It started in Knoxville, Tennessee. Hidden beneath the Appalachian Mountains, a research team led by Dr. Emily Carter made a discovery that would alter the course of history: HZ-21, a virus extracted from ancient bat guano sealed away in deep, uncharted cave systems.

HZ-21’s potential was staggering, capable of mutating rapidly, adapting to pathogens, and possibly unlocking a universal vaccine. Scientists saw hope. But in their pursuit of salvation, they failed to understand what they were truly dealing with.

When containment failed, the virus spread silently and swiftly. It didn’t just kill, it transformed. Towns collapsed. Cities choked on screams. The government responded with force, but it wasn’t enough. By the time they declared martial law, America was lost.

Now, three years later, Tennessee lies in ruin. The countryside is overrun. The dead walk. The infected have evolved. Humanity clings to what little it has left, scavenging through the ashes of a fallen world.

In this nightmare, survival is only the beginning.
Will you endure? Will you lead? Or will you become another echo in the silence?