Day 46: After the Storm
The rain had finally stopped.
The acidic storm that had raged through the night left the air thick with the scent of chemicals, but now, an unsettling quiet filled the tunnels. Eli stirred from where he had dozed off during his watch, the ache in his muscles reminding him of the brutal sprint through the ruins and the stinging rain that had burned his skin. His mind still felt heavy with exhaustion, but the tension that had gripped him during the storm had eased slightly.
Cass was already up, standing near the entrance, her eyes locked on the dark opening that led back to the world above. Ben was nestled beside her, his small frame tucked protectively under her arm. The rest of the group was stirring now—Luke rubbing his eyes, Raya stretching her stiff muscles. Across the tunnel, the strangers were waking as well, packing up their meager belongings and keeping quiet.
The rain had stopped, but the world outside would be far from safe.
Eli stood up, his joints creaking in protest, and made his way to Cass. Her expression was as hard as ever, but there was a weariness in her eyes—an acknowledgment of what awaited them once they stepped outside.
"So, it's over," Eli said quietly, watching her closely.
Cass nodded, her voice calm but edged with resolve. "It is. But you know what's waiting out there."
Eli did. The rain had brought with it the promise of change, and not the kind anyone wanted. The lush greenery, the plants that would sprout in the wake of the storm—they were dangerous, predatory. Cass had warned them for days now, counting down the moments until the rain would stop and the world would transform again. They knew what was coming.
The plants—the ones that fed on blood, that would wrap their tendrils around anything living—would have already started to take root. The landscape would be crawling with growth, but none of it was natural, none of it safe.
Luke approached, his bow already in hand. "We're ready for this. We just need to get moving before those things spread too far."
Raya joined them, her expression serious. "The quicker we get through the ruins, the better. Those plants will be looking for something to feed on."
Eli glanced toward the tunnel entrance, the knot in his chest tightening. They had planned for this, but seeing it in action would be different. The quiet after the storm was always the most dangerous—when everything was still, waiting to trap whatever came near.
"We should talk to them," Eli said, nodding toward the other groups. "See if we're sticking together."
Cass nodded, but her posture remained guarded. "We'll see."
Eli stepped away, making his way toward Jay and Mae, the two from the other group. They were already awake, gathering their supplies with the same cautious efficiency Eli had come to expect from them. Jay noticed him approaching and gave a brief nod, though his face was still etched with weariness.
"The rain's done," Eli said, keeping his voice low. "We're about to head out."
Jay exchanged a glance with Mae before nodding again. "Yeah, we figured as much."
Eli looked around at the tunnel's other occupants. "You know what's waiting out there. Those plants… they'll be everywhere by now. We're better off if we stick together, at least for a little while."
Jay sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I know. But sticking together means splitting resources. That's gonna get messy fast."
"We'll share what we've got for now," Eli said. "We'll need to move quickly, get through the worst of it before things get too dangerous."
Mae finally spoke, her voice calm but firm. "You're right. We'll stick with you. But if things go south, we don't want any trouble."
"We don't either," Eli assured her.
Jay gave a small, grim smile. "Alright. We're with you for now."
With their agreement settled, Eli turned his attention to Dom's group. The man had already been watching the conversation from the other side of the tunnel, and when Eli approached, he met him with a cool stare.
"You planning on sticking together?" Eli asked, his tone even but cautious.
Dom crossed his arms, his gaze flicking between Eli and Cass. "Depends. We know what's out there, same as you. But you know as well as I do, once the food starts running low, this whole idea of sticking together falls apart."
"We know," Eli said, trying to keep his voice steady. "But for now, it's safer in numbers. These plants… they're fast. If we get separated, we're dead."
Dom considered this, his expression hard but thoughtful. "Alright. We'll stick with you. But if your people start dragging us down, we'll cut loose."
Eli nodded. "Fair enough."
With that uneasy alliance formed, the groups began packing up for the trek back into the world above. The tension in the air was palpable, and Eli could feel the weight of everyone's eyes on him as they moved toward the tunnel's entrance. Cass kept Ben close, her expression unreadable as she led the way, Luke and Raya following just behind her, their weapons at the ready.
As they neared the exit, the acrid smell of the rain still lingered in the air. Eli's heart pounded as they climbed out of the tunnel and into the open world.
What he saw wasn't a surprise, but it still made his stomach twist.
The landscape had transformed overnight. The ground was scorched where the acidic rain had eaten away at the earth, but in its place, vibrant green plants had sprung up, spreading like wildfire. Tendrils of vines crept across the ground, climbing over debris, wrapping around anything they could find. Some of the plants twitched unnaturally, as if sensing their presence, while others swayed in the air, their leaves gleaming with moisture.
The world looked alive, but in a way that was wrong. The plants were predatory, and Eli knew that anything that got too close would be caught, fed upon. They had been warned about this—Cass had told them days ago about the blood-feeding trees and the vines that could strangle a man in seconds—but seeing it in front of them now was unsettling.
Cass didn't flinch as she took in the sight, her eyes scanning the overgrown ruins with a cold determination. "We knew this was coming. We stick to the plan—get through the ruins, avoid the plants, and get as far as we can before nightfall."
Luke was already scanning the area with his bow, keeping an eye on the creeping vines. "Let's move quickly. These things are going to spread fast."
Raya nodded, her knife ready in hand. "We stay together, no one strays off the path."
Eli looked back at Jay and Dom's groups. They had already seen the same transformation, and though their faces were grim, they were prepared. No one was panicking. They knew what was at stake.
Cass led the way, stepping carefully through the shifting terrain as the others followed, weaving through the ruins with precision. The plants moved slowly for now, but Eli could feel the danger in the air—like something was watching them, waiting for the right moment to strike.
The storm was over, but the real threat had just begun.