The sun crested the horizon, spilling its golden light across the crumbling remnants of the old world.
The sky was a soft gradient of pink and orange, casting long shadows over the deserted streets.
Birds, seemingly accustomed to the silence of the post-apocalyptic world, chirped cautiously from the broken rooftops, their song faint and haunting.
The air was crisp and cool, carrying the earthy scent of dew settling on overgrown vegetation. Vines crept along the cracked pavement, their leaves glistening in the morning light.
In the distance, a gentle breeze rustled through the skeletal remains of trees that once lined busy sidewalks.
It was peaceful, for now. But beneath the surface, the world thrummed with tension, as if holding its breath for the chaos to come.
Survivors gathered on the ground floor of the residential complex, with a mixture of weary and determined expressions on their faces.