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Chapter 2: Shadows of War
Kale, Jack, and his loyal dog traveled for three days.
No food.
No water.
Just the endless ruins stretching ahead.
Kale's body ached, but she forced herself forward. Then, in the distance, she saw something unbelievable—a town
People were walking. Alive.
Hope flickered in her heart, but before she could take a step forward, she heard a distant whistling sound.
Her eyes widened. She knew that sound.
A missile.
"Jack! Lay down—or you'll be laid forever!" she shouted.
They both hit the ground just as—
💥 BOOM! 💥
The explosion devoured the town. The shockwave knocked dust and debris into the air, turning life into ashes. Kale and Jack watched from a mountain, their bodies frozen.
Thousands of people—gone in seconds.
The world was still burning.
For the rest of the day, neither of them spoke.
Their minds screamed, but their mouths stayed silent.
As night fell, hunger won the battle against grief.
Kale built a fire, while Jack searched his backpack. He handed her a bow, some arrows, and a spear.
"Let's hunt," he said.
They entered the forest, where trees loomed like silent watchers. The air was thick with an eerie stillness. Then—the bushes rustled.
Kale's instincts kicked in.
She nocked an arrow.
Twang.
The arrow cut through the air and struck a massive wild boar. It screamed, thrashing violently before collapsing.
Jack stepped into the bushes, finishing the job. Kale didn't see what happened inside, but she didn't care.
As they dragged the boar back, shadows of the past whispered in Kale's mind.
"You are a loser. You are an embarrassment. You are useless."
Unknown voice.
"I am not!" she muttered under her breath.
Jack, carrying the boar, glanced at her. "You're what?"
Kale forced a smile. "Nothing."
Back at camp, she cooked the meat, the fire crackling in the silence. For the first time in days, her body felt warm. But her mind was still cold.
As exhaustion took over, she yawned and curled up near the fire. Her eyes grew heavy.
Morning arrived, and with it—a new challenge.
They ventured deeper into the forest, following the map to Pusho.
Then, they saw them.
Eyes glowing in the shadows. Creatures unlike anything they had ever seen.
Some had the fangs of a wolf, others the claws of a tiger.
Jack gripped his spear. "We won't survive this."
Kale didn't blink.
"If you say you will die, you will die."
"If you say you will survive, you will survive."
She took a deep breath.
And they prepared to fight.
To be continued...