297. Entering Shadow Town

"Huff—huff—huff—"

Rapid breaths echoed in the confined space.

An indescribable stench permeated the air, but to Oliver, it was as if he smelled nothing; he breathed deeply and erratically. In his view, the foul odor inside the garbage bin was far more comforting than the terrors outside.

Swallowing hard, Oliver moistened his throat with saliva and steadied his breathing. He carefully climbed out of the wet heap of trash and gently pushed the lid open a crack, peering outside.

The terrible dark-red clouds surged, casting everything on the ground in a hellish hue.

The drizzle of red rain fell; Oliver knew it was actual blood.

Through the crack, Oliver saw huge bat-like shadows occasionally fly over the town. There were heads floating in mid-air, creatures with six limbs crawling, dark figures lurking in the shadows spying on their surroundings, and beetles the size of fists with human faces...

These wanderers had left the town nearly devoid of living people.