Hardik stepped through the hospital's makeshift entrance, his shoulders slumping as exhaustion finally caught up with him. The building, though weathered and damaged, still stood firm. Its once-pristine halls were now crowded with people—families huddled together, medics rushing to treat injuries, and children crying softly in the corners.
The air was thick with the metallic scent of blood and the acrid tang of disinfectant. Emergency lights flickered overhead, casting eerie shadows on the walls. A cacophony of voices filled the space—pleas for help, hushed prayers, and hurried conversations.
A young woman in a white coat approached Hardik, clipboard in hand. Her tired but resolute eyes swept over him, noting his disheveled state.
"Are you injured?" she asked, already reaching for a medical kit.
"I'm fine," Hardik replied, waving her off. "But the woman I brought—she's hurt badly. Her leg—"
"She's already being treated," the medic assured him. "You did good bringing her here. There aren't many who stop to help others anymore."
Hardik nodded but remained silent, his eyes scanning the room for Aditi. Finally, he spotted her near the far wall, sitting with their parents. Relief washed over him, and he hurried over.
"Bhai!" Aditi stood, throwing her arms around him. "I was so scared! You're okay!"
"I'm fine," Hardik murmured, squeezing her tightly before stepping back to greet his parents. "Thank god you're all safe."
His father, usually a stoic man, gave a rare smile of relief. "You did well, son. But what now? This camp looks crowded, and those monsters…" He trailed off, glancing uneasily at the boarded-up windows.
"We'll figure it out," Hardik said, though the uncertainty gnawed at him.
The air in the hospital camp buzzed with restless energy. People moved about, patching wounds, handing out food, or simply trying to hold on to hope. Amidst the organized chaos, a young man in his mid-thirties strode confidently between groups, issuing instructions with a calm authority.
"Hardik, right?" the man asked, approaching with an outstretched hand.
Hardik, seated on a bench near the makeshift infirmary, looked up. The exhaustion on his face was evident, but he shook the man's hand firmly.
"I'm Krishna," the man introduced himself. "I've been coordinating things around here—keeping people safe, making sure supplies don't run out. I noticed you helped bring that woman and her child earlier. That was brave."
Hardik gave a faint nod. "Just did what I had to. How are they doing?"
"They'll be fine, thanks to you," Krishna assured him. He hesitated before continuing, his tone growing serious. "Look, we've been managing to keep things under control, but it's only a matter of time before those things—" he glanced toward the boarded-up windows, "—find us. We need all the help we can get to keep watch. Can you lend a hand?"
Hardik straightened up, brushing off his fatigue. "Of course. Just tell me what to do."
Krishna smiled, though concern flickered in his eyes as he took in Hardik's weary stance. "You're running on fumes, aren't you? Take a few hours to rest. We've got others holding the fort for now. I'll wake you if we need you."
Reluctantly, Hardik agreed, his body aching for respite. He found a corner in the crowded room and lay down. Aditi, their mother, and father sat nearby, offering quiet reassurances as he closed his eyes.
The quiet didn't last.
At first, the distant screams were faint, almost a figment of Hardik's restless dreams. But as they grew louder, more desperate, Hardik jolted awake. The sound was unmistakable chaos had found them.
"Hardik! Wake up!" Aditi shook his shoulder, her face pale with fear. Their mother and father stood behind her, visibly shaken.
"What's happening?" Hardik asked, rising to his feet as adrenaline coursed through him.
"They're here," Aditi whispered, her voice trembling.
A guttural roar echoed through the hospital halls, followed by the crash of something heavy. People screamed, and the sound of shattering glass and splintering wood filled the air.
Krishna appeared, his expression grim. "The perimeter is breached. We either stand our ground, or we lose everything."
The group quickly gathered to discuss. Krishna turned to Hardik. "If we fight, we risk everyone here. But if we don't, we'll lose this place—and the supplies with it."
"This is the best location we have," Hardik said, his voice steady despite the chaos. "If we let it go, we may never find anything like this again. Some of us will hold them off. The rest need to get to the higher floors and stay inside."
Krishna nodded. "I'll fight." His calm resolve inspired those around him.
"So will I," Hardik said, turning to Aditi. "Take Mom and Dad. Stay hidden, no matter what happens."
"Bhai, no! I can't leave you—"
"You have to," Hardik interrupted, gripping her shoulders. "Keep them safe. That's all that matters right now."
The battle was fierce. Hardik and the others were fighting valiantly, using anything they could find as weapons, but the weapons of this world had very little effect on the monsters. Suddenly a deafening crash shook the hospital.
Hardik turned toward the source, his heart sinking. A monstrous body had fallen through the roof, crushing everything in its path.
"No…" he whispered, sprinting toward the chaos.
The sight that met him chilled him to his core. Bodies lay scattered, and the acrid stench of blood and smoke filled the air.
"Aditi! Mom! Dad!" Hardik's voice broke as he searched frantically.
A faint sobbing reached his ears. He ran toward the sound, finding Aditi crouched beside their mother, who lay unconscious on the ground. Blood seeped from a gash on her head.
"MOM!" Aditi screamed, shaking her. "Wake up! WAKE UP!"
Hardik turned to see his father pinned beneath debris, pale and bleeding. "Dad!" he cried, rushing to him.
"Hardik…" his father whispered, his voice weak. "You're here…"
Why is this happening to me?
"MOMM…Wake up. WAKE UPPP."
Why do I feel so helpless…so powerless?
"Da…DAD…. Get up…we need to get out of here fast."
Just when everything was starting to get better. Why did I have them come here.
"Aditi…are you ok?"
The air around him felt heavy, the cries of the wounded and the crackling of flames blending into a nightmarish cacophony.
Why now? Why, when I've fought so hard, does it feel like everything is slipping away? What else can I do? How else can I fight? I need more power.
Suddenly, a strange spark appeared before him. A translucent blue screen flickered into existence, its glow piercing through the chaos.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[The world is about to end, but even in this crisis, you wish to fight back. The System recognizes your resolve.]
[You have been chosen to be 'Awakened.']
[Do you have what it takes to survive in this world? Y/N]
Hardik stared at the screen, his hands trembling. "I don't know what's happening," he murmured, "but the answer seems clear."
"Yes."
[CONGRATULATIONS…You have been given the title of 'The Awakened.']