"Are you ready Silvy?"
"Yes"
"Okay let's do this"
I swung my sword up high as Silvy– wounded but unyielding, anchored the Null with her threads tightly. I sprint forward then launching myself up. Every last ounce of my strength surged to the tip of my blade, focused on a devastating point and–
Impact.
My sword shattered…
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[you have died]
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Fuck…
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(12 hours earlier)
Unbelievable… she stood right in front of me– the same woman I've spent my whole childhood with. Silvy Elina. Tears kept rolling down my face, mind– racing with concern as she spoke
"I've tried everything to contact you K'yan… phone calls, mails… everything. And suddenly when this pandemic happened. I just couldn't stop worrying about you." she spoke while trying to hide her tears.
"D-don't worry I'm fine. It's okay, everything's okay." I'm not good at comforting people but I have to try. For her.
Gently holding her face up I rubbed off her tears that covered her cheeks. Looking into her black eyes I realised it's been so many years. Her face is warm from emotions. She didn't flinch, nor startled at my touch.
"Wait… isn't this one of those romantic tension moments, is it? Are we supposed to kiss now?"
Her entire face turned red instantly– as if someone had thrown a few tomatoes on her cheeks.
"NO!!"
I smirked, mission accomplished.
"Cool. Just checking. Plot stuff, y'know."
"You haven't changed a SINGLE bit, have you?" she punched my arm angrily but softly. I couldn't help but laugh at her cute flustered face.
"C'mon I was joking, You know to ease out the situation. I missed you."
"Me too."
[Chapter 6]
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Later I asked about the mysterious friend.
"Well, won't you introduce me to your friend, will you? Because I know you were not controlling those roots."
She chuckled slightly at my observation skills– quite amused. "Great eye Detective K'yan. You sure are gifted."
"Hey clover! Come out, we found him." She called her companion. Interesting one that I've been waiting to meet. After all, it was her roots that killed me.
Upon calling "she" came out from the shadows. Yes, a female around 5'6, brown short hair. Green eyes that are very sceptical, a faint scar on her cheek bone barely visible. Like a reminder of her hard times. Without making a proper approach she stood behind Silvy.
"Hi." Clover said In a very low and dry tone, not threatening nor friendly like it's a sign if you come closer you die.
Something tells me it will be hard to get along. I waved my hand with a little smile. No response.
"We should keep going towards the hospital room." I said while leading the way
Silvy nodded and Clover followed her behind– guards up.
Keeping aside her cold and dry temper. She's powerful– enough to kill me. Turning my attention back to Silvy as she spoke.
"She's not very talkative around people, rough times." she added.
"Well, Clover, nice to meet you, I'm K'yan or Ken whatever you're comfortable calling me."
She nodded approving that she doesn't hate my presence.
"So Silvy what happened to you. All these strings? Virus affected you too?"
"Yeah… I guess it's the same as your crystals."
"True."
A lot of things have happened in the past few days. Don't even mention the part where I literally came back from death.
While walking towards my hospital room, in a bit of chit chatting I found some very interesting details around the corner.
"Wait, the– what happened again?" I couldn't believe my ears as she spoke.
"Yes, the military… no one survived at the camp, every single one either killed or… became Null." Silvy continued
(Null: the mindless monsters who attack almost everything.)
"The military base that was meant to protect normal humans got wiped in seconds?" stopped on my tracks and asked
"Any idea by whom?" Unlocking the door I reviewed the question.
"The last footage from that domain showed a huge muscular figure about 7 feet tall– attacked. Killing, tearing apart everyone. It was truly devastating." as she explained the situation I was remembering the time when I got attacked by something similar in description.
"Well I think I have seen something like that before. On November 28th when I was on a train– arriving at Velmir, my train got attacked by something very strong like this Null you're talking about."
As I spoke, the gate opened with a creek. And we saw a room with white walls along with a floor made with green patterned tiles. No beds, just floor mats. A nice window with the view of broken Velmir (city). And a dim light filled the room, making the white walls look like in the shade of grey. A small ceiling fan was in the middle of the room.
"WHAT!? You survived that?" While entering she exclaimed– definitely didn't see that coming I guess.
"Yes I did, fortunately my powers kicked in and I got revived. Otherwise I'd be down there rotting."
"T-that's insane, w-well I'm glad at least you survived."
"Yeah I did, but I can't stay here for too long, I'd have to go. Enough time wasted here. By the way, where have you been all this time? You know after the virus and stuff." I asked out of curiosity
"Actually we were on the plane when the virus took place, the plane had crashed. We thought we were gonna die but then I fainted and couldn't really see what happened. After waking up from that strange dark figure dream-"
"Wait, did you say Dark figure?" I interrupted.
"A- Well yes I saw this weird dream of this Dark figure saying things."
"What kind of things?"
"Things like I am a monster it's just blurry I don't remember much."
"What about Clover? She had the same dream?"
"No, it was similar but the seemingly dark figure was silent in my case." Clover spoke while looking out the window, not moving an inch nor any change of emotion. "Maybe its scared of me or something I don't really care."
"And after this dream we both went to a nearby grocery store to get some food, water and stuff, we spent our days going from one to another building searching for…" Silvy continued.
"For what?"
"You."
"I… see…" They were looking for me this whole time.
"While we traveled we fought many weirdly shaped Nulls, we never gave up."
"..." I was silent as I opened the nearby wardrobe to gather some important stuff.
"Thank you for finding me, Silvy."
"I know it's not a preferable place to live but… you can understand the situation out there. Compared to that, this deal isn't bad." I looked around the room while I spoke
"Ture" she said
Clover was mostly silent this whole time, she quietly went near the window and looked outside without making any changed expression.
"What are your plans now K'yan?" Silvy asked
"To be honest I am thinking of going to my Grandparent's place. I tried contacting them, but the network is jammed. I need to contact them. I need to know if they are alive." I said while packing up a bag full of medicine, food worth a few days.
"If so then I'm coming with you."
Just as I feared. She wants to join me. This is much more dangerous than going alone.
Clover just looked at Silvy with her same cold dry gaze without leaving my comment or response.
"No, I can't risk your life with mine." I protested "You should stay here with Clover, treat your wounds and-"
"And then what?" I got interrupted by Silvy "Then what K'yan? For how long? You know damn well this is not going to last forever. How long do you want me to run K'yan? Please let me help you."
"But-"
"No more buts and ohs I'm going right with you. Deal with it. I can't leave you alone in that hell." She insisted
"..." I knew this would happen. There's no help, once she dedicates herself to something she will take it no matter what.
"Fine, come along." I had no choice
"So we're going then." Surprisingly Clover spoke up, prescribing her company with us. She continued
"Don't ask me to stay here now, I'm coming with you Silvy."
"..." The room went silent.
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Later that time
I took my first step forward to this new journey– not alone on this one. Silvy and Clover were with me. Countless thoughts in my mind as I carefully looked through the scene.
I will never forget this hospital. My eyes roamed at the huge dent– my landing spot. The broken battle field. And an important task to complete.
Sivly watched silently as I poured gasoline on the Nul's corpse. With an interesting expression she asked.
"What are you doing?"
"It's nothing, just a personal ritual. I don't know if these are actually dead and if so, there's no 100% guarantee that they won't resurrect again. So to play safe I'm burning the body. Also wishing for them to rest in peace."
"That's a very... Deep thought K'yan."
I took a deep breath and threw the lighter into the ground. As the flame grew I watched the corpse turn to ashes in seconds.
May your soul rest in peace.
"Okay we're good to go."
"Where are we heading?"
"To the north." Pointing at the direction I said.
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Few hours later we walked through the center of Velmir.
Velmir lay ahead– broken, filled with danger and a presence of something unknown to humanity.
"This city– what once was a bustling city now looked like a skeleton made of steel and ash. Building leaned like they were tired of standing." I spoke as we walked on the cracked roads that now are carrying the lifeless bodies of humans who once were alive. Burned out vehicles, smoke still coming out of some areas.
"May their souls rest in peace…" Silvy replied– sorrowful.
We didn't talk too much afterwards as we crossed the city looking for life. Yet we could only see darkness. The silence that was covered wasn't peaceful… it was the kind that came after screaming for too long. Shadows move at places they shouldn't. Every step felt like an invitation for something to find us.
Some may still live– barely. We could feel it in the air: the tension, the hunger, the fear that never left. City that forgot what hope is. And we are now in it.
Right then as we crossed the road we heard a bang of blast like a grenade explosion at a distance.
"Did you hear that?" I quickly geared up with my crystals.
"Yes I did." Silvy getting her guards up– ready with her strings. Along with Clover calling her Roots.
We looked around in dim lights off street lamps. Nothing was visible properly. Another explosion was heard.
And before I realised something… or rather someone came flying towards me. Impact was so high even with my armour I was launched back a few yards into an already broken wall breaking into an old house shattering the concrete.
"K'YAN!!" Silvy screamed in terror.
"UGH WHAT THE HELL!?" yelled the unknown boy with unfamiliar voice.
As the smoke cleared I could see him properly. A guy in his late teens, guessing the same age as me. Confused and frustrated while trying to stand up groaning. When he realised I was behind himself barely on my feets. He looked at me. Not scared nor trying to fight just smiled.
Thick black hair styled upwards and slightly to the side. He has a relaxed and casual look with a slightly curious expression, as if caught mid-thought or during a casual conversation.
"Oh hello~ there new monster." he spoke like he doesn't even care if I for once was a real monster.
"Hi, Hero~" I said with the same energy while cracking my joints.
"Oh ho you're not a mindless monster." He gasped
"NewsFlash: you did bump into a monster, just not a mad one." I said
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[End of chapter]