I was in class when the bell rang for break time.

"Hey Tyrell, let's go eat lunch together.", she said moving outside the classroom.

"Sure, just give me a minute to pack my things.", I replied.

"Okay don't be late.", said the figure as she left the class.

"Yeah, I'll be there in a minute.", I said, finally packing all my books.

Suddenly the bell started ringing but this time it sounded was different. Like some kind of fire alarm. I stepped out of the classroom and found dead bodies everywhere. I was shocked as the hallway turned red. I saw her standing at a corner and walked toward her.
"Hey, what's going on? Are you ok?", I asked, concerned.

She didn't move an inch. She just stood there.

"Hey, can you hear me?", I tapped her shoulder. She then turned around, and I was horrified at what I saw. Her eyes were white and lifeless and her teeth, razor sharp. She then pounced on me like a lion attacking its prey. I struggled to hold her off.

"Hey. Get off! Is this some kind of joke?"

I pushed her off me and saw more people like her. Lifeless eyes, sharp teeth and black veins popping out of their skin. I ran out of there a quick as I could but some of them came from the bottom stairs. I went upstairs and reached the roof top only to find out more of these "monsters" were there. They chased me to the edge of the roof and jumped on me. I screamed, falling. Then I suddenly woke up. My eyes were blurry and my breathing heavy. I woke up in an abandoned building.

"Agh. My head hurts.", I said, getting up.

Then I remembered what happened. I was with my squad when we were suddenly attacked by raiders. We were on a supply hunt when they ambushed us. I said I'd hold them off while they took everything back to the base, but I was knocked out.

"And... what was that strange dream I had? It doesn't matter", I thought to myself as I checked the date and time on my phone.

12 February 2024.17:47. I was out of a while. I picked up my swords, sheathing them and walked out of the building, finding more ruins. The world has gotten worse since the withering. They say it was some kind of virus that turned people into mindless, cannibalistic monsters. A single bite from them would infect a person. These monsters develop black veins, sharper teeth, dull white eyes and dark skin as black as coal. The current survivors and researchers from SKYTECH created bases to train and help people fight against these monsters. However, raiders also formed and tried to destroy the current world to create their own with no laws.

I walked out and saw more of the withered. That's what they were called. They rushed to me, but I cut them down with my swords. One by one they died, letting out a faint wail. When the withered die they wither away like a flower. That's the reason behind the name: the withering. An infected person's humanity withers away, and they become a monster. I got on my motorbike and started driving. I was days away from the base since we had to go out even further to get supplies because of the shortage in nearby areas. I prayed I could find another survivor base close by. Next, I heard a sound I wished not to hear before.

Ting... ting... ting. The sound of my motorbike out fuel.

"Just my luck"., I scoffed. "Where am I supposed to find fuel, now?", I thought to myself, getting off my bike and starting to scout the city.

Suddenly I heard gunshots. As they echoed, I instinctively ducked behind the remains of a crumbled wall. My heart raced, not from fear, but from the adrenaline of survival. The raiders were close, too close for comfort. I peeked over the rubble, scanning for any sign of danger. That's when I saw her, a lone figure standing atop a distant building, her silhouette outlined by the setting sun. She was firing at the raiders, her shots precise and deadly. As the last of the raiders fell, she looked in my direction, her gaze piercing the distance between us.

She gestured to me, a clear sign to come over. I had no choice; my fuel tank was empty, and my options were limited. I made my way towards her, still remaining cautious, my grip tightening around my sword. As I approached, I realized she was not alone. An old skinny man was with her. He was balding, had a white beard and had pale skin. They were a part of a survivor base; one I had never heard of before.

"Name's Elena," she said, extending a hand. "We've been tracking those raiders for a while. Noticed your bike's out of fuel. We can help with that." I analyzed her. Tan skin. Long golden hair and emerald, green eyes. Relief washed over me as I saw the symbol on her shirt being that of an authorized base.
"I'm Tyrell," I replied, taking her hand and shaking it.

"I was beginning to think I was the only one left out here."

"We're part of the few that's left of Base Echo," a gruff voice added. The older man stepped forward; his eyes weary but kind. "We've been holding out, scavenging what we can. But we could use someone like you."

I nodded, knowing that this was the opportunity I had been hoping for.

"I'll do whatever I can to help," I said firmly. "But in return I'll need a favor."

"And what's that?" Elena asked in a stern tone.
"That you help me return to Base Delta." They both looked at me in shock.

"Isn't that the worst possible place in this city? The conditions there are harsh.", said the old man. "It was also taken over by raiders recently.", he added.
I held the old man's shoulders. "Recent? H-how recent?" I asked him, my voice shaking."

"Only 3 days ago." He replied."

"No, no, no, no.", I grabbed my hair, fearing what could happen. "We have to hurry before something bad or worse happens.", I said in panic.

"Fine." Elena agreed without hesitation.

"We'll help you.", The old man was reluctant but he too agreed. As night fell, we lit a campfire and sat around it in silence for a while.

"I know the risks," I said, breaking the silence that had settled over us. "But Base Delta holds something valuable to me. It's not just about survival anymore.", I sighed.

"Elena nodded, her emerald eyes reflecting the fire's light. "We've all lost something to this world," she said.

The old man, Samuel grunted in agreement, his earlier reluctance replaced by resolve. We settled into our makeshift beds.
Tomorrow, we would set out on a journey, but tonight, we rested in the comfort of unity, awaiting a new dawn.

End of Chapter 1.