I woke up slowly, first aware of the cold ground beneath me and then the dull ache in my limbs. My senses trickled back sluggishly, the heaviness in my head making it hard to think. When I opened my eyes, the world spun for a moment before settling into an unfamiliar setting.
The room was dark, cloaked in shadows. Faint light from a crack in the boarded-up windows hinted at the change—the barricaded door was gone. This wasn't the lecture hall anymore. The silence outside was unsettling, a stark contrast to the chaos and screams I remembered before blacking out.
I glanced around, my eyes adjusting to the dimness. Alan, Sophia, John, Freya, and the Whiskered Man were lying nearby, their bodies sprawled on the ground. They weren't resting well—most of their eyes were open, staring blankly into the dark. Only the Whiskered Man seemed to be sleeping, though his restless twitching and mumbled murmurs suggested otherwise.
Turning my head, I spotted Jack and Emily. They sat near the only visible door, weapons in hand. Jack gripped a spear, its tip crudely sharpened, while Emily held what looked like a crossbow, her knuckles white as she gripped it tightly. Both of them were tense, their eyes fixed on the door as though expecting something—or someone—to burst through at any moment.
The faint glow of an emergency light drew my attention to the far end of the room, where Alice stood near the fire exit. In one hand, she held a combat knife, and in the other, a short, sturdy staff that looked like a kali stick. Her posture was alert, every muscle poised and ready, her sharp eyes scanning the room.
Her gaze settled on me, and when she noticed I was awake, she gave a subtle nod and beckoned me over.
I tried to sit up, but my body protested. Every movement felt like wading through molasses, my limbs heavy and uncooperative. I pressed my hands to the ground, feeling the ache in my muscles as I forced myself upright.
Alice's voice broke through the haze of my thoughts. "We moved," she said, her voice low but steady. "The door in the lecture hall wasn't secure anymore. After that knight knocked down the door "
She motioned toward the others. "We carried you here. You've been out for hours."
I nodded weakly, the effort almost too much. Slowly, I began to crawl toward her, forcing my sluggish body to cooperate. The pain in my head pounded like a drum, and my vision swam, but I pushed through.
As I reached Alice, she crouched slightly, her knife glinting faintly in the light. Her expression was unreadable, but her voice was sharp and commanding.
"You're awake now," Alice said, her tone steady but serious. "Good. We're going to need you."
"Where are we?" I asked in a low whisper, my throat dry and scratchy.
"We're in the seminar room across from the lecture theater," she replied. "It's smaller and easier to secure. When we moved, the hall was empty... apart from the bodies." Her voice faltered slightly, and a grimace crossed her face at the memory.
I stared at her, unsure of what to say. The weight of her words hung in the air like a storm cloud.
"We've decided," she continued, her voice regaining its composure, "that when morning comes, we'll go out to get food."
Her words snapped something inside me. "What about my family?" I cut her off, my voice rising before I could stop myself. "What about everyone else's families? We can't just sit here!"
Alice raised a hand quickly, her sharp eyes flashing as she shushed me. "Keep your voice down," she said firmly, glancing toward Jack and Emily, who were still guarding the door. Emily nodded in acknowledgement while Jack pressed a finger to his lips.
Alice's voice lowered, her tone almost a whisper. "We've been hearing noises outside all night—slithering, scurrying, sounds that are part animal, part human. Whatever's out there, it's hunting, and the last thing we want is to draw it here."
Her words sent a chill down my spine. My anger evaporated, replaced by a cold, creeping fear.
Alice studied me carefully, her gaze searching. "We talked about this while you were unconscious," she said, her voice softening just slightly.
"Sorry," I blurted out. "I didn't mean to faint." I cast her a look, frustration bubbling beneath my apology. "You planned all this without me?"
She sighed, as if anticipating my reaction. "We had to," she said bluntly. "Sophia brought up her parents too—you are not the only one thinking about your own family—but if we go out there unprepared, we'll all die. Alone. We barely managed to deal with one suit of armour."
I clenched my fists, the image of that knight flashing in my mind. She was right, but it didn't make it easier to hear.
Alice seemed to read my thoughts. "We couldn't wait for you to wake up," she said. "We need to survive. Food comes first, then understanding our powers. If we can figure out what we can do, we'll have a better chance of making it to the people we care about."
I glanced at Alice's weapons—the combat knife glinting faintly in one hand and the sturdy staff resting in the other.
"We all did what you did," she said, noticing my gaze. "We spoke to our Guides and got our weapons, along with a few powers. My abilities are tied to tactics." She paused, her voice steady despite the exhaustion etched into her face. "My Guide's old master was a war tactician."
"What kind of powers?" I asked, curiosity creeping into my voice. After all, everyone had seen mine; it was only fair to know theirs.
"I have two abilities," she replied, her tone matter-of-fact. "First, I can see weak points on an enemy. Second, I have predictive insight—basically, I can anticipate where an enemy might move or attack."
My mouth fell open. "That's... that's overpowered! You can just predict their moves and stab them before they know what's coming?"
She snorted softly, shaking her head. "Not quite. Predictions aren't guaranteed—they're only as accurate as I can process them, and even then, they're often incomplete. Sometimes they're less than 20% reliable. And even if I can see weak points, it doesn't mean we can reach them. If the enemy is faster, stronger, or hidden behind armor, a weak point doesn't automatically mean a kill. It's not as simple as you think."
Her words were practical, but I could still see the weight of responsibility in her eyes. It wasn't just about having powers—it was about figuring out how to use them without getting killed.
I glanced at Jack and Emily, who stood by the door. Their weapons—a spear and crossbow—looked ready for action, but their tense expressions suggested they weren't eager to use them.
"There'll be time to explain everyone's abilities in full later," Alice said, her gaze locking with mine. "Right now, we have bigger problems—food."
She outlined the plan. "John, Alan, you, and I are going out to scavenge. We've heard strange screams now and then, so we'll need to stay on guard." She paused briefly, as if weighing how much to share. "You need to know the basics of their powers so we can work together. John's abilities focus on sneaking. He can move silently and obscure himself in shadows—it's almost like he vanishes."
"What's his second ability?" I asked.
"Something like a sensory field. He can detect nearby threats by feeling shifts in air pressure or movement," she explained. "It's not foolproof, but it helps."
She then turned to Alan. "Alan manipulates sand. His first ability is Sand Spear—he can create sharp, solid spears out of sand to attack. His second lets him convert objects into sand. It's useful for creating material when we need it, but it takes a toll." She glanced at me. "He also has a passive ability to move sand around naturally, but it's more for precision than power."
As she finished explaining, her expression shifted, her voice softening. "We can all get stronger. My Guide told me leveling up happens when we push ourselves—like when you hit that knight. That must have been enough to level you up and unlock more abilities."
I nodded, processing the information. "But won't you be too tired for this?" I asked, noting the exhaustion written across her face. Her black hair hung loose around her pale features, and the dark circles under her eyes spoke volumes.
"I'll be fine," she said, brushing off my concern. "Sophia's taking over for me soon. I'll get some rest before we head out."
True to her word, she nudged Sophia, who was lying nearby. Sophia wasn't asleep. She sat up slowly, her hands shaking as she summoned her sword. The blade materialized in her grip, flickering faintly in the dim light.
"Get some rest too," Alice said, her tone softening slightly. "You'll need it."
I nodded, lying back down and letting the weight of the day pull me into darkness.