The sun never showed itself that day. From dawn, a gloomy sky covered the earth like a blanket that foreshadowed the storm that was to come. The wind blew strongly, sweeping away the dry leaves that crashed against each other as if they wanted to flee.

The world was no longer the same. It hadn’t been since that global disaster. In 2030, an unknown virus wiped out everything we knew. Humanity, which had once shown incredible resilience, was now reduced to a handful of survivors scattered across what was left of the planet. Civilization had collapsed, and with it, its structures, customs, and cities. Everything crumbled in a matter of months, as if time itself had taken a dark and irreversible turn.

Humans, always adaptable, now settled for small settlements, waiting to be consumed by the shadow of what they once were. They gathered in groups, seeking the most basic things: food, water, and a bit of pleasure in this hell.

Samantha, who belonged to one of those villages, walked alone among the ruins of what had once been a park. In her hands, a rusted machete she had found in a hardware store—now her only protection against the necrophages that wandered the desolate landscape. She had learned to move with caution, to keep her steps silent, and to rely more on instinct. She was especially careful and preferred to explore alone; she didn’t know when betrayal would come from someone she had once considered a friend, nor when that person would become infected and try to kill her.

The acid rains that fell frequently had become commonplace. Their drops burned the skin, leaving marks that never fully healed—but that didn’t matter. Reaching tomorrow alongside her brother was the only goal in her life.

In the midst of all this, humanity had learned and adapted to the poison that came from the sky, covering themselves with waterproof fabrics and masks that barely filtered the gases as they wandered through the dreadful park of the red zone.

Suddenly, a shadow moved to her left among the bushes. Samantha stopped in her tracks, her pulse quickened. Her breath caught for a moment, and she clenched the handle of the machete more tightly.

A human figure appeared—or at least, what was left of one. Samantha could make out a hunched being, with half of its face destroyed, exposed flesh, and remnants of dried blood staining its tattered clothes.

The most unsettling part was in its gaze; those lifeless eyes reflected nothing, not even a hint of desire. They looked like a dead fish floating at the edge of its pond—perhaps a more accurate description could be found in those apocalyptic movies.

Samantha held her breath as she realized the necrophage’s hands were holding what remained of a body, devouring the organs with frenzy. The scene was grotesque, which instantly made her nauseous, but it was also a warning of what would happen to her if she ever stopped moving.

A chill ran down her spine. She knew she shouldn’t approach; the risk was too high. The E-virus had infected more than half the population and was transmitted by contact. The figure, like an animal lost in its macabre feeding, didn’t distinguish between women or children—it simply remained detached from the world, driven by its instincts to kill and eat. Samantha stepped back slowly, aware that her own survival depended on keeping her distance from that aberration.

She clenched her teeth in anger. She had faced too many of them to waste time. She turned around, hurrying to take another path, moving away as quickly as possible. She had to leave before nightfall—she couldn’t wait for the beasts to gather.

She advanced along the desolate path, the rain falling on her clothes, masking the sound of her footsteps. In the distance, on the horizon, the rumble of thunder made her quicken her pace.

In recent weeks, a rumor had been circulating in the village about a possible refuge, a wall that rose high into the sky and kept the necrophages away. Some spoke of a fortress in the north, hundreds of kilometers from here. But no one had returned to confirm its existence.

As she walked, the rain intensified, and with it, the cold. Once again, Samantha felt the weight of responsibility. Long before all this began, she had never appreciated the value of her family. Now that she was alone with her younger brother, a deep longing took over her heart as she thought of what the beasts had taken—her brother’s deteriorating health, her mother’s warm voice calling her for breakfast, her father’s shouts as he watched the baseball game. Now all of that was nothing more than distant shadows. The cruel reality of this world had turned into kill or be killed.

The stench of rotting flesh clung to her clothes as she neared the village—it didn’t matter how far she walked, the horror followed her like a second skin. Even now, at the sight of the broken gates, there was no comfort. Just more walls to survive behind.

The sound of the beasts echoed beyond the dark path; a dull and unpleasant growl mixed with the torrential acid rain that threatened to touch my skin. Every crunch of dry branches under their feet made me quicken my pace, fully aware that my time was running out. I had to hurry—nightfall spared no one, and those insatiable creatures lurked at the slightest distraction.

Fortunately, the village was already in sight, its blurry silhouettes standing out against the sickly sky. But it wasn't a safe refuge; there was always someone ready to take whatever you had. The gates, already broken and half-collapsed, barely offered any protection, and the distrustful gazes of the other survivors were as sharp as any weapon. Even so, it was better than risking wandering through that damned place. My breath grew heavier as I approached, but I stayed calm, reminding myself that I had to keep going—for my brother’s sake.

The entrance to the village had always been a gloomy place, but that day felt different. Two men looked at me with lecherous eyes, their stares full of desire. It brought back memories I would rather have forgotten, but I couldn't afford to feel fear. Not for myself, but for my younger brother, whose health worsened each passing day. I closed my eyes and swallowed my discomfort as I crossed the gate, feeling how each step dragged me deeper into this place.

I made my way to the ruined hut, the one that wouldn’t last much longer. Each night, the wood creaked under the freezing wind, and sometimes I wondered if it would be the last. The door, already worn out and nearly falling off, opened with a groan, and as soon as I stepped inside, I saw him.

There he was—my brother—lying on the bed, covered by a tattered blanket. His eyes were closed, his face pale, and although his breathing was faint, the persistent cough held him captive.

I approached quietly, afraid to wake him, and checked his temperature. It hadn’t improved, but at least it hadn’t gotten worse. That was something, I told myself, even though I knew time was running out. I sighed in relief and walked to the kitchen, which was really just a corner with a few old, broken pots. The plates were falling apart, and the food—if you could even call it that—was a pile of leftovers that wouldn’t last more than a few days. The water… there was barely two liters left, which meant I’d have to go back to the well. No other option, I thought, staring at the nearly empty bottle.

How many more days can my brother hold on? The question ate away at me, but I tried not to let the thought corrupt me. I couldn’t afford to break down.

Cough, cough!

A dry cough interrupted my thoughts. I quickly looked toward the bed. It was him—my brother. The cough had woken him. His already weak body trembled beneath the sheets, but his eyes remained closed, as if he were struggling to hold on to strength in that scrawny little frame.

"It can’t be..." The lump in my throat swelled with force, and desperation choked me. I felt hollow. My eyes turned red, but I managed to hold back the tears. I couldn’t afford to cry. Not now... not for me, but for him.

I needed to find a solution quickly. Maybe go to a hospital... I thought, but quickly dismissed the idea—the nearest one was over thirty kilometers away, and there was no guarantee I’d find the supplies I needed.

I left the hut with my head in the clouds. Nothing came to mind, and there was a constant unease in every inch of my body.

I walked through the dusty streets of the village, which had once been a lively place, full of laughter and activity. Now, everything was dead. Every corner seemed like a shadow of the past—gray and decaying, a pitiful reflection of this world. The necrophages lurked outside, and sometimes they broke in, forcing everyone to hide before nightfall. Before dusk, the lights went out, and silence wrapped the place like a thick fog.

With no idea what to do, I headed to the chief’s residence—the man who had taken us in during the early days. Though I knew I sounded desperate, I was determined to ask for help. If I could just save my brother, I’d give anything I had—even if it meant selling my body.

As I approached, I heard a conversation leaking through the cracks in the door, and something inside me froze instantly.

"There won’t be any more rations?" someone said. The voice was hollow, lost, as if they no longer had the strength to fight. Hunger had consumed everyone just as the foul air we breathed had.

Food scarcity had already become evident, and with the constant attacks from the necrophages, things were only getting worse. These days, rumors about a wall in the northern fortress spread like wildfire—perhaps people were just trying to cling to some kind of hope in the midst of this chaos.

At that moment, my heart skipped a beat when I heard the chief's voice. Something in his tone had shifted. He sounded different—almost as if he had completely lost his sanity.

"Today… Eden has been condemned," he said in a deep voice, his figure casting shadows in the dim light. "The wrath of God has fallen upon us." His voice rose, echoing through the room with fanaticism.

"The plague ravaged the world and it's our fault! We caused this!" The words spilled from his mouth, filled with fury, though a hint of sorrow lingered in them—as if it came from a deep, persistent regret.

He went silent for a moment and looked at everyone present, but no one dared to speak. They just stood there, eyes cast down, trapped in their own misery.

"This village needs faith… FAITH!" he shouted, almost losing control. As I watched this madness unfold through the cracks in the door, I couldn’t understand how someone could change so drastically overnight.

"Let us worship the Creator with a sacrifice! It's the only thing that can save us!" His voice rose into a manic delusion, and through the hinges of the door, I could see how his gaze had turned bloodshot—like he had crossed the line between desperation and insanity.

What the hell had happened to him? This wasn’t the kind, level-headed man I once knew. He seemed completely intoxicated, drowning in a raw fanaticism that consumed him entirely.

“Hehehe…” A low, almost raspy laugh escaped his lips. The sound grew sharper, more unpleasant. “Since everyone agrees… I propose…” The smile widened on his face, twisted, as if the thought genuinely excited him in a sinister way. “Let’s cast out that child—the useless one—the one just lying there in his shack, wasting what little we have left!”

Clack!

“Who's there?!” The voice cut off abruptly, sharp and alarmed, as if someone had disturbed the little control he had left.

Those present became tense, the atmosphere became denser. Without a word, they rushed to open the door, their hearts racing, expecting to find someone eavesdropping.

"!Tac!"

With a dull sound, the door of the hut burst open . The wind rushed inside, gently shaking everyone there, as they peeked out, there was nothing and no one. Only an empty and desolate landscape, with the sun, almost completely hidden by black clouds that seemed to swallow the last rays of daylight.

A heavy silence enveloped the cabin, only interrupted by the distant sound of trees rustling under the gentle pressure of the wind.

"I seem to be a bit paranoid..." muttered the leader, as if trying to convince himself more than the others. His eyes swept the surroundings for any sign, but nothing. All was quiet, too quiet.

He glanced again at each of the people with him, beads of sweat glistened faintly on his forehead, his face marked by tension.

"This discussion is over. Tomorrow we will proceed as agreed, we will wait until Samantha has left to explore." The leader's voice sounded grave, and at times there was a slight tinge of guilt. But he quickly returned to his usual sinism.

A young man with slanting eyes and a shrewd look stepped forward. - "But boss, what if she finds out what we're planning? If she finds out what we're trying to do to her brother, she'll go crazy.

The leader stared at him, eerily calm. "It's all right. It doesn't matter. I'll think of something..." he commented in a serene tone, as if the consequences of his decisions were not serious enough to upset him. The darkness in his eyes reflected something else: a chilling certainty that nothing could everything was under control.

Rebecca, the only woman in the group, couldn't help but feel a knot in her stomach. Her face contracted scarred with guilt, but the fear of being next was stronger.

"I don't want to do it... but it's necessary. Rebeca thought, as the knot in her stomach wouldn't let her breathe. "We are running out of food. What else can I do? There was no choice." She tried to justify herself but the guilt was consuming her.

At that moment a passing murmur brought with it a question that shook her heart.

"What if he decides to take revenge on us?" someone in the group asked. His accusation-laden voice echoed in the air with an unsettling tone.

The leader sketched a crooked smile, but his eyes showed no vestige of emotion. "You'll be welcome to try, but.... you'll have to pay the price!" he said, the words spilling from his mouth like poison. Her smile grew longer, but there was something dark and sinister about it, something that gave me goose bumps.

The air thickened even more, as if the shadows themselves were taking over the cabin. No one dared to object. Fear, bewilderment and anticipation of some mingled in the air, as the sun slowly faded, giving way to an even darker and more insidious night.

***

『Samantha』

""!Tac!..." (thump!).

The sound of my forehead colliding with the door was the last thing I wanted to hear.

The leader's voice echoed from inside the hut. At that instant, I turned and ran all the way back, feeling the weight of my heart racing. I ran back to the hut as fast as I could, stumbling over some stones and branches, until I found Adell, my brother, waiting for me in a corner of the room.

'What do I do?' I thought desperately. I need to find a way to escape. The night was impossible for me, necrophages roam around, I couldn't expose my brother like that, I couldn't wait for dawn either, the threat of the next day made it even more urgent. Shit! I'm running out of options.

"Wait what if..." I murmured softly.

A disturbing thought rang clearly in my mind, but I instantly dismissed it.

"No, I can't do that," I said to myself.

"Even if the world has fallen, crossing that line would mean no longer being human." I reminded myself again, I couldn't lose myself in the darkness.

I took a deep breath, trying for strength to calm myself, though I knew there wasn't much time. The silence was overwhelming, but my mind, completely panicked, kept searching for a solution. I was having trouble thinking clearly, tiredness and fear were clouding me. I looked around. The situation was critical. Food was almost exhausted, water was already scarce, and the remaining provisions would not last much longer. At times like this panic threatens to consume me, but suddenly, the image of a pickup truck flashed through my mind and that's when I remembered:

"The leader was hiding a car somewhere in the red zone." I discovered it one day while snooping around, my heart in my throat. I had promised not to say anything in exchange for some medicine. I accepted without thinking, without questioning anything. At the time, my brother was in critical condition, and it was something I couldn't do without. Now, that little deal was becoming vital."

Having set the route of my plans, I approached his bed, my breathing still agitated, almost choking with tension. Watching him sleep soundly a pent-up rage took hold of me. I wasn't going to let anyone touch him, anyone hurt him. I placed my hands on his, feeling the cold that still emanated from his fingers, as if his life was a thin thread, about to be cut. I hugged him roughly, wanting to convey some strength, but perhaps the movement was too much. His eyes opened, confused, startled.

-S... sister? -he asked, his voice full of surprise.

-Yes, it's me," I answered, my voice tight. I pulled back a little to look at him, but I didn't want him to see the fear in my eyes.

-What are you doing? -he asked, now fully awake.

I looked at him for a moment, searching for the right words. He was fifteen years old, he could already understand more than he seemed to, but he was still a child in many ways. I didn't want to scare him, but I couldn't lie to him anymore.

-Nothing, just... -my voice cut off for a moment, as a firm resolution took shape in my chest. I looked him straight in the eyes, trying not to let panic consume me. -Adell... We have to go now.

- What's going on\, sister? Why are you acting like this?

Should I tell her the truth? I thought, even if I had mixed feelings, I didn't want him to lose his innocence, his youth... but at this moment everything was crumbling in front of me. I looked into his eyes, and I knew I could no longer hide the truth from him. He was no longer a child.

-The boss... -I began, my voice wavering, trying to formulate the sentence. The boss has lost his mind. He wants to sacrifice us. All of us, Adell. We have to get out of here.