The reeking smell of blood hung heavy in the air.
As I ran through the narrow alley, my heart pounded, and I could hear the growls drawing closer with every step.
"Heh! How did I even get caught up in this mess?" I muttered bitterly.
"If only I'd stayed home that day, I wouldn't be here now."
A holographic screen appeared before me, glowing faintly in the dark.
[Warning!]
[Quest: Find the cure to the virus.]
[Time Remaining: 10 minutes.]
[Penalty: Death.]
"Damn it! This stupid system."
What was the point of surviving hordes of zombies if I was just going to die in ten minutes anyway?
But even as I cursed, my legs refused to stop. I kept running, propelled by nothing but sheer desperation. I had no idea what lay ahead, but one thing was clear—I wasn't ready to give up just yet.
THE LAST DAY
If only I had known that day would mark the end of my boring, repetitive life, I might've done something different.
Maybe called in sick.
Maybe eaten something better than instant noodles.
Or, at the very least, spent my hard-earned money on something worthwhile.
But no. There I was, standing behind the counter of a convenience store, living out the same dull routine.
"What a boring day," I muttered, glancing at the clock. My shift was almost over.
Not that it mattered.
Nothing exciting ever waited for me at home.
I leaned on the counter, resting my chin on my palm.
Ding-dong.
The sound startled me. The doorbell above the entrance chimed softly.
"Welcome, sir," I greeted the customer, forcing a polite smile. "How can I help you?"
The man barely acknowledged me. His face was obscured by a hood, but something about him felt... off. He grabbed a bottle of water, paid in silence, and left without a word
"What a weirdo," I muttered, shaking my head.
When my shift ended, I grabbed my jacket and stepped out into the cool night air. The streets were quiet, sparsely populated with a few cars and scattered pedestrians.
On my way home, I couldn't help but overhear a heated conversation.
"Humans are tearing each other apart. What's going to happen to this world?"
"Yeah, and the people in power? They're just sitting back, watching it all burn."
Their voices were so loud, I could probably hear them even from a mile away.
At Home
My studio apartment wasn't much—small, messy, but it was home.
I flopped onto my bed, exhausted, and turned on the television. Or at least I tried to. The screen remained blank.
"What the hell? Why isn't it working? What am I even paying for?" I grumbled, turning it off in frustration.
With nothing else to do, I closed my eyes, ready to sleep off another uneventful day.
Rumble.
A sudden vibration jolted me awake.
"What was that? An earthquake?"
Before I could fully process it, the tremors grew stronger. Furniture toppled, and the walls groaned under the strain. This wasn't normal.
"Oh no. I have to get out of here!"
I bolted for the door, but when I turned the knob, it didn't budge.
"What the—? Who locked this?!"
Panic surged as the ceiling began to crack.
"I'm not dying like this!"
Summoning every ounce of strength, I kicked the door with everything I had. On the third try, the lock finally gave way.
I stumbled into the corridor, chaos erupting around me. The building was on the verge of collapse, and debris rained from above.
"I just need to make it to the exit," I told myself, sprinting as fast as I could.
A faint voice stopped me in my tracks.
"...Help..."
I froze, turning toward the sound.
A little girl was trapped under a pile of rubble, her small figure trembling in fear.
"Are you okay? Don't worry, I'll get you out!"
I worked frantically to free her, tossing aside chunks of debris with trembling hands.
Once she was free, I lifted her into my arms.
"Let's get out of here!"
I ran toward the exit with renewed urgency.
Crack.
The sound of the ceiling giving way filled my ears.
With my last ounce of strength, I shoved the girl forward, pushing her out to safety.
But I wasn't fast enough.
The ceiling collapsed, burying me beneath its weight.
So this was how it ended.
"Damn it... What an eventful life it turned out to be..."
Darkness consumed me....