The City in Ruins
Kael led Elyra through the devastated streets, carefully avoiding the infected and the military forces that had already begun their crackdown. The air was thick with the stench of burning flesh, smoke coiling into the sky like the wails of the fallen. The once-bustling metropolis was now a battlefield, a warzone where survival was the only rule.
His grip on Elyra's hand was firm. He could feel her trembling, the weight of the horror unfolding before her eyes pressing down on her soul. "Kael… where are we going?"
"Somewhere safe," he muttered, scanning the surroundings for any potential threats. But in reality, he knew—there was no truly safe place anymore.
---
The First Betrayal
As they turned into a seemingly deserted alley, a group of armed civilians emerged from the shadows. They weren't infected, but their eyes carried the desperation of the doomed. Their leader, a burly man with a scar running down his cheek, aimed a rifle at Kael's chest.
"Drop any weapons you have," the man ordered, his voice hard. "Food. Water. Hand it over."
Elyra gasped, gripping Kael's arm. "Kael—"
He raised a hand to silence her. He could kill them all in an instant if he wanted. But there was no need—yet.
"We don't have anything to give," Kael replied calmly.
The man's finger twitched on the trigger. "Then you're useless to us."
Before he could fire, Kael moved. Faster than any of them could react, he closed the distance, seizing the barrel of the gun and twisting it out of the man's grasp. A heartbeat later, the entire group lay unconscious or incapacitated, groaning on the ground.
Elyra stared at him, eyes wide. "Kael… how did you…?"
"We need to keep moving."
---
Shelter in the Storm
They found temporary refuge in an abandoned convenience store, barricading the entrance with shelves and furniture. Kael scavenged for supplies while Elyra sat in silence, her mind processing everything she had witnessed.
Finally, she spoke. "Kael. What are you?"
He paused, looking at her. Could he tell her the truth? That he was never meant to be human? That even now, his sealed memories whispered of something greater? That he had lived through this apocalypse once before?
He sighed. "I don't know yet. But I promise I'll find out."
A crash outside shattered the moment. The infected had found them.
---
A Battle of Monsters
The first creature that burst through the barricade was a hulking brute, its body twisted with unnatural muscle. It roared, saliva dripping from its jagged teeth as it charged.
Kael met it head-on.
The impact sent tremors through the store. He sidestepped its swipe, countering with a devastating punch that caved in its ribcage. Another came, then another. His body moved on instinct, striking with power that defied human limitations.
Elyra watched in awe and terror. This isn't normal.
The last infected fell, its head twisted at an unnatural angle. Kael exhaled slowly, his eyes glowing faintly with an energy he didn't fully understand yet.
Elyra stood, shaking. "Kael… what's happening to you?"
He clenched his fists. I don't know. But I'm going to find out.
And as he looked out at the ruined city, he realized—this was only the beginning.
---
To be continued…