Stephanie narrated the whole story to Damian and Mark.
She, her younger brother, and her father – David – lived on the 6th floor.
When the apocalypse started she was just returning from school. She got detention for beating up a kid and had to stay at school longer than her brother so he went home before her.
She had her earphones on so as the plane crashed she didn't hear. She felt the ground shake but ruled it out as a minor earthquake and that was when she was about to enter the elevator.
She mistakenly clicked the button indicating number 4 but didn't realize it. She was the only one in it so it was peaceful and calm.
With a 'ting' sound the elevator door slowly opened and what met her eyes was the most gruesome thing she had ever seen.
A woman that crawled on all fours moved fast as she tore the limbs and severed the heads of the floor residents.
She was overcome with great fear and she started clicking the number 6 on the elevator so she could save her brother and father before the freakish woman gets to them.
The woman had already killed everyone on the floor. Bones cracked back into place as she stood up straight and turned to look at Stephanie.
The woman charged at Stephanie with full speed while Stephanie only intensified her clicking.
Luckily, just before the freakish woman could get to her the elevator door closed; a near miss.
Her whole body was shaking out of fear. What if the elevator didn't close right before the woman could get to her? This thought scared her out of her wits.
Ting!
The elevator door of the 6th floor opened but contrary to the previous floor there was nothing there. It was empty and silent.
She slowly walked forward. Her apartment was the second one on the right so it didn't take long before she got to the door.
As she was about to twist the door handle her father – David – came running out.
Suddenly she felt something dark and ominous behind her like it was waiting for her to get out of the elevator to pounce on her.
"Stephanie! Thank goodness. There's no time! Run!"
Her father her hand and headed down the hallway, to the door of the stairs.
She ran reluctantly. She was wondering where her brother was but she didn't dare look back.
They successfully got to the door to the stairs and shut it behind them.
Her father moved to the 7th floor since his old apartment was there. The apartment on the 6th floor was just an apartment they moved to about a few days ago.
He told her that she shouldn't tell anyone they lived on the 6th floor and that they knew what happened. Although she didn't know why he wanted to keep it a secret.
David made the 7th floor a resistance and accommodated people from the 5th and 6th floors. Stephanie was happy that she saw people from the 6th floor so she asked them about her younger brother but they said they didn't know.
They said the reason they left was that they felt something dark and ominous watch them and chase them down the hallway.
Going up a floor was the most logical choice for many of them because they would prefer a plane crashing into them than either becoming a mindless demon or getting murdered but a ring hustler.
* * *
"So why do you think we'll help you when we know it's a deathtrap?" Damian asked cynically.
Stephanie couldn't answer. How could she? After she took Arthur hostage to force them to go to their deaths.
Damian couldn't care less about her problem and just brought out his phone to explore the uses of the new operating system.
"Damian I think we should help her out," Mark said, making Damian look at him. Even though Damian's face was expressionless Mark still understood the message Damian sent. It was an expression that said, "You of all people want to save someone?"
Mark stood up from the couch, looking determined. "I don't need your help anyway. I'm going alone," he said.
"Suit yourself."
Damian just continued looking through his phone. He looked at his stats and carefully scanned them. He noticed a few things he missed the last time he saw them at the stairs.
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[User Information]
Name : Damian Cross
Title : Son of ???????
Age : 27
Race : Human
Side : (empty)
Rings : (none)
Rank : (empty)
Special Power : Perfect lies lv.1, Lie detector lv.3, Demotion lv.3
Affiliate : (empty)
Current Phase : 1
Upgrade Points : (none)
+
He didn't understand much of what was displayed but he noticed his weird title.
...Why does it have question marks?
Damian didn't mind that too much and swiped across his phone then a menu bar showed.
+
[Menu]
– User Information
– Current Phase Details
– Messages and Notifications
– Inventory
– Store
– User Manual
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User manual? I thought David said there were 5 tabs only... Damian didn't bother about the other tabs and was happy to see the new operating system came with a user manual. Without further ado, Damian clicked it.
+
[User Manual]
About: You are welcome to the demon apocalypse: Hell On Earth. This new operating system will help you adapt to the way the world will start to run and this user manual is to tell you about the uses and functions of the operating system.
• User Information: This tab tells the user about his/her current information.
- Name: This shows the name of the user and is essential in sending or receiving rings from one another.
- Titles: This shows the titles the user has gained. Users can gain titles by accomplishing feats and by inheritance. Inherited titles are titles that are given by the universe or an important figure.
- Age: This shows the current age of the user.
- Race: This shows the race of the user. Known races are humans, demons and half-demons.
- Side: This shows the position and role the user plays in the apocalypse. The different sides and how to get them are unknown and only the demon side is known.
- Rings: This shows your current amount of rings. Rings are the universal currency in the apocalypse. Users can use rings to buy and sell in the store, buy upgrade points, buy inventory slots and can also be sent from user to user. Rings are obtained from killing, destroying, or accomplishing a feat.
- Rank: This shows the rank of the user. Ranks are low, mid, high, arch, and prince. User rank increases when the user upgrades special powers and accomplishes feats. A higher ranked user can control a lower-ranked user.
- Special Power: This shows the special powers of the user. They vary from user to user. They can be upgraded using upgrade points or evolution. Click the specific power to see its description.
- Affiliate: This shows the user his/her affiliate. Affiliates are important figures that are backing the user. They offer users special powers and protection.
- Current Phase: This shows the current phase of the apocalypse. Further details of the apocalypse could be found in the current phase details tab.
- Upgrade Points: Upgrade points can be used to upgrade specific special powers. They are bought using rings.
• Current Phase Details: ...….
+
Damian stopped reading after he read everything about the user information tab.
He thought a bit then decided to follow Mark to search for Stephanie's younger brother.
"I've changed my mind. Let's go, Mark."
Mark hadn't left yet because he was trying to prepare himself for the worst.
He didn't answer Damian, he only walked to the door then looked back at Damian, indicating they should start moving.
Damian only saw this as a chance to accomplish a feat so he could get rings.
They turned to see Stephanie and Damian told her to watch Arthur like he was her younger brother and that if she pulled a stunt like the last one she wouldn't like what he would do. She only nodded in accord.
Damian and Mark left the apartment and headed for the 6th floor.