"Boom"
A huge gigantic squid looking monster was hit with a [ 2aura-powered - bomb button ].
And as the monster landed straight down on the ground, it was as though we had been hit by an earthquake.
I leaped as high as I could to get away from the breaking ground and on to the other end for safety.
!Pffts... Over! Over! The monster has been killed! I repeat the monster has been killed!"
"The area is official safe for inhabitants! I repeat, the area is finally safe for inhabitants!"
The blue soldiers said out loud as a bunch of helicopters rained down nets to capture the monster carrying it to only God knows when.
But I couldn't care less. I already got what I came there for. A bag of golden fish bites.
With a smirk I ran as fast as I could into the night.
If you guys don't already know, then my name is Irene and for the past two years, I've been surviving in the apocalypse all by myself.
I have no family, no friends and I wasn't planning on having one.
I know people yap about how having more friends could make surviving easier but to me it's all b***shit.
I have survived two years, while some hardly even survive a day because they be busy babysitting one another.
Yet for one reason, surviving by yourself gets harder day by day.
The world is almost going to absolute ruins.
The government couldn't get the monsters under control and so humanity just went ablaze.
But that was when a new law constitution came to existence.
They call themselves, "The Braven Elites"
A group of rich scientist who for some reason predicted such a thing would eventually happen.
And so for over 3 decades, they spent it building a underground city called "Elite City"
It was a city that literally fitted it's name.
Water? They had it.
Food? They had it
Shelter? Parks? Schools?
They literally built an entire university.
But unfortunately, not anyone could be allowed into the "Elite City"
You were either super duper rich, or one of the chosen ones.
And I was neither of those so I stayed in the old earth. The destroyed and God ridden universe.
And I was absolutely just fine with my life. Though surviving as I said beforehand was getting harder and harder alone.
And just like expected, they universe decided to f*ck with me.
I met him.
Joshua was his name. Tall, black haired, handsome and brave.. yah he was the perfect apocalypse boyfriend.
And the only one who had ever helped me since the beginning of this apocalypse.
I met him one day while hunting for food. I was about to be swallowed by a big, red venomous snake when he and his gang saved my life.
Gave me a place to sleep and food to eat. Since then, I've been tagging along with them while still maintaining my own independence.. yet I still couldn't help but fall for his charming eyes and huge abs.
I Finally arrived at the safe house... It was the two story building at the outstate of the city.
It was safe from the big monsters of the city, instead only [ 2 level ] monsters which are easier to kill where present.
It started raining when I arrived and so I was drenched from the rain, but I didn't care. The safe house smelled of wet cement and old wood, but it had always been our haven a little escape from the chaos outside. I dropped the golden fish bites on the table, peeled off my jacket, and sighed as I rubbed the sore muscle on my neck.
Another day survived.
I was about to call out for Joshua when I heard muffled voices coming from the room down the hall. Curious, I moved closer just a few steps when I heard his voice.
Joshua.
He was speaking low, like he didn't want anyone to hear.
But I did.
"…look, Irene... I brought her this far. She trusts me. Hell, she would even take a bullet for me if I asked."
His voice was calm, emotionless. That same voice that used to tell me I was going to be okay.
"We had a deal," another man snapped. "We give you the meds, you give us the girl. You sure you ain't caught feelings for her?"
I froze.
I pressed myself against the wall.
Joshua let out a short laugh. That laugh. I used to love that laugh.
"Feelings?" he repeated, scoffing. "You think I care about her? Please. She was useful, fast on her feet, knew how to scavenge. Pretty face, too. Kept morale high. But that's all."
Another man chuckled. "Damn, for a second I thought you were serious about her."
"Nah," Joshua said. "Whatever I said to her, it was just a game. This is the apocalypse, not some romance novel. You do what you gotta do to survive. My sister needs that medicine. That girl?" He paused. "She's just a trade."
I don't even remember breathing.
My chest felt tight. My ears rang.
He didn't care? All of it, every word, every stare, every stupid smile... it was fake?
My vision blurred with heat and betrayal. My body moved before my mind did. I turned sharply, intending to run.
But in that moment, stupid, foolish me, I knocked over an empty metal can by the door.
Clank!
Everything stopped.
"What was that?" one of the men barked.
"Shit," I whispered and bolted down the hallway.
"Go! It's Irene!"
"Get her! Fast!"
Their footsteps thundered behind me.
I ran, heart thudding so hard I thought it might crack open. Down the stairs, through the living room, toward the backdoor.
Bam!
Someone tackled me from the side.
I hit the floor hard, my chin scraping the cold tiles. I kicked, thrashed, screamed but there were too many hands, too many arms holding me down.
"Let go of me! You bastards!"
"Easy now," one of them growled, tightening the rope around my wrists. "You're worth a lot more unbruised."
As they dragged me outside into the cold rain, I saw him.
Joshua.
Standing at the porch, arms crossed, face blank.
I spat at the ground near his feet. "You bastard."
He didn't flinch.
"You lied to me," I said, voice cracking. "You...you made me feel like I mattered."
Joshua looked at me for a moment and then shrugged. "I did what I had to do. You'll understand someday."
"No," I snapped. "I won't. I'd rather die than be like you."
He looked away.
That hurt more than the ropes biting into my wrists.
"You said you didn't care," I said. "Then remember this when your sister's cured, when you sleep safe in your bed at night, remember that you sold the only person who gave a damn about you for some pills."
Still, he didn't respond.
As they pushed me into a rusted-out truck, I felt the last of whatever hope I had left burn into ash.
The engine roared.
I stared at the rain-streaked window, lips trembling, heart shattered.
And with a bitter smile I whispered,
"Truly, in this God-forsaken world… trusting people is the one thing you should never do."