Kaira walked in and secured the lock.
The room, though sparse, feels like a sanctuary compared to the chaos outside. The flickering candlelight casts shadows on the rough stone walls, dancing with the shadows that seem to follow Kaira wherever she goes. The scent of blood and the faint hint of something soapy lingers in the air.
Kaira walked forward, and stood in front of the rusty sink, her eyes fixed on her reflection in the cracked mirror. She took off her hoodie, the candlelight revealing the elven features she had been concealing.
Without the hoodie , the light dark elf appearance was in light, although not that very visible, but with the closeness of the light.
Her light dark elf skin was smudged with dirt and grime, and her long white hair, with its distinctive purple tips, hung limply down her back.
She reached for a rag, dipping it into the cold water that trickled from the faucet.
"Oh…. That's a lot less than the others."
Kaira began to clean her wounds, wincing as the rag scraped against her battered skin.
Her eyes briefly close as the cool cloth meets her skin, a stark contrast to the warmth of the blood. She hisses through gritted teeth as the alcohol stings, but the pain is a welcome distraction from the constant screams of her neighbors.
As she washed, Kaira's mind began to wander. She thought about the other tenants in the building, the ones who seemed to live in their own little worlds. Kaira was numb to their voices, their laughter and arguments barely registering on her radar.
She had grown accustomed to being alone, to relying only on herself. It was a habit she had developed over the years.
She wrapped the bandage around her torso, professionally. Now that she was clean , her appearance came to light.
She had a very pretty young face, white long hair with purple at the tips, and cute elf ears. Her body was well proportioned although thin, but was littered with scars.
Kaira's eyes studied the intricate patterns of the scars on her body.
" With the new ones added , that would make it 201."
Panting slightly, Kaira glances over her shoulder, ensuring the door is secure before she turns back to her makeshift bed.
She winces as she sits down, feeling the ache in her muscles and the sticky warmth of blood seeping through her tightly wrapped bandages. "It's always happening... I'd forgotten," she murmurs, her voice strained.
PING!
She reached into her pocket, and brought out the lighted device. An android phone.
The sound earlier was a notification of some sort. A message.
( Block 3. 7:24)
" This hasn't healed, and I am going to receive another tomorrow. *Chuckles*"
Kiara dropped the phone, and stared out into the streets from her window, which was surprisingly in good shape.
It has always been happening. The hunger…beating…desperation ... .hate…..pain…fear…anger…isolation…anxiety…loneliness…depression…despair…was all the emotions she had been feeling right from when she had become aware. When she was just 1. It's appalling that she hasn't been on the verge of insanity or had already become insane.
The only emotion she hasn't felt was loss. How could she ? When there wasn't even a loved one.
Kaira's eyes narrowed, her mind replaying the encounter. She had been walking home from a scavenging trip, her backpack loaded with food and supplies. And then, out of nowhere, the Awakened had appeared.
They had been a group of three. Kaira had tried to defend herself, but she had been no match for their strength and power.
Yes. The awakened. This is the world of Tenebrous.
Fifty years ago, a catastrophic event known as the "Great Awakening" ravaged the world, unleashing supernatural forces and entities upon the earth. The cause of the Great Awakening remains unknown, but its effects are evident: widespread destruction, societal collapse, and the emergence of powerful, otherworldly beings. Dungeons came into existence.
Tenebrous is a post-apocalyptic world, scarred by the aftermath of the Great Awakening. The landscape is divided into several regions, each with its unique challenges and dangers.
Where Kiara happened to find herself, was a region called ' The Wastes '.
A barren, irradiated expanse, home to twisted creatures, criminals ,and rival factions vying for control.
The Wastes is home to numerous atrocities and heinous crimes. The lack of law and order, combined with the desperation and brutality of the environment, has created a breeding ground for the worst of humanity.
There are gangs who roam the Wastes, preying on the weak and the innocent. They are known for their brutality, often leaving their victims for dead or selling them into slavery. Just like the ones who put Kaira in her current state.
There are also predators who stalk the Wastes, seeking out victims to exploit and abuse.
For those who are weak or vulnerable, life in the Wastes is a constant struggle for survival. And she was one of them.
This is a bleak and unforgiving region, where only the strongest and most resourceful survive. The Wastes are a place of constant danger and uncertainty, where the rule of law is a distant memory.
"Survival is a harsh teacher," Kaira murmurs, her eyes reflecting the candle's flame. She gently tugs at the bandages she had wrapped around her torso. "But it's one I had to learn from, it seems." Her hand moves to her neck, where a silver locket hangs.
"Survival is a double-edged sword," Kaira says, her voice tinged with a hint of blandness."It makes one strong, but it can also make one... cold."
She had always been weak, because she didn't awaken.
Awakening happens at the age of three, and she is now sixteen. Chance of it happening is slim.
To her, The Awakened had brought about a new era, one of darkness and despair. And Kaira had grown up in this new world, a world where survival was the only currency that mattered.
Kiara leaned forward, her eyes locked on her shadow. She looked different, harder, and more resilient. The experiences of the past few years had changed her, had forged her into something new and stronger.
" Then… I will be there tomorrow. Although I am not awakened, I am strong enough to go into the dungeons and come back out alive."