner the country itself," the doctor said.

Looking at the claws that were growing at the patient fingers, 

"This is not an illness" Dave assumed.

"Exactly, they are progressing stage by stage. 

Transformation is taking place from children to adults and sooner our greatest nightmares," the doctor completed his sentences.

Smith wondered why he kept such a secret from everyone.

You hid it all along, have you informed the commissioner, Smith asked.

"Yes I did, "the doctor answered.

"When the first victims arrived, he insisted that we killed every victim to curb the spread." The doctor replied.

But you didn't, Smith asks him.

Letting out a signed, 

"Humans' affection is what holds us all. 

They are all human people with the same feeling as us. 

One has one goal, killing them is not the best solution to the problems." The doctor said.

"What if it is a virus spreading from within," the commissioner asked.

"How about informing the entire towns we might help curb the spread," the commissioner asked.

"Imagine you telling people that a virus was spreading and its symptoms are growing of claws on both fingers and toes, what do you think they will say," the doctor inquire.

You are right, the doom is coming on us all, Smith answered.

"You are quite right, most of them are still progressing into stage one. 

Each patient suffers an excruciating pain worst than when hit by an epidemic.

 Am afraid I am nurturing a human monster but at the same time we can't kill them," the doctor said.

"There must be an antidote for the cure," the doctor said as he examined the patients.

How certain are you, Smith asks.

"AM experienced doctor judging by the category of the ailments, they weren't having any disease like an ordinary cold, high fever. 

They are being tormented," the doctor said.

" This may be associated with the recent incident occurring in the woods, they all discussed as they left the man hall.

"Only four of us knows the secret, including the commissioner," the doctor stated.

 

"Sir" a detective came.

"The survival is conscious, " the detective announced.

He made it alive, Smith inquired.

"Yes sir, he insisted on seeing the head of the division before exposing what happened that day," the detective said.

"Look like we are getting closer to the clues," the commissioner muttered.

Everyone was putting a cold look, few were being curious but some were pissed off as the man narrated the mysterious incidents.

"Sir what happened that night," the commissioner asked.

"What happened that night was dangerous," the man stated.

"The bus was submerged by a creature. 

The beast had fur, its shadow was only seen as it did the killing.

It killed each one that made the move first," the man narrated.

"It imitates your sounds," John a fellow detective asked.

"No it killed by sounds," the survival said.

"Did you try to know what it was," Dave inquired?

"You dare not, the red eyes that stalks in a shadow. 

It is a venomous being.

 Just by staring into the eyes, all the passengers turned into ash," the man replied as he brought out the last words leaving everyone in fear.

"So that explains why the passenger bodies were all burnt," George said.

"No it explains why the passenger bodies were moving, " the patient said staring into their eyes.

"You mean the one that attacked me in the bus that I killed, Smith ask as he was already shaking.

"So you already witness it," the patient said.

What is happening, everyone muttered.

 Some stare at each other, while some watch the walls, others stood close to the light.

The town that was once peaceful was about to change as everyone was in remorse.

How did you survive, Smith asked.

"I waited just half an hour, the creature heard no more sounds, so it left.

 I came down from the bus but the dead bodies came out, 

they tried to kill me, each one hold me tight, my body was being sucked. 

I was almost dying, my breath had already left me.

Just then, another shadow came down, I thought it was another souls hunter. 

I don't know how I survived but I lost my wife and families in that bus," the man said and broke into tears as he become emotional.

Everyone was touched, they also followed him and wipe.

Smith never cried before as he had never lost anything in life before, all he could do was to pat the victim.

Everyone had been carried away when someone came in and fainted, leaving everyone in fear.

They all heard people screaming as they saw dark shadows moving on the walls.