The early morning light filtered through the cracks in the building, casting a pale glow across the ruined office. Yeon-ah stirred, her body aching from the cold floor. Her thoughts were clouded with the remnants of yesterday's tension, the encounter with the strange girl still fresh in her mind.
The girl, who had set up camp in the ruins, had been distant after a brief conversation the night before. Yeon-ah couldn't help but wonder what had driven her to survive alone in this desolate world. But there was something more that bothered her—the way the girl had looked at them, as if she was waiting for something. Or perhaps... hiding something.
"Get ready," the woman's voice broke the silence. She was already standing near the doorway, her sword in hand, as usual. "We leave soon."
Yeon-ah sat up, her muscles stiff from the hard surface beneath her. She quickly grabbed her belongings and made her way toward the woman, stealing one last glance at the girl who remained huddled near the remnants of her fire.
As they stepped out into the cold morning air, Yeon-ah felt the familiar sense of unease settle over her. The quiet was unnerving. Even in a world ravaged by chaos, there was always something—an unnatural silence, the distant growl of Devourers, or the rustling of scavengers. Today, it felt as though the city was holding its breath.
They walked through the empty streets, the weight of the past few days hanging heavily between them. Yeon-ah had grown accustomed to the woman's silence, but now, it felt different—more deliberate. As if she was contemplating something.
After what felt like hours, they arrived at the edge of a wide, crumbling plaza. The buildings surrounding it were all but collapsed, jagged spires of broken glass and steel jutting out like the bones of some long-dead creature.
"We'll stop here for a moment," the woman said, her gaze scanning the area with her usual wariness. She nodded toward a nearby structure—what remained of a tall office building, its top half collapsed. "That building should give us some cover."
Yeon-ah nodded, following her toward the building, but something was gnawing at her. The way the woman had been acting ever since they met the girl—something had shifted in her demeanor. Yeon-ah couldn't place it, but the woman seemed... troubled.
As they climbed over the debris and made their way inside the building, Yeon-ah couldn't hold her question any longer.
"Who was she? The girl... last night," Yeon-ah asked, her voice echoing slightly in the ruined space.
The woman paused, her back to Yeon-ah as she looked out over the empty cityscape. For a moment, Yeon-ah thought she wasn't going to answer.
"Just another survivor," the woman finally said, her voice flat.
Yeon-ah frowned. That wasn't the answer she was expecting, nor was it satisfying. "She didn't seem like just a survivor. She seemed... different. Do you know something?"
The woman turned to face Yeon-ah, her expression as unreadable as ever. But there was a flicker of something in her eyes—hesitation, perhaps? Or was it... recognition?
"She reminded me of someone," the woman said quietly. "Someone from before."
Before.
The word hung in the air between them, heavy with the weight of everything they had lost. Yeon-ah knew better than to push for more. The woman rarely shared anything about her past, and when she did, it was always brief, always vague. But even so, Yeon-ah could sense there was more to the story.
"Let it go," the woman said, her tone hardening once again. "We have more pressing matters to worry about."
Yeon-ah bit her lip but nodded. There were always more pressing matters.
They made their way deeper into the building, seeking shelter from the exposed streets. The higher floors had collapsed, leaving piles of rubble and twisted metal scattered across the lower levels. Despite the destruction, there were signs that others had passed through—discarded items, hastily built barricades. Survivors, no doubt, trying to hold onto some sense of normalcy in a world that had lost all of it.
As they settled into a corner of the building, Yeon-ah leaned against the wall, her eyes scanning the debris-laden floor. The silence between them grew heavier, and she could feel the woman's tension—something was off.
Just as she opened her mouth to speak again, a faint noise echoed through the room. Yeon-ah froze, her body going rigid. The woman heard it too, her hand instinctively going to the hilt of her sword.
They remained still, listening.
There it was again—footsteps. Light, almost imperceptible, but definitely there. Someone—or something—was approaching.
The woman moved like a shadow, her sword drawn as she stepped toward the sound. Yeon-ah followed, her heart pounding in her chest. They crept through the debris, weaving between the remnants of broken walls and overturned furniture.
Suddenly, a figure darted out from behind a pile of rubble. Yeon-ah barely had time to react before the woman's blade was already at the person's throat.
"Wait!" a voice cried out—a young voice.
The woman hesitated, her sword poised to strike. Yeon-ah stepped forward, her eyes widening as she recognized the figure in front of them.
It was the girl from the night before.
Yeon-ah's mind raced with questions, but the girl spoke first, her voice trembling with fear.
"I... I didn't mean to follow you," she stammered, her eyes darting between Yeon-ah and the woman. "I just... I didn't know where else to go."
Yeon-ah's heart softened at the sight of the girl's terror, but the woman remained unmoved, her sword still dangerously close to the girl's throat.
"You were following us," the woman said coldly. "Why?"
"I wasn't trying to hurt you!" the girl insisted. "I swear, I just... I saw you and thought maybe... maybe you could help me."
Yeon-ah glanced at the woman, then back at the girl. Something about her desperation seemed genuine, but the woman wasn't so easily swayed.
"What do you want?" the woman asked, her voice icy.
The girl hesitated, her eyes filling with tears. "I... I need protection. Please... I don't want to be alone out here anymore."
Yeon-ah's stomach twisted. She knew what it felt like to be alone in this world. She knew the fear, the hopelessness. She took a small step toward the girl, her voice soft.
"Who are you? Why are you alone?"
The girl wiped at her tears, her voice barely above a whisper. "My name is Juna. My family... they didn't make it. I've been surviving on my own for weeks now. I... I don't know what to do anymore."
Yeon-ah exchanged a glance with the woman, but her expression remained unreadable.
"Please," Juna begged. "I don't have anyone else."