"Wait, we're not your enemies," Rune reassured, stepping cautiously in front of Miko, who remained frozen in fear while the mysterious man aimed the gun at them.
"Who are you? What are you doing here instead of seeking refuge within the city's protected walls?"
"We're infe…"
"So, you're both infected," the man interrupted, lowering his weapon. He then picked up a nearby lamp to illuminate the room.
"Oh, I'm sorry, little girl. I must have scared you. It's been so long since I encountered anyone after the mysterious fog covered the entire city."
Rune slowly relaxed, no longer fearing for his life.
"Excuse me, sir. Is this your house? Are you infected as well?"
"No, I am not infected," the man replied, walking over to the bed. In the light, Rune could see him more clearly - brown eyes, long black hair, tattered clothing. Strangely, the man also had dark circles under his eyes, a sign of sleep deprivation.
My name is Nate, and you are?
I'm Rune, and that's Miko," Rune said as he gestured towards Miko.
Nice to meet you both.
The man smiled and asked, "Is he your brother?"
No, but we're traveling together," Miko replied.
Oh, I'm sorry. Please call me Nate instead of 'sir'.
Well, Nate, why are you here in the infected city when you're not even infected?
Do you believe that everyone was allowed to enter the walled city after the mist appeared?
Hmm...
No, not everyone was allowed. My family and I were forced to stay in the city.
How did you manage to survive? I've only been here for 30 minutes, and I already heard monster roars from outside.
How are you still sane after being infected? You both look completely fine, even though you claim to be infected. And how was life behind the walls?
Life was incredibly difficult for me, so I think you are asking the wrong person.
Really? I heard from someone else that it's like living in the city before the mysterious mist.
Yes, you could say that.
So, what are you currently aiming to achieve? Is there a specific destination you have in mind?
Upon hearing this question, Rune took a deep breath, pondered for a moment, and then replied after some thought.
To be completely honest, our main goal right now is simply survival. Perhaps there is a safe haven somewhere out there, a place where we can find refuge and enjoy the remaining days of our lives.
And what are your current plans?
At the moment, our plan is to search for supplies. We lost them while attempting to escape the dangerous Forest of Darkness.
The Forest of Darkness? That infamous place, shrouded in corruption and teeming with Manifestations...
Yes, I know it may be difficult to believe, but miraculously, we managed to make it out alive. Along our journey through the forest, we encountered terrifying monsters, narrowly escaping the clutches of the very last one by sheer luck.
Are you also trying to escape the city? I came here just to get supplies and find weapons to fight off the monsters we might encounter.
Well, as for me, I am simply trying to survive this chaotic and insane world. This city is absolutely dreadful, with monsters lurking on every street and corner. Every day I venture out for supplies, and each time I encounter something even more dangerous than before.
Oh, that sounds terrible.
Indeed, it truly is.
By the way, where did you find that dog, Duke? I've never seen or heard of any animal surviving the infection.
Duke is quite the survivor. I found him one day while I was exploring the city. He was trapped in a house and, despite looking infected, he didn't attempt to attack me. So, I decided to take him in and give him a home.
You, little girl, must be quite the fighter to have resisted complete corruption at such a young age.
"So, are you currently living with anyone?" Rune asked as he moved closer to the man.
"You know, you both can sit down. After all, it's been a long while since I've had the pleasure of speaking with someone," the man said, welcomingly.
"It can drive a man mad when he has absolutely no one to speak with for four years, only focused on survival," he added.
Upon hearing that, Miko and Rune walked over to the bed and took a seat.
"I'm living alone at the moment. I only have the dog to talk to, and the sad part is that even though he was infected, he doesn't know how to speak English," the man shared, looking into Rune's brown eye and erupting into laughter.
"Come on, lighten up! I'm not going to try and kill you. I only aimed at you because I thought you were an infected person who somehow managed to get into the house," he reassured them.
"Can I come with you out of this city?" the man asked, hopeful.
Upon hearing the question, Rune sat in silence, observing the man before finally responding.
"If you want, you can join us."
Rune recognized the benefits of having Nate travel with them. It would greatly enhance their chances of survival, especially since he was armed and presumably skilled with a gun. Additionally, traveling with Duke would further increase their odds of making it through the dangerous city.
"Yes, please come with us," Rune agreed.
As the man closed his eyes, Rune couldn't help but wonder if he had fallen asleep. What if they took his gun and left him behind, or worse, decided to kill him? Rune let out a sigh, his gaze shifting to Miko, who remained seated, taking in their conversation.
"I'm hungry," Miko stated.
Upon hearing this, Nate opened his eyes and spoke up.
"Oh, I forgot to mention that in the third room, you'll find a black bag with food. Please have something to eat. I don't want either of you to starve before we even begin navigating this dangerous city."
With that, Nate closed his eyes again and drifted off into sleep.
Upon seeing that Rune smiled, he stood up and left the room, holding the flashlight. He opened the door to the third room and found nothing inside, except for a black bag filled with food supplies. He reached in and pulled out a bag of chips, returning to the room where he handed it to Miko. She immediately grabbed it and began devouring the chips.
As Rune sat down, he pondered his next move. Suddenly, a realization struck him like a bolt of lightning. "Damn, I could have used my lie detector ability to determine if he was lying," he cursed himself. Frustrated with his own oversight, he acknowledged his stupidity.
Furthermore, it dawned on Rune that he hadn't even utilized his other ability. Unlike the lie detector ability he possessed, he remained clueless about the nature of this one. Determined to uncover its potential, he rose to his feet, prepared to put it to the test for the very first time. With hope in his heart, he yearned for this newfound ability to aid him in surviving the perils of this treacherous world.