Silence is coming

The decision to leave weighed heavily on Emilia's mind as she gathered what few supplies were left. The tension in the air was palpable, heightened by the fear that their time was running out. Every instinct was screaming at her to stay, to see what was happening before venturing out into the unknown, but Diana was right. Waiting here wasn't an option.

"We stick together," Diana said firmly, carrying a battered backpack. "No one wanders, no one takes detours. We have to find another group, and get answers."

Aaron stood by the door, his posture relaxed but his eyes alert. His knife, freshly sharpened, was tucked into his belt, and the heavy rifle slung across his back seemed almost a part of him.

He glanced at Emilia and nodded, as if silently telling her he was ready for anything. Mark, on the other hand, looked pale, clutching a bag of medical supplies as though it might save him from whatever was out there.

Emilia wasn't sure it would.

The four of them slipped out into the streets, keeping close to the shadows. The city was unrecognizable, its towering buildings now reduced to hollow shells. Windows that had once been lit with the vibrant life of offices and apartments were now dark, jagged holes in the skyline. Here and there, the remnants of humanity's frantic escape littered the sidewalks—overturned carts, forgotten belongings, the occasional crashed vehicle still smoldering from a fire that no one was left to extinguish.

The "Quiet" hadn't taken it all yet, but it probably would.

"What's the plan?" Aaron's voice was low as they moved, scanning the rooftops and alleys.

"We head east," Diana replied, leading the group with a steady pace. "I've heard rumors of a safe zone near the outskirts, away from the denser parts of the city."

"Rumors," Aaron muttered under his breath. Emilia didn't miss the doubt in his tone.

"I'd rather trust rumors than stay here waiting to disappear," Diana shot back, her eyes never leaving the path ahead.

As they walked down a deserted street, Emilia couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. She felt the hair on the back of her neck prickle, and she found herself looking over her shoulder. There was something about the silence that not only erased people but seemed to be watching and changing.

They passed by a park that had once been the heart of the city, now overgrown and wild. Nature was reclaiming the space faster than should have been possible. Tall grasses swayed in the wind, and vines had begun to creep up the sides of nearby buildings, as if drawn by an unseen force. It was unsettling, how quickly things had changed.

Emilia paused, her eyes narrowing as she spotted something unusual in the grass. "Wait," she called softly, her hand instinctively reaching out to stop Diana. The group halted, and Emilia crouched down, pushing aside the tall blades.

"What is it?" Mark whispered, his voice shaky.

There, buried in the dirt, was a small metal device no bigger than a wristwatch. It made a faint sound, and a faint blue light pulsed from its core. Amelia's heart raced as she realized that this was not just debris in the middle of the silence. This was something new.

"I don't know," she said, picking it up carefully. "But it's not from here."

Diana crouched beside her, eyes narrowing at the device. "You think it's connected to the "Quiet"?"

"Maybe," Emilia replied, turning the device over in her hands. It was sleek, almost futuristic in design, and yet somehow familiar. "We should take it with us. It might be help us understand what's happening."

Aaron grunted but didn't object, though she could tell he wasn't thrilled about bringing unknown technology with them. "Let's keep moving," he said, glancing around. "We're too exposed out here."

As they continued eastward, Emilia couldn't stop thinking about the device. What was it? And who or what had left it behind?

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of distant footsteps, faint but unmistakable. The group froze, instincts kicking in as they pressed against the walls of a nearby building. Aaron motioned for silence, and Emilia held her breath, listening intently.

The footsteps grew louder, closer. Whoever or whatever it was, they weren't alone in this dead city.

Diana peered around the corner, her eyes narrowing as she spotted movement in the distance. "There," she whispered. "Three figures, heading this way."

Emilia's heart pounded in her chest. Survivors? Or something else?

"They're armed," Diana continued, her hand gripping the hilt of the machete strapped to her side. "Could be dangerous."

"Could be our only chance," Emilia whispered back.

The decision hung in the air, fragile and dangerous. Approaching the strangers could mean help or it could mean death. But staying hidden felt like another delay, another gamble in a game they didn't understand.

Aaron shifted his weight, ready for a fight, while Mark huddled close to the wall, his fear palpable. Emilia's mind raced, calculating the risks.

They needed answers, and the device in her hand was proof that there was more going on than they knew.

"Let's go," Diana said quietly, her decision made.

Emilia nodded, tightening her grip on the device. Whatever happens next, let it happen.