Chapter 1: The End of the World (As We Knew It)
The world had gone to hell—literally. Cities crumbled, the air was thick with ash, and survival was no longer guaranteed. Alex Carter had learned to navigate the destruction, his once-thriving city now a wasteland. He could still remember the days before the sky opened up, before the monsters came and the Earth itself seemed to turn against humanity. He remembered when people would greet each other with smiles instead of wary glares, when the streets weren't overrun with the smell of decay.
Now, the streets were empty, save for the rusting cars, broken windows, and the occasional monstrous growl echoing in the distance.
"Great, just another normal day," Alex muttered to himself, adjusting the strap of his worn-out backpack as he leaned against a rusted sedan. His dark hair hung messily over his forehead, his face dirt-smeared and tired, but his eyes still held a glimmer of determination. Despite everything, Alex wasn't ready to give up. He had a knack for survival, and if there was one thing he had learned from this new world, it was that adaptability was key.
His current mission was to find something—anything—that could help him make it through the next few days. He'd heard rumors of an old, abandoned laboratory a few miles from here, and if it was true, there might be something useful there—supplies, maybe even a shelter to lay low for a while. If he could get his hands on some resources to fortify his current base, then maybe he could survive just a little longer.
"Let's hope the rumors are true," he muttered, squinting at the crumbling buildings in front of him. He took a deep breath and began walking toward the entrance of the overgrown alleyway that led to the lab. The world was eerily silent around him, save for the distant, unnatural screeches from what remained of the creatures that roamed the streets. His fingers tightened around the handle of his crowbar, his trusty tool for any unexpected encounters.
The alley was narrow, walls of decaying buildings towering over him on either side. Vines and moss crept up the brick, and the smell of mildew permeated the air. As Alex reached the end of the alley, the lab loomed before him—a once impressive structure now weathered and half-destroyed. Its entrance was cracked, the metal door hanging off its hinges like some sort of macabre invitation.
"Nice. Let's see if I can find anything worth taking," Alex murmured, pushing the door open. It creaked loudly, the sound cutting through the still air like a warning.
The interior of the lab was dark and musty, with the remnants of shattered glass and overturned furniture scattered across the floor. Alex stepped carefully through the debris, scanning the room. The smell of rust and ozone lingered, and the hum of broken machinery filled the silence. The lab had once been a center of innovation—probably full of hopeful minds working to advance technology—but now it was a graveyard of machines long past their prime.
Alex spotted a pedestal at the far end of the room, bathed in a faint blue light. Curious, he moved toward it, brushing his hand over the surface of a dusty counter as he passed. The pedestal was bare except for a glowing orb, pulsating softly in the dimness.
"Is this some kind of joke?" Alex muttered, reaching out tentatively. "What is this thing?"
The moment his fingers touched the orb, a surge of energy shot up his arm, sending a shock through his body. He yelped in surprise, stumbling back, but the orb remained in place, its glow intensifying as a holographic interface flickered to life before him. The interface was sleek, with glowing blue lines outlining various icons and tabs. A deep voice boomed in his mind, seemingly emanating from the orb itself.
[Welcome to the Base-Building System.]
[Initializing user… Alex Carter detected.]
[Congratulations! You have unlocked the Technological Base Blueprint.]
Alex blinked, trying to comprehend what was happening. "What the hell is this?" he muttered, swiping his hand in the air to interact with the hologram. It responded to his touch, expanding the icons to reveal several options: Resource Management, Base Construction, Defense Systems, and more. The technology was advanced, even for the world before the apocalypse, and yet Alex didn't recognize any of it. The overwhelming feeling of awe quickly shifted to confusion.
Before he could process the interface further, the distant sound of footsteps caught his attention. They were heavy, deliberate, and far too close. His heart raced, and his instincts kicked in. Alex pulled back from the hologram and crouched, ducking behind a nearby column as the footsteps drew nearer. His eyes narrowed as he scanned the room, reaching for the crowbar he always kept at his side.
The door to the lab slammed open with a bang. Alex tensed, every muscle coiled in preparation. He had no idea what kind of creatures might be entering, but he wasn't going to let his guard down. A figure appeared in the doorway, stumbling in with slow, uncertain steps.
The figure was small, fragile-looking, with long, flowing hair that shimmered under the pale light of the lab. They were trembling, hunched over, their movements weak and hesitant. Their clothes were torn, their skin pale and covered in bruises. Alex's heart skipped a beat. Whoever—or whatever—they were, they looked like they had been through hell. And Alex knew exactly what it was like to be on the receiving end of the apocalypse's cruelty.
"Hey," Alex called out cautiously, stepping into view. His voice was steady, though his pulse still raced. "Are you okay?"
The figure froze, their wide, violet eyes locking onto his with fear. A soft, shaky breath escaped their lips as they flinched, eyes darting around the room as if searching for an escape. The tension in the air was palpable.
"I… I'm not dangerous," Alex continued, taking a careful step forward. "I just want to help. What happened to you?"
The figure swallowed, their hands wringing nervously in front of them. "I—I'm not dangerous either," they stammered, their voice soft and hesitant. "I—I'm just scared. Please, don't hurt me."
Alex blinked in surprise. A frightened voice, trembling with fear, came from someone who didn't seem human at first glance. The figure's delicate features, pale skin, and slightly pointed ears betrayed their supernatural nature. It didn't take long for Alex to realize who—or what—this person was.
"An Incubus?" he asked softly, though it was more of a statement than a question. Their eyes widened, and they nodded slightly, their fear growing even more apparent.
"Yes," they whispered. "But… I'm not like the others. I don't… I don't want to hurt anyone. Please, I just want to live."
Alex's frown deepened as he saw the desperation in their eyes. There was something about this Incubus that didn't quite fit the typical mold. He had heard stories—horrible stories—about the creatures who roamed the earth after the apocalypse. Incubi were known to be dangerous, manipulative, and driven by dark instincts. But this one—this one looked terrified. Almost as if they were lost in a world they didn't understand.
Alex took a few more steps forward, trying to put the figure at ease. "You don't have to be afraid," he said, offering a small, reassuring smile. "I'm not going to hurt you. You're safe here."
The Incubus—Cassian, as they had introduced themselves—hesitated for a long moment before lowering their guard slightly. "Y-you won't hurt me?" they asked, their voice so soft it was almost drowned out by the distant growls of the creatures still roaming outside.
"No. I won't hurt you," Alex replied, feeling a surprising sense of protectiveness toward the trembling figure before him. "We're both stuck here, so we might as well make the best of it. Let me help you."
Cassian blinked, their wide violet eyes searching Alex's face, uncertain. Slowly, they nodded, a small tear escaping their eye as their lips parted in a soft, relieved sigh. "Thank you…"
Alex took another step forward, reaching out a hand to offer help, and the Incubus reached up to accept it, still trembling. "Let's get you somewhere safe," Alex said, "and figure out what's going on with all this weird tech."
As they stood together in the lab, surrounded by the remnants of the world that once was, neither of them knew what the future held. But one thing was certain: the apocalypse had just gotten a whole lot more complicated.