Silence reigned in the underground shelter, broken only by the rhythmic dripping of a cracked pipe and the erratic breaths of the survivors.
Nael had been awake for a few hours now, leaning against a cold wall with his knees drawn to his chest. Takeshi was half-asleep, drained by the running, the fear, and the hunger that had started clawing back into them. A few meters away, the man and his sister hadn't moved since their arrival. The girl still trembled under a torn blanket, her skin pale, almost waxy. The man hadn't taken his eyes off Nael once.
Finally, he spoke, his voice hoarse.
"It's not over, you know."
Nael slowly raised his head, staring at the man. In his eyes was a cold weariness, the quiet certainty of someone who had accepted the end.
"What do you mean?"
The man looked away, silent for a moment before replying.
"The earthquake… was just the beginning. We're surrounded by water, kid. The country's an island. And when a magnitude 7 quake shakes the crust... the sea reacts. A tsunami. That's what's coming. Not now, but soon."
Nael's heart clenched. He glanced at Takeshi, still half-asleep, then lowered his gaze.
'I don't know exactly what that is, but it doesn't sound good.'
He took a deep breath, holding back a shiver.
The tremors had lessened somewhat, but they were still present—subtle quivers beneath the floor of the shelter. Since arriving on Earth, Nael had been thrown from danger to danger without rest. Now that he had managed to close his eyes for a few hours, the full weight of his ordeal began to sink in.
First, the earthquake that nearly killed him several times. Then meeting Takeshi—was that really a coincidence? The time spent at the shelter, which was probably in ruins now. The trek through a shattered city in search of something solid. And now… a tsunami?
His thoughts made his head throb.
He reached for his bag, found it, and took out one of the food rations the woman had given him before they'd left. He set aside another for Takeshi.
'What the hell is this trial?! Damn it, I'd rather fight monsters. At least you can kill those.'
His hands clenched. But he said nothing.
Minutes passed in oppressive silence. The air was thick, saturated with mildew and quiet dread. The few whispers exchanged were low, as if any louder sound might bring the rest of the world crashing down.
The man's eyes drifted to the food ration in Nael's hands.
"So… you got kicked out of the shelter too?"
Nael met his gaze. He hesitated for a second, then lied.
"Yeah. They pushed us out. Too many people, they said."
The man's brows furrowed slightly.
"We got there too late. They looked at my sister and slammed the door on us."
A heavy silence followed, broken only by the steady drip of water from the pipes.
Nael swallowed hard, glancing at the girl trembling in her sleep.
"Is she doing any better?"
The man shrugged, a bitter smile tugging at his lips.
"She's sick. But alive... for now."
Nael lowered his eyes and frowned, thinking for a moment.
"You said a tsunami was coming. From what I understand, it's a massive wave, right? Wouldn't it be safer to go up, find high ground?"
The man shook his head slowly, staring at the concrete floor.
"The building's too unstable. If we go higher, the whole thing might collapse with us in it. It's safer down here."
Nael nodded slowly, glancing at Takeshi's calm breathing.
"I see."
Time dragged on again, marked only by the dull creaking of the structure and the occasional cough. Takeshi had awakened by then, quietly chewing his portion with his usual silence. Nael suddenly thought of the man and his sister. They must have been here for days, starving.
Unlike him, they didn't have a bag of food.
He hesitated, then pulled out two more rations from his nearly empty bag and stood up. The man had watched him the whole time, eyes filled with fatigue and cautious hope.
Nael walked over and crouched beside him, holding out the food.
"Do you want some?"
The man's eyes widened. He stared at Nael for a moment, speechless. Then slowly reached out, as if afraid the ration might vanish. He placed one next to his sister, who still slept.
Nael went back to sit next to Takeshi, who had watched the whole scene in silence.
The man muttered a brief thanks.
But just as he was about to open the packet, something shifted in his expression. His eyes narrowed. His jaw tensed.
"Wait a minute…"
He looked up sharply, eyes now cold and alert.
"Why do you even have this, if you were kicked out like us?"
Nael's muscles tensed.
"Well… I guess they didn't want to leave us starving?"
The man's face darkened further.
"You're lying. I saw you two before they shut the gate! You lied to me, you little rat!"
Nael raised his hands, defensive.
"Calm down. Listen, I—"
But the man was already on his feet, rage pouring from his voice.
"Because of you, we didn't get in!" he shouted, trembling. "My SISTER was already sick, and they shut the door in our face! But YOU? You get food?!"
Takeshi flinched. The girl let out a faint moan, still asleep.
"We didn't decide who got in," Nael said firmly. "I gave you food. That doesn't give you the right—"
"YOU THINK THAT FIXES IT?!"
The man lunged, closing the distance in seconds.
Nael sprang up too, but he wasn't ready. His arm still ached. He hadn't rested enough for a real fight. And more than that, he didn't wanted to fight.
Takeshi had backed into a corner, eyes wide with fear.
'Shit, shit, why now?! Why does everyone want to fight me?! '