Countdown in a Broken World
The world was never the same after 2044. The illusion of a perfect world shattered, and the pursuit for outer space came to a halt as the planet began to unleash its fury on humanity. The melting of glaciers around the globe led to the release of long-forgotten secrets and a rise in sea levels that claimed several nations. An asteroid, undetected by humans, crash-landed in the Pacific Ocean, sparking global interest and research. For the next decade, life seemed relatively unchanged. But gradually, the world began to experience significant alterations that would eventually impact all living organisms. The Earth's magnetic field was disrupted, and a thick layer of ice formed around the atmosphere, protecting the world from the sun's harmful rays and accelerating climate change. The atmosphere was also strangely enriched with more oxygen and depleted of other gases. The increase in oxygen was a blessing and a curse. It made humans stronger, faster, and their minds were sharpened, leading to brilliant ideas that transformed civilization. But these changes were not limited to humans, as deadly organisms, including creatures from the deep and reptiles, also benefited. Forests thrived and with it came their dangers, as the growth of reptiles was unchecked and the dinosaurs of the past were reborn. Genetically Modified Organisms were the first to go berserk, and soon, all creatures, including humans, followed suit. Civilization slowly crumbled, and humans were forced to fight for survival in a world where only the fittest could survive. Alex was from a happy family living in the slums, who despite their lack of resources, were content. They were unaware of the changes taking place in the world as they already struggled to survive each day. But their normal life was upended when Alex was just 13 years old. The slums where his family lived were near the sea, and they earned a living by fishing. A storm struck, and a huge wave of water consumed everything, including Alex's family and his rights as a human. Forced to live at sea with other landless individuals, known as the scum of the world, Alex set sail alone in a boat that washed ashore during the disaster. This was the start of Alex's journey as the broken man who eventually found solace in a virtual reality game and fought against the world.
Chapter 3: Zombie land
Alex woke up from his sleep with a terrible headache and a hungry stomach, and the gentle pecks of a crow who was excited to see him wake up again. It had been six hours after the storm.
The boat had got itself struck into the rocks, so it was not moving too much even without the anchor.
Alex got himself up slowly, but he couldn't shake the dizziness he was feeling, he wanted food immediately. He was not having strength to catch some food. 'Come on Eon let's get ourselves some food', Alex knew that the crow was as tired as him, because it was not easier for a bird to travel in the storms on a boat without any food for an entire day.
He drank some water, took a small knife and a small bag containing a kit of essential things and got himself into the rocks and slowly moved towards the lighthouse after anchoring the boat. It was a secluded spot and no one could get there except they travel at least 2 miles (3.22 kilometers) from the coast. The reason there was no coastal guard was that there was no need for them. Because the land near the coast was filled with zombies, and it really didn't need any protection, all it needed was a get out of here sign or beware zombies ahead sign.
But Alex was not aware of this, all he required now was food, food to satisfy his devastating hunger. He found that the lighthouse was locked well. But Alex knew his way around the locks, it was a skill he picked up in the slums, from opening up containers and boxes which find itself in the garbage without any owners, to find any useful things out of it.
He quickly opened up the lock and slowly moved in and carefully analyzed inside the lower floor was completely empty, so Alex slowly went upwards. Eon was a tad faster, it went to the top floor quicker and started to crow to denote there was something there.
Alex hearing Eon's sound started rushing to the top as he knew the sound that Eon made when he saw food. The door to the top also had been closed, but there was a small crevice through the top where the crow had got in. It was crowing from the other side of the door. Alex quickly used the tools to open up the door. When he opened the door, all he saw on the other side was green plants and trees grown in a large pot. The whole top of the lighthouse was converted into a greenhouse of sorts, and water was being supplied to the plants individually by conversion of salt water and nutrients were being supplied by a big machine filled with some fluids, it was placed on the area where the light of the lighthouse used to be.
The trees were lush and had grown well, and fruits had formed on them. Eon had already started to peck on the fruit and eat them as soon as he saw Alex enter. Alex followed what Eon was doing. He didn't hesitate and started to eat the fruits until he was full. He even saw some lemon, he didn't hesitate a minute to change them into juice and drank. It's easy to get scurvy in the seas, that's it was always necessary to have citrus fruits. Alex had taken some amount of lemon and orange and stored it in the boat at the start of his journey, but it had gotten over six months ago. It was a good time to restock his goods he thought, then he got into deep thinking how long should he survive in the seas , he had stayed in the sea for six years should he continue. 'If only there was a way to go to land without getting caught by the guards ', thought Alex and sighed. Eon looking at Alex through the corner of his eyes understood what Alex was going through, He too wished that they could go and live in the land.
Alex got up and started rummaging through a small cupboard placed among the trees. It was an odd sight among the trees. He found some canned food, a map and two notebooks.
Even though Alex didn't go to school, he was tutored by his mother always whenever she was not ill, she till continued to teach him even after she got paralyzed in her legs. So he knew how to read and write well.
If Alex had a better life he would have become a doctor and helped his mother and others, that was his dream once, but the reality was crude enough to turn everything to dust. He had lost both his father and mother to the great disaster, and the life among humans along with it.
Before the disaster, Alex and his father had to work very hard to keep his mother alive and provide her with medications. Alex's father said that she became like this even before Alex's birth, and no doctor was able to diagnose her. In the slums they were living it was hard enough to get the medications, finding a proper doctor was no different. Everyone knew she would pass away but they wanted to prolong her life as long as they could.
Alex took a bite out of a guava, as he started to go through these stuffs. The map was a detailed map of a small numbered city, and some areas in the city were marked as bunkers and safe spot. Alex had no idea how to use it as he didn't know where it leads to, so he just kept inside his bag, and started to go through the two notes. Eon had also finished eating, and it slowly flew near him. Alex opened the first note, and it was filled with words written in a very bad handwriting, but Alex was able to understand them.
'The zombies have started invading every part of the city, it has become a zombie land….'.
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