Awakening

Sora steadied himself, his heart still pounding as he took a step just outside the apartment. The hallway was a chaotic scene—shouts, cries, and the unsettling sounds of creatures lurking just beyond view. His instincts screamed at him to retreat, but he forced himself to stay focused.

As he stepped just outside the apartment, the chaos unfolded before him. People ran down the hallway, their faces twisted in fear. The air was thick with tension, and Sora could feel a palpable sense of dread creeping up his spine.

In the distance, he caught sight of a dark, amorphous shape moving quickly, skirting along the walls as if searching for something.

"Stay close, Roper," he whispered, glancing back at his loyal companion, who was still in the apartment, fur bristling and eyes alert.

Sora took a tentative step forward, his heart racing. He needed to find a way to secure the door against whatever horrors lay beyond, but he couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. He turned back, feeling the weight of uncertainty pressing down on him.

"What if that creature comes back?" he muttered to himself, anxiety creeping into his voice. "I need to block this door. If it gets in, we're done for."

Suddenly, Roper perked up at his words, as if understanding the urgency in Sora's tone. With a determined bark, the massive shih tzu bounded across the room and found a heavy cabinet.

Sora watched in shock as Roper pushed against it with all her might, her strength rivaling that of multiple men. The cabinet creaked ominously under the strain, but Roper pressed on, muscles rippling with effort.

Sora stood momentarily stunned, barely processing the scene before him. "I can't believe this," he murmured, awe mixing with fear. Roper's sheer power was astonishing.

After a heartbeat, Sora shook off his astonishment and rushed to assist. He grabbed hold of the cabinet, helping Roper maneuver it in front of the door. Together, they created a formidable barrier, blocking off the entrance with the heavy furniture.

"Now we just have to wait it out," Sora said, his pulse quickening as he glanced around, aware that whatever creature had come through was still lurking nearby.

"Whatever that creature was, it's still out there," he muttered, his voice trembling slightly. The reality of their situation loomed large, and Sora felt the walls closing in around him. He had to stay strong for Roper, who stood beside him, muscles tense and ready.

Taking a deep breath, Sora sank onto the floor beside Roper. They would have to be vigilant, waiting for a chance to escape or confront whatever horrors awaited them.

"Let's hope for the best," Sora said softly, petting Roper's thick fur. The bond they shared felt stronger than ever, a silent promise that they would face whatever came next together.

Days turned into a blur of anxiety and hunger as Sora and Roper cooped up in the apartment. The chaos outside had quieted, but the silence felt more ominous than the noise that had preceded it.

It was as if humanity itself was being eradicated, leaving only an unsettling stillness in its wake. Sora's stomach growled in protest, a constant reminder that their food supplies were dwindling.

He paced the small living area, glancing at Roper, who lay curled up in a corner, her massive form tense and alert. The remnants of their provisions lay scattered around—empty cans and half-eaten snacks. Sora's heart sank as he realized they were running out of options.

"Just a little longer, buddy," he whispered, forcing a smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. But as he glanced at the corner of the room, his gaze fell on the corpse of the rat they had fought off days earlier. To his horror, it still looked disturbingly fresh, as if it had only recently perished.

Sora found himself kneeling beside the rat, his mind hazy, clouded by hunger. He couldn't recall the last time he had eaten something substantial. His vision blurred slightly as his body seemed to move on its own, driven by instinct rather than thought. He reached toward the carcass, his fingers trembling as they tore at the flesh.

He didn't notice Roper beside him, doing the same. The dog's large jaws closed around the rat's body, chewing slowly, mirroring Sora's actions. Together, man and dog ate in eerie synchrony, oblivious to the disturbing nature of what they were doing.

It wasn't until Sora's senses returned that he became fully aware of the sickening taste in his mouth, the feel of the rat's cold flesh between his teeth. He froze, mid-bite, the realization crashing down on him.

His stomach twisted in horror as he stared at the half-eaten carcass in his hands. Slowly, he looked over at Roper, who was licking her muzzle, having finished her part of the grim meal.

"Oh God..." Sora muttered, gagging as he scrambled back, dropping the rat onto the floor. His mind raced to make sense of what had just happened, bile rising in his throat. How could he have done this? How had he let himself lose control so completely? And Roper—his loyal companion—had joined him without hesitation.

He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, his heart pounding in his chest. The nausea was overwhelming, but at the same time, a strange surge of energy coursed through him. He could feel his body reacting to the grotesque meal, a mix of repulsion and unexpected vitality.

A wave of dizziness washed over him. His mind went blank, a fog enveloping his thoughts as his body began to ache. It felt as if every cell was being torn apart and rebuilt, a painful process that left him gasping for breath.

When he finally regained consciousness, a throbbing headache pulsed at his temples. He sat up slowly, confusion clouding his thoughts. Something felt off, yet he couldn't quite pinpoint what had changed. As he looked around, he was startled by the heightened clarity of his senses.

The faintest sounds of the outside world invaded his ears, sharp and distinct—creatures growling, leaves rustling, and even the distant echoes of what might have been a human voice. His sense of smell was overwhelming; he could detect the scent of blood and decay from what felt like a mile away, nauseating him to the core.

"What's happening to me?" Sora muttered, his voice trembling as he tried to comprehend the transformation. He stumbled to the window, the sunlight hitting his face like a flood. He could see the remnants of the city—a once-vibrant place now shrouded in shadows and ruin.

Roper stirred, sensing Sora's distress. The massive shih tzu padded over, pressing against him as if to offer comfort. Sora's heart ached at the sight of his loyal companion, a reminder of the bond they shared amid the chaos.

"I don't know what I've done, Roper," he whispered, shaking his head. "But we need to find a way out of this nightmare."

"Whatever is happening to me, we'll figure it out," he reassured Roper, though a part of him felt uncertain. The world outside had transformed drastically, and he had too—physically and mentally. Just then, a distant noise—a muffled cry—echoed through the hallway, drawing his attention.

With the knife hidden in the waistband of his pants, Sora stepped cautiously into the dimly lit hallway, his heightened senses alert to every sound and scent. The coppery tang of blood filled the air, and he instinctively recoiled, the acrid aroma overwhelming his stomach.

As he moved closer to the source of the noise, he could hear the distinct sounds of a struggle—grunts, muffled cries, and the sickening crunch of bone. Fear churned within him. He had been alone with Roper for too long, and the chaos outside had made him hyper-aware of the dangers lurking just beyond the safety of his apartment.

Following the sounds, he approached an apartment five rooms down. Peering through the cracked door, his stomach lurched at the sight before him: a gaunt man, wild-eyed and disheveled, crouched over a bloody body, tearing into the flesh like a ravenous animal. The other person, once a human like himself, lay motionless on the floor, limbs splayed awkwardly.

"Why are you doing this?" Sora called out, his voice shaking with anger and disbelief. "That's a person!"

The man paused, glancing up with a mixture of hunger and defiance, dark veins creeping into the corners of his eyes, hinting at something ominous beneath the surface.

"I have to preserve food," he replied, his voice hoarse and rasping. "Meat is meat, regardless of where it came from." He returned to his grim feast, tearing off a chunk and chewing it with grim satisfaction.

Sora felt rage boil inside him. How could anyone sink so low? "You can scavenge other apartments for food! There are still options out there!" His words were a plea for humanity, but they felt feeble in the face of the horror unfolding before him.

The man looked up, eyes glinting with madness. "Options? You think that's what this is about? Out there, it's kill or be killed. If I don't eat him, I'll starve!" His desperation mirrored Sora's own, but the man's choices only fueled Sora's fury.

As the man spoke, Roper remained at Sora's side, her massive form tense and alert, eyes fixed on the gruesome scene. The atmosphere crackled with tension, and Sora's heart raced as he took a step forward.

"Stop!" he shouted, his voice firm. "You can't keep doing this! I won't let you!"

The man's gaze flickered with surprise, but it quickly morphed into rage. "You're just another fool who thinks they can survive without getting their hands dirty!" He lunged at Sora, wild-eyed and desperate.

Roper barked loudly, caught off guard by the sudden movement. Sora's instincts kicked in, his body moving on its own as he raised the knife and thrust it into the man's chest. The impact sent a shockwave through him—he hesitated for a heartbeat, eyes wide with disbelief.

The man gasped, staring at Sora in shock before collapsing to the ground, lifeless. Sora stood frozen, the weight of what he had just done crashing over him like a tidal wave. He had killed a man—a fellow human being.

Nausea rose in his throat as he staggered back, Roper at his side, the dog's eyes wide with shock, clearly unsettled by the violence that had just unfolded.

Sora fell to his knees, retching violently as his stomach twisted. The world around him blurred, and he could only see the image of the man's lifeless body, the act of survival turning into a nightmare. The echo of his own actions resonated in his mind, a horrifying reminder of how far he had fallen.

Gasping for breath, Sora fought to regain his composure, but the taste of bile lingered, mixing with the bitter realization that in this new world, the lines between right and wrong had blurred beyond recognition. Roper stood by, confused and alert, sensing Sora's distress but unable to comprehend the depths of her owner's turmoil.

Sora's world was shifting faster than he could comprehend, and he could feel the pull of something monumental on the horizon.