In the aftermath of the cataclysmic event that just befell humanity, a once-thriving city now lies in ruins, its streets echoing with the haunting whispers of an about-to-fade era. The once proud buildings, now mere shells of their former glory, stand as silent witnesses to the devastation that has befallen this world.
As Morningstar and Li Xi wander through the desolate streets, the sight of half-collapsed houses greets their eyes at every turn. Their crumbling facades, once vibrant and full of life, now stand as symbols of a shattered civilization. Broken windows peer out like empty eyes, reflecting the desolation that permeates the air.
Amidst the ruins, the remnants of humanity struggle to survive. Zombies, their decaying flesh and vacant eyes roam aimlessly through the streets, their moans echoing through the silence.
Mutant dogs with their fur matted and twisted, prowl in packs and their feral instincts heightened by the Dark Energy particles that surround them.
Cats, once graceful and elegant, now bear the scars of their battles, their eyes filled with a primal hunger. The air hangs heavy with an oppressive gloom as if the very atmosphere mourns the loss of what once was.
The sky, once a canvas of vibrant blues and wisps of white, is now a sombre tapestry of gray. The sun, a mere memory, struggles to pierce through the thick layer of gloomy dark sky that blankets the city, casting an eerie pallor over everything.
Li Xi was struggling to keep her emotions in check, but the sight of a child, no more than six years old, staggering towards them as a zombie was too much to bear. She subconsciously turned to Morningstar, her voice full of anguish and pain. "How can we go on like this? How can humanity ever survive in a world like this?"
Humanity's hope is like a candle in a hurricane, flickering and struggling to stay lit. But no candle can withstand the fury of a storm forever. The question now is, how long before the wind snuffs it out, leaving humanity in darkness?
Morningstar saw the child, but his expression remained impassive. He let out a quiet sigh before replying. "It's hard to say if humanity will survive this. It will take a lot of work and cooperation to resist, besides, I'm sure a lot of heroes will be forged from these trials." His voice was calm, but there was a hint of sadness beneath the surface.
Stap!
Li Xi turned away, unable to bear the sight of Morningstar stabbing the zombie child to death. Even though the child was already dead, and had been turned into a zombie, she couldn't help but feel a wave of sadness and pain.
Morningstar watched her reaction and knew she was too soft-hearted. He hoped she would be able to make the right choice when it mattered.
_Oh well, she has to get decisive if she wants to keep living, not like I'm her guardian anyway._
He thought while looking at the once-bustling streets, now devoid of life, instead are teeming with cockroaches scuttling across the cracked pavement. Flies buzz incessantly, their relentless presence a reminder of the decay that surrounds them. The sound of their wings, a constant drone fills the air, adding to the symphony of desolation.
In this desolate landscape, a sense of sadness lingers, as if the very essence of hope is flickering and might go off sooner or later. The city, once a beacon of human achievement, now stands as a testament to the fragility of existence. The remnants of a once vibrant society now struggle to survive amidst the ruins, their spirits weighed down by the weight of loss and despair. As Morningstar and Li Xi navigate through this post-apocalyptic like city, the overwhelming sense of gloom and desolation seeps into their bones. It is a place where hope is about to become a distant memory, and the future remains uncertain.
"Morningstar," Li Xi's voice was soft, as the spring. "Do you think we could head to the school? Maybe there are people there who need our help. I can't accept that everyone died in the earthquake."
Morningstar considered her request. He knew that going to the school was risky, but he also knew that there might be survivors there. He looked at Li Xi and saw the determination in her eyes.
_Sigh, besides. It's not like I can keep wondering about the city looking for Mom, who knows she might have..._
Morningstar let out a sigh. He knew it was fruitless to keep searching the city for his mother, but he couldn't help himself. The thought of her being lost and alone, possibly injured or worse death, was too much to bear. The pain of not knowing was like an electric current running through his body, leaving him numb and unable to think clearly.
[Listen, you and I may not like the idea of saving humanity, but if you want to survive, you need to swallow your pride and team up with some people. Unless you're an OP character who can do it all on your own, you need to get some help. So just grit your teeth and head to the school. It's the only way you're going to make it out of this alive. Besides, the people you gather, you can use them to find your mother.]
The first half of the sentences had little effect on Morningstar, but the second half struck a chord. The idea of using those people as a source of information was intriguing and appealing. He knew that it was the best chance he had of finding his mother.
"Alright, let's head to the school," Morningstar said, his tone calm with a hint of sarcasm. "We'll see how many of our classmates survived the chaos. Maybe I'll find a few frienemies there." He smirked as he let out a sardonic humor.
Li Xi, who had been feeling dejected just moments before, now couldn't help but smile at Morningstar's dark humor. She knew he was joking, but there was something oddly reassuring about his cynicism.
****
Beacon Hill Academy
The female dormitory at the school was a little dark and dreary. The power had been out for hours since the earthquake. Inside one of the rooms on the third floor, the students could be seen huddling in the shadows, afraid to make a sound. The only light came from the outside, shining in through a few broken windows. The air was thick with fear and anxiety, and no one dared to speak above a whisper.
Bang!
Growl!
The sounds of growling and pounding on the door made the students' hearts race with fear. Blocking the door with tables, beds and chairs didn't seem like enough to keep them safe. The dark and silent building felt more like a tomb than a shelter.
"Ashley," A girl with short black hair and glasses asked, her voice trembling. "Are we... are we going to die?"
Ashley looked at her friend, her own eyes wide with fear too. "I... I don't know," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Suddenly the door began to shake heavily and the growls of the zombies grew louder. The girls couldn't help but huddle together, their bodies trembling with fear. They originally had hoped they would be safe, but now they felt completely hopeless.
"If... If... W... we're going to die... I... I don't want to see any of you suffer or die before me," Ashley said, her voice trembling but her eyes burning with resolve. "I'll be the first to face them, so you can escape."
The other girls stared at her in shock.
"Ashley, you... You do know you're wasting your time? There's no other way out except the door." One of the girls said those words were like a bolt of lightning extinguishing her hopes of saving the day.
"Ashley, you know that's not going to work," one of the girls said, her low voice full of despair. "There's no other way out of here. We're trapped."
The words were like a cold slap in the face, dousing Ashley's courage. She knew her friends were right, but she couldn't give up. She had to find a way out, no matter what.
Her eyes darted around the room, looking for anything that could help them escape. Then, she spotted the window. It was their only chance. Without a second thought, she called out to her friends.
"Come on, we're getting out of here!" she said, her voice urgent but determined. "Tie any bedspreads or thick clothes together to make a rope. We're climbing out the window."
The girls stared at her, their eyes wide with fear and uncertainty.
"But we... we don't know how to make a ... Rope," one of the girls said, her voice shaking._
"Just do it!" Ashley shouted, her nerves frayed and her patience gone. She knew they had to hurry, she couldn't care less that her friends were scared.
With trembling hands, the girls quickly tied the clothes and bedspreads together. They worked in silence, leaving only the growling of zombies to echo, they knew that every second counted. After some minutes they were finally able to finish it, but just as they were about to lower the makeshift rope out the window, they heard a crash.
The chairs and table that had been propped against the door were sent flying, and the door itself burst open. With white eyes, the zombies poured into the room, their eyes set on the girls and their teeth bared.
"You guys need to go first!" Ashley said, her voice quivering but determined. She picked up a baseball bat that had been lying nearby. "I'll keep them back as long as I can."
"But who will hold the rope?" one of the girls cried.
"We're all in this together!" another girl said. "We won't leave anyone behind!"
"But how are we going to survive out there?" yet another girl asked. "It's not safe!"
The room was filled with the sounds of fear and desperation. The girls knew they had to make a decision quickly, but they didn't know what to do.
The girls were just students, and they had never been trained for this kind of situation. They were scared and disorganized and weren't sure of what to do next. The room was filled with chaos and confusion, and time was running out.
Ashley looked around at her friends, her heart pounding. She knew they had to act fast, but she didn't know how to lead them. They needed a plan, and they needed it now.
But would the zombies wait for them?
Just as the zombies reached the frightened girls, one of them lunged at Ashley, grabbing her by the shoulders and pulling her close. Ashley could feel its fetid breath on her neck, and she closed her eyes, waiting for the worst.
_I guess we will all die here._ she thought hopelessly.
But just then, she heard a strange whistling sound.
A split second later, there was a sharp THWACK, and the zombie's head exploded in a shower of gore. It fell to the ground, limp and lifeless.
Ashley felt the zombie's grip loosen as its head exploded, showering her with blood and gore.
As the creature fell to the ground, she opened her eyes, and what she saw left her stunned.
Four arrows had flown through the window as if guided by an invisible hand. Each one had found its mark, landing squarely in the centre of each zombie's head. The creatures collapsed, one by one, leaving nothing but carnage in their wake.
Ashley and the girls couldn't believe their eyes.
(≧▽≦)