ELENA POV—
After getting the ring, we got out of the pawn shop. I checked the time limit and found there are 45 minutes left. Great, I have enough time to get out from Lichzen.
"So, Lena, what are young doing next," said Andrew, interrupting my thought process. Yes, I kind of forgot about these two. Time to get rid of them.
I said, "It's getting dark, I have to reach home." It's almost evening. The last train is an hour later from now.
Ivan said, "We can drop you at your home, if you want."
"No! I-I don't want it. I mean, I don't want to impose on you. I have a return ticket with me. I can just take the train," I said as soon as I heard his words. I want this to be our last interaction.
Ivan wanted to say something but he refrained from saying it. Instead, he nodded and kept quiet. Andrew looked sad. He said, "I understand but at least you can give us your number."
I am sorry but it's for the best we don't meet in the future. I can't give you, my number. I lied, "Sorry, Andrew. I don't have a phone. I know it sounds weird but I don't really a phone right now." By the way, I left my phone back in my room. So, in a way my words were true. Thankfully, Andrew didn't ask me any question further. Instead, it was Ivan who said something.
Ivan said, "Don't worry Andrew, if fate allows us, we will meet in the future and I think we will meet very soon. Right, Ms. Lena?"
I flinched in fear. For me, these words sound like a nightmare to me. I, for one, don't want to meet you Ivan, Thank you very much. Without saying anything, I nodded and bid farewell to them and left them standing there. I don't know why Ivan was behaving weirdly with me. He was very civil as if he was some kind of gentleman. Whatever, I should probably erase them from my mind.
I am happy. In fact, I am feeling over the moon. I have completed my first mission and got some experience points. I guess it's like a game, like the RPGs or MMORPGs. I will ask Fipi about this when I meet it again. Honestly, I have some questions that I would like to ask it. Did it know that I would meet Ivan or his little brother in the fair?
Over these years, the powerful countries started colonising the weaker ones. It was just as before, as if the colonisation period returned again. Unlike that time, the colonisation was over within 5 years. Only powerful countries like USA, Russia, India, China, UK, France and surprisingly, South Korea emerged as the colonisers of the whole world. Although this time, people were not treated as slaves and the land acquired was added to the victorious country. A new UN was formed along with the other organisations.
In a way, World War 3 signified the starting of world's destruction. I even suspect that the zombie virus was a weapon made by any of these countries. Though their plan backfired. Not a single country was left unaffected by this zombie virus.
I boarded the train back to Kaixen. On the train, a lot of people were around me. Some of the people were coming back from work, some were returning from the fair and some were going to their respective destinations. All types of people were present around me. From elderly to children, every group was present around me. Children were laughing and playing, mothers were taking of their infants, everyone was busy in their own life. I smiled. It was as if this train was a world in itself.
Although these people are unaware that their lives are going to change forever, everything that they care and love for, would be destroyed in the future. Humans, their emotions, their behaviour, everything about them would change during the apocalypse.
I grimaced at this very thought. Humanity would show their true colours. Humanity, kindness and empathy would cease to exist. The humans, themselves had painted them with black. For mothers, motherhood became a cheap emotion. For fathers, family was a burden. Gender was irrelevant. Those who had power, abused it. Used it to supress weak, or better known as Inepts. Zombies were monsters but men and women became something which was more terrifying than monsters. Even children were not exempted by them.
I don't know if all the humans were like that as I never found a man or a woman who really was a human. Although Selene was quite lucky in that field, she had loving parents, friends, lovers who would kill and sacrifice anything for her and she also had powers. She was the hope of the humanity. Power of healing was what made her the darling among the masses. Light ability was what this power of hers was known as. People considered her as the Saintess. They thought she was the one who will save them. God had not abandoned them. Selene was one who was sent by the god himself to liberate them from their pain and suffering. What a joke. I don't know what they will do if they knew that the god they prayed to, was a phony. A fake, just an author.
Thinking all these, had long wiped the smile from my face. I sighed and scratched my head. I should better stop thinking these. It's just making me feel more depressed. What Tom said was a beautiful thing to say, I am really grateful for his kindness towards me. Yet one question is constantly coming to my mind. Would Tom show me the same kindness if he knew about the ring? What the ring could do? How it could have helped him in the future? I don't know. I don't even want to know. I want to remember Tom as someone who helped me in the time of my need. That's who Tom is, and that's who he will always be, at least for me.