City J Part 1
Marcus:
Marcus always had a bad relationship with his parents. They were always busy, working long hours and traveling, leaving him alone from a young age. Instead of staying home, he spent most of his time on the streets, looking for trouble and getting into fights. For him, it was a way to escape the loneliness, to feel that at least someone paid attention to him, even if it was in the worst possible way.
Over time, those street fights became his way of life. By the age of twenty, Marcus was already organizing illegal fights and betting large sums. To those who saw him from the outside, he was just another thug, a troublesome guy who enjoyed violence. But the few who knew him understood that, at first, Marcus was only trying to get his parents' attention. Over the years, that desire faded, replaced by indifference toward their absence.
Everything changed one day when, by pure chance, he stumbled upon a small orphanage on the outskirts of the city. At first, it was just a quick visit, with no more intention than to kill time. But little by little, the children at the orphanage began to win a place in his heart. Without realizing it, Marcus became attached to them. Soon, the street fights and gambling stopped being just a way to escape or find excitement. He did it for the children, for the orphanage that had become the closest thing to a family he had had in a long time.
Despite his reputation as a tough and problematic guy, Marcus was a good man, though he didn't know how to express it. The fights and bets provided him with the money he needed to help the orphanage. But his bad reputation always preceded him, and few knew his true intentions.
When "Zero Day" came, Marcus was in the middle of a fight when the chaos began. The Scavengers stormed the city, destroying everything in their path. While many fell to the creatures, Marcus's years of street fighting and survival gave him the agility and reflexes he needed to stay alive. He wasn't trained like a soldier, but he knew how to move, how to fight, and most importantly, how to survive.
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Carlos:
Carlos never knew his parents. Since he could remember, the orphanage had been his home and his only family, until Marcus arrived. That troublesome young man who everyone avoided at first quickly became an important figure for him. Marcus not only brought money and help to the orphanage, but he also earned Carlos's affection, who saw him as the older brother he never had. Although Marcus was three years older, Carlos admired his strength, his bravery, and, above all, the fact that despite his bad reputation, he always returned to help the orphanage.
Many times, Carlos had asked Marcus to let him accompany him to the street fights. He wanted to feel useful, to prove that he could be by his side and be part of his life outside the orphanage. But Marcus always refused, protecting him from danger. He knew the fights weren't a game and that Carlos deserved something better than to get involved in that world. Instead, he enrolled him in a mixed martial arts school, a decision that changed Carlos's life. At first, Carlos thought Marcus was underestimating him, but over time, he realized it was his "big brother's" way of protecting him and, at the same time, giving him the tools to defend himself.
Carlos took martial arts seriously. He didn't just want to defend himself, he wanted to be able to protect others, and above all, he wanted to prove to Marcus that he could be strong too. At 17, he was in his prime. He excelled in school and in martial arts classes, motivated by the desire to support Marcus and the orphanage.
"Zero Day" was the day everything changed. Carlos was walking back to the orphanage after a day of classes when the screams and chaos began. The Scavengers attacked, storming the city. People ran in all directions, terror filled the air, and Carlos felt a knot in his stomach. His first reaction was to head for the orphanage. He knew he had to help, that the children were in danger.
Though he didn't have Marcus's experience in street fights, the years of martial arts training gave him the skill and confidence he needed to move quickly and stay alert. As he ran toward the orphanage, his mind was filled with worries, but also with determination. He knew he couldn't fail. This was the moment to prove to Marcus, and to himself, that he could rise to the occasion.
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Alicia:
Alicia had been a bright girl since she was little, her ability to solve problems and find quick solutions surprising everyone at the orphanage. While other kids played or got into trouble, she took care of more practical things: helping with the orphanage's finances, finding ways to save money on purchases, and organizing study sessions for the younger kids. She didn't like being the center of attention, but her ability to keep everything in order and her maturity made her a respected figure among both the children and the caretakers. To them, Alicia was a pillar.
Her relationship with Marcus and Carlos was special. The three, though very different, shared a unique connection. For Alicia, Marcus was like an older brother, protective, though a bit wild and rough. She knew that behind his tough-guy image, there was a kindness that few recognized. With Carlos, the relationship was different; they were closer in age, and often shared ideas, dreams, and concerns about the future. She saw them as the older brothers of the orphanage, always there to take care of everyone.
"Zero Day" tested everything Alicia had learned. When the Scavengers attacked, chaos reigned in the streets. The orphanage, which had once been her safe haven, became a death trap. The caretakers did everything they could to protect the children, sacrificing themselves to buy them time to escape. Alicia, just 16 years old, suddenly found herself in a leadership position. She knew she couldn't afford to be scared. She had to be strong, for the children, for the caretakers who trusted her, and for her own survival.
Guiding the children was harder than she could have ever imagined. Some were terrified, crying uncontrollably, while others simply refused to move. But Alicia didn't waver. She used her intelligence to find the safest places to hide, moving quickly and stealthily. Despite her best efforts, not all of them survived. That weight, that guilt, would follow her for a long time.
When Marcus and Carlos finally arrived at the orphanage, they found a desolate scene: a building in ruins, and only a handful of children huddled next to Alicia, her face covered in tears, but her eyes showing an unshakable determination. She had done everything she could, and though she had failed to save everyone, she had gone to great lengths to save those she could.
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POV: Marcus
Marcus never imagined what it would feel like to lose everything in a matter of hours. Street fights had always been his escape valve, a space where he could feel alive, even if it was through punches and chaos. But as soon as he saw the black smoke rising from the direction of the orphanage, something inside him broke.
Growing up without emotional support from his parents, he had built a tough shell around himself. Only on the streets had he found his place. But the orphanage, and the children who lived there, gave him something he didn't know he needed: a family. He was a delinquent, sure, but every penny he earned from the fights went to the orphanage. The kids, Carlos, Alicia... they gave him a purpose, something to fight for beyond violence.
When the Scavengers attacked City J, chaos exploded like a bomb. Screams, destruction, and creatures that seemed pulled from a dark nightmare took over the streets. But Marcus didn't think about his own survival; he only thought about the kids. He ran like he had never run before, dodging the creatures that destroyed everything in their path. His street-fighting training kept him alert and agile, but the terror and desperation clouded his mind. He didn't know what he would find when he reached the orphanage, but he feared the worst.
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POV: Carlos
Carlos didn't take long to follow in Marcus's footsteps when he heard the first news of the attack. He barely had time to drop his backpack before he took off running toward the orphanage. Everything he had learned in his martial arts training didn't prepare him for what he saw in the streets of City J: buildings on fire, people running aimlessly, and the horrible silhouettes of the Scavengers chasing the few that were still alive.
With every step he took, his mind could only think of one thing: the children. The orphanage. Alicia.
Fear consumed him, but it also pushed him forward. He had to make it in time, he had to be strong like Marcus had taught him. But inside, a voice screamed that maybe it would be too late. Still, he didn't allow himself to stop, not even for a second. His training gave him an advantage; he could move quickly through the rubble, dodge the Scavengers' attacks, and stay out of sight, but desperation consumed him. Everything he had known, the life he had built with Marcus and the others, could be falling apart right then.
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POV: Alicia
"Zero Day" was the day Alicia realized that her intelligence and maturity, those qualities that had always set her apart at the orphanage, wouldn't be enough to face the brutal reality that was coming. When the Scavengers attacked, confusion and terror took over the orphanage. The caretakers tried to protect the children, but they knew they wouldn't hold out for long.
Alicia, though terrified, assumed the leadership of the children she loved so much. She had no choice. She knew that if she didn't do something, they would all die. She found hiding spots, guiding them quickly, but not everyone managed to follow her. Some stayed behind, frozen in fear, while others ran aimlessly, overcome by panic.
When the caregivers fell, sacrificing themselves to give them a chance, Alicia felt a mixture of helplessness and heartbreaking pain. She had to keep going, she couldn't stop, not even to mourn. But every time a child didn't make it, every time she heard a muffled scream in the distance, a part of her broke a little more.
In the end, only a few children survived. They hid in the ruins of the orphanage, trembling with fear as Alicia tried to keep them calm. But inside her, she felt the weight of guilt, the feeling of having failed, even though she had done everything in her power.
When Marcus and Carlos arrived, the relief was immense, but also bittersweet. The orphanage, her home, was in ruins. The people who had been her family, her protectors, were no longer there. Yet, seeing Marcus and Carlos, she felt a spark of hope. Together, they could still survive.