The ride

I stop abruptly, hearing her persistent footsteps behind me. She doesn't stop until she's right behind me. I think bitterly, Why the hell did I even help her in the first place if it was going to turn out like this?

Rubbing my forehead, I turn to face her. Her face is as impassive as mine, both of us seemingly devoid of any emotion. "What the hell are you doing? I remember specifically saying I won't take you with me," my voice is cold, dripping with irritation.

She simply nods, her eyes unblinking. "I have nowhere to go... You don't have to take me with you."

I try to comprehend her logic. What's she playing at? I grunt and turn around to continue walking, and yet, with each step, I can hear her damn footsteps right behind me. Every time I look over my shoulder, she's there. Is this some kind of joke?

Eventually, I can't take it anymore. I halt and turn. "I thought you said I don't have to take you."

"That's right," she replies, her voice emotionless but firm. "I'm simply following you."

I blink. I mean, she's not wrong. But I don't have to like it. I can't and won't harm her, even in this decaying world. My morals might be one of the few things keeping me human. However, it's another story if she were to die out of stupidity.

Resigned, I start walking again. Silence stretches for what feels like an eternity before I ask, "What's your name?"

Moving closer, she matches my pace, "My name is Dolura. And yours?"

Avoiding her gaze, I reply, "Caelum."

A thought crosses my mind, that strange hair she has, "Your hair... What is it? Why do you have three different colors?"

She lets out a weary sigh, "It's a family trait."

I nod, recalling stories of ancient families from the era of discovery. Maybe she's not just some random survivor? Hmmm... Yeah, I can't stay with someone like her. 

I'm probably stuck with Dolura for the foreseeable future. I mentally groan, thinking, I'll tolerate her for now. But the moment I get a chance, she's history. Iridia's massive; there's no way she can shadow me the entire time. If I can snag a car... well, she better be ready to run.

I slide a single headphone into my ear, the familiar notes of a song wrapping around me like a protective cocoon against the world. But even in the midst of the melody, I maintain a keen awareness of my surroundings.

The continued silence between Dolura and me seems to stretch infinitely. But what's more unsettling is the eerie absence of any other sound. No birds, no wind rustling the leaves. Only the muted thump of my boots on the cracked pavement and the soft shuffling of Dolura's footsteps behind me.

Then, abruptly, the stillness is shattered by the unmistakable sound of gunfire echoing in the distance. My muscles tense instinctively. Damn, this is not good.

The bridge over the river is right in the direction of those gunshots. A detour isn't an option. The unnerving realization sets in: the gunfire might mean humans fighting the grotesque monsters that now roam the land or, even worse, people turning on each other for survival.

I slow my pace and finally stop, looking ahead, calculating. Dolura stands still next to me, her gaze fixed on mine as if she's trying to decipher my thoughts. Her silent presence is both reassuring and unnerving.

"I can't waste time," I murmur more to myself than her, "but I also can't just walk straight into whatever that is."

Making a snap decision, I spot a nearby building with an accessible fire escape ladder. I make a move for it, scaling it with practiced ease. Dolura lingers below, her injured legs preventing her from joining me. 

Reaching the roof, I crouch low and survey the scene. A group of armed men is locked in a heated battle with a horde of those...things. The monsters are closing in, but the men are holding their own. For now. But another group, smaller, with fewer weapons, is trapped against a wall, clearly in distress. These monsters... They're weak compared to the ones I've seen. 

★  ★  ★  ★  ★

The sudden sound of gunfire reverberated off the ruined buildings, scattering the few remaining birds in the sky. In the heart of the devastation was a ragged group of survivors, holding their line against a tide of monstrous creatures that threatened to overrun them.

Mara, a sturdy woman with graying hair pulled back in a tight bun, fired her rifle with unerring accuracy. Each shot sent one of the grotesque monsters down, their bulbous heads exploding in a shower of dark ichor. Even in the midst of this battle, her thoughts were consumed by the safety of the others, especially her younger brother, Finn.

Finn, a lanky young man with nervous eyes, clutched his handgun tightly, his hands shaking. Every now and then, he would glance toward the trapped group against the wall, which included his childhood friend, Lydia. He tried to provide them with some cover, shooting at the monsters closest to them.

Next to Finn was Leo, a middle-aged man with a scar running down his cheek. He brandished a large knife, his previous ammunition having run out. He danced around the creatures with surprising agility, slashing at their throats and eyes. Each time he plunged his knife into one of the monsters, he recalled the moment he'd lost his wife to them. This was his revenge.

The monsters themselves were terrifying to behold. Towering over the humans, they had elongated limbs that ended in sharp talons. Their skin was a putrid green, covered in oozing sores and pustules. Their eyes glowed a malevolent yellow, and their gaping mouths revealed rows of razor-sharp teeth.

As the battle waged on, Lydia, a petite woman with a cascade of curly brown hair, tried to comfort the two children by her side. Their parents had been taken in the first wave of the attack. With tears in her eyes, she whispered reassuring words, even as she knew their situation was growing more desperate.

Suddenly, a shout came from the opposite side of their makeshift barrier. It was Jenna, the group's unofficial leader. Her once vibrant red hair was now streaked with dirt and blood. "We need to fall back!" she cried. "Leo, Finn, cover our retreat!"

Mara's voice cracked with urgency. "Finn! Stay close! You're straying too far out!"

Finn, his eyes wide with terror, shouted back, frustration lacing his voice, "I'm trying to help Lydia and the kids! We can't just abandon them!"

Jenna, her voice hoarse, yelled at Leo, "You can't just go charging in with a knife like that! It's suicide!"

Leo, his face contorted with anger and pain from a fresh gash on his arm, spat back, "Someone has to do something! We can't all be playing defense!"

As Mara pulled back to reload, she collided with Finn, nearly causing both to fall. "Watch it!" Finn exclaimed, voice high-pitched with anxiety. He rapidly fired three shots, taking down a monster that was mere inches away from Mara.

Jenna, witnessing the near-disaster, screamed, "Regroup! Fall back to the alleyway!"

As they began to move, a monstrous claw swiped at Lydia, narrowly missing her but leaving a tear in her jacket. She let out a horrified gasp, her heart racing. The children clung to her tightly, their eyes filled with tears.

Leo, seeing the close call, felt a rush of guilt. Damn it, what are we doing? This is chaos! His internal thoughts were conflicted. While he wanted to protect everyone, he knew he couldn't save them all.

Mara, gritting her teeth, thought, This is not how it ends. Not for me, not for Finn. She laid down covering fire, her inner resolve growing with each shot.

Lydia, pulling the children with her, tried to find a safe spot. In her mind, she kept repeating, Stay calm, stay calm, keep the children safe.

Jenna, her face smeared with dirt, shouted over the din, "We need to get to higher ground!" Her mind raced, trying to think of an escape route. If we can just reach that building...

Mara, scanning their surroundings for an escape route, shouted over the noise, "We have to leave them! They're slowing us down! We need to save ourselves now or we'll all be dead!"

Jenna, who had always seen herself as the protector of the group, whipped around, her face red with fury. "You heartless bitch! We don't leave anyone behind! That's not who we are!"

Mara's eyes blazed with anger and frustration. "That's the fucking problem! 'Who we are' is about to get us killed! I'm not dying for them!" 'This fucking woman with her saint complex. If it comes down to it, I'll leave her behind too. I'll do whatever it takes to survive this hellhole.'

Jenna took a threatening step toward Mara, "We swore we'd stick together! All of us! You would abandon children? What kind of monster are you?!" 'Goddamn Mara, acting all high and mighty. I should've seen this coming. Think, Jenna, think. There's got to be a way out. But I won't leave them, no matter what she says.'

Mara, voice dripping with venom, retorted, "The kind that wants to fucking live, Jenna. Maybe if you had more spine, we wouldn't be in this situation!"

Jenna's fist flew, connecting with Mara's jaw, the impact echoing above the din of the monstrous onslaught. Mara stumbled back, wiping blood from her lip, eyes wild.

Finn, watching the scene unfold, tried to mediate. "Enough! Both of you, we need to focus!"

But Mara, adrenaline pumping, was having none of it. "Focus? Jenna's 'all-for-one' bullshit is going to get us all killed!"

Jenna, tears in her eyes, shouted, "It's called humanity, Mara! Maybe you've lost yours!"

The acrid smell of smoke mingled with the chilling atmosphere. The explosion's shockwave still reverberated through the very bones of the remaining survivors. As the dust and debris began to settle, the group of college students staggered into view, their matching jackets battered and torn. Their expressions varied: some exhibited a quiet determination while others openly displayed their fear.

The redhead, her face awash with terror, quickly glanced around, trying to make sense of the situation. "We're trapped. We can't run; they're everywhere!"

Liam, the one in the beanie, spat out, "Damn it! Why did we even come here? This was supposed to be an exploration, not a suicide mission!"

The tall guy with glasses, shaking but resolute, took aim and fired at an approaching monster. "We have no choice now! We need to stand our ground!"

Lara, clutching her weapon, yelled, "Numbers! We need to use our numbers to our advantage!"

Jenna, witnessing the students' arrival, shouted to her group, "With them! Form a circle! Back to back!"

Mara, still catching her breath from the prior confrontation, shouted, "Make every shot count! We can hold them off!"

As the monsters closed in, the combined group – a mishmash of hardened fighters and terrified students – formed a defensive ring. Those with weapons took the front lines, firing with everything they had, while others used whatever they could find – pipes, broken shards, or even their bare fists – to keep the creatures at bay.

Finn, trying to maintain his composure, cried out, "Stay tight! Don't break the circle!"

Lydia, holding onto the children, found herself beside the redhead. Despite her own fear, she tried to reassure her. "Stay calm. We can hold them. Look around; they're hesitating!"

Indeed, the monsters seemed taken aback, their once relentless advance now turned into a standoff. The sheer number of humans presented a challenge, and the creatures appeared unsure.

Liam, catching a brief respite, mumbled, "This isn't how I pictured my college experience."

★  ★  ★  ★  ★

The ground beneath me seems to blur as I land smoothly, the noise and chaos around barely registering in the backdrop of my singular focus. My fingers graze the cold metal of the air horn I'd cleverly packed earlier. 

Without missing a beat, I press the horn, sending a deafening, sharp blare echoing through the desolate streets. The monsters – a grotesque combination of what looked like oversized bugs and snarling wolves – freeze. Their gargantuan, furry ears twitch violently, clearly sensitive to the noise. Their beady eyes shift around in confusion, the cacophony obviously disorienting them.

The humans too, both the fighters and the students, halt in a mix of surprise and confusion. Every pair of eyes locks onto me, some filled with hope, some with indignation, and some with sheer disbelief. The redhead, standing with Lydia and the kids, eyes me with a mix of admiration and fear, her grip on her makeshift weapon loosening.

From the corner of my eye, I spot a motorcycle – keys recklessly left in the ignition. Amateur mistake. A smirk forms on my face. Perfect.

Using the air horn as both a shield and a diversion, I push forward, making a beeline for the bike. As I pass Jenna, her fiery eyes burning into mine, I can hear her shout, "Who the hell is that?!"

Revving the engine, I dart off, leaving behind the motley crew of survivors, monsters, and one very stunned group of college students.