The gray sky stretched as far as the eye could see, covering the cracked and barren earth. The ocean, once a source of life, had dried up many years ago. All that remained was a desolate plain that burned the skin by day and gnawed at the bones by night. In this broken world, the remaining humans had turned into ruthless figures, fighting to survive.
In the middle of the arid plain, Ricky and Sophie stood at the edge of a cliff, gazing at the dried-up sea bed that had turned into a sandy valley. Ricky, a twenty-five-year-old man with messy hair and a dust-covered face, gripped his old rifle tightly. Beside him, Sophie, a tough woman with curly brown hair and sharp eyes, examined her worn-out compass.
Sophie: Her brow furrowed as she watched the compass spin aimlessly. "This is strange... the magnetic field here keeps shifting. I can't determine north."
Ricky: "There's no use for a compass in this world anymore, Sophie. We just need to keep moving. The longer we stop, the bigger the chance we'll be followed."
Sophie sighed deeply, watching as Ricky started walking westward again. They knew they were being hunted, but by whom or what, they couldn't yet be sure. Every step felt like a bet on life and death.
_________________
A few kilometers away, on a rocky hill…
A tall man wearing a leather mask stood still, observing Ricky and Sophie through an ancient telescope. Behind him stood a group of armed men with grim faces. The masked man was Draven, a brutal leader who controlled much of this dry land.
Draven: "Two people tough enough… Interesting. Bring them to me alive, or at least… bring me something that proves they are no longer a threat."
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That night, in a small cave where Ricky and Sophie rested…
Sophie: Her voice soft but filled with concern. "Ricky, do you think there's still a place on Earth that hasn't been destroyed?"
Ricky: Staring at the small fire in front of him, he sighed heavily. "I don't know, Sophie. But if there is, we need to find it. Before Draven finds us first."
The sound of footsteps echoed faintly from outside the cave. Ricky quickly extinguished the fire and signaled Sophie to be silent. They took defensive positions behind the rocks.
??? (voice from outside)
"Come out, I know you're in there! I'm not from Draven's group. I'm here to warn you!"
Sophie looked at Ricky with suspicion. Ricky nodded slightly and stepped out, rifle in hand.
*****
How will they survive in this cruel world? Who is the mysterious figure coming to deliver the warning? And what is Draven's true objective?
To be continued in Chapter 2: A Warning from the Shadows