Elliot woke to the sound of coughing.
His lungs burned, his throat raw as he gasped for air. The world around him was shrouded in darkness, the only light coming from the faint glow of the sky above. It was no longer the shimmering gold or fiery red he'd seen before. Now, it was a deep, oppressive black, streaked with faint, sickly green veins that pulsed like a dying heartbeat.
Mia lay beside him, her face pale and her breathing shallow. Elliot shook her gently, his heart pounding as she stirred. Her eyes fluttered open, wide with fear.
"What… what happened?" she croaked, her voice barely audible.
"I don't know," Elliot said, though the memory of the darkness swallowing the city was seared into his mind. He helped her sit up, his own body aching with every movement. The air was thin, almost suffocating, and every breath felt like a struggle.
Around them, the city was eerily silent. The streets were empty, the buildings dark and lifeless. The ground was littered with debris—broken glass, shattered concrete, the remnants of a world that had been torn apart. Elliot's flashlight flickered as he turned it on, the beam cutting through the gloom.
"We need to find shelter," he said, his voice low. "Somewhere we can breathe."
Mia nodded, though her movements were sluggish. Elliot helped her to her feet, his arm around her shoulders as they stumbled through the wreckage. The air grew thicker as they walked, the faint green veins in the sky casting an unnatural glow over everything. It felt like they were walking through a nightmare, the world twisted and broken beyond recognition.
They reached a small convenience store, its windows smashed and its shelves overturned. Elliot led Mia inside, his flashlight sweeping the room. The air was slightly better here, though still thin and acrid. He found a corner away from the broken windows and helped Mia sit down, propping her against the wall.
"Stay here," he said, handing her the flashlight. "I'll look for supplies."
Mia nodded weakly, her eyes closing as she leaned her head back. Elliot's chest tightened as he watched her, the fear gnawing at him. She was strong, but this—whatever this was—was taking its toll on all of them.
He moved through the store, his footsteps echoing in the silence. The shelves were mostly empty, picked clean by looters, but he managed to find a few bottles of water and some canned food. He stuffed them into a bag, his hands trembling as he worked. The air was getting worse, the green veins in the sky pulsing faster, brighter.
When he returned to Mia, she was asleep, her breathing shallow but steady. Elliot sat beside her, his back against the wall, and stared at the sky through the broken windows. The green veins were spreading, branching out like cracks in glass. He could feel the weight of the atmosphere pressing down on him, the air growing thinner with every passing moment.
"What's happening to us?" Mia whispered, her eyes still closed.
Elliot didn't answer. He didn't have the words. Instead, he reached for her hand, his fingers intertwining with hers. They sat in silence, the world crumbling around them, as the sky burned and the air grew thin.
---
The sound of footsteps woke him.
Elliot's eyes snapped open, his heart racing as he scanned the room. The flashlight had died, leaving them in near-total darkness. The green veins in the sky provided just enough light to see the outlines of the store, but the shadows were deep and shifting.
The footsteps grew louder, accompanied by the sound of voices. Elliot's grip tightened on Mia's hand as he listened, his breath catching in his throat. The voices were low and urgent, their words muffled but unmistakably human.
"We're not alone," Mia whispered, her voice barely audible.
Elliot nodded, his mind racing. Were they survivors, like them? Or something else? He didn't know, but he wasn't willing to take the risk. He helped Mia to her feet, his movements slow and deliberate, and led her deeper into the store, away from the entrance.
The voices grew closer, the footsteps echoing through the empty streets. Elliot's heart pounded as he pressed himself against the wall, his eyes fixed on the doorway. The shadows shifted, and a figure appeared, silhouetted against the green-tinged sky.
"Hello?" the figure called, their voice trembling. "Is anyone there?"
Elliot hesitated, his instincts warring with his fear. The figure sounded young, scared. Not a threat. He glanced at Mia, who nodded weakly, and stepped forward.
"We're here," he said, his voice hoarse.
The figure froze, then stepped into the store, their face coming into view. It was a girl, no older than sixteen, her face streaked with dirt and tears. She carried a backpack, her hands shaking as she clutched it to her chest.
"You're alive," she said, her voice breaking. "I thought… I thought I was the only one."
Elliot's chest tightened as he looked at her. She was just a kid, alone in this nightmare. He gestured for her to come closer, his voice softening.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"Lila," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I… I don't know what to do. Everyone's gone. The air… it's so hard to breathe."
Elliot exchanged a glance with Mia, his mind racing. They couldn't stay here. The air was getting worse, and the city was no longer safe. But where could they go? The world was falling apart, and there was no escape.
"We'll figure it out," he said, though the words felt hollow. "Together."
Lila nodded, her eyes filling with tears. Elliot reached for her hand, his grip firm despite the fear gnawing at him. They were survivors, clinging to the edge of the abyss. And as the sky burned and the air grew thin, they would have to find a way to keep going—or die trying.