After some time spent caring, asking Lily questions, and waiting, Lily demanded to know if there were other survivors. The investigators looked at each other with a sad face. She noticed this, making her worried about her family surviving. She asked again with a tremor, desperately hoping for a positive answer. She went to little Emily with tears in her eyes, asking if her parents and her younger sister were okay. Emily burst into tears. The silent sound, the wind blowing softly on the skin, and a glimpse of fear, sadness, and uncertainty filled the air as Lily anxiously awaited their responses. The weight of the situation seemed to grow heavier with each passing moment, leaving Lily yearning for any shred of hope amidst the devastation.
The investigators decided not to tell her but to show her. They all stepped outside, out of the abandoned apartment. As they walked outside, Lily's heart pounded in her chest, unsure of what she was about to witness. The sight before her was unimaginable—the entire neighborhood had been reduced to rubble, leaving behind a haunting silence that echoed in her ears. The investigators and Lily took a tour around the city, navigating through the remnants of what used to be a bustling community. Lily's eyes welled up with tears as she saw the remnants of people scattered among the debris, a stark reminder of the tragedy that had befallen them. She couldn't help but feel a sense of overwhelming grief as she imagined the stories and memories that were now lost forever. The once vibrant streets now lay desolate, the only signs of life being the occasional flicker of a distant streetlamp. As soon as they reached Lily's home, where it was supposed to be, she was terrified, seeing zombie-like bodies with their skeletons showing and their skin peeling off. The sight of the decaying bodies sent a shiver down Lily's spine as she realized the extent of the horror that had unfolded in her absence. The stench of death hung heavy in the air, adding to the eerie atmosphere that surrounded her once-thriving neighborhood. She runs towards one of the bodies, trying to mourn, but is stopped by Arthur, one of their leads in the investigating group. Arthur gently grabs Lily's arm, pulling her away from the gruesome scene. "Lily, we can't stay here," he says, his voice filled with concern. "We need to find a safe place and figure out what happened." Lily reluctantly tears her gaze away from the lifeless bodies, realizing that she needs to focus on survival rather than mourning for now. She turns, crying in his arms. Arthur holds Lily tightly, offering her comfort as she releases her pent-up emotions. "I know it's hard, Lily," he whispers soothingly.