There was a time when the world breathed easy.
The skies stretched wide and blue, unscarred by ash or fire. Mornings were gentle, filled with the scent of brewed coffee and the hum of cities waking up. Children laughed in schoolyards, lovers argued over nothing, and time moved forward with quiet confidence. People believed tomorrow would always come.
The air was clean. The nights were safe. The unknown was something to chase, not fear.
In those days, no one looked over their shoulder. No one counted the exits in a room. The dark was just the absence of light—not a hiding place for horrors. Even the silence then was different. Peaceful. Full of possibility.
But peace is a fragile thing.
It doesn't shatter all at once. It erodes—slowly, quietly—until the ground you trusted gives way beneath your feet. There were warnings, of course. Whispers. Strange disappearances. Animals acting wrong. Dreams shared by strangers. But people have a gift for ignoring the end when it doesn't fit into their plans.
And so, the world kept turning… until it didn't.
Now the wind carries screams. Now the silence is filled with things that wait. Now, the dark watches back.
The world that once was is gone.
And no one remembers exactly when it disappeared.
"Now I will ask you again, where did you hide the antidote?"
"I don't know."
"Do you think you can convince me with your worthless answer?"
"And do you think I care?"
"Look, this is also for your loved ones."
"Which part? Where? When you've already destroyed my trust in you?"
But you know what? Even if the world has already turned into chaos, I am confident that those are not the things we are really afraid of. We were already trained to fight and face every struggle and challenge in our lives. That's because most people are having a hard time accepting their death.
Which is why…
"Tell me, why did you do this?"
"…"
"To end this shit? To live a normal life? To avoid them?"
"…"
"For your information, all of our areas have been taken over by those monsters. So, no matter what you do, nothing will hap—"
"Except for the area where the source of this disturbance is."
...The scariest part that we didn't predict, or maybe it was just too late to stop…
"You found the source?"
"…"
"But why?"
"…"
"Why did this have to happen?! After everything we've been through! All the sacrifices! All the endless research just to have a shot at success! Why now?!"
"To ruin it."
...is being betrayed…
"What else is left to fix? If we already know the ending, the world becomes boring and bullshit. Will it be, okay? To live with greedy people who only think of themselves?! Where's the joy in that? When from the start, we've been forced to deal with them?!"
…By the people you trusted the most and spent so many years with.
"Haven't you experienced it too? Then why do you still choose to do good, when all they ever gave you were obstacles?"
Monsters? Greedy people? Yes, those are real fears too. But they're the kind you can actually plan to fight.
"I guess it's time. You know what? I should congratulate you for making it this far and almost finding the answer. But too bad, you're going to become one of them."
Compared to what I'm facing right now.
"Damn it! S-stop this!"
"I can't."
"N-no, I—arrg, I can't die!"
"Of course, you're not."
Instead of killing me while I'm still human, this jerk wants to mess with me first—by turning me into the creature I hate the most!
"No! Aargh!!"
"Stop!"
And yet, I can't help but cry. When did I ever do something wrong to be treated like this? I guess his mind is already made up. After all, we're already at the large, paved gate. Even though the barrier is thick, we can still hear the loud noises from the monsters, which only means there are many creatures waiting behind this gate.
"Can you tell me now, where is the antidote?"
In your dreams!
"I—I will—argh! B-back—gh—I swear—arghh!"
I cried out, feeling like my lungs were about to burst. My vision was going blurry, and my eyes were being covered with red veins—which only meant the virus was slowly reaching my brain.
"I'll wait for you if that happens then… for now, farewell."
That was the last thing I heard before the loud mechanical noise started—signaling that the big gate was opening. The monsters slowly turned, all looking at me. Then they started running like they were in a race.
'So, this is really it, huh? My time.'
But instead of breaking down like some crybaby, I turned around and gave that person a one last glance.
Bang!
And before I could even feel the pain from the monster's attack, my head snapped back—and I felt warm blood drip down my face as I lose my consciousness.