The morning light filtered weakly through broken windows of the library where Reyan and Mira had spent the night. Dust hung in the air like a curtain, and the silence pressed on Reyan's chest like a weight.
He sat on the cold floor, knees pulled to his chest, staring at a stack of old newspapers. Headlines were from **seven days ago**, none revealing the strange emptiness that had swallowed the city. He still couldn't reconcile the normalcy of the dates with the abnormality of what he had lived through.
Mira moved silently through the library, checking the windows, tapping a crowbar against the floor lightly. "If we're not careful," she murmured, "the shadows will find us. They track sound and movement. Even the tiniest noise can give them our location."
Reyan nodded. "I know… I just—" He stopped, realizing he didn't know what he wanted to say. Fear, relief, confusion… all tangled together.
---
**The Plan**
They needed a plan. Surviving one night had been terrifying; surviving multiple nights required strategy. Mira laid it out, pointing to a map she had drawn on a library table. Streets were marked in red and blue, some with symbols Reyan couldn't decipher.
"These red zones are dangerous," she explained. "The shadows are strongest there. We avoid them if we can. Blue zones are safer, but you can't trust anything. Sometimes the safest streets hide the worst traps."
Reyan frowned. "And the people? Are there… others?"
Mira hesitated. "Maybe. I've seen signs. Buildings broken into, supplies taken, but no one I could confirm. Could be shadows mimicking people, or… someone else alive."
Reyan swallowed. "So, strangers could be allies… or enemies?"
She gave a small, grim smile. "Exactly."
---
**Exploring the City**
By mid-morning, they left the library and moved cautiously through empty streets. Reyan's senses were heightened; every sound, every flicker of movement made his heart leap.
They passed a broken playground. Swings swayed in the wind, and slides glinted in the sunlight like abandoned teeth. A bicycle lay tipped over on its side, spinning slightly as if pushed by an invisible hand. Reyan's stomach twisted. He couldn't stop picturing the city before it became empty — children laughing, people walking, normal life.
"Do you ever think about… how long this has been going on?" Reyan asked quietly.
Mira glanced at him. "Every day. I try not to. You don't want to spend all your energy on what you can't change."
They moved toward a row of abandoned shops, cautiously checking doors. Mira had taught him to listen for subtle signs: displaced dust, footprints, a faint tap or squeak. Every indication of life or absence helped them navigate the city safely.
---
**The First Encounter**
As they turned a corner, a sudden noise made them freeze — a metallic clink echoing down a side alley. Mira raised her crowbar, motioning for Reyan to stay behind her.
From the shadows, a figure emerged — young, wiry, with dark, disheveled hair and eyes sharp with suspicion. He held a makeshift spear, stepping cautiously toward them.
Mira called out, "Stop! Don't move."
The boy froze, eyeing them with a mixture of fear and defiance. "Who… who are you?" he asked, voice trembling.
"We're survivors," Mira said carefully. "We mean no harm."
The boy didn't lower his weapon. "Everyone says that. Everyone lies. You won't survive if you—"
"Enough," Mira interrupted sharply. "We're not lying. You can check our supplies if you want. We're trying to survive, just like you."
The boy hesitated. Finally, he lowered his spear slightly. "Name's Kael," he muttered. "I've been… out here for days. Alone."
Reyan nodded slowly. "I'm Reyan, and this is Mira. We've… been surviving too."
Kael studied them for a long moment before finally giving a small nod. "Fine. But one wrong move, and I won't hesitate."
Mira didn't respond. She only gave a slight tilt of her head — an unspoken acknowledgment that trust here was fragile.
---
**Working Together**
They decided to travel together, at least for a short while. Mira led them through a safer route, avoiding red zones and using shortcuts through abandoned buildings. Kael was wary but surprisingly resourceful, spotting traps and broken streets that Mira had missed.
Reyan watched them interact — two hardened survivors who instinctively knew when to speak and when to stay silent. It struck him how little he knew about them, yet how much he trusted them already.
For the first time since he had arrived in the city, he felt a flicker of hope. Maybe they could survive together. Maybe, just maybe, the three of them could make it through another day.
---
**Signs of Danger**
By afternoon, they discovered a partially destroyed apartment building. Mira's eyes narrowed as she examined the entrance. "This building isn't abandoned," she said. "Someone's been here recently."
Kael stepped forward cautiously. "Or something."
A faint scratching echoed from above. Reyan's stomach lurched. "Something?"
Mira's grip on the crowbar tightened. "I warned you. Shadows aren't limited to the streets. They follow patterns, mimic movements. We have to be careful. Don't make noise. Don't look away."
They moved through the building silently, using stairs to survey multiple floors. Dust and debris were scattered around, but signs of human activity were unmistakable: empty cans of food, a makeshift bed, footprints leading to the top floor.
On the top floor, they found a **journal** lying open. Pages were filled with frantic writing, sketches of shadows, and cryptic notes about experiments and tests.
Reyan flipped through it. "…This… this is about the city?"
Mira nodded grimly. "It's a survivor's notes. Whoever wrote this… tried to figure out what's controlling everything."
Kael's hand trembled as he read a passage aloud:
> "Day 7… shadows are learning. They adapt. Don't trust anyone. Only survive. Only… survive."
The words sent a shiver down Reyan's spine.
---
**Night Falls**
As night approached, the three of them found shelter in the top floor of the building. They blocked the doors and windows with debris, creating a small safe zone. The city outside became even darker, the shadows more restless.
Mira kept watch while Reyan and Kael rationed their supplies. Reyan felt the tension in the room like a living thing — every creak of the building, every faint echo of movement outside, made his heart race.
Kael broke the silence. "Do you… do you think there's a way out?"
Reyan glanced at Mira. She didn't answer immediately, only stared out the window at the empty streets. Finally, she said, "There's always a way out. But it won't be easy. And not everyone will make it."
The three of them sat in silence, each lost in their thoughts. Trust was fragile, fear was constant, and the shadows outside were patient, waiting for any sign of weakness.
For the first time, Reyan realized survival wasn't just about avoiding the shadows. It was about knowing who you could rely on — and whether they could rely on you.
--
End of Chapter 3
The night stretched long and quiet, but no one slept soundly. Outside, a faint scraping echoed in the distance — like a promise that tomorrow would be just as dangerous, if not worse.
Reyan, Mira, and Kael sat together, tense but united, knowing one simple truth: in this city, **trust might be the most dangerous thing of all**.