A Past and Future

In the shroud of night, a resilient young girl, Kuina Lemberg, traversed the darkness with agility, clutching a bag of essential supplies. Lips adorned with a gentle smile, she carried more provisions than before, marking three months since the world succumbed to disaster.

Amid the desolation, the Lemberg family stood resilient, among the few who could not evacuate. Kuina, the eldest, found herself thrust into a role of unexpected responsibility when her parents succumbed to an enigmatic malady. Her devotion to her younger brother, Rufel, who bore a significant age gap, mirrored a maternal bond. In this post-apocalyptic landscape, Kuina, more enamored with her sibling than her own parents, took refuge with him in the deepest corners of their home, seeking solace amidst the chaos of the undead.

The burden intensified when her parents, victims of an unfathomable disease, entrusted Kuina with their final words. As her mother's skin decayed, pupils dilated, and hands turned icy cold, a solemn charge reverberated through the ravaged space. "Kuina, listen," pleaded her mother, "We'll be in that room. Don't… ever approach it. Never attempt to open the door, okay…. Promise me this, my child." The weight of her mother's words hung in the air, casting a shadow over Kuina's determined spirit as she faced the grim reality.

"Mom," she wept.

"Stay strong, Kuina," despite her deteriorating condition, her skin peeling away, and flesh decaying, her mother maintained a resilient smile. "You need to take care of Rufel, hm."

In that poignant moment, Kuina sensed it would be their final encounter. Her father's hollow eyes conveyed a gentle smile, an unspoken farewell. Desperation surged within her to embrace them one last time.

Regrettably, she couldn't. The confines of a small, windowless room were their self-imposed prison, barricaded with furniture. On opposite sides, Kuina placed the tear-drenched lock on the doorknob.

It marked the ultimate sacrifice her parents made for their children.

From that day forth, Kuina's sleep eluded her. The haunting possibilities within that sealed room tormented her. Her parents willingly embraced the grim fate that awaited them — death at each other's hands or mutual demise once turned.

Kuina's fear intensified. The prospect of opening that door to find her parents lifeless and partially devoured haunted her thoughts.

"I'm scared!" Kuina confessed in the darkened room, her fright palpable. Her young brother sought solace, nestling against her back in a comforting gesture.

Each day, she cast anxious glances at the ominously silent room, pondering the unfolding tragedy within. After 12 agonizing days, their dwindling food supply forced Kuina to venture out, leaving Rufel alone in their home.

On this seemingly ordinary evening, her quest for provisions yielded success. Yet, upon returning, her elation was abruptly shattered. Everything slipped from her grasp, eyes wide in bewilderment, pupils quivering. Frozen, her heart seemed to pause after a rhythmic beat.

What had just happened?

Kuina's world crumbled as she witnessed the unthinkable. Her brother, Rufel, lay lifeless in her mother's arms, a horrifying reality where her mother feasted on his flesh. Her father's vacant stare added to the surreal nightmare. The undead nightmare escaped the confines of that room, and the heart-wrenching moment unfolded as they devoured Rufel.

A surge of desperation gripped Kuina as she pushed her undead mother away and tightening her grip around her neck, confronting the unthinkable truth. Tear-filled eyes locked with her mother's void gaze as she fought to save her brother. Her mother laid immobile underneath her while her father proceeded to attack. Dodging her father's attack, Kuina clutched Rufel and fled, his cold body bleeding uncontrollably.

On the uneven terrain, Kuina struggled, stumbling over rubble, refusing to let go of her dying brother. Fear and despair echoed in her pleas to a higher power, praying for Rufel's survival.

"Please… no!! Not my brother too! I.. won't be able to take it!! I.. I beg you.. my Lord.. please! Not him! Don't take him.. away from me!!"

The surroundings blurred as Kuina ran, haunted by the reality that her brother was slipping away.

The distress intensified as her parents closed in, the left side of her dress stained with Rufel's blood. Desperation led her to a makeshift weapon, a cold iron rod that became her defense. The moment her father snatched Rufel, Kuina's terror drove her to strike, a painful decision that thrust her into a cycle of violence.

As her undead mother moaned in pain after being stabbed by her own daughter, the weight of her actions crashed upon Kuina. Emotions surged within her—a mix of horror, trauma, and guilt. Dropping to the soil near her fallen parents, she clutched her head, pulled at her hair, and wept, unable to escape the overwhelming anguish of killing those she loved.

In the eerie stillness of that crimson dawn, Kuina's world crumbled like fragile sandcastles. The hues of despair painted the sky, mirroring the horror that unfolded before her. Three lifeless bodies surrounded her, a haunting testament to the relentless darkness that now enveloped her existence.

As she sat there, a frozen silhouette of despair, Kuina's heart echoed the loss that etched itself into her very soul. A night had stolen away not just her family but also the pillars of her sanity and innocence. The hollow shell that remained held only the remains of an empty soul, shattered by the merciless hands of fate.

The encroaching undead seemed inconsequential, mere spectators to her inner torment. In that harrowing moment, Kuina surrendered to the crushing weight of failure. She whispered words of self-condemnation, questioning why she alone continued to breathe when those she loved had been swallowed by the darkness.

Amidst the relentless undead, she embraced the impending demise, relinquishing her consciousness to the abyss. "Why am I... the only one... living?" she murmured, a fragile admission of defeat. "It should've been me..."

In the blur between life and death, Kuina glimpsed a kaleidoscope of colors, but one stood out vividly—a pure white uniform. Unseen but heard, a voice declared her a survivor, and plans were made to bring her to safety.

Confined within a slumber, Kuina's fragile state bore no visible wounds, yet her spirit lay broken. Eudimor, a discerning observer of her potential, recognized the fatigue etched upon her. Seeking a way to rekindle the spark within her, he consulted with Yulia Orks, proposing an inoculation that treaded the delicate line between awakening and altering.

Eudimor's determination echoed in his plea to spare Kuina from complete memory erasure. In the delicate dance between hope and despair, he sought to guide her back from the precipice. The distant voice of Ms. Orks, agreeing to this unconventional approach, marked a flicker of hope in the narrative of Kuina's shattered existence.

In the aftermath, as Eudimor, the in-charge of the basement shelter, administered a life-saving inoculation to Kuina. Initially clouded by a vague memory of the incident, she later learned the harsh truth – witnessing her family perish before her eyes had left her in the grip of severe shock.

Ludic, fearing the worst, anticipated Kuina's fragile state. Contrary to his concerns, she showed signs of improvement, yet unbeknownst to him, the trauma had left her emotionally numb. A facade of cheerfulness concealed the depths of her inner turmoil, and she found solace in busying herself with guns.

Three months passed until Fein entered her life, a kindred spirit who shared the same sorrow. He became the light in her darkness, offering acceptance without requiring her to be anything other than herself.

As she watched Fein plunge into the vast ocean, her cry echoed desperation. Filled with rage and guilt, she confronted Ludic, pointing a gun at him, demanding answers for Fein's demise.

"WHY DID YOU HAVE TO DO THAT?! WHY DID YOU SHOOT FEIN?! HE WAS THE ONLY ONE TO ME!" she cried, her emotions unraveling.

The personnel intervened, pulling her away from Ludic, who was quickly restrained. Yulia, who immediately rushed into the scene owing to the commotion, was caught off guard. She demanded information about Fein's whereabouts, only to be met with uncertainty. Panic gripped the scene as uniforms swayed with the howling wind.

Suddenly, a smaller Dragon plunged into the ocean, mirroring the spot where Fein fell. Yulia's shock deepened. Fein's significance to the organization became apparent; a person of immense prowess, he held the key to uncovering their secrets.

But then, a chilling realization struck Yulia. "Did he just… get eaten… by a dragon?!"