I never went into the poisoned dark forest, the trees lingered over me ominously, like tens of thousands of skyscrapers. After the war had ceased, over 90 countries were completely wiped out. The world’s population was at an all time low, I only survived due to a bunker underneath my house. I made sure I had everything I needed to go outside, a radioactive suit, check, masks, check. I snatched one of my small vials, it had the tiny petals of a flower,
deceased, yet I kept it. It reminded me of life before them. I readied my long rifle, capable of shooting at light speed. I put my finger to my temple and lightly pushed, a holographic screen appeared, “leaving again user Mason 5 3?” The robotic voice echoed in my head. “Yes Koa. Prepare my leg with enhanced speed” I replied, looking at my robotic leg.
“One moment.” The robot buffered for a few seconds. “User Mason 5 3, you need to recharge your body. I would advise you a) Nap or b) have bonding time with family.” I tap my temple and sigh. I was alone. I open the vault door and stumble out of the small bunker. Moving around in my suit was extremely difficult and exhausting. I would never know if the air was clean, if I could eat proper food, anything like I used to. I gaze into the
sky. The sky was constantly dark yellow now due to the atomic bombs. Clouds flew like busy roads, cars needing to be somewhere else. I smelled the air through my mask. A fetid smell crawled up into my nose. I gag and mutter, “what is that smell?” I tap my temple again and activate thermal vision. I could see a carcass only 10-20 meters away
from the entrance to my bunker. I look at the carcass, fungi and dead flowers bloomed on top of and around the body. I switch thermal vision off and peek into the forest. Loud gargling and smacking sounds come from inside. It sounded like a hungry rabid animal was eating. Suddenly it stopped. I notice a dark figure straighten itself. Could it
be the invaders? I snap my vision around, more dead flowers and fungi bloomed. I readied my rifle, aiming at the shadow figure… until I heard a distorted voice, it was crying and begging.
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