A day ago,
Inside the forest, outside the city,
As the evening light of the sun painted the world in a golden hue, under a massive cliff overlooking the wilderness, in the towering ancient trees that formed a verdant canopy.
A group of people, dressed as one would in a wedding, carrying firearms, with the smell of gunpowder, the pungent smell of the zombies and a bloody smell surrounding them, were marching forwards. There were both men and women in the group. Almost all of them had a serious, alert but tired look on their face.
They were on their way towards the place Bittu had died and been reborn.
"Now, we should be safe, right?", a girl questioned.
An old man that appeared to be the leader of the group looked at the distant skyline. A once bustling city but now in ruins, with smoke rising from all around its area teased his senses, reminding them of the stark contrast between their past and their present.
"No! Keep going!"
"We will only stop after we reach below that cliff. That is where we rest before that all of you keep your asses moving."
After walking for two hours, they finally reached their destination before that. No one dared to speak or ask questions. Everyone was in the state of constant worry and tension, afraid that these zombies or the animals from the jungle will ambush them.
Suddenly, the old man smelled the scent of blood. He immediately became alert and said in a loud command, "Wait!", with his hand raised.
He looked to his right at one of his men and said," check the area!" While pointing in the direction he smelled blood from.
"Ahhhhhhh"
A while later, a sharp yell came from that direction.
"Enemy, Enemy. Stay alert! Stay alert!"
The people around the old man shouted.
Everyone's body tensed as their grip on the gun they held tightened. They awaited for whatever kind of creature it was that killed their comrade.
"Get ready, it's here.", shouted the old man.
*Bark*
A mutant dog, big enough that of a tiger, appeared before the group. With its body filled with wiry fur, glowing furious eyes, and elongated claws, it growled towards the humans, or rather its prey.
Without a moment of hesitation, the old man ordered, "Fire!"
*Bang* *Bang* *Bang* *Bang* *Bang* *Bang* *Bang* *Bang*
Half the men fired at the dog, while the other half awaiting orders. Within a couple of seconds, these experienced gangsters filled it with holes all around its body. Without even being able to let out the growl of pain, let alone do anything, it died.
This was a testament to how powerful the weapons made by humanity were.
"Cease fire!"
The men obeyed. They put their gun at rest.
The old man then gestured with his eyes to the two men carrying a gun near him to check. They acknowledged the task and cautiously headed to check. After a quick inspection, they gave a positive reply.
The old man nodded and then looked around with a serious and professional gaze that was filled with experience.
'A cliff at the back and trees all around.'
'It's a suitable spot, but the best place to set the base is there. On the cliff! We will only need to defend from one side while our back will be safe. We can also use the cliff as a back-up plan.'
'But that needs to wait.' He looked around to see the people around were all tired and desperately needed rest and also time to accept and come to terms with this new world.
'Till then, this place is all good. But..... How are you my granddaughter?', a wave of guilt washed over him as he thought of his precious granddaughter.
'I...I....I should have stayed with you.', he thought in regret and worry.
"Okay then, men scout the area. This is a suitable spot to camp. We will stay here tonight.", said the old man, concealing the waves in his heart with his eyes cold.
A commander should never flatter, no matter what! or he will never see the next day. And he needs to build a fort for his granddaughter.
With the command said, the materials they brought together while running to safety from the city were being used to build tents to stay the night.
After an hour, the camping site was ready.
The weary group found solace in a secluded clearing surrounded by ancient trees. A makeshift campsite emerged, with tents scattered under the protective canopy. Dimly lit lanterns cast a warm glow, revealing tired faces around the central fire, with the air a mix of tension, anxiousness, and fear they had about the future.
They survived till now, but what about later? Will they be able to live to see the next day or the day after? They didn't even have a lot of ammunition, only enough to last about a week that too if they used it sparingly, but if wild animals attacked them, then it won't be enough for even a week, but way earlier?
Amidst this tense atmosphere, suddenly someone spoke.
"Everyone, I know that whatever has happened is beyond our understanding but, we need to stay strong to survive and not worry."
"So, we should look forward and not the past. Right now we need rest to continue. All of you should enjoy and relax, to put up resistance tomorrow."
When everyone heard this, it lifted their spirits, even if only slightly, and reduced their tension.
"That's right! We need to relax and enjoy this peace."
"F*ck those zombies."
"F*ck the apocalypse."
"That's right, let's enjoy!"
With these words in the air, the tense atmosphere worn out and everyone gradually opened up.
"My boy, good one!", said the old man
"I am glad I could be of help, father.", replied the man who just spoke. He was none other than Aisha's father; Jack.
"Now, now. Let us relax too. Come into my tent."
"Yes, father"
Grandpa Stefen then turned around and entered the biggest tent, with Jack after him.
When Jack entered, he faced his father's back. Before he could say anything, the old man spoke.
".... Any news on my granddaughter?", said the old man with unconcealed worry and tension.
"..... Unfortunately, no.", Jack replied after a moment of silence.
"..... I knew it. It was a bad idea to still hide her even on the day of her wedding.", said with regret in his eyes.
"But father that's for her safety and–"Jack tried to explain, but Grandpa Stefen didn't entertain that.
"You! You still think that she is safe. In this NOW FORSAKEN WORLD!", he said, enraged, as he turned around. He can't believe how lightly his son was taking the situation, that to for his own daughter and his granddaughter.
"Make a list of our best men. We will search for her the moment we set our base on the cliff.", said Grandpa Stefen, determined to save his little princess as soon as possible.
".... Yes, father."
"You may leave."
Jack bowed and left the tent. Throughout the conversation, his face didn't change at all. Not even at the mention of his daughter. It was as if he didn't care for her at all, even when she was all alone, still somewhere in the now ruined city.
Like a soldier, he immediately got to do as told.
"..."
"He has changed..... Sigh....", the old man said with sadness and regret, remembering what happened some years back.
*sigh*
....
In the city,
"Gurr... "
In one of the once bustling street that was in ruin with shattered windows and burned-out vehicles like an evidence of the intense clash between desperate survivors and the relentless undead, two women were moving silently, trying to avoid attracting the zombies nearby.
Bloodstains were all around with the corpses of both zombies, humans and some pets in the way.
"... Gurr..."
The girls made their way towards the damaged Mercedes before them. When, suddenly, they heard something, it was the sound of a zombie.
'Zombies'
They immediately stopped moving, frozen in place, hiding behind a car. After a moment, they raised their head and looked behind the car, to find three zombies ahead of them with their backs towards them.
'....This one will be easy. Aisha should do it.'
"Aisha, you kill those," said a girl that was mesmerizing to look. She was truly breathtaking, with black hair and black eyes. Her complection pale without a shed of imperfection. It was like the incarceration of beauty itself was standing next to Aisha. Even in this street that looked like a scene straight out of a horror movie, her mere presence made the place beautiful.
"....."
"Okay!"
'I have to protect my lady. I am her protector, not the other way around.', thought Aisha as she pulled out the sword hanging on her waist.
'Unlike the.... '
She was cautious as she carefully arrived behind d the three zombies and without a mistake slashed.
'…Beginning, were she saved me from the fate of most.', Aisha thought with determination.
*splash*
Three heads fell down on the ground with a clean single strike.
'She has improved quite fast.'
"Good one! Aisha.", praised the girl, seeing her performance.
Aisha replied with a cheerful smile, "Thanks Elena." as three white orbs shot into her.
[Your soul power has reached its limit. You gain an undistributed stat.]
"Did you get the stat?", asked Elena with curious eyes.
"Yes, I got it.", said Aisha in excitement.
"Don't use it now. We need to be in a safe space to use it any further.", said Elena in a stern tone.
"Yes, my lady!", replied Aisha, stating that she understood. Elena nodded at Aisha as they moved towards their next destination; the Star hotel.
No one spoke in the meantime as they continued their journey, but both of them had their minds filled with their own thoughts.
'... It's really true... '
'I am back in time....'