The Last Town Standing Chapter 1: The Last Stand

Date: April 2nd, 2042 Location: Outskirts of the ruined city of Vardha

Group Chat – Encrypted Private Comm Channel: “Last Line"

MAYA SHARMA (MC)

Ravi? Bhaskar? Anyone still breathing out there?

RAVI – Sniper | The heart of the team

RAVI

Still breathing… barely. But I’m pinned. They’re adapting, Maya. They’re not like before.

SAIRA – Healer | Maya’s childhood friend]

SAIRA

Bhaskar’s unconscious. Bleeding heavily. I can’t heal fast enough

MAYA SHARMA (MC)

Fall back to the temple steps. We regroup there.

SAIRA

Maya, no! You’ll be surrounded! You can’t—

MAYA SHARMA (MC)

I’m already surrounded. Just go.

[UNKNOWN ENTITY – SSS-Class Zombie Detected]

Audio log corrupted – Low-frequency pulse detected]

AARAV SHARMA

Maya, it’s him. It’s that one.

MAYA SHARMA (MC)

The Apex?

SAIRA

Run, Maya… please.

MAYA SHARMA (MC)

No. This is where it ends.

The scream was not human. It ripped through the static and the silence alike. The world had already died. This was the echo of its funeral. Maya charged forward, eyes blazing. Her blade clashed against a force she didn’t understand—but had fought again and again.

MAYA – Final Transmission

MAYA SHARMA (MC)

If someone ever hears this… Live. Don’t repeat our mistakes. And if I get another chance… I’ll burn this apocalypse to the ground. Connection lost. Vital signs terminated.

Chapter 1 – Part 2: Rebirth

Date: January 5th, 2025 Location: Delhi, India Time: 6:17 AM Breath. Soft. Rhythmic. Then fast. Panicked. Maya jolts awake. No blood. No smoke. No monsters. Just… the hum of a ceiling fan. She sat upright in bed, heart racing. The calendar on the wall caught her eye. January 5th, 2025. MAYA (whispers): This is… twenty years ago? No. No, she knew that smell—her mother’s old rose incense. Her room. From her twenties. Untouched. As if time hadn’t passed. She scrambled to the window. Outside, the world was peaceful. Vibrant. Alive.

MAYA SHARMA (MC)

(whispers): This is… twenty years ago? No. No, she knew that smell—her mother’s old rose incense. Her room. From her twenties. Untouched. As if time hadn’t passed. She scrambled to the window. Outside, the world was peaceful. Vibrant. Alive.

MAYA SHARMA (MC)

(shaking): I died. I remember dying. She stumbled to the mirror. No scar on her brow. No ash on her skin. Just… Maya. Young. Whole.

MAYA SHARMA (MC)

I’ve been sent back. Three months. Three months before it begins.