In the night, sometimes happened, one moments they were and the other, they weren't anymore. David and Liam woke to the sound of the city, young in appearance but older in soul.
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As the sun rose, casting a pale light through the window into their shared space, the two men clung to each other, their breaths synchronized in the quiet of the morning. The news of their crime was now a storm brewing on the internet, but in that moment, all that existed was the warmth they found in one another.
David murmured, fingers tracing the outline of a fading tattoo on Liam's arm. "We have a second chance."
"Not just that," Liam replied, his voice steady despite the chaos that awaited them. "This time, we can prepare. We can change things."
Outside, the world continued to move, blissfully unaware of what was to come. Dark clouds gathered on the horizon—metaphorical harbingers of an apocalypse that neither one could fully comprehend yet both felt in their bones. They would have to figure it out, for the stakes had never been higher.
"We need a plan," David said. His mind raced with possibilities. "Food, shelter, whatever helps."
Liam nodded, his resolve hardening. "We start with what we know. We know it's coming from the skies… the warnings were all there: earthquakes, storms, the temperature rising. But if we can prepare…"
David sat up, the determination etched on his face.
"Find a safe place… somewhere hidden yet accessible."
As they spoke, they realize —this wouldn't be just about survival, but about creating a lifeline. They had witnessed the end, and the thought of going through that again was unbearable. But now, they had knowledge that could prevent such carnage.
"We need to lay low for a while," David reminded Liam, pulling on a pair of jeans. "The hunt for us will start soon enough."
Liam shuddered at the thought but understood. "Agreed. We'll keep to ourselves…and plan. We can use the chaos of the aftermath to blend into the fabric of a forgotten society, while we build our network."
Their time was limited, the ticking clock echoing louder with each passing moment. They would need to stay under the radar—even as the new hierarchy built around them, they delved into the urgency burning in their chests.
They shared one last look.
The world outside continued to spin, blissfully ignorant of their existence. Reassured in their connection, the shadows of disaster propelling them forward, they knew what they must do: prepare for the apocalypse.