A Second Chance in a Doomed World

The whispers didn't stop.

As Leo and Lisa ran through the ruined streets, the eerie murmurs followed them, slithering through the air like a living entity. Every shadow felt deeper, every alleyway stretched too long. It was as if the city itself was watching them.

Lisa's breathing was sharp, a testament to her control over fear that threatened to take over. "That woman—what the hell was she?" she asked, her voice tinged with both curiosity and dread.

Leo didn't answer immediately. His mind raced through possibilities. The apocalypse had clear rules in his past life—humans had a month to prepare before monsters emerged. But now? The timeline was shattered. Monsters were here early, and that woman… she wasn't normal.

He finally broke his silence with a grave tone, "I don't know. But we need to stay ahead of whatever is coming."

A howl, distant yet bone-chilling, resonated through the city, a sound that was both chilling and unnatural.

Lisa's curse under her breath was quiet, more to herself than to Leo. "That's new."

Leo halted at an intersection, his eyes darting around, assessing their bleak environment. They couldn't afford to keep running blindly; they needed a refuge, a place where they could catch their breath and strategize.

"The subway," he suggested, his voice cutting through the tense air.

Lisa frowned. "You sure? Underground could be a death trap."

"We don't have a choice," Leo countered, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Another howl echoed, this one closer, more immediate. 

Lisa bit her lip, the decision weighing on her, but she nodded decisively. "Lead the way."

They moved with urgency, navigating through the maze of abandoned cars, dodging the scattered remnants of glass and metal. The entrance to the subway was surprisingly intact, but the darkness and grime at the stairwell's mouth hinted at the dangers that lay below.

Leo hesitated, he paused something about this felt wrong., his instincts screaming caution. Yet, the alternative was to remain in the open, a sitting target for whatever was hunting them. 

He signaled for Lisa to follow, and they descended into the darkness.

The moment they stepped onto the platform, the temperature dropped. A damp, stale air filled the space, making it feel like a tomb. The station was abandoned—no bodies, no signs of life. Just silence.

Lisa shivered, her voice barely above a whisper. "This place feels wrong."

Leo agreed. His grip tightened on his weapon. He activated [Empty Soul], letting its first effect protection wrap around him. Whatever was down here wouldn't take him by surprise.

Lisa reached for her flashlight, seeking some comfort in light, but Leo's hand on her arm stopped her. "No light. We don't know what else is down here."

She hesitated, then complied, tucking the flashlight back into her belt.

Moving carefully, they followed the tracks deeper into the tunnel. The further they went, the more unnatural the silence became.

Then, they heard it—a whisper, not from any visible source.

Not from behind them.

Not from above.

From below.

Lisa recoiled, snapping up her gun. "Tell me you heard that."

Leo nodded, stepping forward cautiously. The ground beneath them looked normal—old concrete, cracks running along the surface. But then—

A pulse.

The ground rippled, like something breathing beneath it.

Lisa swore, her whisper was urgent, she made her decision. "Nope. Nope. We're leaving."

Leo agreed, stepping back. But before they could move—

A hand burst through the concrete.

Thin. Pale. Twisted.

Its fingers reaching desperately for Leo's ankle.

He reacted instantly, his blade flashing down, severing the limb. The severed hand twitched, clawing at the air before finally going still.

Silence returned, heavy and thick, as if the whispers had never been.

Silence.

Lisa exhaled sharply, her voice firm. "We're leaving. Right now."

Leo didn't argue.

They turned and ran, not stopping until they reached the stairwell. As they climbed, Lisa muttered, "You ever come up with a good plan, let me know."

Leo almost smiled. Almost.

Because as they emerged back into the city, he saw something that made his blood run cold.

On the walls.

On the streets.

Scrawled in a language he didn't recognize.

Symbols.

Freshly written.

It was as if something, or someone, had been expecting them, marking their path with these ominous signs. 

The realization that they might not be the hunters but the hunted settled over Leo like a shroud.