ã€ŠWarm Dream: Nationhoodã€‹


 Chapter 1: For us

    Warm Dream: Nationhood

    What is the difference from dreams and reality,

    but chains and pain?

    Volume 1: First year

    Chapter 1: For us

    South coast of the province of La Quilla ¨C Manecia Republic

    The dripping of the sink echoed in the room in the middle of the night, and she looked at the reflection.

    What was once a magnificent temple of God and his worshipers was now nothing more than a shadow among the abundant vegetation of the humble village; a shadow that raised its columns dragged by the roots of the ground.

    Despite this, it seemed that the church still kept some of its purposes: it sheltered members of the community, victims of diseases, in blankets and sleeping bags.

    No matter how much she cleaned her face, the makeup as black as her thin eyes continued to slide down her cheeks. In the abandoned bathroom, the young Yong Haeri was bothered by this while she looked for a napkin and checked her neck.

    Distressed, she gave a long sigh and looked back at the worn mirror in front of her. The smell of dust and moisture did not bother her at all.

    Haeri: He''s taking a while¡­

    By accident, she dropped the last towel in the sink, which now swam in dirty water and dark inks.

    Haeri: Shit! ¡­Ah, always me.

    She used her own black sweatshirt as a remedy.

    Her dull appearance would make anyone think that she had just woken up. They wouldn''t think that she was a young foreign girl surviving a catastrophic plane crash, now lost in a completely unknown country.

    It was only a few weeks ago when she sat comfortably in the soft seats of the airplane, looking out the window at the blue sky while sharing with his friends and family the excitement of a school trip abroad, especially to such an unknown and mysterious country.

    Haeri smiled sarcastically at the thought of such weird comparisons, though her face quickly changed to a mortified expression again. She was still lost in her memories, after all.

    The scar was still fresh, proof of the incident that turned her life upside down. And no matter how hard she tried, the ink wouldn''t come out.

    Haeri: W-What are we supposed to do from now on? ¨Cshe muttered to herself as she explored every corner of her mind for answers, lulled by the feeling of melancholy at losing her friends and loved ones so recently.

    There was still someone else. She had someone else who suffered the same grief as her, although now absent.

    Haeri: Gitta, hurry up. Come quickly¡­ ¨Cshe shook her head to the side.

    The person she longed for was Gitta Vintana, an American boy who, like her, had survived the tragic accident. Although she herself would not describe him as a simple acquaintance, but as the person she had fallen in love with since her high school days.

    A spark of nostalgia made her remember for a brief moment the moment she met him for the first time, which only made her feel more anxious.

    Haeri: Maybe I should have accompanied him to look for my phone... How could I lose it just now?

    Her mind kept wandering, jumping from one idea to another. She could not explain the reason among the confusion born of the events that had occurred.

    The rustling of dry leaves and the creaking of aged wood joined the soundtrack of the environment. Soon, what was a weak tinkling of drops became the scandal of a torrential rain perceived through the dusty windows.

    It was difficult to discern between one noise or another. The young woman tried, and thought she heard voices.

    Haeri: He¡¯s here!? ¨CGasped excitedly.

    She pushed aside the chair that had blocked the bathroom door, rolled up her sweater, picked up her eyelash paint, and headed out into the outer hallways as quickly as she could.

    A twenty-meter corridor that divided her section from the main hall of the temple. If it weren¡¯t for the light that came through the grates on the sides, she wouldn¡¯t have been able to see where she was walking between the gray walls.

    Unknown voice: What¡¯s going on!? Where to¨C!? WHAT IS THAT¨C!?

    In the distance, voices could be heard, wrapped in an anxiety like her own, to a certain degree indistinguishable among the heavy rain.

    Haeri: ¡­

    Walking more cautiously, she continued through the corridor, convincing herself that it was just her imagination.

    A hint of illumination revealed the stage and the multiple silhouettes scattered on the floor of the main hall. Long pieces of furniture had been arranged to accommodate the sick who lay there prostrate, motionless, forming a shadowing picture far from the immaculate image of the holy chamber.

    Haeri: (They''re alive, aren''t they? Heh).

    The young woman herself was surprised at her own mood in such circumstances. And the occasional coughs of the bodies answered the question.

    She had also forgotten her mask, so she used her sleeve to cover her mouth while carefully avoiding the patients.

    Once she reached the entrance, she opened the large doors with some difficulty.

    Haeri: Uh¡­

    She immediately retreated. It was not her companion Gitta who was on the other side of the door. In fact, there was no one.

    However, in the distance silhouettes could be seen running back and forth between the rain, the wind and the trees of the forest. One of them was heading towards the entrance of the temple.

    It was a blond boy who took off his broken glasses, agitated. His name was Alon, the person who guided her to the temple in the first place days ago.

    Alon: HA! C-COME IN AND CLOSE THE DOOR!

    Haeri: ¡­!

    She was trying to understand what was happening. Her ideas were already mixed together, they became more confused with the unexpected visit.

    The clothing of the young man in front of her showed tears, soaked with multiple dark stains wherever he was seen.

    Not knowing what to do, she simply backed away with staggering steps, frowning, which the young man would take advantage of to finally enter and close the entrance doors as he had ordered, but¨C

    Stranger: W-Wait! Hah!

    A woman and her child were desperately running towards the entrance of the temple.

    They cared little if they had been heard or not, they just climbed the steps to reach the place without thinking twice, causing the woman to stumble due to her own distraction. The child, on the other hand, had managed to climb successfully.

    Seeing this, the young blond man stopped and turned to Haeri. A tormented expression.

    It took him a second like an eternity to decide to go out on his own and thus help the woman.

    An inevitable responsibility, right?

    Alon: H-Haeri! Get the¨C! Guh!

    The moment he had set foot outside the sacred place, he had been lost to the girl''s sight; Alon''s body had been pushed against one of the church''s pillars with such magnitude that the sound that emanated from it would be mistaken for a truck crashing at high speeds.

    His body, now in a fetal position, lay motionless on the ground of the entrance.

    Haeri: ¡°¡­!¡±

    The boy had stumbled upon such a scene, and the woman was still awkwardly getting up to reach him.

    When Haeri raised her trembling gaze, she first glimpsed the woman who was now begging for mercy.

    The loud screams were cut off, making sounds not unlike that of a drowning person.

    They had been caused by someone, or something else.

    Indistinguishable figures blended into the night. One, peeled off from Alon''s body. The others, stalked the woman as well as other passersby in the distance.

    His mind was hopelessly scattered. Haeri intended to help the little boy up.

    On instinct she fled without him into the church.

    Child: M-Mommy! MOMMY! AH! Ma¨C!

    The frantic beating of her heart reverberated in her ears as she continued to escape on her own.

    The sound of shrill screams of agony and the crunching of bones formed a cacophony of horrors that ran through her guts.

    -[?]-

    Haeri: AH! HA! Guh! NO! AH!

    In the middle of the night, furniture and vessels were flying against the temple walls like mere trinkets in a whirlwind.

    The most primitive of thoughts crossed her mind, and no other. Escape. She couldn''t think of anything else.

    The enormous creature behind her had entered the chambers without even flinching at the images of the saints. Any obstacle in his path seemed insignificant, unlike the young woman who stumbled on her way to the passages.

    The sick, standing witnesses, their foreheads obscured by the shadow of the windows, witnesses of the disaster occurring in the great hall.

    Perhaps Haeri had seen said scene in the midst of her predicament, or her eyes were deceiving her once again. Instead, her attention was drawn by what looked like a babbling, bearded giant.

    Haeri: Gsk! Ah!

    The echo of her own footsteps resonated between the walls of the church. Her heart beat in her chest with such overwhelming force that it hurt. While the tall shadow loomed over her like a hungry quadruped.

    Every corner became a labyrinth that led nowhere. Even hiding inside one of the rooms would be in vain, right? Anyone would know well that there would be no way to stop the amorphous thing that lurked.

    A guttural roar could be heard in every corner, getting closer and closer. The young woman felt the vibrations on her neck, not knowing the true distance that separated them.

    Haeri: Ah-!

    The girl lost the feeling of solid ground on her feet.

    Without realizing it, a group of steps awaited her around the corner of the hallway. And without time to react, her body was already rolling on the hardness of the concrete until it ended up inside one of the entrances.

    Haeri: Gh! Cough! Cough! Tsk¡­

    With trembling arms, the young woman slowly rose from the dusty floor as she wiped the sweat and tears from her face. She caught her breath with heavy breaths as much as her body allowed her.

    Her dark surroundings, a kind of cellar filled with ancient golden objects.

    It seemed that her sudden mishap had made the thing lose sight of her, although that achievement had cost her painful bruises on her back and limbs.

    Haeri: Ah¡­!

    However, her moment of calm had been interrupted by that horrible growl again.

    She covered her own mouth to remain silent.

    The door had closed due to her forced entry, perhaps it still did not know that she was hiding inside, nor did she know if it was the same creature or something worse. What was clear was her lack of intention to find out.

    Looking everywhere, Haeri ran and frowned until she glimpsed a green light that indicated the exit of that warehouse. Fortunately, the door didn''t seem to be locked. Instead, if you have pushed it aside, you could have seen the torrential rain flooding outside.

    The silence of the warehouse was gone, only the rain hitting everything, and something else.

    Unknown man: JANE! ... JIMMY!

    A man soaked to the ground was shouting to the sky.

    Unknown man: Hey! H-Hey! You!

    He had noticed Haeri in the distance, but she ignored his calls, preferring to run in opposite directions, so, without looking back for a single moment, she left the lonely man and his lament in the middle of the deluge.

    A long moment passed before she began to regain her sanity and pay attention to her surroundings.

    Haeri: Ah! ... Ah.

    Her breathing had already become heavy, and her pace slowed. Under the rain that lashed her face, she couldn''t find a way to orient herself. The young woman had run through narrow passages between the houses in the neighborhood without any fixed direction, thinking that that thing was still stalking her among the plantations.

    She had never run so much before, not even in her high school days, but the adrenaline was beginning to disappear while the over-exhaustion was showing itself more and more honestly.

    Haeri: Gah¡­ Ah¡­

    She had reached her limit, and was about to collapse on the asphalt if it weren''t for a sudden crash that stopped her.

    It wasn''t a wall or another light post, but a person. And it seemed like she was saying something.

    Gitta: What-? Haeri? What''s wrong? ¨Cthe stressed boy asked, his voice drowned out by the deafening noise of the rain on the roofs.

    Dropping the umbrella he carried with him, he held the young woman by the shoulders.

    She was still breathing heavily, her words stuck in her throat as she struggled to keep her shaking legs from giving way. Even though her mind was spinning in a mix of confusion and panic, she was able to recognize the voice that spoke to her, and she immediately hugged the black coat he was wearing.

    The person she had been waiting for so long was now in front of her; Gitta Vintana, one of the survivors.

    Haeri: G-Gitta¡­! Gitta! ¨Cshe repeated while clinging to him.

    The boy''s eyes widened, trying to understand the reason behind the desperate urgency.

    A robbery, a stalker, an accident¡­ Or even a joke. Indeed, the young man knew her strange humor. Under different circumstances he would not have taken the situation seriously enough, however, that thought did not cross his mind for a single moment, nor did it allow him to hesitate for a single second; because he had noticed the bruises and cuts on the girl''s arms and neck.

    If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

    Frowning and looking up, he turned to all the passages and paths he could find between the houses, looking for any approaching threat.

    There was nothing, and no one else.

    He held her tightly.

    Gitta: L-Let''s get out of here! Go!

    -[?]-

    Two hours earlier.

    Hotel La Qosta

    A few kilometers away, the well-known hotel ¡°La Qosta¡± could be seen, located near the shores of the ocean in the province of La Quilla; a two-story building built with wood from the tropical nature born in the area, which gave it an attractive vacation air for the enjoyment of any tourist.

    From the second floor of the hotel, ¡°This is the reason I would have liked to have¡± thought the young man Nisha Quinto, while admiring the beauty of the blue waves of the sea, which took turns one by one to reflect the white light of the half moon.

    Nisha: Ah, come in.

    His trance had been interrupted by the knock on his door, so he quickly arranged the sheets on his bed to receive the visitor.

    The young woman who entered was Izzy Rylee. There was no way to confuse her. Her voluminous black Bob-style hair, and eyes as clear as the moon that night, reminded him of the scene he had just seen.

    For her part, she was massaging her own ailing temple. Without bothering to take off her sneakers, she sat next to the boy on the long bed, resting her neck on the headboard and thus sharing the tranquility of the scene.

    Izzy: Hm¡­ ¨Cshe sighed softly, her gaze lost in the ceiling. She had removed her glasses and put away the notebook she carried with her.

    It was a cozy room without a doubt. The walls made of decorated wood gave it a rustic, warm and homely appearance, a settlement that they obtained thanks to the conversations between Izzy and the owner of the place.

    A refuge.

    Izzy: I would prefer that Garwin be the one in charge of these dialogues ¨Cshe turned her gaze towards the boy, who could not reciprocate upon seeing such beautiful clear eyes.

    Nisha: Uhm¡­ Is everyone else okay?

    Izzy: You don''t need to ask about them, they have gone out for a walk to see the town.

    Nisha: Heh ¨Che smiled in relief, relaxing his shoulders¨C. There¡­ There is a lot we haven¡¯t seen. That¡¯s for sure.

    Izzy: The real question is if you¡¯re okay.

    Nisha: ¡­

    The Republic of Manecia. This was the name of the island nation they were all currently on. In the heart of the vast Atlantic Ocean; a land of natural splendor and diversity.

    From the majestic peaks of the province of Acracia where cold forested mountains rose imposingly towards the sky, to the valleys, massive lakes and lush forests of the province of Loa, Manecia presented itself as a mosaic of climates and scenery where an amalgam of traditions and beliefs could be found no matter where one decided to go. So massive that it was difficult to categorize it as an island.

    However, despite being such an earthly paradise, its stories from the past stained its reputation. Human conflicts are found wherever humans exist, and Manecia was no exception. A history of internal conflicts characterized each province in a particular way. The now non-existent capital, Matria, was living proof of this.

    Seeing the boy''s pensive expression, Izzy got out of bed and leaned against the sliding window frame. Her eyes fixed on the same waves he saw.

    The province of La Quilla was one of the few areas that were not affected by the flames of disorder and chaos.

    It was to be expected, due to its self-proclamation as an "independent land". Its people were known for their chivalrous values ??promoting honor, resolution, diligence and courage. A society different from the others, which would not be found equal in the nation, and which at the same time distanced them from everything.

    This coastal area built its settlements on the water as if its inhabitants expressed their desire to get away, but still connected by docks and bridges for their secluded daily coexistence.

    Izzy appreciated these details as she observed the exterior carefully. Even as residents of the nation, they had gone unnoticed. It wasn''t the first time.

    Nisha: A lot of things have happened¡­

    Izzy: And not many of them in our favor.

    Nisha: It wasn''t long ago that we were studying at the Institute with our friends. All of them.

    Izzy: ¡­

    The ideas of freedom and peace are simple and complex at the same time. You''d expect that to be what anyone in the position of a resident would aim for as a priority. However, what they were looking for didn''t exactly align with those thoughts. Still, they were just idealistic young people, what could they achieve on their own? Or rather, did they have any idea what they were getting into?

    Youth is bold.

    Nisha: I know I have said it several times, but are we the right ones for this?

    Izzy: If it were someone else, how would they be different from us? ¨CShe asked calmly, before turning her gaze towards the window¡ª Their determination, resources, love for the country¡­? There is no one who has everything from the very beginning. And yet, nations have risen up.

    Nisha: But we are not a nation, we are¡­ just us. Ha¡­ We don¡¯t know how or where to start ¨Che shook his head, trying hard to find convincing arguments¡ª. We are talking about a coup d''¨¦tat. Maybe¡­ there is another alternative.

    Izzy: You know it well. If they didn¡¯t want to talk before, why would they do it now?

    There she went once again with her maieutic and blind trust in him, without considering the circumstances.

    Izzy: There are those who have talked and look how they have ended up.

    Nisha: ¡­ Mahatma Gandhi, 1948 ¨Che muttered to himself.

    Izzy: We can continue with arms crossed watching how each province falls, one after another, just as the capital did ¨Cshe then extended her arms and breathed the aroma of the salty sea wind deeply, as if embracing the sight in the distance of the coast, witness to her words¨C. In a world plunged into war, isn¡¯t this the best time?

    Her beautiful gaze had not changed.

    The images of the riots flashed through his thoughts. The riots that cost the lives of thousands long ago.

    The young man fell into a thoughtful silence, as the dilemma unfolded in the dim moonlight in the room.

    Nisha: But, even with this opportunity, what will become of ourselves?

    The insects began to echo, and together with the waves of the sea, it seemed as if no one else was there.

    There was a pause that distanced them.

    Izzy: Everything will be fine. I will take care of the restoration, you of the revival. I just want you to focus on it ¨CShe gently tilted her head and looked at him intently¨C Besides, we are looking for your mother, remember?

    She placed her hand on his shoulder gently, sliding up to his chest. The weight of her decision could be felt despite such delicacy. That was her answer, or perhaps the lack thereof.

    And he placed his hesitant hand on hers, holding the unspoken thoughts.

    Nisha: Okay ¨CHe smiled slightly and opening his own hand, retracted his thumb¨C ¡°Like the last quarter, right?¡±

    Izzy: ¡­Yeah, like the last one.

    Nisha: ¡­

    Izzy: They¡¯re waiting for us outside. They must have come back.

    She had heard voices coming from outside. It was time.

    Approaching the exit, the young woman took one last look.

    Izzy: When you feel better, come with us.

    Nisha: Yeah¡­ Sure. Just a few minutes and¨C

    Izzy: As long as you need.

    Nisha: ¡­

    Under the light of the pompous hanging lamps, the walls adorned with picturesque paintings and floors entirely made of wood, young Izzy walked through a noisy audience that was enjoying themselves with drinks and bad jokes.

    Waiting, her friends joined her until they reached a set of seats near the hotel columns. Garwin, Audrey, Doger, Sein, Earlene, Shaun¡­ were some of the names recognizable to Izzy at the meeting. Many others, faces never seen before.

    These were the people who, for one reason or another, had decided to join the cause.

    It was just a group of classmates with mad ideas, visiting an unknown town for them.

    Their Institute had organized a school trip to the mountains weeks ago. An innocent idea to escape from the routine, and it had ultimately turned out that way; it was not an ordinary trip at all, this had coincided with the school trip of the outsiders. In fact, they were the ones who found them among the ruins of the plane. Since then, the foreigners, including Yong Haeri and Gitta Vintana, joined the group of residents in order to have some guidance in this unknown nation, while the residents, for their part, had their own objectives.

    Now the group of residents seemed worried. Earlene, a young, robust blonde woman who accompanied them, murmured in an almost imperceptible voice as they crossed the hall.

    Earlene: It''s about to begin. They''re coming¡­ ¨CShe said in an unusual calm, lowering her gaze as if she were¡­ disappointed.

    Doger: Huh? Yeah, that''s why we''re here, obviously. To meet with those guys who at least bothered to listen to us, right? ¨CAdded his friend with his usual sarcasm.

    He was right. Someone had finally listened to them.

    The internal conflicts of this nation were no secret to any resident. Added to the aggravated clashes between external powers, the world had become an unsafe place no matter where a human hid.

    Perhaps for this reason they did so. Maybe they wanted to establish a safe place, a haven of peace.

    An eye of the hurricane.

    However, it was clear that they couldn''t do it alone. They needed more people to join their cause, better if they were individuals of great influence in the community.

    That''s why they were there, on that night, in a coastal hotel far from their homes, ready to meet one of the most influential men in the area.

    Without paying attention to what his friend had said, Doger turned to Izzy.

    Doger: You should have seen it Izzy... In the town they had a coliseum arena. Guys with full medieval armor and they used swords and all that! Damn... Imagine how cool it would be to wear something like that.

    Sein: I don''t think they were real... right? ¨CHis friend intervened.

    Audrey: I clarify that those guys were girls from my school. And of course, they didn''t use sharp weapons.

    Garwin: Heh, it must still hurt to get hit by one of those ¨CHe massaged his chin¨C I always heard that these competitions were popular in this province.

    Doger: It was brutal, man. Nothing compared to our boring little town.

    Earlene: ¡­

    Garwin: Hey Audrey, should we find somewhere to eat? What do you think?

    Audrey: Uhm¡­ Maybe we could¨C

    Doger: Yes please. I''m starving and thirsty. I''d dive headfirst into a beer if I found one on the floor right now.

    Garwin: Well my friend, I have this ¨CHe pulled out a package and handed it to him¨C A taco I bought on the way.

    Doger: Thanks bro¡­ Garwin, but this is just lettuce wrapped in a tortilla!

    Garwin: He he.

    A¡­ peculiar group, indeed.

    As soon as they arrived at the place, the others present fell silent and approached.

    So are they really going to do it? Some whispers were heard among the audience.

    Sitting around the humble table, tension hung in the air as Garwin made the disturbing proposal. Adjusting his sports sweater and with a stocky body, the young man gave an authoritative impression much more imposing than the little Izzy could. This time, they hoped to be as convincing as possible.

    They couldn''t make any more mistakes.

    Garwin: Any questions? ¨CHe finished his explanation.

    Shaun: ¡­

    There wasn''t much to clarify, they knew that beforehand. Perhaps hearing it once again was a test to see how committed they were to the cause. Although, that would also indicate predisposition on the part of those present, which was evident when knowing that several had participated in the riots that occurred years ago in the capital.

    People willing to dirty their hands in order to achieve their goals. People with whom no one would want to even cross glances once. They were dangerous people, more residents of prison than of freedom; fugitives who escaped from the cities to evade the law.

    Still, these individuals were necessary. Their differences made them ill-suited to common living, but adept at the task at hand.

    Those who stood before Izzy and her comrades were nothing more and nothing less than anarchists, simply put. She thought that while listening to them express their positions on the subject in a conversation that became more serious the longer it went on.

    These men, with thick beards and disheveled clothes, raised their voices in a pragmatic manner. One of them spoke on behalf of everyone.

    Unknown man: Comrades, this fight is not an unconscious act, much less a search for a tiny change. Do not be confused. Having that clear, how do you ensure that, after overthrowing the current government, we do not fall into the same stratagems that brought us to this point?

    Doger: (What a way to speak) Do you mean that you agree to follow us? ¨CThe boy accompanying Izzy raised an eyebrow and ruffled his own messy hair.

    The men looked at each other, letting out sarcastic smiles.

    Unknown Man: I see you''re in a hurry ¨CHe said, leaving his beer can on the table and pointing with his finger¨C But you''re not understanding. I''m not like the unruly college students who don''t know how to measure their actions. If we''re going to take a risk, we hope it''s worth it. Besides, you talk about this as a service, and not a collaboration. I don''t like it.

    Izzy: ¡­

    She was going around in circles about the obvious. That was starting to bother her.

    They wanted something of value and considering their image one could deduce what it was about. Apparently the characteristic code of honor of the province did not apply to everyone equally.

    Garwin: Gentlemen, then what¨C? ¨CHe mentioned before being interrupted by his friend.

    Izzy: I want you to know that we are not interested in positions of power if they are not the ones that lead us to order. Once everything is over, there will be vacancies in government positions ¨CShe intervened calmly.

    Garwin: ¡­Well, you heard her ¨CHe raised his shoulders along with a confident smile, just like the man in front of them.

    Unknown man: In that case, there is no need to prolong this further. We shall leave the details for another moment. It will be a pleasure to collaborate ¨CHe declared satisfied¨C. Although, I would just like to know what resources we have at our disposal. In addition to those present here, I will speak with my comrade Gustav. Although he is not present now, he will be the one¨C Uhm? A blackout?

    His vision had clouded over. Darkness descended upon the hotel room like an indecipherable blanket, a veil of uneasiness accompanied among those present, and drops, a sign of a storm that was approaching in the distance.

    Unknown woman: Calm down, it''s just a blackout. There have been several lately.

    Unknown man: What a nuisance. Go get the candles. Tsk, I can''t see a thing¡­

    The animated chatter abruptly died out like the fading lights, leaving everyone wrapped in murmurs questioning the situation. The moon, now the only source of light, barely shed its faint rays through the windows.

    But that wasn''t all.

    The insects had fallen silent. There was something else.

    Unexpectedly, a tumult had formed outside, visible as shadows from inside and mistakable for the rest of the inhabitants. However, they did move, in erratic ways.

    Izzy''s group was confused in the middle of the darkness before the disconcerting scene never before seen.

    Doger: What the fuck!?

    The stillness was torn by these black silhouettes that pounced on the disoriented public.

    Strange creatures? No. They were people like any other, but they had something, something that didn''t fit.

    One their eyes were too big, others their arms too long, mouths too wide...

    Always something that shouldn''t be.

    ¡°AH! HAAA!¡±

    ¡°WHAT!? GAH!¡±

    The disaster broke out with ferocity. Heartbreaking screams intertwined with the sounds of spectacular escapes and knocked over furniture.

    Those things were imperceptible. Only their eyes were visible to those who could catch them for even an instant, before staining the ground with their own entrails.

    The growl of an animal. A dark cloudiness.

    In the dimness of the night''s dreams, the senses are stunned revealing an interwoven reality.

    -[?]-

    The shadows danced like insects around the fire, and in the same erratic way, it was difficult to follow their trail in the darkness.

    Izzy Rylee had suffered the same fate as her companions. At one point, the disorder was such that the tumult of fleeing victims had scattered everyone.

    The screams were distracting.

    The young woman got up while sliding against a wall behind her, her only guide to understanding where she was.

    After crossing the room she could make out the steps that led to the second floor.

    Why had she made such a decision, in the middle of the frenetic tumult that was escaping for its life from the site?

    She continued her way towards the steps a few meters away from her position without stopping.

    Nisha: AH!

    Izzy: !

    Disoriented by the scandal of the angry public but guided by the boy''s voice. She advanced towards the steps at a fast pace. Having a good feel for the ground and the dim moonlight from the windows in her favor, she climbed quickly.

    The uncomfortable screams of the crowd were hidden in the background of the storm as she walked through the halls. Although they were drowned out by her heavy footsteps on the wood and the groans of pain coming from one room in particular, which she would now break into.

    It didn''t take long for her to force the door open and see the scene that awaited her.

    The young Nisha Quinto was crawling in an attempt to escape from the thing that was staring at him. The bed was in pieces and objects were scattered on the floor.

    Sweat beaded on Izzy''s forehead as she tried to stay focused.

    An animal? It was bipedal. Maybe a bear? No, it was small and its neck was too short to be one. Hard to conclude with merely the poor lighting coming in through the window. Besides, how could there be a bear on a tropical coast?

    This thing could be described as a short, elongated-necked humanoid, with arms so long that they dragged at its feet, and a jawless head that highlighted its large black eyes.

    It moved quickly for its build, and with slow but almost instantaneous steps, undoubtedly defying physics.

    The thing continued to head towards Nisha. On one occasion it moved aside a piece of broom that reached Izzy''s foot, who cautiously knelt down to take it without taking her eyes off the creature. However, the thing had been even faster than estimated, enough to get right in front of the young man and grab his head with both hands as if he were a ball.

    Nisha: Ugh!

    Whatever it was, it was clear that it was a threat, but something was happening that did not align with the context; it had remained motionless.

    While holding Nisha''s head, who was still struggling in vain, this thing had its gaze set forward, towards the distance visible from the windows, towards the sea.

    Evidently it was a moment that Izzy did not waste.

    Holding the piece of broom with trembling hands, she smashed the object directly into the thing''s temple. She had achieved an effect, forcing it to let go of the boy, and in a stagger, it ended up falling from the second floor balcony. The loud crash could be heard even through the incessant rain, proof of the impact.

    The young woman immediately approached to help Nisha who was still catching her breath.

    Nisha: AH! HA! Ah! T-That?! What was that!?

    Izzy: T-They are... So they are real. The Dreamers.

    Nisha: What do you mean!?

    Too shocked to respond, Izzy limited herself to checking the balcony in a hurry. She would confirm that the thing, or rather, Dreamer, would not climb back up.

    Fortunately and unfortunately for her, there was no trace of her. She could only make out passersby fleeing from one side to the other.

    Izzy: Nisha¡­ Try to stay locked up until I get back ¨CShe said seriously as she blocked the windows and closed the curtains. She didn''t take long to pick up the piece of wood before heading for the exit.

    Nisha: Huh? ¡­Wait¡ª

    Izzy: DON''T COME OUT UNTIL I COME BACK!

    Nisha: ¡­

    She had a distracted look. It wasn''t her usual calm demeanor, clearly with her mind more focused on any other idea than talking. In the end, what she had witnessed would change everything.

    Nisha: Izzy? Wait! Gsk¡­ ¨CThe pain prevented him from reaching her in time. The exit had already been blocked by her¨C Please! Open up!

    -[?]-

    Mm. I can''t think.

    Hm¡­

    I see the flashing lights coming through the cracks in the wood. The rain dulls them.

    I hear music in the distance. It''s faint and out of tune, but beautiful in a way.

    Why can''t I think?

    I feel something hitting my waist. It''s my bag. Nothing but a fully filled bottle of water.

    Ideas. That''s what I''m trying to find.

    So many ideas.

    I bumped into the entrance. I didn''t realize. When did I get to the entrance?

    No¡­ I wouldn''t be that clumsy. I''m not. Someone pushed me. I have no doubt.

    Why is my hand heavy?

    A piece of wood. It shouldn''t feel smooth and slippery.

    I see. My hands are wet. It''s strange, I haven''t left the hotel yet.

    Someone pushed me again. I''m on the floor.

    It''s hard for me to get up.

    I don''t know the reason.

    I''d better get out already. I''m expected to.

    I blink.

    I breathe.

    I blink.

    My bangs are getting in the way more than usual.

    I hear the music again. No. It''s different. It''s not melodic.

    Squeaky.

    I start to feel cold. Each step is heavier.

    Oh, eureka.

    Garwin. It''s him. With a taller body than everyone else, it''s easy to recognize him.

    He seems to know what he''s doing. I expected nothing less from him.

    What was her name? Audrey. She''s with him.

    I catch a glimpse of Doger. And him, his name¡­ Shaun. I thought they didn''t get along. But they cooperate like they''ve known each other forever.

    The situation calls for it. They make things easier. I guess.

    There are so many of them¡­ And none.

    So why keep carrying this around?

    It''s done. Time to go.

    I hope they don''t push me again.

    To be continued¡­

    ¡ª---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Disclaimer:

    This work contains material that may be considered inappropriate or sensitive for some readers. Please be advised that this narrative includes scenes of violence, explicit sexual situations, and strong and offensive language. In addition, the plot addresses social, religious, political, and cultural issues, among others, that may generate conflicting opinions or provoke emotional reactions in readers.

    Readers are asked to be aware that the inclusion of these elements is not intended to promote or glorify any negative behavior, but rather to explore various facets of the human experience and its implications.

    The content herein is purely fictional and any resemblance to real events, people, or places is merely coincidental.

    Reader discretion is recommended, as the critical reflection on the content and its implications. Interpretation and reaction to these situations are subjective and may vary depending on individual sensitivity.

    The author and editors assume no responsibility for any discomfort, offense, or upset that may arise as a result of reading this work.

    By continuing to read this work, the reader accepts these terms and conditions.

    ¡ª---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Chapter 2: Liminality

    Westside High School - United States

    Ketsy: Did I take too long?

    Haeri: I¡¯ve been waiting for hours. I¡¯m growing roots.

    Ketsy: Heh, don¡¯t exaggerate. Here you are, the old history book. He helped me find it.

    Haeri: U-Uhm¡­

    Gitta: Gitta Vintana, it¡¯s my pleasure.

    Haeri: Yong Hae¨C I mean, Haeri, just Haeri. It¡¯s¡­ a pleasure too. Uhm¡­.

    Gitta: ¡­

    Ketsy: Weeeeell¡­ They are waiting for us for a practice today.

    Gitta: Are you guys going to play? I didn¡¯t know there were music schools nearby.

    Ketsy: He he, not really. We¡¯re going to a friend¡¯s garage south of the school. But this pretty lady made us miss our transportation. We should call it a day.

    Gitta: Hm¡­ It¡¯s on the way to the gym I go to, if you guys want I can tag along¨C

    Haeri: ?Yes!

    Ketsy: ¡­

    Gitta: ¡­

    Haeri: Uh, yeah, sure. Okay, I guess¡­ Please? ¡­

    Ketsy: Sure. We would really appreciate it, Gitta Vintana.

    Gitta: Hm¡­ Yong¡­ Yong¡­ Do you happen to know a man named Eldan? My instructor.

    Haeri: Ah, do you go to his athletics gym? Sure. He¡¯s my uncle.

    ¡­

    The memory was beginning to dissipate like the wind to the fog, and I was coming back to myself.

    I slowly opened my eyes to first see the ceiling of a messy office room.

    That dream¡­ I don¡¯t quite remember it. It was when I first met her a few years ago.

    When I shook her hand, it felt damp and shaky.

    A lot of crazy things happened in high school.

    I wonder why I dreamed that now, but I think I really needed it.

    A few days have passed since the incident that night.

    Crazy¡­ All of this¡­ It¡¯s crazy.

    The day it all started I had returned to the hotel for Haeri¡¯s phone. We have no means of transportation so I had to walk, and the distance wasn''t exactly short. Still, seeing everything in order and then finding the world upside down in a matter of minutes is hard to believe.

    I''m wearing my favorite beret.

    ¡­And I''ve got the phone in my hand. I don''t know why I keep checking it. It''s still out of signal and has been that way ever since the accident. In fact, since the announcement of the external war, all communications have been destabilized.

    To be honest I''m not very motivated to get out of bed today. I barely got any sleep¡­ And if I do, it''ll be another day of arguments.

    I''m hungry and thirsty. We haven''t had proper food for some days.

    I''m worried about that, and about her.

    I know something had happened to Haeri during the incident, but when things calmed down, it''s like nothing had happened.

    When I asked her, and no matter how many times I asked her, she just kept repeating that she had gotten scared by something silly and had tripped at some point when she was looking for me.

    I''m really worried. Should I insist?

    I don''t know if I should believe those words, but looking at her face, there was not a shadow of doubt in what she was telling me.

    It seems that I am still a novice when it comes to dealing with women.

    ...As if nothing had happened.

    But how could it be...? On the way I saw Alon''s clothes, our friend, and they were covered... covered in blood. There was so much blood...

    If an animal or someone attacked them... There''s no way he could have survived considering such... blood loss...

    Alon, Eldan, Ketsy, Brawell... They''ve all left us. It''s just Haeri and I left...

    I don''t know why I''m not crying. At this point I don''t know how to feel. Like I''m more worried than sad.

    So many things have happened... Maybe I still don''t process what''s happening. It feels foggy. Is this what the doctors call "shock"?

    That night, when we both returned, the hotel was empty.

    I heard and saw people running in the distance, but it was hard to make them out in the heavy rain and darkness.

    After a while of wandering around the area, we could only find that girl¡­ Izzy Rylee.

    She didn''t say anything to us. Her gaze¡­ Serene and lost.

    She just looked me in the eyes and gestured for us to follow her.

    After that, it was a long way to a group of buildings between tall palm trees, perhaps government buildings.

    She didn''t give me any explanations, nor could I thank her. She just left us there and left the place as quickly as she could. It was when she returned with her group that they told us what was happening, or at least what they thought was happening.

    Dreamers¡­ It seems more like a science fiction movie.

    Since then, the situation hasn''t changed much. We''re still in the same building, and the same discussions continue. I''m still lying on the same couch and I see the same ceiling¡­

    Haeri: It''s 7 pm, Gitta. Are you really okay?

    And I see the same Haeri.

    She had brought a pair of headphones, handing me one of them and sitting next to me to listen to music. I guess this phone still has some use left.

    Gitta: Ah, right. I''m fine. I''ll get ready in a moment.

    Haeri: There''s no rush. Let''s just stay like this for a while¡­

    Ah. Hugging her tightly is inevitable. I''m smiling. I love her, after all.

    Haeri: You''re finally smiling! Jeez. Heh.

    Maybe seeing the same thing isn''t bad. No. In fact, I would have liked to keep seeing the same thing.

    We should continue towards the East, right? ¡­It''s the key, the last advice Mr. Eldan told me to do. It''s the only thing I know, and the only thing we have left.

    Still, what is this restlessness¡­?

    -[?]-

    20:00 hours

    An old building of approximately 400 square meters. They now called it ¡°the mansion¡±, because probably calling it a ¡°shelter¡± would have been a bad omen at this point.

    It had been the most remote and safe place they could find.

    Made up of a multitude of rooms filled with tables, seats and old computers.

    Taking into account the calculators, papers, pens and files scattered on the floor, it would be concluded that it was some government financial accounting office, not very sophisticated for the time. A sepia background was all that was missing.

    Absolute silence. No raindrops, no stridulation or buzzing of insects, much less the voices of people. What happened during the incident, monopolized everything that was outside, without exceptions.

    When they arrived, the only two exits were wide open, one in front, one behind the building. They assumed that the offices had been immediately evacuated during the incident. However, they were now blocked by some table or heavy object.

    Walking down the hall, Haeri would shine a candle wherever Gitta looked, who paid special attention to those details, making sure that the blockage of the main exit remained there, firm.

    The now residents questioned the strict security, but none of them opposed the idea.

    There was not much to say about what happened on the first day. One by one, they entered the building and looked for where to hide that night. Nothing more and nothing less. Between the chaos and confusion, there was little else to do but hide.

    However, the next morning, when calm had finally arrived, the discussions began.

    It was to be expected. They were trying to understand what had happened.

    Gitta wrinkled his face just remembering it. Placing his hand on the door handle, he took a long sigh before opening it and letting his companion in.

    They were in the mansion''s dining room; 100m2 room, a pool table separated from the dining room, some refrigerators, lockers, armchairs and chairs bordering the bar, under lamps that never worked. The young Haeri confirmed it by repeatedly pressing the switch on one of the columns.

    Haeri: We really are still without electricity. These candles are not going to last forever. Also, the little refrigerated food they left will run out quickly between so many people.

    Gitta: What is left will spoil in a few days. But it was necessary.

    Haeri: I should have taken more when I had the chance¡­

    Gitta: Don''t worry about it.

    To the surprise of both, there was silence in the place. It seemed that the rowdy ones were not present.

    Haeri: Hm, it is calmer than yesterday.

    Nisha: Some of us went out to check on the situation... To be honest, I am starting to get worried.

    Sitting at one of the tables between the candles, the boy massaged his brown hair while answering, clearly distressed.

    Nisha: Are you all okay? Sorry for not asking.

    Gitta: We are. Your leg¡­

    Nisha: It turned purple and swollen a bit, but I think it¡¯ll be better in a day or two. Well, that¡¯s what happened to me before. I hope it happens the same way, heh¡­

    Gitta: ¡­

    They weren¡¯t alone. The arrival of different individuals had quickly filled the mansion at the incident, now all waiting in the dining room. In fact, one more person sat at the same table. For some reason, she was the only person they found upon arriving at the mansion.

    ¡®Maybe she was waiting for dinner too,¡¯ Gitta thought.

    Gitta: I guess it¡¯ll be better to stay a few more days. At least until we get a better understanding of the situation out there.

    Haeri: Then we should find something to eat, right?

    Unknown woman: I don¡¯t really have much of an appetite right now. Thank you.

    This person was Nerina Luna, a single woman in her 30s, though younger in appearance. With long, dark brown hair, though messy like her formal office dress. She was the only person Gitta and Haeri found when they arrived, though she spent most of her time in the bathroom refusing to come out.

    Gitta: Are you feeling better?

    Nerina: Throwing up has helped, I guess.

    Haeri: ¡­

    Gitta: It''s definitely a stressful situation. It would happen to any of us.

    Nerina: Because of this? No. You''re wrong. A natural disaster? Tsunami? I don''t remember hearing any emergency broadcasts or sirens. I honestly don''t know what''s going on, but it gave me an excuse not to work. That''s enough for me. I just want to get some rest.

    She rubbed her dark eyes a few times, trying hard to keep the conversation going. The drowsiness gave her soft voice a more seductive tone.

    Nisha: Uhm¡­ You can use the chairs on the second floor.

    Nerina: Ha¡­ ¡ªthe gloomy woman yawned slowly and adjusted her glasses. Her body swayed until it was leaning against Nisha''s shoulder¡ª. Sorry. Even though I try, I can''t get to sleep. I don''t know what''s wrong with me¡­

    Clearly Nisha had been startled by the unexpected contact but decided not to move from her spot.

    The awkward moment had been interrupted by the arrival of the group of explorers. They silently entered the dining room one by one, Gitta and Haeri greeted them.

    Doger, Garwin, Shaun, Sein, Audrey and Izzy were recognizable. Others behind them, not at all.

    Garwin: Fortunately we found these people in the nearby settlements. They will join us for the moment.

    Sein''s face gesture indicated his disagreement with the proposal but he chose to stay out of the way.

    Audrey: We could have looked for more¡­

    Garwin: We will but today it has gotten dark, it would have been dangerous for everyone especially for the children.

    Doger: Hey, man. Are you sure about that?

    Shaun: ...

    Izzy: And it definitely hasn''t been easy to bring them to us ¡ªthe young woman intervened, turning her eyes towards the new members.

    Unknown young man: We really appreciate it. We had no idea where to go. I-I mean, a zombie apocalypse, how would we know? ¡ªHe smiled and shrugged his shoulders nervously.

    Sein: ¡°Dreamers¡± ¡ªhe corrected him.

    Unknown young man: Sure¡­

    Garwin: If we''re going to be here for a while, it wouldn''t be bad to introduce ourselves, don''t you think? What''s your name, buddy?

    Dante: Oh sure. I''m Dante, Dante Fonseca. And these are my neighbors. Winslow and her names are¡­ Uhm¡­ Uh¡­

    Ema: Ema Bellamy. And these are my two daughters, Lyra and Amelie. Nice to meet you. Come on, girls, say hello.

    Lyra/Amelie: H-Hello.

    Xiomara: Aww¡­ What cute little ones, are you all family?

    The young Xiomara had noticed the arrival of the group, and immediately approached from the dining room, enchanted by the appearance of the girls.

    Same height, around 6 years old. They weren''t twins but they were dressed the same way; colorful skirts and childish pigtails that made them look like porcelain dolls.

    Doger: Doesn''t it smell a little weird around here? ¡ªHe murmured.

    Dante: Uh, no, we''re not related. My family must be at my uncles'' house, by the way.

    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

    Winslow: I live alone, miss. But I appreciate the confusion ¡ªthe man replied nonchalantly, searching for a cigarette in the pockets of his leather jacket.

    Doger: Seriously, I can''t be the only one who smells that. And no ''The one who smelled it, is the one who dealt¡ª

    Xiomara: Doger ¡ªshe quickly reprimanded him.

    One of the girls looked away in embarrassment.

    Ema: Excuse me, they got really scared on the way. Do you happen to have a bathroom?

    Shaun: I don''t blame you ¡ªsaid the young man who had remained silent until now. He unloaded the bags he was carrying on his back and smoothed his own hair, sighing¡ª. At the end of the second hallway, on the left, you¡¯ll see one.

    Ema: Uhm, where¡­?

    Shaun: Come on. I¡¯ll take you there.

    Ema: Thanks.

    Winslow: I need to go too, so if you¡¯ll excuse me¡­ Good night.

    Watching the small group leave, Doger turned to the others.

    Doger: Heh, well, it wasn¡¯t me. I was already getting worried.

    Xiomara: ¡­

    Doger: Okay, sorry. I¡¯m hungry and sleepy, ¡®Mara. I¡¯m far from being at my 100%.

    Xiomara: Garwin, Izzy, were you able to find¡­?

    Garwin: Hey kid, why don¡¯t you go find some space in the dining room too? If you don¡¯t want to miss dinner, that is.

    Dante: Who, me? Sure. Thanks.

    Garwin: Sure.

    The line of people was beginning to form in front of the bar, each waiting their turn to be given their share. However, Garwin did not send him there for that reason. Xiomara was still waiting for his answer.

    Garwin: Excuse me. I didn''t want the children to hear us.

    With a gesture of his chin he indicated to the group to follow him back to the aisles.

    -[?]-

    They entered one of the few rooms with lit candles, and unloaded the bags they were carrying on their backs. It seemed that the room was used as a temporary storage room.

    Two people were busy organizing everything; their names were Jevo and Earlene.

    Exhausted, everyone sat down on the first wooden chairs they found.

    Fiddling with her dark hair, Audrey leaned against the wall and, crossing her arms, looked at the boy with some annoyance and concern.

    Garwin: I get it, we could have brought more.

    Xiomara: Honestly... What''s going on out there?

    A difficult question and an even worse answer. Impossible for anyone to describe what''s happening.

    Everyone remained silent until Earlene, the blonde girl in the corner, left the bags she was organizing and approached the group. The other boy, Jevo, followed her.

    After the plane crash, the foreigners Haeri and Gitta came across all these people. Then they decided that the best idea was to split into two groups; Jevo and Earlene were part of the group that preferred to return to the city, so little was known about what they experienced on their journey.

    Especially the young Jevo; his face now covered in bandages was the most striking.

    Earlene: It''s them. I told you so.

    Doger: Uh, Earlene, uhm¡­

    Earlene: It''s okay, Doger. Afterwards we''ll talk just the two of us.

    Doger: ¡­

    Garwin: Undeads? It must be a bad joke.

    Doger: What else could they be, man? I doubt a crowd of civilized citizens would have agreed to¡­ eat each other. Damn¡­ That day was crazy. If we hadn''t met by chance outside the hotel, who knows what would have happened¡­

    Garwin: Believe me, it was nothing more than mass hysteria. Remember that they announced that the conflicts abroad had worsened to become a formalized global war. Therefore, it was as we have seen before, riots and looting.

    Doger: Dude, are you listening? They were eating each other. I got a good look at them. Ask Shaun if you don''t believe me. He was there when s-some guy¡­ on a woman, his mouth red, stained all over. And I can tell you that something like that IS NOT NORMAL. I didn''t believe it at the time but with everything that happened anyone would see that it''s more than stupidly obvious.

    Jevo: Undeads¡­ Not exactly ¡ªthe bandaged young man approached.

    Izzy: ¡­

    Jevo: It seems that¡­ you have not been properly explained what is happening. I have to assume that you saw few or none of them outside, or am I wrong?

    Garwin: We thought we saw crowds in the distance. But we had our hands full to confirm if they were¡­ Dreamers, or whatever you call them.

    Doger: They were still as statues. I''ll be struck by lightning if they weren''t.

    Jevo: I see. I''ll explain. My¡­ Our group, splitting up in the mountains and arriving in the city, found areas of conflict. Robberies, accidents, you name them. It was then that¡ª

    Earlene: I don¡¯t think they need to know everything we went through, Jevo. Oh, and look what I found.

    From one of the bags she had extracted a doll on a keychain. Hooded, pale and with big black eyes, she looked like a macabre little black riding hood, strange for its presumed target audience. ¡®As a child I would have liked to have one,¡¯ thought the curious Haeri.

    Haeri: Uhm¡­ Can I see it?

    Earlene: Here. It¡¯s a Yevo. They were popular years ago, and the black ones like this were the rarest.

    Garwin: Do they still bother you with that, Jevo?

    Doger: He he, I remember the commercial for children on TV. Pure nostalgia.

    Jevo: ¡­

    Xiomara: Please let Jevo finish his story. This is serious.

    Earlene: Let''s see, where was it? Oh, ¡ªshe said with an unusual look of disinterest¡ª they were all asleep.

    Doger: What?

    Earlene: That''s it. They were asleep. A lot of people were scattered in the middle of the street, in the middle of the day. And they were just sleeping.

    Garwin: Well, that''s weird.

    Earlene: Suddenly they weren''t there anymore.

    Doger: And now it gets weirder.

    Earlene: We wanted to go back to the institute. There were some sick people in blankets and Dr. Jazm¨ªn was taking care of them.

    Haeri: ¡­

    Jevo: We didn''t hear from her again. The sick people attacked all those people. We could only run away. But now I see that you''re the one who explains things they don''t need to know, Earlene.

    Earlene: Uhm and after that... We found a shelter where we met Cadie Saggiatore. That shelter didn''t last long being safe.

    Izzy: ¡­

    Earlene: But you''re right. There was too much going on to tell it all in one night.

    Jevo: In simple terms, it seems that these people fall into a kind of temporary coma due to some illness. And when they are awake they are several times faster and stronger than any ordinary person, although you could say that they are not anymore.

    Izzy: Unconscious people stalk other people, then¡­ What makes them too different from the undead you would read about in fiction books?

    Jevo: Their behavior is incredibly erratic, unpredictable. They can see and hear without any problems. One moment they can be harmless, the next they''ll jump on you in the blink of an eye, and they''re not necessarily doing it to feed. They can become extremely aggressive and frenzied for no apparent reason, worsening at night.

    Haeri was getting more and more used to the native language. She understood them better, but not what they were saying now.

    Haeri: Wait, wait, wait, that... All of that, is it contagious or something?

    Jevo: ...I think it''s pretty clear that it is, considering their numbers.

    Gitta: What we want is for you to tell us how it''s contagious ¡ªhe interjected.

    Jevo: We''re not entirely sure. It could be air, it could be fluids, it could be physical contact... It''s even difficult to distinguish them from ordinary people.

    Doger: Great. That''s great... Zombies that you don''t know are zombies... Just the thing we needed... Because a damn world war wasn''t enough... Now we have to deal with this shit.

    Sein: M-Maybe it has something to do with it, right? A biological weapon, demons, or aliens, right?

    Audrey: Wouldn''t the fact that they exist confirm the existence of other fantasy beings? Technically.

    Doger: Technically, yes. Personally, I hope not.

    Garwin: Tsk. Anything else you remember, Jevo? You''re leaving us in a bad light here.

    Jevo: That''s the most my memory can remember. Something... Something that shouldn''t be. We should pay attention to that. Characteristics, actions, behaviors... Eyes... Ugh¡­

    If she didn''t see the bandages and the serious look that peeked through them, Haeri wouldn''t believe anything she heard...

    Dreamers. The animals weren''t the only ones that needed to be caged anymore.

    Could it be that the Dreamers were the ones who attacked our friends...? Was the question that crossed her mind.

    The situation didn''t look good at all.

    Xiomara: Don''t push him too hard. He''s still hurt. You can¡­ go rest, Jevo. We appreciate it.

    Jevo: There¡¯s no pressure at all. The pain on my face has disappeared but I¡¯m having a hard time remembering more. Either way, I wanted to tell you about my experience before I leave.

    Izzy: Where are you supposed to go? Considering the situation.

    Jevo: I have to take that woman, Cadie, to the north. Her family is waiting for her.

    Izzy: ¡­ Do you think you¡¯re in any condition to travel on your own? The police had their hands full when we arrived in this province days ago, even before because of the riots. You¡¯d be alone.

    Garwin: Guys, Izzy¡¯s right. The best option is to think about it before taking another step. We have women and children. We won¡¯t expose them to danger just like that. It¡¯s not just us now.

    Audrey: But! But we must continue searching!

    Doger: Ah¡­ To be honest, I kind of lost the desire to go out. Thank you¡­

    Sein: Y-Yeah, I mean, would we really go out again? When we did, we could see those things from afar, but if what Jevo says is true, they could be on their way to this mansion for all we know.

    Izzy: ¡­ What do you think, Nisha?

    Nisha: Ah, sorry. I didn¡¯t want to interrupt you.

    With a slight limp, the boy entered the room, Xiomara giving him a hand right away. Izzy pulled a chair next to her.

    Nisha: Thank you. About what you talked about¡­ About the Jevo and Earlene¡¯s story¡­ I think it¡¯s impossible to question it, right? Well, you can see what one of them did to me, and it was just an instant when he caught me by the leg. So¡­ I think we could wait a little longer and find some other way to signal for help. I¡­ I know that help is out there.

    Haeri: (And he didn¡¯t get infected because of that or something?) ¡ªshe thought, discreetly moving away from the boy.

    Sein: I completely agree. The border police also told us¡­ I remember now! We were told there were a lot of sick people all over the province!

    Doger: Man, I don''t think that helps your point. If Dreamers pile up it will be even worse to wait in the mansion.

    Audrey: We painted the roof. No response. We set fire to papers, which actually seemed very important. No response. Call me pessimistic but it''s clear that help isn''t coming, not anytime soon at least. And time is the least of our concerns. Because of food, if you know what I mean. At the end of the day we''re in an abandoned office complex, not an abandoned restaurant.

    Garwin: Hm¡­ If anyone''s going to go out again, it''s going to be us. And if no one wants to do it, I''ll do it. Gathering food and supplies will be difficult, but this is non-negotiable. I want to be clear.

    That line was directed at Izzy.

    Izzy: Garwin, no one said you had to go alone.

    Garwin: ¡­

    Izzy: We''ll do both ¡ªraising her index finger, the young woman proclaimed calmly¡ª We''ll wait 1 day. Taking into account our numbers, our supplies will run out in 2. Without water, we won''t last more than 3.

    Doger: I doubt I''ll even be able to walk by then ¡ªhe said, sighing heavily¡ª Huff¡­ Ok ok, you''ve convinced me¡­ Can we go to sleep now? Or maybe eat? I''m exhausted.

    Garwin: Fair enough. We''ll get a group together and head out if we don''t see any alerts or sirens out there tomorrow. What do you think? Do you agree? We''ll think about this whole thing more calmly later.

    Sein: ¡­Okay.

    Jevo: Not really. I need to get Cadie to her family as soon as possible. I shall not wait.

    Nisha: Wait. Guys¡­ How about I make a proposal? Jevo, Earlene, did you happen to find any coastal route maps?

    Jevo: I have one with me, the one I would use for my travel actually ¡ªhe extends his hand, sharing some papers wrapped in plastic.

    Nisha: Let me see it¡­ Yes¡­ I think this is a map of the adjacent towns. Thank you very much, Gitta. It¡¯s thanks to you that I have this idea.

    Gitta: ¡­? What do you mean?

    Nisha: My mother¡­ ¡ªthe scheming young man pulled his chair to the center of the room, placed the scattered pages on the floor and began pointing at each figure, tracing a line with his finger.

    Izzy: Have you gotten any information on her?

    Nisha: Yes. She helped the foreigners, Gitta and Haeri, our friends, us. After seeing the places she has been, I know exactly what she is trying to do. This line ¡ªhe traced with her index finger on two connected sheets, a snaking line between one square and another¡ª connects areas designated as safe. If we pay attention we can assume the common denominator.

    Xiomara: Those are¡­ the government shelters.

    Izzy: Pre-established zones for national emergency situations. A measure taken by the government after the riots of the 26s. Nisha, do you mean that she intends to visit each shelter? It makes sense that she would do so in the middle of a global conflict.

    Nisha: I think so. And if she follows the same subsequent order that she has followed so far, we can predict that she is heading towards the next shelter, which is north of our position. In La Quilla North.

    Jevo: What are you getting at? I know that you are looking for your mother, but that has nothing to do with me.

    Nisha: What I mean is¡­ We don¡¯t need to continue aimlessly. Not anymore. All of us can follow the same route, move together, stay together. The shelters are provided with supplies and security from the government. If we travel from one shelter to another we will never lack for anything.

    Jevo: ¡­

    Nisha: We will share destinations so¡­ Jevo, Earlene, please come with us.

    Xiomara: I will take care of Cadie during the wait. In fact, I have checked on her. She seems to be doing better.

    Earlene: (I actually had no complaints).

    Jevo: Hm¡­ I will accept it. You have definitely thought it through again, Nisha. Although I want you to remember that I will not follow you all the way to the end of your¡­ objectives. However, if it is for one part of it I will agree; it increases my chances of successfully bringing her.

    Garwin: Amen, my brothers! So be it. We have a win-win deal.

    Doger: Finally!

    Audrey: And we didn''t have to get to shouting.

    Garwin: It''s a progress.

    He said that as calmly as he could, but the uncertainty in his voice was clear. His companions didn''t hide it like he did.

    ¡­

    Thoughtful, tired, confused, scared... It was a mix of negative emotions, after what they had said and heard.

    Garwin: Now, if you do me a favor,  ¡ªgetting up from his chair with a bag in hand that he handed to Gitta, another to Doger, and shook his own shirt before lifting another bag on his back¡ª we will distribute the provisions, eat and sleep. That''s all for today. It''s been a long day. Let''s try to rest.

    The group stood up hesitantly from their respective chairs and some nodded slightly. It was going to be a long night of thinking.

    21:20 hours

    Doing the task that had been delegated to him, Gitta distributed the provisions that the group had found on their journey. He was the last one to do so.

    What happened to the others?

    Garwin went to his own room, did some push-ups, and slept on a makeshift bed made of waiting chairs. Maybe exercising helped him clear his mind.

    Xiomara needed to talk to Izzy. They haven''t left the room they used, but it seemed like the conversation had turned into an argument.

    Doger fell asleep immediately after falling into his chair. Impossible to know how he managed it.

    Earlene and Jevo were still in the dining room. They didn''t look tired at all, exchanging murmurs from time to time.

    Audrey was nowhere to be found. Despite the agreement, she didn''t look very happy.

    Nisha, hiding his limp, was showing the new visitors around.

    And Haeri, shoulder to shoulder with Gitta, was helping by carrying a group of sheets.

    Haeri: Ah¡­ ¡ªshe yawned deeply¡ª Let''s finish before I start digesting. When that happens I won''t sleep, I''ll pass out.

    Gitta: Thank you for helping.

    Haeri: I just want us to finish quickly and go back to the room together... Dreamers, Dreamers, Dreamers... I''m sure the culprits were nothing more than wild animals.

    Gitta: ...We''ll be done soon.

    He avoided going into the subject.

    One by one, the families were given their supplies.

    Only one group was missing, the most boisterous that night.

    Unknown young woman: I want to go home now! Pa! How much longer are we going to wait?

    Unknown man: When the rescuers give the signal. It''s emergency protocol on the coast. Tsk, but they''re taking too long, and I doubt they''ll compensate us in any way. But when it comes to collecting taxes, they''re always ahead of the curve, huh?

    This was not an unknown man, but the owner of the hotel they stayed at and recently escaped from. Robert Anderson.

    Back then he was not present during the incident; he had visited a restaurant with his daughter. His wife was standing off to the side, keeping quiet.

    If they hadn''t been found by Izzy''s group by mere luck, they would probably have returned to the hotel, which was not the best of ideas.

    Unknown young woman: Can''t I go pick up my cell phone? How boring!

    And the loudest young woman was Gwen Anderson, his daughter, although her dyed white hair and excessive makeup hid any resemblance to her own family.

    Gitta: Uhm¡­ Excuse me. Do you need more sheets?

    Robert: No. But they will be welcome.

    Gwen: Mm¡­ Thank you.

    Robert: Oh, you were at the party at the hotel that night. You were the one who brought that huge case of alcohol. It was crazy.

    Gitta: Uhm¡­ Yes, sir.

    Robert: Thanks to you we are cleaned, kid. Zombies, Dreamers, clowns or whatever is out there, it is not something we will become in the near future.

    He didn''t know if he was serious or joking. There was always a hint of sarcasm in his words but it was as if he was overly in control of what he said. Or he probably didn''t care what he said. It was hard to tell, especially from his expressions after hearing the story.

    Shortly after the meeting at the warehouse, the subject had been mentioned to the rest of the people in the mansion. As expected, skepticism was present, although those who lived through what happened firsthand had their doubts.

    Gitta simply nodded his head as he listened to such delusions, and turned to leave. Gwen, without the slightest dissimulation, took one last look at Gitta¡¯s ¡®rear¡¯, which Haeri clearly noticed and responded by blocking the line of sight with her own body.

    Haeri: ¡­

    She herself hadn¡¯t noticed but she was already hugging the boy¡¯s arm.

    Gitta: So¡­ Do you want to eat chocolates?

    Haeri: Do you have any!? I mean¡­ Do you have any? ¡ªShe murmured.

    Gitta: I saved a few of the provisions. Let¡¯s consider it our small reward for tonight.

    Haeri: I¡¯m raising you well, he he.

    Gitta: Heh, don¡¯t say that. It¡¯ll only be one or we¡¯ll have nightmares. Just one.

    Time continued its course and morning had arrived.

    Inside the mansion, the dusty shutters let in faint halos of light, enough to illuminate the tired refugees. The atmosphere was extremist; on one side were families who were completely unaware of the dangers outside and treated the situation like any other emergency, and on the other side were families afraid to go out, doubtful of what they saw on the night of the incident. Despite this, uncertainty united them in a consensus; there is a danger outside, a real danger.

    Some looked through the wooden cracks at the office exits, trying to catch some movement. Fortunately, and unfortunately, there was nothing. They were safe but at the same time it meant that there was no help on the way.

    The afternoon had arrived. Xiomara''s light blond hair could be seen waving from one corner to another, helping mothers serve lunch. Meanwhile, Nisha and Jevo took turns taking care of Cadie Saggiatore.

    Dante, accompanied by other young people, explored the rooms to pass the time, looking for something to eat or at least something interesting to look at.

    Some adults talked to Garwin about the situation. They were getting impatient.

    It was too quiet.

    From the outside it was not even possible to hear the simple singing of the birds. It was an absolute, unnatural silence. As if all living species had disappeared.

    It is said that when insects and animals detect danger they hide to the point that they are imperceptible.

    As dusk approached, Doger, accompanied by Sein, watched from the windows of the second floor. Hitting his binoculars against the wood, Doger was annoyed by what he saw. Or rather, by what he did not see.

    The hot and humid air currents traveled from the coast until they formed a point of dew and fog. At first it was not significant, however, as the hours passed it became increasingly thicker until they confused posts with people.

    The problem became one more reason to go out, and they did not like that at all.

    Without police sirens, without vehicles, without alarms, the sandy roads were desolate. Unlike the chaos that would be expected from a riot, the environment around them reflected just the opposite.

    Finally it got dark.

    The group gathered again. There was no discussion this time. Each and every one immediately nodded.

    It was suggested to sleep early that night although the statement felt more like an order.

    They were supposed to leave the next day. And that day definitely came.

    This time the halos of light did not cross the windows of the offices. The mansion was secured as much as possible; nothing would enter, and only one group would leave.

    Garwin, Izzy, Audrey, Shaun, Doger and Gitta. Despite Haeri''s complaints, the outsider had decided to help, or perhaps his sense of responsibility prompted him, or maybe it was peer pressure again. He was among the most willing and able, so Izzy chose him. Everyone else would wait in the mansion.

    If they did not find help or enough supplies, they would leave for the next shelter. And if they did not want to do it in the middle of the night and under the thick fog that increased, they had to hurry.

    Gitta looked at the shovel in his hand, handed to him by Garwin.

    Pieces of wood, pliers, hammers... They were given anything they could use to defend themselves if they needed it, as well as handkerchiefs tied around their mouths. They looked more like raiders than just explorers.

    Audrey: Heh, I wish I had my bow now ¡ªshe said, taking the rustic hammer from Shaun''s hand.

    Shaun: (I couldn''t care less) ¡ªHe thought¡ª This is not a good time to be picky. Let''s get this over with.

    Garwin: If everyone has already gone to the bathroom, it''s time to move.

    Doger: And if you haven''t gone, you won''t want to go in there ever again.

    Garwin: You know this, guys. Keep your eyes peeled and don''t separate.

    Audrey: Like Boy Scouts. I''ll be your guide again.

    Haeri: ¡­

    Behind Gitta''s back, Haeri waited at the entrance of the mansion. Arms crossed, frowning.

    Gitta: ¡­There are too many badly injured and sick. For everyone''s sake it''s best that I go.

    Haeri: ¡­

    She moved closer to his back and whispered.

    Haeri: Fine fine but you already know this. If anything happens, come back immediately. No matter what ¡ªshe emphasized.

    Gitta: I will.

    Haeri: This time¡­ Don¡¯t take too long this time. Tsk¡­

    With one last glance at Haeri at the entrance of the mansion, Gitta nodded and turned to follow the group, unaware that the world beyond would not be something he had ever seen.

    To be continued¡­

 Chapter 3: Liminality. Part 2

    The Mansion ¨C La Quilla South

    Coffee time was almost here, and its bittersweet smell was beginning to linger in the kitchen.

    Despite the calm and natural interactions of the strangers around her, Haeri couldn''t shake the uncertainty she felt. Hungry and worried, she leaned her legs against the thick wooden windows.

    There she was again, waiting for him, and that was beginning to be more than frustrating.

    Haeri: ¡­

    An hour had passed since the group where Gitta Vintana was in had left for the outside, outside the safety of the mansion. The fog made it difficult to see beyond a few miles. They had lost sight of each other.

    Not much had been said about it. Of course, those who left had no relation to those who stayed, except for her own friends and herself. What happened to them or not, it seemed that it would hardly matter to anyone else; each one was minding their own business, something common in the province of La Quilla.

    Among them, some men were showing a lot of movement. They were those ¡°anarchists¡± who had arrived at the mansion somehow, although not all of them were visible.

    Now they could be seen arguing quietly outside the windows. Their grimaces showed their discomfort, but nothing could be heard about their topic of conversation from the window through which she watched them.

    It was early morning. The position of the building between the settlements and the order to close all curtains gave the place a hint of artificial darkness.

    Inside, people were lurking in the shadows of the columns of the small office rooms.

    Nisha and Xiomara continued to help calm the mothers; the boy''s leg had completely recovered. On the other hand, Winslow, with his long blond hair, distressed sweatshirt and acoustic guitar in hand, identified himself as a musician as he played soft jazz club tunes to interested children and young people. The small twin dolls were among his audience.

    Sein, the member of the group who had decided to stay under the word of feeling ill, was now playing in a corner with an old-fashioned digital radio, his face illuminated by the screen.

    Haeri saw him lounging around and went back to occupying her own time playing with the noisy key chain she carried, rolling it between her fingers and lifting it over her head.

    The figure looked like a small, pale boy with a black hood, of whom ¡°no one knows what he has under his hood¡±, or so the old TV ad that promoted them described him. A ¡°Yevo.¡±

    Its appearance matched hers, who wore a black hoodie with light blue stripes, her favorite one.

    And perhaps she also shared the doll¡¯s fluffiness. She hadn''t been physically active for quite some time and ate sweets whenever she had the chance. Her hoodie wouldn''t hide her fat rolls forever.

    Haeri: ¡­ (That wasn''t necessary.) Hm¡­ I remember Ketsy had one of these in her room¡­

    Once again she picked up the doll, this time bringing it close to her mouth, though the sound of footsteps ahead stopped her.

    Xiomara: Oh! Do you have a piercing?

    Fluffing her long beige cardigan, the young blonde changed direction towards her. Nisha had turned to Sein to ask for help. They had discovered him too.

    Haeri: ¡­Ah.

    The curious visitor had noticed the shine of the silver piercing on her tongue. Moving the bangs that covered half of her face under her wool cap, she got closer to the face, to which Haeri responded by closing her mouth right away.

    Xiomara: I-I was just wondering how it felt. The surgery and all. I always wanted one but¡­

    Haeri: ¡­

    Xiomara: ¡­Uhm.

    Haeri: It hurt.

    Xiomara: Really?

    Haeri: Yeah. There¡¯s no anesthesia. It¡¯s like having your eye pierced and the needle moved back and forth for an hour. The pain was so unbearable that they had to strap me to the stretcher or I¡¯d jump out the window. A-And the recovery¡­ They need to sedate you so you can sleep every night for the next few weeks¡­

    Xiomara: Seriously¡­?

    Haeri: No ¡ªshe shrugged her shoulders to end her joke.

    Xiomara: ¡­

    Haeri: Well, it hurts at the time of the piercing and the recovery is a bit annoying, but the real problem is the maintenance, and it¡¯s not like it¡¯s easy to maintain it now. Ha¡­ My boyfriend asked me to take it out or my tongue would rot ¡ªshe sighed.

    Xiomara: I see. Right, you mean him. You guys¡­ you came from abroad. Were you able to find your travel companions? I¡¯m sorry we couldn¡¯t help you much. A lot has happened¡­ ¡ªshe looked away slightly¡ª We know you want to go back. I guess your parents are waiting for you at home.

    Haeri: Is that so? ¡ªShe tilted her head, thoughtful¡ª My dad is in the air force. My mother works all the time. I''ve never had much supervision, so to speak. Maybe except for my uncle, but he died a few days ago.

    Xiomara: Huh¡­?

    Her tone, her words. It seemed strange to her. She had said those phrases too naturally and it looked as if she herself had not noticed such a fact.

    It would be a lie to say that Xiomara did not feel a slight chill running down her spine.

    Out of intuition or premonition, she got up from the chair, picking up the provisions she was carrying.

    Xiomara: Uh¡­ I think I will¡­

    Haeri: Do you need help to distribute that? I wanna get distracted a little.

    Xiomara: Well¡­

    Jevo: It would help us.

    The bandaged young man walked behind them making noise with the dishes he was carrying. He was on his way to take care of the ¡°lady in white¡±.

    Jevo: ...You shouldn''t play with that doll ¡ªhe murmured, after quickly observing the waving keychain in the girl''s hands.

    Haeri: ¡­?

    The three of them walked through the living room and the cafeteria.

    Mattresses scattered on the floor and the rustling of bags could be heard among the people who made the effort to find comfort. The crowd gathered in small circles of relatives, friends or acquaintances, surrounding candles and talking in whispers, as if they were afraid that something else would hear them.

    Outside, the situation was uncertain, and inside, one could say that there was an attempt at order. However, even with doors locked and windows closed, uncertainty and paranoia permeated the air of the mansion.

    Most were unaware of the emergency situation, while those who experienced such an emergency first hand continued to show signs of confusion and preferred to remain silent.

    A child clung to his mother''s arm, he had seen it, what had really happened the night of the incident. Now, he only held on to her arm, trembling, with a gaze that did not leave the main exit.

    An older woman was reciting the same words, her lips moving restlessly, constantly clasping her hands together and looking at the sky. The people around her avoided her and looked at her from a distance with a combination of pity and concern.

    Without communications or electricity, no one was really able to confirm what was happening outside. They weren''t sure about going out, or sure about staying. They were limited to waiting for an event that would tip them to one end of said scale.

    A faint sound from outside. It was the wind tapping at the window as if trying to wake the young woman beside her; Cadie Saggiatore.

    Haeri, Xiomara, and Jevo had come to accompany her.

    Resting on a makeshift stretcher, the woman''s light dress matched the white bandages, and like them, stained by dirt and dust.

    Jevo then leaned down to change the cold compresses on the forehead of the lady in white.

    Haeri: ...Why is she so important? ¡ªShe arched an eyebrow as she whispered the words to Xiomara beside her¡ª I mean, is he a family member, a partner, or something? He seems obsessed.

    Xiomara: Uh¡­ I don¡¯t know what relationship she has with him but¡­

    Haeri: Do you know her?

    Xiomara: She¡¯s my best friend. Along with Miruno¡­ I¡¯ve known them since we were kids. And she¡¯s also the younger sister of one of our politicians, Clay Saggiatore. The Saggiatore family has been part of the government for a few years now.

    Haeri: (Who is Miruno?) Hm¡­ So she IS important.

    Xiomara: You could say so¡­

    Jevo: It seems that not even a senator has done much to safeguard the integrity of his own sister.

    Haeri: (Heh, did he hear us?)

    Shaking his robes and gathering the sheets, the boy stood up, addressing the pair behind him.

    Jevo: I¡¯ll go rest. Xiomara, please take care of her.

    Xiomara: Sure¡­ Ah, wait Jevo. I hadn''t asked you¡­ Do you know anything about Miruno or Rousset?

    Jevo: Rousset. Hm¡­ ¡ªhe brought his hand to his chin¡ª We parted ways when we arrived in this province. I haven''t seen her again since then. And regarding Miruno, I don''t know where he is after our school trip in the mountains. He decided to travel with you, so if you don''t know anything about his whereabouts, maybe Izzy does.

    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    Xiomara: Oh¡­ Okay. Thanks. Rest well.

    Turning around, the boy nodded and continued on his way, leaving the white lady in the care of Haeri and Xiomara.

    Haeri: So you were referring to that Miruno, uh. I had forgotten about him. Well, I should go to sleep too. I couldn''t last night because you two kept arguing about him ¡ªshe said crossing both arms and turning her gaze towards Xiomara.

    She just looked down at the floor, then at Cadie beside her.

    Xiomara: Sorry, really. It''s just that... Ah... ¡ªshe sighed sadly¡ª it¡¯s just that Izzy confessed to me that she sent Miruno to do a favor for her, but apparently things didn''t go as expected and... now she doesn''t know where he could be. Also, there have been a lot of disappearances these days. Maybe we should do something... but...

    Haeri: I remember that he wasn''t a very healthy person, let''s say. He kept coughing and¡ª

    Xiomara: Y-Yes! I know that very well. It worries me.

    The conversation woke up the lady in white, who leaned forward immediately, slowly separating her eyelashes. Her long black hair fell over her pale face, and between it, her green eyes peeked out.

    She had rarely been seen awake before, most of the time she was in bed.

    With a soft voice, she murmured her first question.

    Cadie: ¡­ Where is Miruno? Miruno¡­

    Her gaze turned to Xiomara, sitting next to her.

    Xiomara: A-Are you okay? Uh¡­ Miruno had things to do. She went out for a moment. He will be back soon.

    Without turning her head, her gaze was now directed to the window to her right. A bright halo of light passed through the curtains.

    She squinted her eyes. Xiomara had noticed her annoyance, so she closed the curtains tightly, making sure that no light entered.

    Xiomara: Are you feeling better?

    Cadie: Warm¡­ So warm¡­

    She smiled.

    Bringing a hand to her forehead, Xiomara checked the lady''s temperature. The lady rested back on the stretcher.

    Haeri: Mm, I''d say you''d better let her keep the compress.

    Xiomara: Yes¡­ You are not use to go out much, right, Cadie? You must have trouble adjusting to the climate in this province.

    Cadie: Yes¡­

    The lady didn''t pay much attention to the words she heard. Her ears only heard the melody, a subtle melody originating from the instrument of the room''s musician, Winslow, who hadn''t stopped all morning.

    The strings were worn and the wooden body had cracks that told of years of use and neglect, yet the sound was soft, just a whisper of notes floating in the air before disappearing into the gloom. Each string vibrated with a melancholic cadence, as if crying.

    The sound was so low that it seemed to be directed at a single person and not at a surrounding audience.

    He doesn''t play to entertain. I see it clearly. The chords, slow, uncertain, silent prayers begging for a break.

    But those notes¡­ I don''t remember any of them.

    No one said anything. No one moved. No spectators. All, smiling witnesses.

    Yes, smile.

    -[?]-

    Only weeks ago the group were just students on a school trip around their hometown, and now they were more than 200 kilometers away in a province they had never visited before. It was impossible not to be fascinated by seeing the outside world before their eyes.

    The picturesque lanterns hung from the roofs in the miniature settlements, moving in the gentle currents of the salty sea wind.

    The rock formations, molded into extravagant shapes, jutted out from the walls of the enclosures, some reaching a few meters tall, contrary to the gardens of low and fragile vegetation that adorned the paths.

    Each building, like part of a canvas, was decorated by colorful artistic figures and multicultural expressions. There was no single nation clearly distinguishable in sight; instead, the intention was always to create a mix of everything; people, ideas and cultures. The town seemed to be more of an abstract art than anything else.

    However, for the province La Quilla, despite having a perfect description for a bustling area, it was anything but that. The city was empty, dead.

    The provinces in the Republic of Manecia functioned independently, as if they were different countries in themselves. Each province had what its residents needed, no more, no less, so rarely did a resident of a province feel the need to leave. Nevertheless, this had its own implications; means of transportation were almost considered privileged commodities, and roads were not usually built to facilitate traffic. It felt as if all urban cities had the limitations of small rural villages.

    Getting around on a day-to-day basis was basically a walking task, so the group did not have better options. Crossing the narrow paths, they explored the market area.

    The buildings and shops were piled on top of each other like checkers trying to maximize space occupation, and although this caused difficulty in transit, it made it easier to browse in each store they came across on their way.

    Closed by curtains.

    Doger wandered around checking every package in sight. His spirit animal, a raccoon.

    They had entered a convenience store. On the counter, next to other knick-knacks, there was money scattered among some groceries. Thinking that the purchases had already been paid for with those bills, Doger did not hesitate to take some products and put them in his backpack, among them fruit puree for babies; Earlene''s favorites.

    Doger: Hm... Mm... Yeah... Not this one... Hm...

    Meanwhile, Izzy also searched for supplies but her attention was constantly diverted to the books on the shelves. Among the smaller ones, she took the one that seemed most interesting to her and made room in her bag, next to her half-drunk bottle of water, to hide it away while the other members of the group were distracted by the paintings on the walls.

    The day was sunny and with a subtle chill carried by the winds. A pleasant time for a tourist trip if it didn''t point out the approach of the dense fog that they had managed to see gathering on the coast.

    Each step taken took them away from the shelter and closer to it.

    Garwin: Doger, don''t stay behind.

    Doger: Look, I found some fruits and vegetables that they left on a shelf.

    Izzy: Are they fresh?

    Doger: In 8 hours I''ll let you know if they were... Maybe less, he he.

    Izzy: ...

    Doger: Well, I''m good at being a vagabond, aren''t I? Where do I hand in my resume?

    Garwin: Did you check that the owner of the store was present, at least? We''re looking for things that don''t belong to anyone.

    Audrey: (Heh, is there really such a thing?) For a market I see they''re pretty short on merchandise these days ¡ªshe added.

    Doger: Relax. There was no one there. If we didn''t take it ourselves it would rot anyway ¡ªhe searched through his now loaded bag¡ª Buuuut I think we should have brought more people. This will disappear in a flash if it''s not refrigerated quickly.

    Garwin: They refused. And we will not force anyone to come.

    Doger: Jevo and Earlene? That reminds me, am I the only one who noticed her thinner than usual?

    Izzy: ¡­

    Audrey: Oh, we got an observer. You can''t take your eyes off the girl, he he. She''s got meat in all the right places.

    Doger: I''m not saying that. I mean¡ª

    Audrey: You guys don''t waste time ¡ªshe interrupted¡ª. I remember Shaun had company too.

    Shaun: Me? ¡ªhe said, completely uninterested in the conversation.

    Audrey: Uhm, yeah, the girl who followed you everywhere for days¡­?

    Shaun: You mean that girl? I didn''t even know her name. She just came up and started talking to me because she wanted to. Then she walked away. It''s not the first time that''s happened.

    Doger: ¡­ (Ok, now we got it, ¡°Korean supermodel¡±).

    Audrey: Wow¡­ I hope you don¡¯t leave her behind too, Gitta Vintana. She would leave too.

    She approached Gitta. This time the comment was directed at this reserved boy who followed the group closely.

    Gitta: ...It is dangerous to go out.

    Garwin: Understandable. I actually didn¡¯t think you would come again, Audrey. I was expecting more of a group of men only.

    Izzy just frowned, ignoring the comment and looked back at the water bottle she was carrying.

    Doger: Sausage party!

    Audrey: You don¡¯t know me well yet ¡ªshe showed a relaxed smile¡ª Plus you would be lost without your tour guide. But changing the subject, why is Izzy wearing all¡­ that? Is she also a Cosplayer?

    The young woman turned to the group upon hearing her name while checking some pots on the way. She was right. She looked curious, wearing shoulder pads, a chest guard, and other common protections of American football uniforms.

    Doger: Yeah, Gar. Why aren''t you also wearing the equipment? Any special reason...? Huh? ¡ªhe said in an exaggeratedly mocking tone.

    Garwin: I-I just forgot. Don''t dwell on it.

    Izzy: Sure... On two different occasions, both when certain new members joined us ¡ªshe commented while drinking from her bottle.

    Garwin: ¡­

    Audrey: Oh... I assume you¡¯re from some sports team.

    Doger: That''s right. A long long time ago in a far far away land, we formed a team called "Eleven Jaguars" in our Institute.

    Izzy: Although it didn''t last long to disband. Members deserted.

    Doger: I was in charge of running with the ball ¡ªhe imitated the movement of running with a ball at his side¡ª. I was untouchable. The moment that ball was in these hands, no one could catch me. Ah, good old days... We should relive it someday.

    Audrey: So in conclusion, Garwin is embarrassed to wear that in the middle of the day~

    Garwin: Hey¡­

    Audrey: Mmm? He he¡­

    Garwin: Guys, that''s enough of updating our new member ¡ªhe adjusted his mask before addressing the group¡ª. I want to know your opinions on what''s going on. Jevo wasn''t joking that night, that''s for sure.

    Gitta: We haven''t seen anyone since we came to this market ¡ªhe replied¡ª. Something strange is definitely going on.

    Garwin: That''s what I mean.

    They didn''t wear watches, so they didn''t know the elapsed and remaining time either.

    Normally the presence of passersby works as a compass; You would know that a person entered a coffee shop for coffee, a pharmacy for medicine, an art gallery to look around, you would see where they came from and where they were going, and you would follow them or rely on their judgment for your own destinations and plans, but now, there was no one.

    They were starting to get restless, to feel exposed, because there were no other people around to attract attention with their daily activities. Therefore, the attention was focused on them. Any noise, no matter how small, would be caused by them and no one else.

    They would know where they were.

    Doger: ¡­ What do you want me to say, man? The world went to shit. There is nothing more to add.

    Izzy: I agree with Doger.

    Garwin: Really? ¡ªhe raised an eyebrow, turning to the girl.

    Izzy: Without mentioning what Nisha and the others said, we do not have any more information. It is a fact. All that remains is to act on our own and react to what happens.

    Gitta: ¡­

    Audrey: That''s right. Hm¡­ If anyone knew more¡­ ¡ªshe commented¡ª The nearest police station is many miles away from here, near the border. So I guess we''ll have to keep looking for ourselves.

    Shaun: That house. Yes. I see someone. Right there.

    The group member suddenly stopped and pointed his finger into the distance.

    They had walked through the commercial area, leaving behind the shops and wooden shelves, now stepping onto the hard concrete floor of a circular exit.

    From that position, it was possible to see a group of settlements a mile away. Instead of small settlements stacked together, this time they were large homes forming tall rows that even obscured the view of the coast. They cast a wide shadow over the cracked road.

    Gitta: (I can''t see the fog from here¡­).

    One of the houses in particular caught the eye. It happened to be the only one with some visible lighting from the outside, and from one of its windows, Shaun claimed to have seen shadows passing from one side to the other.

    Doger: Uh¡­ Which one of all the houses?

    Shaun: Are you blind? That one. The only one with lights ¡ªhe pointed again, several times.

    Doger: Man, do you expect me to see anything from here? And to begin with, what are you doing here with us?

    Garwin: Come on, come on, guys. It''s not the time.

    Audrey: Yep, I see that they are a man and a woman. The woman is carrying something, a baby? (But¡­ why are they¡­?).

    Everyone was surprised by the precise description that the young woman had given despite the long distance.

    If it really was a family, taking care of a baby may have been the reason why they had not yet sought shelter.

    Through the rocky path and dodging the trees, the group advanced in silence as they headed towards the dwelling.

    No, they were already advancing within the silence. Their ears were alert to any sound, but none came other than that of the gusts of wind and the crunch of leaves under their shoes. The silence had followed them from the commercial area to the residential one. It was persistent.

    Although there was a difference now, the temperature was beginning to drop. The cold winds laden with sea salt intensified the smell but not their own presence. They diluted over time, resulting in one less sound emitter in the environment, an environment that felt heavier.

    Farther and farther away and closer and closer.

    In the scenery, small lakes outside the settlements began to be seen, with tree leaves swimming on their surfaces.

    The waters were still. No fish, insects or birds present.

    After crossing a small bridge over the ponds, they had arrived at their destination.

    It was a large house compared to those seen on the tour. It was surrounded by palm trees and plantations that gave it a tropical look, and at the same time hindered the passage of Doger who looked out the windows.

    There was indeed lighting coming from inside; a dim and occasional one like that generated by lit candles.

    Izzy: Put away your masks and weapons. They won''t open if they think we''re looters.

    Not far from the truth.

    The group listened to the young woman''s reasonable argument and followed the indication.

    Doger: I don''t think there''s anyone there anyway ¡ªhe whispered, removing his mask¡ª. I can''t hear absolutely anything coming from inside.

    Shaun: Tsk.

    Annoyed, Shaun clicked his teeth and immediately approached the main door.

    When he was about to knock, he heard a sudden noise that made him stop. A sound not caused by any of them.

    It was the lock moving. The door opening in front of them.

    To be continued¡­

 Chapter 4: Liminality. Part 3

    Unknown man: Hello. Welcome.

    They had arrived at the settlement. They were greeted, and those on the other side of the door welcomed them as if they had met any neighbor.

    A warm welcome; the man waved his hand repeatedly, his wife smiling behind him. The proper way to receive new visitors.

    After long seconds, the man stopped.

    Unknown man: What can we do for you?

    The man adjusted his tie. He was dressed formally, with a black jacket and long pants. They did not match.

    The woman, in a beautiful long floral dress and wide-brimmed hat, stood at a distance while occupying her arms in carrying some sheets. A baby covered in them.

    Shaun: U-Uhm...

    The young man moved his hand away from the door, giving space to his companion at his side.

    Garwin: Excuse the intrusion, ¡ªhe said, placing his hand on the door frame¡ª. We volunteer for a shelter a couple miles from this neighborhood.

    Izzy: Have you heard any emergency alarms recently?

    The couple paused for a second to exchange glances, and the man turned to the group.

    Unknown man: We haven''t heard any emergency alarms recently.

    Izzy: ...

    Garwin: I understand. There was an incident a few days ago. The police have their hands full, so we''re helping them evacuate residents in these areas to a safe shelter while the emergency passes. We have food, drinks, shelter, whatever you need. It seems that ¡ªhe looked around, before continuing with the eloquent explanation¡ª your neighbors have already evacuated. We were wondering if you''ll do the same by coming with us.

    There were no more homes lit up. Yes, they should have evacuated.

    Unknown man: We have what we need. We have a month''s supply. But you can come in and tell us more about that incident and the shelter. It''s cold. Are you cold? ¡ªhe said without interruption.

    Garwin: Uh... Yes, a little.

    Unknown man: Come in.

    There was some discontent in the group but they felt some relief at finding someone else in the area, so they decided to enter the house. A slight creaking sound was heard under their feet as they did so, crossing the threshold by pushing open the plank door.

    This home, made of aged wood and walls painted in shades faded by the sun and humidity, stood tall in the coastal neighborhood with a tropical air. Its interior was decorated in the same way.

    A few wicker sofas covered with blankets leaned against the walls of the living room. Scattered on the carpet on the floor were abandoned plastic toys; racing vehicles, transforming robots and puppets.

    At the back of the room, the kitchen area was barely visible, and next to it, a main hallway that connected all the rooms.

    The darkness was almost absolute, barely broken by the flickering of a few candles. Their dancing light created shadows on the wooden masks and fishing nets on the walls.

    The young Izzy Rylee looked at said shelves with her attention fixed on the pictures and paintings.

    There was one particular painting resting on the shelf, covered in specks of moisture and dust that barely allowed the image behind its glass to be seen. It would have been inappropriate to just pick it up to see it up close, so she just leaned over and strained her clear eyes.

    It was a family photo. In it, the man and woman dressed formally while posing with a long smile. In front of them was a child sitting in an elegant chair next to his dog.

    Unknown man: Take a seat ¡ª he extended his hand toward the sofas, waiting.

    Unknown woman: Are you hungry?

    Garwin: We appreciate it but don''t bother. We won''t be staying long.

    Doger: Honestly, I am hungry ¡ªhe raised his hand.

    Garwin: ...You just ate, Doger.

    Unknown woman: I''ll prepare something for you right away.

    The woman showed a big smile before handing the baby into her husband''s hands and retreating to the kitchen.

    Meanwhile, being illuminated by the candles present, the group sat down with the exception of the curious Doger. He was able to see through the darkness of the hallway. At the end of it, a figure with bright eyes was visible.

    Doger: Do you have a dog!? Oh, man! ¡ªhe jumped out of his chair, running excitedly towards the hallway.

    Seeing the hyperactive boy disappear from sight, Garwin settled into his own seat, not surprised by his behavior and leaned slightly towards the owner of the house.

    Garwin: Do we have the pleasure of speaking with...?

    Joe: You can call me Joe. Tell me more about that... shelter.

    Garwin: It''s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Joe. My name is Garwin Stanford ¡ªhe shook his hand firmly¡ª You see, my friends and I helped the shelter collect supplies from the town for all the refugees. You''ve probably heard about the riots due to the war outside.

    Joe: No

    Shaun: ...

    Garwin: Well, there have been. It''s been dangerous outside lately. So the idea is to wait a few more days, hoping the situation calms down in the safety of the government shelter.

    Joe: Oh. The baby is fine with us.

    Another brief answer.

    Garwin: But are you really sure about that? We have enough room for all of you.

    Joe: We don''t have formula for the baby ¡ªhe clarified¡ª. If you bring us formula for the baby you can take all the supplies you want.

    The man didn''t take his eyes off the baby in his hands. While Garwin had no desire to force them to follow him, he couldn''t help but worry about their well-being. He decided then to trust that they knew what they were doing, and opted to at least offer them a favor.

    Garwin: ...Okay. Where can we find more formula? ¡ªhe placed his hands on the knees.

    Joe: There.

    He had finally looked up. This time he was looking out the window. From it he could see several neighboring settlements in the distance.

    Although they were numerous, one of them stood out in particular. The man did not need to make an effort to specify which one he was referring to; in the center he could see a square building, without any decorations or picturesque buildings characteristic of the province, only what would be best visualized as a "big gray cube with windows" a few miles away.

    Joe: The gray building. We bought the formula there.

    Audrey: It seems to be a warehouse ¡ªthe girl mentioned when she looked out the same window.

    Izzy: If we''re going to do this, we should do it as soon as possible ¡ªshe added, looking up at her companion.

    Garwin: Good. Mr. Joe, we''ll be bringing the formula soon ¡ªhe got up from the chair¡ª. Any specific brand?

    Joe: Any formula is good formula for the baby.

    Garwin: Heh, so be it then. I''ll make sure it''s the healthiest one. Hey, Doger, ¡ªhe turned¡ª we''re leaving.

    No answer. The lack of light made it impossible to see any figure at the end of the hallway where the young man had slipped away.

    Garwin: Where has he gone...?

    Izzy: Garwin, we don''t have time. We''ll bring baby formula, it''s unnecessary to take everyone.

    Garwin: Hm... Gitta, can you stay and wait for us?

    Gitta: Sure. Please don''t take long.

    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    Garwin: We won''t ¡ªbefore turning to leave, he raised a thumb up for him.

    The decision was made, the group began to move, picking up the backpacks and bags they were carrying, and the sound of their steps on the wood disappeared once they closed the door of the settlement.

    Gitta saw this and with a look of clear concern, he turned around.

    Mr. Joe continued to care for the baby in his arms, now gently rocking him back and forth.

    The woman continued to chop vegetables, the sound of the cutting board being hit by a knife could be heard repeatedly from the kitchen.

    Gitta: Uhm... If you''ll excuse me, I''ll go find my partner.

    The man continued to rock back and forth without paying attention.

    Assuming he nodded at some point, Gitta then headed into the hallway.

    The gloom was more evident. Only three candles lit the place; two in the living room, one in the kitchen. The other rooms were hidden within absolute darkness.

    Being careful with her steps as she walked, Gitta regretted not having brought at least one candle from the living room, but then again, it would have been inappropriate in someone else''s home.

    After crossing in front of some closed doors he arrived at what looked like a backyard.

    No bigger than a room, surrounded by concrete and some vases decorated with wilted flowers. Even this place remained with a closed roof that prevented any light from entering.

    Squinting his eyes in an effort to see, he had finally found the young man he was looking for.

    He was crouching, silent. He seemed focused on the collar the animal wore on its neck as he stroked its head. And the animal had a fixed gaze on the new visitor.

    Gitta: ... Does it bite?

    The young man was startled to hear someone other than himself. He quickly answered.

    Doger: You''ve given me quite a scare, man...

    Gitta: Excuse me.

    Doger: It''s all right. It doesn''t bite. Well, it wouldn''t come near you, actually. It doesn''t move from here.

    Confused by the last comment, Gitta cautiously approached the duo waiting on the grass.

    Bright-eyed. Its slow, controlled gestures made it appear to be a docile dog that did not require special captivity, rare to see these days. However, it was panting constantly and its nose was dry to the touch, signs that could indicate some dehydration.

    Doger: His name is Benjamin. Who in their right mind calls their pet "Benjamin"? ¡ªhe released the collar.

    Gitta: It seems like them.

    Doger: What about the others? I heard Gar calling me but I was too busy as you can see.

    Gitta: We will do Mr. Joe a favor and bring some baby formula. At... a nearby store, on the way to the coast.

    Doger: Ah, the coast... The coast... Why didn''t you tell me? I wanted to see the beach!

    Gitta: Uhm...

    Doger: He he. I''ve never visited a beach in my entire life. I''ve always been surrounded by the concrete jungle. You?

    Gitta: Hm... On one occasion. And it wasn''t a pleasant experience.

    Doger: What happened? Tell the gossip. It''ll stay between the three of us ¡ªhe continued petting the dog at his side.

    He took a moment to think about it, but decided not to comply with his whim.

    Gitta: Sorry. I couldn''t. It was very embarrassing ¡ªhe breathed and adjusted his beret¡ª. I can only say that since that day I never went near a coast again.

    Doger: Bruh... You''re leaving us in doubt, huh? Me? Him? He''s dying to know ¡ªhe played with the animal''s ears.

    It was starting to get cold, as the previous sensations had already predicted when arriving at the settlement.

    The boy adjusted his black coat and took a few steps to the side, approaching the entrance again.

    Gitta: I think it will be better to go inside. We have to be ready for when they return.

    Doger: Heh, oh well... It''s almost time for lunch anyway ¡ªhe shrugged his shoulders and said goodbye to the pet¡ª See you, buddy.

    They both entered back into the home, leaving the animal waiting in the yard.

    It was not on a leash. It was thirsty, probably hungry too. It was no longer panting and its tail was still, curled up. There was no reason for it not to want to go inside the house, at least to find shelter from the cold.

    He just sat at the entrance, far away. Gitta had noticed him, and so he chose not to look back.

    -[?]-

    The afternoon had come to the town and it didn''t seem like one.

    By this time the gusts of wind that resonated against the palm trees had completely ceased, not a leaf or branch was moved by it in the air. Instead, a gray blanket permeated the scene.

    The air felt dense, loaded with the humidity of the fog that crept between the abandoned settlements. The sunlight filtered through, projecting long, distorted shadows of them.

    It gave a strange feeling of dryness, or so it was for the young Izzy Rylee, who drank from her water bottle.

    The fog had finally reached them. It had advanced faster than the group had estimated, and now considerably reduced their range of vision.

    Through the thick cloud cover, Izzy, Garwin, Audrey and Shaun made their way to the place the man had indicated. They could hardly make out the large building that had been pointed out to them, but thanks to Audrey, a resident of La Quilla and an explorer, they were able to find it.

    It was a huge grey cube. This was a warehouse taller than any other building in the area.

    Two large lower windows, two small upper ones. Without graffiti or promotional posters, the walls were smooth, giving the image of a prison rather than a food warehouse.

    The huge metal doors were kept slightly ajar, as if the last person who entered had left in a hurry.

    The silence was evident and therefore it must be abandoned, so they did not bother to ring the bell. Garwin stepped forward, cautiously pushing the door open and causing a creak that broke the stillness of the moment.

    Audrey: Hello!?

    No answer.

    Everyone stood at the entrance looking around the place.

    Disorder. Shelves overturned, boxes opened with their contents scattered on the floor, including fast food wrappers and alcohol bottles now in pieces of broken glass.

    Izzy: ...

    The liquid they contained, although dried in sections, was still in the form of fluids. Izzy noticed that right away. It meant that not too much time had passed since whatever happened there, had happened.

    Garwin: Well, let''s get started.

    Audrey: You say that but I don''t see where to start first. Just alcohol, alcohol and more alcohol. That''s all I can see ¡ªshe clarified, taking a look around.

    Izzy: The food section must be in a different room.

    Watching their steps between the objects on the floor, the group went further in the direction of the connected adjacent rooms.

    Shaun: I''d rather stay here and wait for the owner of this place to return.

    Garwin: Alright, buddy ¡ªhe turned to the young man at the exit in a friendly tone¡ª Let us know if he shows up. Just yell loud.

    Shaun: ...

    Crossing into the next room, the trio dodged the remains of crushed cardboard boxes as much as they could, their feet crunching shards inevitably echoing in the small space.

    The further they went, the less light allowed them to see where they were walking. Fortunately for them, even under the dense fog the sun''s rays managed to enter through the large exterior windows, although this could change once night fell. If that happened, they wouldn''t be able to see anything but their own feet on the ground.

    Now the group was busy checking the shelves for the formula.

    Audrey: I was wondering, ¡ªshe said as she pulled aside some curtains in her path¡ª did you also notice that that family was acting strange?

    Garwin: Mm... I don''t want to offend but you guys in La Quilla live alone most of the time. I would understand that you don''t have the best social skills.

    Audrey: He he. Not everywhere, just in some towns ¡ªshe clarified¡ª. But I found it a little strange how they behaved, even for me. And that''s even though I''ve dealt with all kinds of people in my day to day life as a waitress.

    Izzy: It''s better not to meddle in their affairs¡ªthe girl intervened¡ª, especially if they''re going to help us.

    Garwin: Iz about that... We''re not going to take away their food reserves.

    Izzy: ... What? ¡ªshe stopped.

    Garwin: We''ll just bring them the formula for their baby. Just that.

    Izzy: Garwin, do we seem to have time to do favors for strangers?

    The boy turned to her. He couldn''t help but curl his lips at the annoyance marked on her small companion''s face.

    Garwin: Haven''t we been doing that all along?

    Izzy: ...

    Garwin: Calm down. We''ll be fine. Look around. If we need supplies...

    Izzy: We do.

    Garwin: ...we can talk and negotiate with the owner of this place. I''d feel bad if I snatched food from a couple caring for a newborn. It would make us look like villains from a cartoon.

    Not liking the answer, the young woman sighed heavily.

    Izzy: ...You forget their son.

    Garwin: Who?

    Izzy: Maybe he could have helped them run this errand instead of us.

    Audrey: Did they have a son? Oh, look.

    Their brief whispering ended when they found a blue sign on the wall. It said ¡°Dairy¡± written in white letters (the correct section) attached to an arrow symbol pointing to the room they were looking for, near a set of stairs leading to a lower floor.

    They descended immediately.

    There were two things they noticed first upon entering the room, attacking their sight and smell; a nauseating smell and a shadow that enveloped the place.

    Audrey: Gah. Gross. It smells terrible ¡ªshe muttered¡ª. It must be those refrigerators.

    They could barely make out a set of open refrigerators against one of the walls, clearly out of order for an unknown amount of time.

    Just like outside, they had to watch every footstep; taking advantage of the occasional flashes of light reflected off of groceries and furniture they found to guide them.

    Izzy covered her mouth with her handkerchief and pushed aside the refrigerator door that was blocking the way.

    The smell of rot was sharp and aggressively invaded her airways. A stench too strong to tolerate for long. It got worse the further they went, forcing Garwin to cough from time to time.

    Garwin: Cough... If I could see something...

    The smell was a clear distraction, but even under it Audrey could remember something. They didn''t have candles but she did have something better.

    Searching through her bag, she quickly pulled out a flashlight. And after a few repeated taps against her wrist, she managed to turn it on, and could finally see through the darkness.

    To what was in the darkness.

    To what was hiding in it.

    ¡­

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Attention. Attention.

    This is a warning from the La Quilla Emergency Department.

    This is not a drill. I repeat, this is not a drill.

    A virus has been detected spreading at an alarming rate in the population of La Quilla and its surroundings. The number of affected people is unknown.

    Among the common symptoms that have been reported are:

    <ul>

    <li> Strong episodes of hallucinations.</li>

    <li> Loss of muscle control.</li>

    <li> Erratic and aggressive behavior.</li>

    <li> Difficulty speaking.</li>

    <li> Drowsiness</li>

    <li> Loss of consciousness.</li>

    <li> Confusion.</li>

    </ul>

    Other effects have been reported but not confirmed.

    If you come into contact with one or more individuals who you suspect have been or are affected by the virus, do not confront them. I repeat, do not confront them.

    Stay calm and follow the instructions below to keep yourself and those around you safe:

    <ul>

    <li> Do not leave your home.</li>

    <li> Turn off the lights and cover windows with dark curtains.</li>

    <li> Do not block entrances. Emergency services are on their way to your location.</li>

    <li> Stay accompanied. There is safety in numbers.</li>

    <li> Keep constant conversations with your family and friends. This will help them stay calm.</li>

    <li> If you are outside when you hear this broadcast, please enter the nearest settlement as soon as possible and follow the instructions mentioned.</li>

    </ul>

    We are still studying how the virus spreads and its symptoms. Further updates will be communicated as soon as they are available.

    Remember, do not leave your home.

    The police will continue to work day and night to ensure the well-being of you and your family.

    Thank you for your attention.

    Stay together, stay healthy and stay safe.

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    A digital radio delivered its last message before its battery was consumed.

    To be continued...

 Chapter 5: Liminality. Part 4

    Minutes ago

    Inside the tropical cabin the candles in the windows no longer wavered back and forth like they used to. Instead, they remained still, the melted paraffin giving its last drips into the containers.

    The knife could be heard hitting a board in the kitchen; the woman was close to finishing lunch.

    The man hadn''t changed. He was still carefully rocking the sheet-covered baby he held in his arms.

    Doger: Man, did you know they have a coliseum, right here, in this province?

    Gitta: I didn''t know that.

    The duo had returned to the living room and sat down on the hard wooden chairs, one of them kept chatting about whatever topic while they continued to wait for the rest of the group.

    Doger: They have events and competitions for prizes all the time, with warriors from all over the nation. Like ancient Rome. Just like that.

    Gitta: Oh. Sounds interesting.

    Doger: And according to gossip, a.k.a. Audrey, at night they hold clandestine fights. No one knows what happens in them but those who participate are never seen again.

    Gitta: That sounds dangerous... and illegal.

    Joe: Bathroom.

    The man had finally done something different. He had gotten up from his chair and slowly walked over to a wooden crib that rested on the living room floor. A crib without toys and covered on most sides. It couldn''t be simpler.

    He gently placed the baby in this crib and retreated to the hallway.

    There was a certain curiosity. It was a fact. Clearly visible in Doger, even not unnoticed by Gitta. Both of them quickly approached the crib.

    Since they had arrived at this cabin they had not heard the baby make any noise. He had not cried, had not moaned. He was only still covered in dark brown sheets from head to toe.

    Doger: I''m going to pick him up.

    Gitta: Please don''t.

    The composed boy said that, but it was impossible to hide the intrigue he also felt.

    Doger: I''m good with babies. It''ll be fine if I do it for a while.

    Gitta: ...Don''t do it ¡ªhe scolded him again¡ª. He might be sick.

    Doger: Ok, fine. I won''t do it.

    The boy threw himself back into his own chair, somewhat annoyed. While to avoid an awkward moment, Gitta stood up and headed to the kitchen area.

    Gitta: I''ll go help in the kitchen.

    Doger: Yeah, yeah...

    Once Gitta had headed to the hallway, the mischievous boy persistently approached back to the crib.

    Doger: (Let''s see who we have here...)

    For his part, Gitta walked down the dark hallway and opened the door to the kitchen adjacent to the living room.

    The first thing he could notice was the pile of dirty plates and glasses waiting in the sink to his left. He continued to open the door, careful not to break any.

    In front of him, the woman was still cutting vegetables and meats on a wooden board in front of the only lit candle present, not having paid attention to his arrival.

    Gitta: Excuse me; do you need me to help you with something?

    Unknown woman: Can you wash the dishes for me?

    Gitta: Of course ¡ªhe nodded with a smile.

    The amount of dishes waiting for him was not especially large. It was a small family, but this did not seem to be a sufficient reason. There he went again, overthinking things unnecessarily.

    While he rolled up the sleeves of his black jacket, Gitta took a quick look at the woman.

    Her dress was extravagant, formal and colorful, with a long skirt that almost reached the floor.

    However, his attention was not disturbed by her clothing, but by the limbs that stuck out from it. Her forearms, her calves, were pale and thin.

    This is what he could tell from a quick inspection. He couldn''t see any more without looking weird, so he continued with his task.

    Gitta: Oh.

    Unbeknownst to him, the dish brush had slipped from his hand and fallen to the floor, rolling to a stop under the cabinet. He quickly knelt down to pick it up, when he saw it.

    Gitta: ?!

    The lack of lighting made it hard to make out. So he wasn''t sure what he was seeing. He adjusted his vision, again and again, in an attempt to see something different.

    But it didn''t work. The object next to the brush couldn''t be indistinguishable, nor could it be ignored.

    It was a small, abandoned shoe. A simple red shoe with a picture of a car around it. However, Gitta had seen something else in it.

    Not higher than the tibialis, the shoe had the portion of a leg.

    Once he was sure of what he saw, he immediately stepped back, almost falling to the floor as well.

    At that moment he had also noticed the presence of ants and cockroaches lurking around. All this made him stand up as quickly as he could, squashing some of them.

    This sudden movement caused enough wind to blow out the candle in the kitchen, the only source of light there was.

    The woman was now looking at him. Fixedly, motionless. Her eyes wide open.

    At the same time, in the adjacent hall room, Doger held the baby in his arms. He amused himself as he removed each layer of sheet covering him, one by one, and when he reached the last one, he finally discovered his body.

    Doger: ?...!

    Doger didn''t know what to think. A part of him kept thinking that it could be an illness; however, the features were beyond his understanding.

    It wasn''t right. Something wasn''t right. Doger''s heart skipped a beat.

    That looked like a baby.

    Its skin was red, wrinkled, reflecting the candlelight. Its arms and legs, tiny and previously still, now trembled and moved clumsily, as if gravity were a new concept for it, or as worms would move when they were discovered under rocks.

    And more noticeably, its body was covered by thick veins that throbbed with a certain accelerating rhythm. Its eyes, twice the expected size, remained completely closed, but this did not last long after its face was discovered.

    It opened them. Large, its pupils fully dilated and its sclera red. It opened it. Its mouth large, Its lips cracking from dryness, letting out jets of blood that fell on the boy''s hand.

    Fear took hold of him. Screaming began. However, it was not Doger who did it.

    The baby was crying. It began as a weak moan, barely a muffled whisper that slipped through its lips, and as they opened, the crying increased.

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    It was not the cry of a baby. It was something primitive, wrong. A tone that became increasingly deeper and deformed, a howl of stretched flesh and torn vocal cords that spread throughout the whole.

    Doger jumped back, dropping the baby back into its crib.

    Doger: AGH!

    However, the noise kept growing, forcing him to cover his ears with both hands.

    It grew and grew.

    When the normal cry of a baby could reach 110 decibels and be heard a few hundred meters away, this guttural and desperate scream reached for miles around.

    The silence had ceased.

    Everything could hear it. Now everyone could hear them.

    -[?]-

    The light of the flashlight illuminated the floor of the food warehouse, giving a glimpse of reality.

    It was never rotten food. It was meat. The flesh, bones and blood of human beings.

    The light trembled, impossible to keep it still. Wherever it shone, the meat lay there, in pieces, in sections, some still covered by cloth and leather, others completely unrecognizable beyond reddish mounds piled one on top of the other.

    Men, women, boys and girls.

    The flashlight shone. Now everything was visible, everything was clear. In the darkest depths, hidden, the truth had finally revealed itself before their eyes.

    Audrey switched to taking the flashlight in both hands and shrugging, making an abysmal effort not to drop it. She didn''t want to see, but she knew she depended on it.

    The reason; the figure that peeked out from between the piles of bodies.

    They couldn''t explain how the air now felt thicker.

    In the circumference of the white light they could make out dust-covered furniture, stained walls and out-of-place shelves. And in the center of the diameter a murky silhouette was shown.

    First there were the fingers, long and bony, separating the flesh from the pile scattered on the floor. Then, a huge figure stood up. It was more than two meters tall, its back hunched as if its own body were an impossible burden to bear.

    Its pale skin hung in tatters, but was held in place by whitish fluids. And below its back, a kind of dragging tail could be distinguished. No, it was not a tail. If you looked more closely, you would notice that it was breaking off and falling in pieces with constant frequency.

    Its eyes, which had previously been looking at the tragic scene at its feet, suddenly changed to fixate on the source of the light, on the trio of young people.

    Audrey took a step back and found something that stopped her from taking the second. It was in the way. It was the severed hand of another human being.

    Garwin, in absolute terror, immediately noticed it too. Even where they walked, there was body parts scattered everywhere. When he tried to move, even a little, he crushed one of the puddles of fluids and viscera around him with his own foot. The sound that such an act generated brought him close to vomiting at that very moment. But he couldn''t do it.

    Izzy remained still in front of the creature. Her mind trying to grasp what was happening and how they had come to this. She felt an inexplicable sensation. Probably because of the pent-up adrenaline, as if mind and body had disconnected for that moment.

    What her eyes saw was a Dreamer.

    Yes. The light of the flashlight had revealed the truth. The homes they visited, the shops, the commercial area, the residential area... The scene that was now illuminated, remained in darkness in each of them in the deepest, meaning it repeated itself over and over again. And a howl would make it an undeniable fact.

    The silence that was once outside was no more. A howl, a shriek, a wail, mingled, replacing all stillness. This scream could be heard miles away, and of course, it was audible inside the warehouse.

    It was the trigger.

    The humanoid creature in front of the group was shaking and turning its head in random directions with a speed not at all human. The sound of its bones crunching.

    When it stopped, it was out of sight. Audrey couldn''t understand it. It had only blinked, and it was no longer there. But she quickly realized where it was.

    The creature was opening its mouth to an impossible extent, and this same mouth was now chewing on the young Izzy''s torso. It had launched itself on all fours in a lunge at her companion.

    Izzy: G-GAH!

    The young girl''s small body had been abruptly slammed into the stands. The blow to her back was so strong that it made her lose her breath. She was now coughing weakly. However, the Dreamer had not let go of her from its jaws. It lifted her easily while shaking her from side to side.

    It looked up at the sky. Its mouth murmured, expelling moans between the blood that slipped from its teeth.

    Garwin and Audrey had been limited to being mere spectators of an event that took mere few seconds.

    Garwin: AH! AH!

    Coming to, Garwin was the first to move on his own.

    His heart was beating so hard that it would jump out of his chest. Everything looked cloudy. He was not aware of what he was doing, he was not even able to see where he was going, and yet there he was, right behind the Dreamer.

    Garwin: Tsk!

    With his corpulent build he made the effort to hold it from behind by coiling its neck in a poor attempt of a "guillotine¡±.

    His first reaction had been to force it to let go of Izzy, but the creature didn''t react at all; it kept shaking itself, restless, looking at the sky, then returning to chewing the body it was carrying like a puppet.

    Garwin had forgotten the improvised weapon he was carrying but Audrey hadn''t. In panic she approached and struck with a forceful blow of her hammer on the Dreamer''s back.

    It had no effect, even though she claimed to have heard at least one vertebra fracture.

    Audrey: Guh!

    A second blow, as strong as her trembling arms would allow, this time aimed at the back of the neck, split the object in two on the spot and shook the creature to one side.

    The creature thrashed wildly once more, freeing the girl from its teeth and pushing the boy against a wall, and then headed for the upper floor like a desperate animal.

    It was not possible to see it well in the darkness but the sound of its moans and stumbling steps was attenuated, confirming that it had left the place.

    Audrey: Gah! Ah!

    Recovering some breath as best she could, the girl searched for the flashlight she had dropped and pointed it at her companions, alternating between one and the other.

    Audrey: F-Fuck! What the fuck was that?! Are you okay!? ¡ªshe asked agitatedly.

    Leaning his hip against the wall, Garwin slowly dragged his hands to stand up. He held his head, staining his forehead with someone else''s blood.

    Garwin: My God...!

    Completely stunned, he looked up, watching as Audrey approached to check on Izzy who was lying on the ground.

    Audrey: Hey! Izzy! ¡ªshe exclaimed, bringing her ear close to the incapacitated woman''s mouth.

    She was breathing, she was alive for now, although visibly disoriented.

    However, her torso needed to be checked; the area where the Dreamer had attacked her. Audrey lifted her shirt and noticed the pad she wore on her football uniform.

    It was torn apart. These specialized pads that can withstand hundreds of pounds of force were scattered in pieces under her shirt. But she wanted to see her torso clearly.

    A faint purple stain on it. Garwin was getting worried. Audrey looked closer.

    Garwin: Is she... Is she okay? ¡ªhe asked.

    Audrey: That''s what it seems. I think. I don''t see any open wounds or bleeding. Let''s hope it''s the same inside ¡ªshe deduced with the quick inspection¡ª. Hey, sis, can you walk? Tell me.

    Izzy: Tsk... I have to...

    Garwin: Thank God...! ¡ªSeeing her pulling herself together gave Garwin great relief, who crossed himself and thanked God before helping her up¡ª Let¡¯s go out. Now.

    Audrey only illuminated the exit steps; none of them wanted to see what that thing had caused anymore.

    The noise continued to permeate the environment. When they saw the light from outside that had not changed.

    To one side was Shaun. The boy had to wait at the entrance of the warehouse, but now he got up from the ground.

    Shaun: D-Did you see that!? ¡ªhe asked disturbed while pointing to the streets. He had probably had an encounter with the same being, and by his own fortune it had been a brief one.

    Garwin: ... Where did it go?

    Shaun: W-What? Me!? I-I don''t know. Over there.

    His hesitant finger wasn''t pointing at any street. It was the direction they were coming from, the tropical cabin.

    Shaun: Damn it! What''s going on?! What''s that noise? You¡ª

    Finally the greyish blanket had covered everything. The fog coming from the coast had reached them. Their vision, now considerably limited, only allowed them to distinguish objects a few meters away.

    They were unable to see it but their ears still worked perfectly.

    Like the rumble of military units'' footsteps crushing the hard earth beneath their heavy boots, and the screeching that could be heard in the distance was no longer alone; it was accompanied by dozens, even what could be a hundred voices shouting to the sky. A massive march that brought chaos with it.

    Their ears heard the crunch of glass breaking from all directions.

    They had woken up.

    With complete clarity the young Gitta Vintana watched the awakening before his eyes.

    Inside the settlement, he dragged his shoes on the floor, crushing again the cockroaches that fled from one side to the other.

    For this reason he had not noticed the smell of death. It was still fresh. The child had been "treated" recently, and none of his remains were wasted with the sole exception of the limb that the young man had accidentally found.

    As for the rest, he had no idea what had become of it, nor did he have the slightest intention of finding out; as strange as their behavior had been since they arrived, no one keeps the dismembered foot of an infant in a kitchen without a care and considers themselves sane.

    There was the woman in the floral dress staring at him. Still. About four meters away, at any moment she could easily need mere strides to be so close to the boy along with the kitchen knife she held in her hand.

    Gitta: H-HA!

    He let out an abrupt exhale. It was his torso compressing as a result of the act of his own movement, of fleeing from that place.

    He left the area immediately, returning to the dark hallway, and this time he made sure to close the kitchen door, which continued to shake frantically as he distanced himself.

    However, his situation had not exactly improved. His attention was no longer diverted as before, now fully focused on that carnal scream he began to hear only a few moments ago.

    Gitta saw in the living room how his companion, Doger Biast, staggered from side to side covering his ears with both hands. And he could not help but imitate him.

    Gitta: ?Gh! ?Agh...!

    Unbearable. The baby did not stop crying.

    Their eardrums were approaching their limit. If they remained a few seconds longer in that home they would definitely lose all hearing capacity.

    Being the furthest away from the crib, Gitta crossed the hallway and ran as fast as he could, reaching out to grab Doger by the collar of his shirt and rushing to the exit.

    Crossing the door and behind the thick fog that spoiled the view, shadows began to gather.

    Doger: ?Fuck, fuck, fuck...!

    Doger and Gitta stopped dead in the middle of the street, and witnessed in stupefaction the inevitable fate that awaited them.

    One, five, ten, forty... The Dreamers thrashed around in an overwhelming euphoria like puppets in the hands of a nervous puppeteer. That''s how they started before starting a frantic race towards their location.

    Leaving a veil behind, the fog was torn in their wake to reveal their emaciated figures. Their dirty bodies, covered in fluids that dripped from their large mouths.

    North, South, East, West... They were approaching from every possible angle at an inhuman speed.

    The duo retreated with timid steps, their hearts pounding against their ribs as they realized the implacable reality; there was nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.

    To be continued...

 Chapter 6: The Point of No Return

    The march continued. One after another, the army left the fog behind and became visible.

    Doger and Gitta, paralyzed by fear, welcomed the dozens of creatures that invaded the streets like a disturbed swarm.

    Perhaps saying that they were paralyzed would be inaccurate to justify their stillness. The reality is that there was nowhere to run.

    Even so, one of them, Doger, was agitated and uselessly looked from side to side trying to find a way out that did not exist.

    Doger: AH! S-SHIT! AH!

    It was a swarm, a tide, a surrounding cluster.

    The pressure increased while Gitta, still, continued thinking what they could do, what options they had, as if looking for traces of water in an empty well, until¡­

    Doger: Tsk¡­!

    Like a bull the Dreamer charged Doger''s shoulder, but it was a brush that merely pushed him aside.

    Another Dreamer followed, this time crossing between the two.

    Gitta: ...!

    One after the other, the Dreamers ran and continued on their way. It was impossible not to have been seen, which only meant that they had been ignored.

    Confused, Gitta quickly realized that they were not the ones being chased, at least not this time.

    Slowly he turned his head, cautiously to avoid drawing attention, turning his eyes to the home behind him.

    The creatures jumped over the railings, some demolishing them without caring what. Windows flew, glass scattered in the air.

    What were they after? Not them. They knew that right away. If they had been, they themselves would have been a pile of flesh and blood staining the pavement at that very moment.

    The boy''s heart suddenly raced as he heard the muffled screams coming from inside that cabin. He easily recognized them; they were the screams of that couple.

    How long would it take for those screams to be muffled? No more than a few seconds. And what would follow after such carnage ended?

    They would be next.

    A premonition and a prediction.

    Gitta placed a hand on his companion''s shoulder, wringing his shirt from the tension. He warned him that they had to escape, and nodding he pointed to where; a wooden and concrete fence that bordered the street and the settlement, high enough to hide and low enough to be surpassed.

    They headed there and jumped.

    The duo leaned their backs against the wall trying to control their breathing. Beside them, Doger raised his index finger warning them to keep quiet. Considering the scandal at the site the warning was superfluous, but at that point they no longer knew what exactly should be done. And yet they could hear nothing but a high-pitched hum, a loud Tinnitus.

    Gitta saw it and turned to look at the distance in front of them.

    The fog. The waves of shadows continued to run through it, however, some separated from the cluster to the right.

    Despite the poor visibility, one of the shadows was able to make eye contact with the hidden pair. Raising her arm, it was clear to them who it was.

    The young Audrey Kissandra once again pointed the way. Shaun in front, and Garwin behind, carrying Izzy on his back.

    There was no other escape route considering the large horde right behind them. The way back to the shelter was blocked by the raging sea of ??bodies.

    Ducking their heads and avoiding being spotted, both desperately pursued the rest of the group through the dense fog and towards the only exit, the coast of La Quilla.

    -[?]-

    The evening sun was barely a pale glow behind the curtain of fog that engulfed the horizon. The thick sea mist had already advanced from the ocean, covering the waters, the wind, and blurring the outlines of houses, docks, and abandoned fishing boats.

    The buildings poked their pointed roofs out and, just like in the commercial areas; they raised one on top of the other, this time over the ocean tides.

    In this area there was no trace of sand. The tall settlements lined the coast on concrete structures that served as support, while the vegetation consisted more of plantations of ferns or orchids in pots decorating windows, as well as green moss growing on the perpetually wet walls.

    It was a real shame not to be able to appreciate the ocean; to appreciate the reeds that emerged from the shallow water or the numerous detached white lotuses that swam in the faint currents. Instead, they were crushed by the boots of the new visitors.

    Shaun: Gah, ah... I can''t... Ah... L-let''s stop for a moment ¡ªhe breathed out those words rather than just saying them.

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    Doger: Keep going, man! Keep going!

    Despite being in better physical condition, even the hyperactive Doger looked noticeably exhausted.

    For his part, Garwin had to carry his partner on his back for the entire journey, which was a more than an impressive achievement.

    Garwin: Tsk... Ah... Don''t you want to speak louder? Ah...

    Doger: Oh, right.

    Under the saffron cloth of the new stage they dragged their feet in the puddles until they entered one of the first small palm huts they found.

    It stood on the water, supported by stilts corroded by salt and time; a former fishermen''s shelter that now made no sound. It seemed safe.

    Izzy: You can put me down, Garwin ¡ªshe spoke in his ear¡ª. I appreciate it.

    Garwin: Sure... Ah... Gah... ¡ªhe held onto both knees, catching his breath with strong gasps¡ª Do you... feel better?

    Izzy: Better ¡ªshe answered before turning to Audrey¡ª. Where are we?

    The girl was in front of the group, scratching and ruffling her voluminous black hair while she observed the surroundings through the windows and babbled to herself.

    Audrey: If we got this far maybe I could¡­

    Izzy: Audrey.

    Audrey: Sure, sure ¡ªshe looked at them and sat down on one of the wooden benches¡ª, and you can call me Kiss. ??It comes from my last name Kissandra. I''m not used to answering to my first name unless it comes from my mother''s voice scolding me.

    Izzy: ¡­We shall keep that in mind.

    Audrey (Kiss): Heh. Don''t be formal, friend. My friends call me that after all. I was just¡­ thinking about which way to go now.

    Doger: No one''s going to mention the elephant in the room? ¡ªHe intervened.

    Too many assumptions and rumors had been confirmed, after all. There was no shadow of a doubt about the existence represented by the beings they nicknamed "Dreamers". The city, the town, were empty for a reason, and being fed to those things could be related. Also, they could measure the level of threat; facing one head on was unthinkable.

    Their hair stood on end just remembering their amorphous appearances.

    Gitta: I-It was a disaster... ¡ªhe sat down to rest on a bench behind him, massaging his head¡ª I don''t know what all that was about.

    Doger: He and I waited for you in the house for hours and you didn''t come back. Do you remember that old man''s baby? That thing was evil. It looked like a moving worm. Disgusting ¡ªhe showed an expression of disgust, while he scanned the furniture and shelves he could find inside the hut.

    Distracting himself helped him.

    Gitta: It was crying, or so it seemed. I''d never heard anything like that... My ears still hurt.

    Izzy: That was the noise we heard from the cellar ¡ªcrossing her legs, the girl placed her hands and meditated¡ª. It must have attracted them.

    Gitta: So...

    Doger: That''s why they passed us by! We narrowly escaped from that... Man... And you were able to bring the food? I left my bag behind in that house. In fact, ¡ªhe raised an eyebrow¡ª Iz, why did Gar carry you here?

    Garwin: ¡­

    For the first time, Garwin was seen without the initiative and motivation to answer a question. He had not forgotten what he had witnessed in the depths of that cellar.

    The images of dismembered bodies were still impregnated in his eyes, the smell of flesh and putrefaction in his nose. Remembering it was enough to make him feel anxious and his breathing agitated.

    The young Izzy noticed his trembling hand, and approached behind his large back.

    Izzy: Drink some water ¡ªshe offered him her bottle.

    He looked at her and accepted her offer immediately.

    Garwin: Damn...

    Audrey (Kiss): ...

    Izzy: We also dropped most of our supplies while escaping from them, except for my bag and... Kiss''s ¡ªshe focused on answering¡ª. It''s been a waste of time.

    Doger: How great. This happens to us and now we must add to the list of misfortunes the fact that we will return empty-handed at the end. Another shitty day.

    Gitta: Despite that, we must return ¡ªhe stressed¡ª. We cannot stay here.

    Audrey (Kiss): I highly doubt that will be possible now, Gitta ¡ªthe young woman approached, referring to the view outside the windows¡ª. Those things blocked the way back, and even for me it is difficult to locate myself when the fog is this thick. There would be a chance if there wasn''t one but that''s how things ended.

    Gitta: Is there an alternative route to the shelter?

    Audrey (Kiss): Sure, if you want to go around the coast and the city. Let''s just say that the path we took saved us about five times the work of walking.

    Garwin: ...We need a car. That would help. Even if it''s just parked, I could start it up ¡ªhe declared.

    Izzy: Kiss, you know the surroundings well. You should know about a nearby store, warehouse, or parking lot.

    Audrey (Kiss): Mm... (The sand isn''t too far from here, and maybe...) ¡ªShe thought as she wandered in her own mind again, then she addressed the group¡ª. Ok. Look. I know a place we can try. But this time we''ll go exactly where I tell you, okay?

    Izzy: ...Agreed.

    As the sand was scarce in the place, the clock was about to be poured out in its entirety. Time. They couldn''t waste a single grain.

    Their guide was the same fog that made them lose their way. The saffron light that enveloped the ocean horizon permeated the cloudiness before them. If it changed tone they would know that their time would be up.

    They walked along the coast towards their destination.

    To their left, the sound of the waves was lost in the salty wind until it reached them faintly, diluting between the supports of the huts to culminate against the wall that separated them from the ocean, and thus repeating the process.

    To their right, hotel and tourist settlements of more than fifty meters high, with minimalist designs, as well as dark and reddish tints that gave them a simple and elegant impression.

    Each door and each window closed. A memory of isolation perhaps for the better, considering the last time they saw a situation like that.

    In fact, they felt safer than before. The fog did not allow them to see, but it did not allow them to be seen either. They only needed to be cautious and they could successfully navigate the path without being found. This offered them a brief respite from the constant danger.

    The group of young men looked around. Gitta, the buildings.

    He watched as the fog slowly skirted, embraced and left each one. Unable to see beyond a few floors, he fretted at the thought of the possibility of one of these closed doors being opened, or smashed, as he had witnessed before; there was no blockade that could stop them.

    After a few minutes they finally saw it. A colossal wall rose in front reaching several dozen meters high.

    On its gaunt walls were placed promotional posters with figures of all subjects; Famous actors, duels between fighters, competitions, schools, graffiti, but the attention was drawn to the large marble statues that guarded the entrance, the figure of a medieval knight, standing in full armor, resting his sword at his feet, and at his side, a man with a trained body tensing his arms that were covered in scars, the image of a martial artist of the highest expertise.

    This was the Great Arena of La Quilla, the home of countless confrontations. No matter the discipline, experience, gender or age, everyone was welcome to have a chance to prove their worth. It was the main attraction of the province, the pride and spirit of its citizens.

    To be continued...

 Chapter 7: The Point of No Return. Part 2

    Gitta: Why have we come to the coliseum? ¡ªhe asked.

    He wasn''t happy with the trip, of course. His priority was to return to the shelter, to The Mansion, where his partner Haeri was waiting for him.

    The high doors of the arena were closed, huge welded metal plates reinforced with steel chains. It wouldn''t be possible to open them without special tools, so there was no reason to be in front of the Great Arena.

    Izzy: It must be empty... ¡ªshe muttered, in agreement with the disgust.

    Audrey (Kiss): No no. We won''t stop here. The place is a little further ahead. We''re almost there.

    A wide path surrounded the arena, and on its edges, there were different buildings that were mostly shops and schools, judging by the price and name signs. Audrey searched for a particular settlement, entering between the passages.

    After a few minutes they came to a humble abode among the others, completely out of place compared to the imposing arena.

    Izzy: ...

    Its dark wood construction and rice paper windows certainly gave it an oriental appearance. A structure of curved roofs and vines climbing its pillars. This was a martial arts school, her school.

    The group carefully advanced behind the girl, who extracted a set of keys from her bag.

    Gitta: Do you live here?

    Shaun: I hope so. I don''t like the idea of ??waiting outside again, you know.

    Audrey (Kiss): Let''s say I do live here.

    Izzy: It''s more important to check if it''s safe.

    Audrey (Kiss): I blocked the entrance before leaving and only two people have the keys, my master, and the young lady in front of you. I guarantee you that it''s empty.

    Resting both hands on the silver handles, she pushed the doors hard and thus separated the sliding doors.

    They entered with the sound of their steps on the planks echoing under their feet.

    The tatami was covered with dry leaves blown by the wind, some footprints of dirt, and on the walls, arches and traditional banners of all sizes.

    Garwin found one of them curious, especially the one that imposed the greatest presence.

    It was a bow, almost two meters long from end to end, composed of a black carbon fiber structure and blades reinforced by a network of graphene tubes, designed to withstand unimaginable stresses. Additionally, it was surrounded by a system of mechanized pulleys and a hydraulic assistance module. It was the kind of impossible weapons that are only limited to display.

    To one side of the dojo, a long open gallery displayed standing practice targets, some still pierced with arrows.

    And at the end of the hallway ahead it was possible to see two entrances, separated by a tiny shrine that held ancient offerings, melted candles and incense ashes piled on silver trays.

    All in all a beautifully guarded place of worship and tradition.

    Audrey (Kiss): ...Wait here. I''ll be back in a moment.

    She hadn''t given herself time for replies when she was already seen running towards the end of the hallway, separating from the group and entering the left entrance on her own. She knew in advance that someone would ask again why they were there.

    Izzy: ¡­

    After descending a narrow hallway she reached the new room.

    Audrey (Kiss): Yes... it''s empty ¡ªshe frowned and arched her lips, for a result she had already foreseen.

    She observed the room. It was small, with a single window on one side and a stretcher on the other, just as she had found it before she left.

    She didn''t live there. This was a school, after all, although she usually kept her things there with the permission and trust of the owner.

    This room was shared, and she was looking for the person she did it with.

    She walked to the center of the place and bent her knees until she was kneeling. With a look of discomfort, she slid her hand on the cold wood.

    A small drop.

    She slid her fingers further.

    A puddle.

    Both dry.

    Old reddish stains spread across the entire floor of the room. Too much blood spread to fill the veins and arteries of a single person.

    However, that did not surprise the girl. She had seen this scene before, and if anything was different it was the growing repulsion she felt.

    Audrey (Kiss): ... Where...?

    She sighed heavily, trying to let out her troubled content, and walked over to what looked like a closet against the wall.

    Inside she could see different clothes hanging, some colorful, others with extravagant designs, and her hand reached for one in particular. She had come there for two reasons, and she had found at least one of them.

    There was a suit of armor. Hardened leather and firm metal scales, which she lifted with reverence and at the same time ease.

    She removed the now worn shirt she wore and her simple jeans to begin dressing.

    She started with a thin gambeson that fell to her knees. Then the metal pieces; the straps were custom fitted to her torso as were the bracers on her forearms.

    The segmented skirt fell over her legs, its flexibility allowing the same range of motion she had always been accustomed to.

    With the adjustment of the greaves on her legs, she was done. She had to be thankful for the modernized design based on clip buckles on the adjustments, or it would have taken much longer, when they were pressuring her precisely not to do so.

    In fact, she was beginning to hear the complaints, voices coming from different rooms.

    Audrey (Kiss): ...! ¡ªShe grabbed her bag and headed back to the entrance.

    They weren''t complaints directed at her. There were different voices involved in an argument.

    Shaun: Hey!

    Unknown: Woah!

    As expected, there was no one waiting for her, so she chose the only remaining option, entering the next room.

    It was similar to the previous one with the difference of darkness; the windows closed by black curtains.

    First she found Garwin, waiting with his arms crossed without losing his calm, and following his line of vision she noticed the presence of a new group in front, not new to her.

    Audrey (Kiss): What are you all doing...?

    Unknown: Audrey.

    That person mentioned her name with the naturalness of an acquaintance. Then stepped forward.

    Unknown: So this makes it more than clear. You have brought these people.

    Thin build, blonde hair, tied in a ponytail, letting bangs fall over the impeccable features of a pale face.

    Behind this person was a small group of people, some children, some young, some old.

    Izzy: Do you know them? ¡ªthe young woman questioned to the side.

    Both groups looked at each other with fear and concern, not letting their guard down for a moment.

    Audrey (Kiss): Uh, yes. But I don''t remember telling that people could be let in. In fact, how did you get in in the first place? Jurik.

    Jurik: Don''t be scared. There''s no danger ¡ªturned to the companions before turning to the girl, gently waving hands to calm the situation¡ª I found the keys on the streets. Also, don''t forget that the dojo doesn''t belong to you, but to the master.

    Audrey (Kiss): ¡­ I know. But¡ª

    Jurik: Didn''t you guys hear the radio message? ¡ªinterrupted her¡ª We must let the neighbors in for their safety.

    Audrey (Kiss): What message? What are you talking about?

    Jurik: Meh, it doesn''t matter ¡ªput hands on waist¡ª The important thing now is that there are too many of you. Too many people for one single room.

    Unknown man: Could it be that some of them are infected?

    A middle-aged man massaged his partial baldness as he peered into the crowd.

    Audrey (Kiss): I don''t want to sound aggressive but what are you supposed to do here, in another school?

    Unknown man: I think it''s the worst time to talk about differences between schools right now, Audrey ¡ªslightly tilting his head he showed his gaze over his dark glasses.

    Doger: (Heh, sunglasses in the middle of this darkness...) Uhm, I think I''m getting lost. Who can help me?

    Izzy: Doger and Shaun found them while boredom was getting the better of them ¡ªshe explained to the girl, approaching¡ª. We thought they were looters but looking closely they don''t look like one.

    Audrey sighed.

    Audrey (Kiss): Really... Meet Jurik, we usually train in this same dojo. And this is Cassian, from a nearby school.

    Unknown man: Master Cassian, you forgot to mention. It''s a pleasure, youngster ¡ªhe nodded.

    Audrey (Kiss): Yes... Anyway, this room is reserved for tributes and prayers. You must leave. All of you.

    Gitta: Ah, excuse me. We didn''t know that¡ª

    Jurik: It''s an emergency. There''s no time to respect traditions. We''re waiting for help to come here, that''s all. I don''t know why you''re so agitated.

    Audrey (Kiss): ¡­

    Izzy: I don''t know what history you have, Kiss, but it has no relation to us.

    The girl declared without hesitation.

    Audrey (Kiss): I know, I know. I just came to look for my master. I''ve had absolutely no luck in finding him.

    Izzy: Is that why you followed us?

    They met her when they arrived in the province, as a waitress at the La Qosta hotel-restaurant before the incident. They had no special reason to allow her to stay with them, but they had no reason to reject her either. They had just considered her a curious person, without questioning her true motives. Someone who could be helpful, and she was.

    Audrey (Kiss): Look. I''m sorry I didn''t tell you much earlier, but if I had...

    Jurik: They wouldn''t have helped you. Guaranteed.

    Audrey (Kiss): Hey... Jurik. Don''t start...

    Jurik: Don''t you think they have the right to know what you''re involving them in? Not to mention that hiding information only hinders a search, obviously.

    Audrey (Kiss): Tsk...

    Jurik rejoiced at her annoyance and looked away at the newcomers.

    Jurik: We were attacked.

    Shaun: Dreamers? ¡ªhe asked.

    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    Jurik: What is that?

    Shaun: I mean the virus.

    Jurik: No. It happened many weeks ago, before all this hustle and bustle. In the middle of the night, and in the middle of our training session, someone invaded the dojo. When we heard the noise and arrived at the room, the intruder was standing right in front of our master. The room was covered in arrows and yet our teacher was prostrate before him. Unbelievable...

    Audrey (Kiss): It''s not unbelievable! We don''t know what he was looking for exactly. That bastard just took advantage of the fact that the master was sleeping.

    Jurik: You know very well that the master could even take on all of her students at once if we put her to the test, and none of us could even touch her.

    Audrey (Kiss): Yeah, sure, we wouldn''t do anything just like we couldn''t help ¡ªshe said with some sarcasm¡ª. That guy...

    Jurik: Ah... I couldn''t hit a single arrow. When he attacked us, he was too fast, too accurate. He broke my bow and sent me flying somehow ¡ªcommented¡ª. I was lucky, a comrade got his ribs broken. And when we realized it, he wasn''t there anymore. He wasn''t even looking to steal the school''s funds or equipment. There was just something missing, and that something was our master.

    It was to be expected. A global catastrophe would take all of people''s attention, however, it wouldn''t eliminate the conflicts that were previously and currently occurring; looting, kidnappings, accidents, poverty, corruption would continue to happen.

    The world would keep turning, and people would continue to be people.

    Izzy: Couldn''t you report him to the police at the time?

    Audrey (Kiss): We did, but there was no way to properly identify him. He was dressed in black; he was a little bit taller than... Gitta maybe, and he had a white scarf on his arm. That''s all I could tell the officers. And they... they didn''t even bother to look.

    Izzy: (A white scarf on his arm...)

    Jurik: They did, Audrey. You''re wrong ¡ªcorrected her¡ª. The police did search for a whole week but they didn''t find anything, you mean.

    Audrey (Kiss): ¡­

    Jurik: We haven''t heard of the master since then. It was just a coincidence that I found her lost keys near the entrance yesterday. She could be anywhere (or nowhere) ¡ªshook the head¡ª So... If you''ve seen a very tall woman, white skin, long hair and blind, it would be useful to know. Her most distinctive feature is definitely her blindness.

    Izzy: ...We haven''t found a woman with that description.

    Audrey (Kiss): I didn''t know where to start looking, so I was hoping to discover something when I saw you two ¡ªshe referred to Izzy¡ª. You travel all over the provinces, don''t you? It''s your goal.

    Izzy: Not exactly ¡ªshe clarified.

    Garwin: However ¡ªthe boy intervened. He had been on the sidelines for most of the discussion¡ª, if you need a hand with that, you can stay with us, Kiss. ??I suppose you''ve had your reasons and now we have a clearer idea of ??your situation. But ¡ªhe stressed¡ª you''ll have to give us more details about it, young lady. No complaints.

    Audrey (Kiss): Yes... of course. I will. Uhm, thank you. Really.

    Garwin: It''s a pleasure. And regarding this matter at hand, you shouldn''t worry about space; we''ll take you all equally to our shelter.

    Unknown boy: But we were told to wait ¡ªa young boy stepped in front of the group¡ª because¡­ because of a virus¡­ and that it was dangerous and¡­

    Garwin: We are not going to wait ¡ªhe answered abruptly.

    Unknown boy: Oh. Well¡­ O-Okay.

    Garwin: Everyone will come to the shelter ¡ªhe reaffirmed, looking at the rest¡ª Without exception.

    Jurik: Do you have a shelter? A decent one? We could end up locked up for weeks until help comes. It better be a minimally comfortable place¡­ What was your name? You have to introduce ourselves by the way.

    Garwin: Call me Gar, and yes, it is more than decent. We nicknamed it Mansion for a reason. But we have a serious problem.

    Taking a step closer he placed himself in the middle of both groups, raising his hand until he slid it over the only window in the room, pulling aside the dark curtains.

    It was difficult to see outside, it seemed to be covered in dust, but sliding his hand once more over the glass made it clear; the fog, extremely dense, no longer a color within the red spectrum, but approaching blue.

    It was getting dark. Night was coming.

    Garwin: We have to go back. The Dreamers were lurking in the residential area the last time we saw them. If those damn things... ¡ªhe breathed for a moment with a look of repulsion marked on his face¡ª If those damn things reach the shelter, it''s over. And to prevent that from happening, we need a vehicle, any vehicle.

    Cassian: So with Dreamers you mean those creatures from hell ¡ªhe intervened, taking a step back¡ª, from the deepest hole of the avernus.

    Jurik: Master Cassian, have you not traded with the locals for several years? You finance the very Gran Arena de La Quilla. You''re not going to tell me you don''t have a car or two, do you?

    Cassian: It''s the end of time, Jurik. Everything has been over since it all began. Let''s be more prudent, and make our time on this earth last as long as possible.

    Jurik: Heh, he says that because he runs chains of businesses all over the province. No matter what, he''ll never want for anything ¡ªshrugged¡ª Not before this disaster, nor after it''s over.

    The man was going to respond vulgarly to the insolent comment but he stopped himself.

    Cassian: ¡­We can sit and argue all day if you want. That''s not going to convince me to leave. We''ll wait quietly until the authorities arrive as they''ve announced.

    Just as he had declared, he sat down on a chair in the room, placing his stick between his knees.

    Unlike them, Izzy wouldn''t hesitate to come to an agreement. She had sad it multiple times already; they did not have time.

    Izzy: You mentioned that you are in charge of multiple businesses in the area ¡ªshe said calmly¡ª. If so, do you know a certain warehouse in the area, square-shaped, gray, near the residential area? Two windows up, two down.

    Cassian: Mm yes, miss. It''s on the way to the commercial area, before the residential area as you say, just a few minutes by car; it''s a food warehouse that my family and I opened a few years ago. It was where my whole venture began.

    The man talked too much. Garwin knew what his partner would get to.

    He remained expectant.

    In retrospect, the last time they traveled alone in the area they had no choice but to hide and escape.

    Izzy now saw options; saw a group of people, some from different disciplines trained to face a conflict. Unlike other shelters she had been to, it was the first time she hadn''t found only civilians, ordinary citizens.

    Izzy: That''s where we came from. Or rather, we fled. It was invaded by Dreamers.

    Cassian: What!? W-What did you say?!

    The man stood up immediately as if his limp had never existed. He took off his dark glasses and looked at her, overwhelmed.

    Cassian: M-My wife is there! She works there!

    She was not fazed by his reaction.

    Izzy: Then you will understand that we need a means of transportation as soon as possible.

    And he looked at the ground, thoughtful.

    He could not wait and believe that his family would be fine as he had planned. Although he had heard about an emergency radio transmission warning about the spread of a more than unusual virus, it did not specify exactly where it had spread or the most affected areas.

    Still, he had some suspicion that the new group was lying only for the purpose of convincing him, however, he knew well that there was a possibility that their announcement was true, and as a businessman he would not lean towards miracles or empty words, but perhaps towards possibilities.

    Cassian: Today is the last Friday of the month¡­

    Izzy: ...?

    Cassian: After each season, we transport the competition equipment for routine maintenance in succession, from the arena to the armory workshops ¡ªhe swallowed a bit of saliva¡ª T-There must be at least one truck on standby. Yes¡­

    After hearing this, Izzy turned to Audrey beside her. She looked at the new armor she wore, but did not say a word about it.

    Without weapons, Garwin was hurt. With one, Audrey was able to attack the Dreamer despite having broken it afterwards. And she herself, in her American football suit, was able to withstand an impact that could easily have opened her torso wide. Considering these events, therefore, she perfectly understood why Audrey had equipped herself heavily.

    If they wanted to have a minimal chance of survival, the Replicas were essential. Not only against Dreamers, but also against any other threat.

    The people in front of her had not witnessed firsthand what these monsters could do. Their ignorance would serve the purpose well.

    She then turned to what would now be a large cohort, observing each of those present with her fine, clear eyes.

    Izzy: Let''s leave immediately.

    They walked under the dim light of the rooms until they returned to the entrance, next to the gallery.

    Then moved urgently, checking their few belongings for the last time. They were all strangers to the place so there was not much to take, except for the students; Audrey took one of the bows that decorated the walls without thinking too much and at her side, Jurik took the largest bow, the impossible bow.

    Once they opened the doors the mist crept around them again.

    Audrey (Kiss): ...

    And taking one last look inside, she closed them.

    They were blind.

    One member looked at his own hand. He looked at the grey waves hiding it.

    The winds had returned, traveling from one direction to another in an erratic course, climbing the walls of the abandoned houses like a living being.

    Each gust of wind twisted around itself and dissipated only to thicken the mist that suffocated the town. The group took advantage of the gaps they caused to glimpse their own path.

    They advanced hunched over in tight rows, their silhouettes barely visible as shadows. Their footsteps were muffled by the damp ground, covered in dead leaves and puddles of stagnant water. The wind with the smell of damp earth whistled between the twisted poles, the lack of electricity giving them no use.

    Doger: !

    A rickety, wobbly sign creaked overhead, ruffling the boy''s messy hair for a fleeting moment.

    They were tense, alert. It would only take a stumble, a word, or a minor mistake to be spotted. The fog would not be an inconvenience. For a Dreamer, it would be enough.

    Squinting her eyes, her breath formed small clouds in the cold air as she looked up. With her hand she touched the material of the walls. Hard steel. Audrey had successfully guided them to the high walls of the Great Arena of La Quilla. And then she turned to the group following her, specifically to the self-proclaimed master.

    He immediately knew what she wanted, so he went ahead and took her place as guide.

    The large arena had multiple entrances and exits, if there was a means of transportation available it should be possible to find it behind.

    And so it had been. After skirting the wall they were able to reach the warehouse, and there, parked, was the truck that had been promised.

    Inside the warehouse, the metal shelves stood in disorderly rows, some leaning dangerously, others collapsed on themselves. The ground was covered with blurred footprints, some old, most recent. The loading dock was deserted. Wooden pallets lay overturned and splintered, some with remnants of plastic half-wrapped in packages. Also scattered boxes, some open and empty, others sealed with tape.

    Only one vehicle remained there: a white, open-bed rural cargo truck, stranded in the middle of the darkness.

    The group delved deeper into the warehouse before discussing how to proceed.

    Shaun: Please tell us you have the keys ¡ªhe muttered.

    The man stretched his back, sore from the long journey. He looked at the young man.

    Cassian: Huff... I can''t have the keys to all the vehicles in my company, kid.

    Shaun: Damn...

    Garwin: It won''t matter; I''ll take care of it. Wait here.

    Without wasting a second he approached the truck. The others watched him work.

    Izzy: ...It''ll take a few minutes. Let''s check the boxes.

    Doger: And what about the "Wait here"? ¡ªhe questioned, who was already making himself comfortable by sitting on the floor.

    Izzy: You said we were coming back empty-handed, Doger. We shall change that.

    Taking a different course, she went even deeper into the area. Although she hadn''t asked for it, some members of the group followed her, and so they began to rummage together in every box they could find.

    Izzy: Be quiet ¡ªshe murmured to some children beside her¡ª, if you can''t open a box easily, don''t open it.

    The curious little ones nodded and heeded her instruction.

    Unknown girl: What are we looking for, ma''am?

    Izzy: ...

    She paused for a moment to answer.

    Izzy: Canned food and bottled water will do.

    Unknown girl: Yes.

    The young Audrey devoted herself to investigating on her part. Her incredible sight was drawn to the symbol of the Great Arena stamped on a particular group of boxes.

    Audrey (Kiss): But it''s...! Gitta, Shaun, would you help me open this?

    Shaun: ...Of course?

    She pulled out a set of keys from her bag, on a keychain that included simple survival tools. She turned and unfolded the small knife to use in cutting the tape that sealed them. Shaun and Gitta took the object down from the shelf.

    It was just what she thought. The shine of the metal was reflected faintly on their faces. These were the pieces of armor and weapons that were to be sent for maintenance.

    Replicas.

    Shaun: Guh, they stink.

    Audrey (Kiss): It''s the smell of discovery ¡ªshe said happily¡ª Quick, let''s equip Gitta. This should be his size.

    Gitta: Excuse me? ¡ªhe tilted his head.

    Audrey (Kiss): If all of you were complaining so much about the time, then hurry up. Come on. Take off your shirt. You too Shaun.

    Shaun: I won''t take off my clothes in front of all these people ¡ªhe claimed.

    She turned to both of them after removing a thick white gambeson, made of textile fiber made from animal hair. Something dirty but perfectly functional.

    Her face, now serious.

    Audrey (Kiss): Look at me ¡ªshe raised her chest, showing her similar armor¡ª, I''m not joking. If you don''t want to get hurt, you should wear this. Or have you forgotten what we''re dealing with?

    Shaun: I guess...

    Gitta: ...

    From his side, Gitta removed his own coat without hesitation and took the gambeson from the girl''s hand.

    Audrey (Kiss): That¡¯s what I like. Good. I''ll get more help to load the rest into the truck. He''ll need you to help him put the pieces together, Shaun.

    Shaun: Me? I have no idea how to do that.

    Audrey (Kiss): It''s easy. After he''s wearing the gambeson, place each completed part on top. Replicas are always pre-fixed, you just need to adjust any loose locks you see ¡ªshe explained¡ª. Hurry up before Garwin starts the truck.

    They both watched her retreat towards the rest of the group quickly. Again, without giving them a chance to reply.

    Shaun: Ah, whatever... It''s better than nothing.

    Audrey (Kiss): Hey Jurik, Doger, and the others, I don''t know their names yet. We need some hands to carry all that, if you could help.

    The young woman told the group waiting at the exit.

    Doger: I''m not doing anything anyway so here I go ¡ªhe said, getting up to start sniffing¡ª. Look at that, is it what I think it is? Armors?

    Cassian: Girl, what do you think you''re doing? I went with you so you could start that damn truck and go get my family, not so you could take my stuff and waste my time.

    Jurik: Woah, calm down, sir. Calm down ¡ªsaid, moving to join others around the containers.

    Audrey (Kiss): We''re doing this while we start the truck ¡ªshe clarified¡ª and it''s not like you''ll have huge losses if we take this. Don''t be selfish.

    Cassian: "Selfish" for watching myself get robbed right in front of my nose? ¡ªhe replied, hitting the ground with his stick to express his annoyance and frustration¡ª When the situation is solved you''ll pay for everything. You, to be more precise, Audrey.

    Audrey (Kiss): Yeah yeah. I hope you remind me after the "end of the world". I''ll be on the lookout.

    Cassian: Tsk. Hurry up and turn on that thing.

    The man leaned on his stick and pulled a box of matches along with a thick cigar from his jacket, then slowly headed towards the exit.

    Audrey (Kiss): ...

    Audrey really couldn''t get angry with him, especially knowing that her family had probably already left this world. After all, they found no traces of survivors alive in that dark cellar.

    She just wrinkled her brow in pity.

    Audrey (Kiss): Hm... If we''re going to do things like this maybe I should start calling myself only by my nickname... ¡ªshe stammered to herself as she watched the man lighting his cigar in the distance.

    The air was still heavy with water. Outside, the thick fog moved under the gusts of wind, now in the total darkness of the night.

    Time was up.

    As she looked back at the containers, the girl thought she saw something. An object or figure indistinguishable even to her, crawling by in the blink of an eye.

    Audrey (Kiss): Pareidolia? Huff... This fog has me really confused...

    Garwin: And it''s time to sleep, but here we are, with one truck running at least.

    The sound everyone was waiting for, the roar of a running engine echoing through the depot. Garwin leaned out from the driver''s seat, arranging the wires he had extracted on the steering wheel.

    Audrey (Kiss): You really turned it on ¡ªshe approached excitedly¡ª Well done.

    Instead he exhaled heavily, exhausted.

    Garwin: It''s ready. Call everyone please.

    Audrey (Kiss): Of course. I''ll go get my stuff. Hey, Master Cassian! ¡ªshe raised her hand when she saw him.

    The man had heard them.

    Then he dropped the match on the ground.

    He dropped his cigar.

    His stick.

    And finally, his head.

    Audrey (Kiss): Gh¡ª

    She still held her hand up, looking at the remains.

    It had been incomprehensibly fast.

    His torso, his legs, his arms, shaken and dragged in a single motion towards the fog.

    It had only been an instant. No more than a second.

    A moment so tiny that her mind was still processing what had happened.

    She had managed to see the long, thin limbs hide in the darkness.

    And she had seen nothing else.

    To be continued...

 Chapter 8: The Point of No Return. Part 3

    The young Audrey Kissandra froze as she heard the rocky impact of the head on the ground and saw it roll a few feet, leaving a trail of blood in its wake. Its eyes, dead as a fish''s gaze, pointed directly at her.

    They say a sudden decapitation allows a few seconds of consciousness before the brain stops functioning completely. The master Cassian only managed to see her; the last glance he would give would be toward this girl, not his wife, not his daughters. His vacant gaze remained on her.

    Audrey took a step back and looked up shakily, trying not to meet that gaze again. In front of her, night could be seen on the outskirts of the reservoir. The mist now traveled swiftly from right to left. The gray stream, in gusts that occasionally revealed holes in it, was filled with lights that hadn''t existed before. Audrey could make out those lights, paired and fixed, dozens of them. The night no longer sank into complete darkness; it was alive.

    There was life out there!

    As these seconds ticked by, Garwin was barely able to take his head off the wheel of the truck. Looking through the rearview mirror, he wondered why his partner had suddenly stopped talking, and when he shared her line of vision, he realized the reason.

    Garwin: RUN!

    His shout echoed throughout every corner of the warehouse; no one could miss it.

    A splashing sound coming from the metal sheets on the roofs grew louder with time. Time had slowed down, but not for this sound.

    Yes, everyone heard it without exception.

    Audrey turned toward the call behind her; however, her peripheral vision had caught something at the end of the exit, for a mere instant, entering the warehouse.

    Unknown girl: AAGH! AAAAH! AAAAH!

    They''d caught someone else, this time one of the little girls carrying supplies in her arms on the way to the truck. The metal cans fell.

    It was dragging her along the ground, one leg held in place by strands of muscle.

    Audrey reached behind her own back. She wasn''t carrying her bow at the moment, but her quiver was loaded with a few arrows.

    Unknown girl: GYAAAA! AH!

    Grabbing one of the arrows, she hurled it forward in a single motion like a makeshift throwing dagger, spinning until it plunged into the creature''s temple with excellent accuracy despite the circumstances.

    Hadn''t she used enough force? She acknowledged that this clearly wouldn''t compare to using a bow. Still, the arrow had penetrated. So why didn''t it react like any other living being would?

    That thing lifted the girl, ignoring her shrill screams as much as the arrow embedded in its head, as it stared at Audrey.

    At that moment, she caught a glimpse of it.

    Thin, skeletal, long, abnormally inverted arms held its prey tightly.

    Its torso was swollen like a bag of water, emitting liquid sounds whenever it moved.

    Atop a body covered in dark hair, a huge bald head rested. Two lights, two eyes in it.

    Behind it, leaving the mist, another appeared, its jaws chewing on the same girl''s second leg, stretching it to the opposite side. Its mouth no longer emitted cries; it babbled incoherently. And so...

    Another appeared.

    One more.

    And another.

    Wobbly flashlights tore through the darkness with erratic beams of light, trying to track the shadows moving faster than the eyes could see. The splashing noise of their movements came from multiple directions, bouncing between rusted shelves and piles of scattered crates, making it impossible to pinpoint where they would come from next.

    They were swift, moving on all fours. Inhumanly swift.

    Screams of despair and terror broke the deathly silence that, moments before, had enveloped the warehouse. The tension had collapsed into a burst of chaos.

    Unknown: H-H-Help!

    One of the group members tried to back away, his breath ragged with panic, but his foot caught on a crate and he lost his balance, falling heavily onto his back with a stifled gasp. His eyes widened, barely reflecting the dark silhouette that, from the shadows, lunged at him.

    Garwin: M-MOVE! ¡ªthe boy exclaimed as he waved his hand, signaling them to get into the truck.

    They didn''t know what they were up against, and as the message had indicated, they weren''t supposed to face them. Of course, they witnessed firsthand the reason why.

    Caught by surprise in the darkness of the night, it was clear they had no choice but to escape.

    Boots thumped clumsily on the ground as people rushed toward the exit, knocking over crates in their frantic rush. Planks rolled across the floor, tripping more than one person and hindering their escape. The echoing noises multiplied, reverberating off the metal walls, drowning out the gasps and screams.

    Garwin: Tsk!

    From the vehicle, he could only occasionally see people running back and forth. Visibility was practically zero, except perhaps for the illumination of flashlights erratically pointed in random directions.

    In the driver''s seat of the truck, Garwin tried to fix that by turning on the headlights.

    Unknown: AAAAAAH!

    Unknown: W-WHAT IS THAT?! AGH...!

    Garwin: GET IN THE TRUCK! HAH! G-GET IN THE TRUCK!

    He screamed at the top of his lungs. He hoped everyone had heard him, or at least someone.

    He couldn''t have been more disoriented until he heard a bang coming from the rear, so loud it shook the car.

    Garwin: !

    He whipped his head around.

    Among the previously loaded crates, a high-capacity tanker stood out in the middle. Behind it, people were separating, exhaling heavily. And among them, Izzy.

    Garwin: WHAT ARE YOU DOING, IZZY?! EVERYONE GET IN NOW!

    Izzy: Gah... Gah...

    So they did, but clearly not everyone. Most of the group was lost in the pandemonium. Therefore, he hit the gas.

    Yes, he could have easily escaped the scene; the exit was right ahead, but instead, he was circling the warehouse in an attempt to find the remaining members.

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    The vehicle violently slammed the crates and containers aside.

    Doger: Woah woah!

    They could see the boy jump to the side, almost a victim of being run over.

    Doger: Fuck!

    He cursed, not at the driver, but at the situation. Doger climbed into the truck as quickly as he could. Shaun and Gitta followed suit, Gitta needing help due to the heavy armor he''d equipped.

    Shaun: Gh! G-Get us out of here!

    Gitta: The others¡ª!

    They had managed to get a few more members on board, but there weren''t more than half of their original number.

    Audrey (Kiss): JURIK!

    They heard a voice. It was Audrey, accompanied by the few children, men, and women she could find. She refused to end her search.

    Audrey (Kiss): JURIK! S-SOMEONE!

    The screech of tires on concrete stopped ahead.

    She didn''t hesitate to help them get in, but there were still too many missing.

    Jurik: Ah... A-AH!

    There was Jurik, near the exit. Jurik had tried to escape on his own and now was retreating, seeing the crowd forming in the fog.

    There were too many of them. If they stayed any longer, they wouldn''t get out alive, none of them.

    Audrey had seen him, was about to say his name, was preparing her bow, tense, ready to shoot, when...

    Izzy: Kiss!

    She heard her, and that stopped her. In the back of the truck, her partner looked at her.

    She shook her head.

    She knew what it meant.

    Audrey (Kiss): N-No...

    Her hand trembled at that moment. Sweat made her release the string, and without realizing it, the arrow was fired.

    Crossing to Jurik''s side, it grazed his cheek, slicing through his blond hair, the arrow traveling and disappearing into the darkness.

    Audrey (Kiss): Ah, no!

    Jurik turned around, watching his friend draw her bow.

    Recognizing what she''d done, Audrey was about to... No. She didn''t have the chance. They wouldn''t let her.

    Audrey (Kiss): Gh!

    Her arm had been yanked. Doger, Shaun, Gitta, and even Izzy were pulling at it. They pulled her into the truck, and the space she left behind was taken by one of them, a Dreamer who had tried to sneak up on her without making its presence known.

    The vehicle tried to start immediately, but it was faster. It jumped onto the truck, where the few survivors were hiding, where Gitta lay.

    Gitta: Ah!

    It had caught his forearm, though, and fortunately for him, he was wearing the thick, steel-plated armor, the replica. Even so, it was pulling him hard enough to bring him to his knees. If it continued any further, it would drag him out of the truck with it.

    He drew back his second arm to throw a punch. In his desperation, he thought of nothing more than using the hand that wore the hard gauntlet.

    However, between the thin slits of his metal helmet, Gitta saw that more closely.

    Flesh still oozed from its teeth. There were scraps of fabric, perhaps a child''s dress in color and size, clinging to the swollen veins throbbing on its face.

    Its mouth was open wide, but no sound came from it, as if it were choking on something it couldn''t expel.

    The flesh around its cheeks had been consumed. Its exposed eyes, with reddened sclerae and black irises resulting from fully dilated pupils, oozed fluid from their corners. A tapetum lucidum effect permeated them from the brilliance they had glimpsed earlier.

    An eclipse over the sea.

    Gitta: ...!

    It wasn''t anger that such a sight represented.

    Doger: Fuck!

    In the blink of an eye, his helmet was covered in spatters of shared blood. He no longer felt the same pressure pulling at his forearm.

    When Gitta opened his eyes again, a sharp object was detaching itself from the creature''s head. A hand, Doger''s, was pulling the bloody dagger free.

    The Dreamer was frantically shaking, holding its head in its bony hands.

    It still made no sound, save for the thud it made as it fell from the truck.

    Doger: G-God...!

    He and his companion caught their breath as they watched it flutter and hide back into the darkness from which it had emerged.

    Izzy: GAR!

    Garwin: I KNOW! ¡ªHe clenched his jaw, his racing pulse pumping adrenaline through his veins.

    The engine roared once more. The driver slammed his foot on the accelerator, and the tires squealed on the wet concrete.

    It wasn''t everyone. Of course it wasn''t everyone.

    The driver''s hands gripped the steering wheel tightly.

    The truck swerved sharply to the side, everyone feeling the vehicle tilt dangerously before stabilizing. The passengers held on to whatever they could reach.

    The figures in the fog followed their trail, then, the trail of those left behind in the dark warehouse.

    Despite the distance, the helpless voices crying for help could still be heard; heartbreaking pleas that would merge with the wind''s echo in the gray sky.

    -[?]-

    Sein: Ah¡­

    Such silence.

    Such calm and stillness.

    A yawn escaped his lips, dissipating into the stale air of the room.

    There were no voices in the hallways, or the creaking of wood under other people''s footsteps, nor the howling of the wind against the windows. Only the dull pulse of his own heart, beating in his chest.

    In his hands, the digital radio lay inert. His fingers ran lazily over the plastic surface, feeling the cracks and the accumulation of dust in the speaker slots. He shook it lightly, perhaps hoping for a sound, a click, some evidence that it still showed signs of functioning inside. But it didn''t.

    Sein: (The battery''s dead... I''m sure that message was a pre-recorded joke or something)¡ªhe thought, staring at the tiny black screen that reflected nothing but his own bewilderment.

    It couldn''t function anymore after it had broadcast one last message before shutting down forever.

    What had he really heard? An old ad? A cipher? It was supposed to be an emergency announcement, right?

    Without its sole purpose limited to entertaining him during the wait, the boy straightened his back with a slight groan, his body resentful of having been sitting on the wooden floor for so long. He brushed the dust off his beach shirt with distracted pats, unable to completely remove the small gray specks that seemed stubbornly clinging to the fabric.

    He found himself inside one of The Mansion''s abandoned offices, a disastrous one: overturned wastebaskets, scattered books, open and disordered filing cabinets as if someone had rummaged through them looking for something important¡­ and had never bothered to clean up the mess left behind. Surely the boys had been there before. Nothing he saw suggested recent order, only traces of haste and carelessness.

    How many hours had passed?

    He ran a hand through his bangs, brushing them aside mechanically as his eyes wandered around the room until they settled on the only window.

    It wasn''t possible to see the sunlight. He moved closer.

    It wasn''t possible to see the paths. The fog was too dense for that, even for the small monocular he was fervently testing.

    Nevertheless, there was something he could perceive. It turned out to be a faint sound, repeated with a certain rhythm.

    This time it wasn''t the metallic screech of the wind passing through corroded structures, nor the creaking of rotten wood yielding to the damp. It was music, real and tangible. A tune in the distance.

    Sein: (Does the guitarist also play the flute?) ¡ªHe asked himself, thinking that the musician they had brought with them days ago was the cause¡ª. Aren''t we supposed to stay quiet?

    It was strange. The melody wasn''t coming from inside the shelter, but from outside.

    The sound of a flute. Its notes floated softly, so faint that for a moment he thought his mind was playing tricks on him.

    He began to feel uneasy.

    Before he opened the window to look out, another noise caught his attention: a door closing and some voices coming from the next room, muffled but distinguishable if he put his ear close enough to the thin walls.

    He placed the radio on a table and pressed himself against the wall, listening closely. They spoke in a low tone, with a cadence on their voice, somewhat halting, somewhat nervous, but distinguishable.

    Gustav: Well, Carlota, what did you want to tell me?

    Carlota: The same thing I already told you and what the rumors say. Ugh, I hate it when you get like this.

    Gustav: What are you talking about? We''re doing exactly what you wanted.

    Carlota: Yes, except leaving as soon as possible.

    Gustav: It would be too obvious. If you''re patient, we''ll be able to take more food before they notice.

    Carlota: It won''t do any good if we''re the food ¡ªshe exclaimed ¡ª. They gave us a deadline. If it runs out, not only will they not help us, they''ll also leave us trapped here while those things come.

    Gustav: I can''t just leave like that, my dear. Several of my colleagues still haven''t been found. Not even comrade Enderson is anywhere to be seen, since he was the one who brought us together in the first place.

    Carlota: You''ll find more comrades in ''Wolf Eight'' if you want.

    Gustav: You know we''ve never gotten along with that gang, much less with that Dregan. Leave this to me.

    The woman took a second to retort once more.

    Carlota: They have influence, medicine, food, water, shelter, everything we need and could ever need. This town is lost, Gustav, understand that ¡ªshe added ¡ª. They started walking. I assure you, I saw it with my very own eyes on my way here, and there are too many of them. At least we''ll have a slim chance if you listen to me for once.

    Gustav: ¡­

    Sein: (T-They''re getting closer¡­ The D-Dreamers. I knew it.)

    Avoiding making a sound, he slowly backed away, moving away from the wall as cautiously as he had approached.

    He hadn''t even worried about the fact that a looting was taking place right under his nose. Before reaching the shelter, he himself had seen dozens of figures in the distance, motionless, as if waiting for something.

    The man didn''t seem to fully believe his companion''s statement, but Sein didn''t doubt it at all. A shiver ran up his spine upon hearing the statement.

    The melancholic melody would make its way to become more present. This time there would be no corner to hide in.

    To be continued¡­

 Chapter 9: The Point of No Return. Part 4

    Haeri: Uh... A flute?

    Yong Haeri was distracted once again. Even though her hands were busy, her mind was elsewhere. She was unable to focus on the task in front.

    She had distributed rations, arranged furniture, and now, at her companion Xiomara''s request, she was washing the plates and plastic cups alone with rationed water.

    It wasn''t working. She kept thinking about him.

    She shook her head and focused on the task, on the plates in her hands.

    She looked up.

    The sound of life in resistance, broken murmurs, the scraping of chairs against the cement floor. People occasionally walked from one room to another, most sitting on the furniture and sheets scattered in the dining room of the shelter, the mansion.

    From the kitchen, she saw the female office worker they had met days before, Nerina Luna, insistently clinging to Nisha''s arm. She''d asked him for favors for hours, and they''d become so close to each other that it would raise suspicions in any onlooker.

    Haeri: (Isn''t he supposed to be dating that girl? Izzy? Or is she his sister?) ¡ªShe thought, getting distracted again¡ª (No. Focus, Haeri.)

    It wasn''t working. In fact, seeing them together reminded her more of him.

    A little boy approached and left another plate in the sink. Knowing what he did, he smiled mockingly and left immediately, back to talking and playing with his sister and mother in the dining room.

    Haeri: (Lucky I never had younger siblings...)

    She took a deep breath and returned to her task once more.

    Haeri: ¡­

    For some reason, it still wasn''t working.

    She couldn''t stop thinking about him.

    Him.

    Always him.

    As if she could see him in the reflection of the water between her hands, in the dirty glass of the windows, or in the opaque surface of the stagnant water in containers.

    She remembered his thick hand clasping her shoulder firmly to his trained torso, her responding by massaging his thick back.

    The girl felt a warmth and a chill in her chest, a combination of excitement and anxiety. A gnawing need that grew dangerously, as if she were about to lose control of herself.

    She could hear it in the broken whispers of those speaking in the distance; babble from the refugees that faded as the echo of his deep, masculine voice insinuated itself in her head.

    Yes, she could hear him in her head. In fact, she could genuinely hear him.

    ''Haeri...?''

    It wasn''t her fault she was imagining things again. The tone of his voice permeated her, and she was convinced this time it was his voice. There was no mistaking it; it was a barely audible call from the shelter''s corridors.

    She turned sharply, her breathing ragged, as her black eyes scanned the faces of the refugees as they continued with their tasks. She took advantage of the fact that they were minding their own business to leave hers unfinished.

    Hastily wiping her hands on her pants, she left the dining room and found herself in the corridors.

    ''Haeri!''

    The call filtered through again, but she couldn''t recognize which room it was coming from.

    The building was still new to her; she hadn''t bothered exploring it, and the fact that the windows had been covered by sheets made it harder to know where she was and where to start looking.

    She took a step forward, then another, cautiously moving down the quiet corridor, each creak of the wood beneath her feet feeling amplified in the stillness.

    Unknown: Where are you? Haeri!

    Again.

    Her name, more clearly this time, came from the third room on her right, with its half-open doors. The sound had come from inside, she was sure of it.

    She moved quickly and entered, pushing aside the doors in a single movement and revealing its interior.

    It was an office like the others. A dark wooden desk occupied the center, covered in papers filled with graphs and numbers. Along the walls, metal filing cabinets remained open, with empty drawers. A corkboard still hung on the wall, with a few notes stuck to it.

    Dust drifted in the air, passing along different entrances that connected the room, carried by the gusts of fog from outside that filtered through the cracks.

    Haeri: Gitta?

    And like the other offices, it was difficult to see in the darkness. She walked to the desk, looking everywhere.

    Something wasn''t right.

    No one was there. Perhaps she was in one of the rooms below¡ª

    Unknown: Ha eee iii llly¡­

    Haeri: !

    She heard a voice, and it wasn''t the voice.

    Rashy, sudden, unnatural, as if the syllables had been torn from a throat foreign to the known world.

    The young woman felt her stomach tighten at that moment. The voice could be heard right in front of her, but ahead of her, there was no one.

    The atmosphere grew heavier, the darkness more intense. The heat of her breath became unbearable, but more than anything, the new nauseating smell of iron was worse.

    A grinning shadow loomed behind her, where no one else should have been.

    Too tall and too close.

    She didn''t have time to react. The arms had reached out, slipping over her shoulders and closing around her torso.

    She didn''t see it coming; she only felt an enormous weight clinging to her, embracing her, enveloping her with a suffocating pressure that prevented her from expanding her diaphragm to continue panting desperately.

    Haeri: A-AGH...! HH...!

    She was paralyzed, unable to move, to speak, to breathe, just lying there, staring up at the dark ceiling of the room.

    A shiver ran through her body as the pressure increased. Her breathing was now erratic, and his, imperceptible.

    It loomed beside her, mere inches from her face.

    Haeri didn''t dare look. She knew that if she turned her head and tried to see what was holding her with that overwhelming force, her sanity would shatter. Yet, out of the corner of her eye, she saw it peeking out, which hammered her heart with panic.

    Haeri: G-GH!

    She was fading.

    Haeri: ...!

    Her face, which had previously been reddened by the pressure, was turning blue.

    Her legs were wobbly, her vision blurred in a world where everything was spinning. However, this hadn''t been an effect of dizziness.

    In her fading consciousness, she had somehow ended up on the ground, the air suddenly refilling her lungs as if she''d been submerged in icy water, her gaze barely able to focus on what was happening around her.

    Something, someone, had rushed toward the shadow that had been enveloping her. A second shadow leaped behind the first, revealing it.

    Haeri: ¡­

    The one who had grabbed her was the "anarchist"; Enderson, the man they had negotiated with days before to join their cause and who had disappeared after the incident.

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    But he didn''t look the same. No beard. The Viking appearance that characterized him no longer existed. His head, now partially bald, had bloody pores as if it had been forcibly torn out. His limbs seemed longer than before, and his body was so thin it was surprising he had remained standing.

    A faint luminescence shone from the shadow''s hand behind the man, sliding quickly into his neck. A dagger.

    It was over as quickly as it began.

    The bloodstained gloves loosened the few strands of hair, letting them fall beside the dying body drowning in its own bloody fluids, at her feet.

    She had slit his throat. And now it was no longer breathing.

    A black silhouette stood before Haeri, its weapon still raised.

    Haeri wanted to speak, to ask, to understand, to scream, but her body was still stunned by what had happened. Even so, she could hear her words.

    Izzy: Where''s Nisha?

    The still sleepy young woman only slightly raised her gaze, and could only glimpse the black shadow above her, calmly observing her.

    Time passed.

    She didn''t know what had happened or was going on.

    She had heard the sound of trinkets, the voices of people, sounds so distant they felt like a dream.

    However, her consciousness returned, trying to understand what was happening.

    Night had arrived, accompanied by a dense fog that drifted and lingered in the air.

    The girl''s body ached, as if she had spent her time sleeping on the hard ground. But the surface that had bothered her shone and creaked with every movement.

    She shook her head, wiped her wet mouth, and once again looked up, this time realizing she was being carried by someone else.

    This person was wearing steel plate armor. From the slits in his helmet, she immediately recognized the longed-for gaze. It was Gitta Vintana, both of them in the back of a large truck.

    A flute continued to play in the distance.

    At this point, the young woman was wondering if there was really something wrong with her head that caused her to become so delirious.

    He looked at her, occasionally looking around. He looked dismayed. By subtly turning her head, Haeri had assimilated.

    The shelter, the mansion, was now a hotbed of panic.

    Screams, hurried orders, the cries of children¡­ They mingled with the thunder of hurried footsteps, the sound of backpacks and bags being loaded into the truck''s cargo bed. The rusty office doors creaked as they opened and closed, a crowd pushing desks and shelves in their way. There were no more blockades. Every exit was open from side to side.

    Some ran, clutching the little they were carrying; others struggled with bags too heavy for them.

    Doger: What the hell are you doing?! Leave those things and get in now! Fucking shit¡­!

    Xiomara: W-What''s going on?!

    Doger: Here they come! The Dreamers! That''s what''s going on, ''Mara! Get in!

    Nisha: N-No way¡­

    Sein: THERE''S NOTHING LEFT! THEY-THEY STOLE EVERYTHING! LET''S GO!

    Izzy: Tsk!

    Through the broken windows and half-open doors, the first knocks could be heard in the settlements. The fog made it impossible to see any further than their hearing could reach, but it must have been less than a mile at a rough estimate.

    Waves of Dreamers were approaching.

    Garwin: IS THAT ALL OF THEM!?

    Doger: YES, JUST GO!

    The stragglers climbed into the truck, pushing each other, panting. A woman picked up her son and held him in her arms just as a slender hand reached out of the darkness.

    Unknown: GO!

    Tires squealed against the cracked asphalt, kicking up dust and gravel as they drove away from that refuge now consumed by the dark mist.

    -[?]-

    03:00:00 hours.

    Slowly, the vehicle finally came to a stop with a faint engine noise, sinking onto its shock absorbers.

    It wasn''t due to a lack of fuel, nor was it a malfunction with the truck. They simply couldn''t go on.

    No one moved at first, as if their bodies didn''t understand that the frenzy was over for now. Only the labored breathing of the inhabitants and the occasional creaking of the truck''s frame were noticeable.

    The first to react was the hyperactive Doger. With clumsy, mechanical movements, he tried to stand on the platform and, holding onto the side rails, scanned the surroundings.

    Trees as far as the eye could see.

    The truck remained motionless in the middle of a dense forest. The vegetation surrounded it, forming a wall along multiple paths with no apparent end. The tops, so high that they hid the stars in the sky, hid any possible source of light. Only the truck''s headlights illuminated the road for a few meters.

    Doger: ¡­

    What the boy heard immediately made the knot in his shoulders relax. He listened to the buzzing of insects, the chirping of crickets, making the dry leaves rustle in the cold drafts.

    It seemed as if they could finally take a breath, but inside the vehicle, the tension hadn''t completely disappeared. Some overreacted to the slightest ambient sound; some with their heads down, tried to catch their breath, trying to ignore the racing pulse in their temples. Others scurried deeper among the boxes and containers. Everyone couldn''t stop being alert.

    The driver, Garwin, leaned toward the dashboard, turning off the headlights. The darkness closed in even further on them. It was an instinctive gesture: less visibility meant less chance of being seen, he thought.

    He ran a trembling hand over his thick eyebrows. His fingers gripped the leather.

    Garwin: Just... five minutes ¡ªhe stammered.

    No one contradicted him. Clearly it would be more than five minutes.

    They remained in their seats, each trapped in their own thoughts, in the memories of what had happened, in a night that stretched like an ocean with no promise of safety.

    The wind whistled softly through the trees. A faint, peaceful sound, almost unreal after the pandemonium they had experienced not so long ago.

    The flow of water was heard pouring. Unwrapping a package of plastic cups, Izzy filled them from the dispenser loaded into the truck, distributing each cup among those present.

    Haeri took one and offered it to Gitta at her side.

    Haeri: Uhm... Gitta?

    He was still wearing his plate armor, collapsed on the platform floor, exhausted from supporting his own weight. He probably needed help removing it.

    He had listened to his partner and slowly removed his helmet to drink.

    Gitta: ...

    He lacked the energy to express gratitude.

    Haeri: ...

    For her part, the young Xiomara lit some matches she had managed to glimpse among the containers they were carrying. She used them to light a rustic oil lamp that she placed in the middle of the platform, between the group''s members.

    Xiomara: We''d better¡ª

    Doger: Shh! Don''t talk so loud ¡ªhe murmured.

    Xiomara: ...O-Okay.

    Ema: Excuse me, do you have any sheets? ¡ªThe woman hugged her two sleepy daughters.

    Xiomara: I''m not sure, but let me check.

    Ema: Thanks.

    Xiomara was a little annoyed by Doger''s abrupt comment, although no one could be blamed this time; she had been safely sheltered in the mansion during the incident, so she had no idea what had happened outside, what he and the rest of the explorers had experienced.

    Doger: ...Okay, sorry. Ah... Man...

    Maybe it was time to explain. Doger exhaled heavily, feeling the pressure returning as he pushed himself off the railings of the truck.

    He ran a hand over his face, removing dirt and sweat, trying to shake off the exhaustion that clouded his thoughts, and finally came to plopping down next to the others, crossing his legs on the metal surface of the truck''s bed.

    Working with Shaun, who would contribute what he knew, they began to recount what had happened as best they could.

    It wasn''t easy to put into words what had happened, not when they themselves didn''t fully understand it. But people needed answers.

    There were approximately twenty people in that truck, surrounding them. The expressions on their faces reflected the confusion and fear that still lingered in each of them. Some adults sat with their arms crossed, frowning, waiting for explanations with a mixture of anxiety and despair. Others, younger, hugged themselves, trying to find warmth in the cold dawn.

    Most listened attentively to the boys'' story, while the children, on the other hand, had been overcome by exhaustion; some leaning against the adults and others simply curled up in the farthest corners among the containers.

    The narrators spoke without unnecessary embellishment, without trying to disguise the harshness of the events; for the first time on the trip, something they both agreed on.

    They recounted the chaos that had erupted, the way the Dreamers seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, how the tide of amorphous bodies had swept away businesses, homes, and now their only refuge, without warning. An entire city lost in a single night.

    They mentioned those who were left behind, those who couldn''t run fast enough.

    No, it wasn''t a transparent explanation. Two truths had been hidden: those who were left behind, and how the group escaped thanks to them.

    They didn''t even remember their faces, much less their names. They were people who had recently joined the group, who they had merely found along the way, and whom they didn''t hesitate to leave behind to save their own.

    The young Audrey, a member of that group, remained in the corner hidden between her legs tucked into the passenger seat. The driver occasionally heard her sob quietly.

    The story continued.

    Each word they spoke seemed to plunge the listeners deeper into the harsh reality. Some nodded slowly, trying to process it all. Others squeezed their eyes shut, as if doing so could banish the images of the massacre now behind them.

    The silence that followed was heavy, broken by the whisper of the wind through the dry branches.

    There was nothing more to say, because the truth had already been spoken. Now they only had to decide what to do with it, and the duo sharing the last serving of the day was engaged in that task; Nisha Quinto took the cup from Izzy Rylee.

    Nisha: Thank you.

    Izzy: Gladly...

    The drink was at room temperature, not cool at all, but it was the only one they had for their dry lips.

    Nisha: Did you... have dinner?

    Izzy: No.

    A leisurely conversation.

    Nisha: Iz...

    Izzy: No issues. We managed to load up on supplies we found in the arena''s storage room. Water... Canned food... Even toothpaste, bath soap, and so on. They must have been leftovers from the tourist shops after the events... Even if we lost everything else, this should be more than enough compensation... I couldn''t say the same for the clothing.

    Nisha: ...I see.

    Izzy: Naturally, we managed to find replicas. Five containers. I''ll count the pieces, sort them, and distribute them when dawn breaks.

    She offered a report of the events even though it wasn''t requested, an excuse the young man didn''t really demand.

    He didn''t take his eyes off the girl. And she just stared at the glass of water in her hands.

    Nisha: I apologize... ¡ªhe said in a low, timid tone. A lengthy thank you would have been more appropriate, he mused, but the tragedy was so great that he didn''t dare ignore his own responsibility.

    Izzy: Why?

    Nisha: We asked you out... And considering what happened... I... I know I couldn''t have done much for you, but at least being there would have helped.

    Izzy: Neither you nor I could have predicted what would happen, Nisha ¡ªshe drank deeply from the cup and turned her clear eyes toward him¡ª. You''re safe. That''s all you should care about.

    Nisha: ...

    Both shared glances for a long moment. This time he didn''t look away.

    Even in the darkness, he could appreciate the beauty of those fine, shining eyes.

    Serene. At peace.

    Nisha: I think I should be the one to ask you if you''re okay this time, right?

    Unusually assertive.

    The young woman didn''t reply. She simply raised her weak hand, retracting her thumb.

    Izzy: Like the last quarter.

    Nisha: ¡­

    She dropped her arm to her side. She breathed softly, indicating that she would sleep now, like the others.

    It had been the longest day of her entire life, unaware if it would be the last.

    Nisha: Izzy ¡ªhe whispered her name, putting his empty glass aside, placing his hand over hers.

    Izzy: ...

    Nisha: I''m really happy you made it back safely... Really... ¡ªHe expressed honestly¡ª Heh, what am I saying now? It''s embarrassing... Sorry, it''s late, I guess.

    She turned her hand over, interlacing her slender fingers with his.

    To be continued...