Chap #5 Red Light, Green Water

Keneric kicked the blower fan and jumped down. He landed with a loud thud on the roof of a white sedan. The metal bent slightly under his weight.

"Ugh… so very graceful," Keneric muttered as he got up, brushing himself off.

He looked around. He had already seen the condition of the parking lot from the vents above, but taking in the whole scene now—it was baffling… and oddly beautiful.

Turns out the green liquid that changed the world after the earthquake had found its way into the parking area. But because of the concrete structure, it hadn't seeped into the ground like it had outside. Instead, the entire parking lot looked like a swimming pool, filled with bubbling green liquid that reached halfway up the cars.

Keneric considered himself extremely lucky. If there hadn't been a car under the vent opening, he wouldn't have landed safely. Only a few cars were parked here—probably belonging to university staff who couldn't find parking closer to their respective buildings. It was a Sunday, after all.

He couldn't stay here. And going back wasn't an option either. A massive golem was still behind him. Worse, what if it sent its mushroom friends to check where he went? Again, that would be bad—very bad.

Jumping into the water and swimming to the exit? That thought never crossed Keneric's mind. He had seen what that green liquid did to the ground, the trees, and the grass. He wasn't looking to grow extra limbs or mutate into a monster. Not today.

Squinting, Keneric spotted the ramp sloping upwards in the distance. It was partially visible, but there was a clear gap between him and the outside world—one that couldn't be crossed on foot.

The first idea that came to him was to jump from car to car until he reached safety. Jumping was his thing. That's what he had done for three years straight in his volleyball career. But the plan didn't seem entirely feasible. Some cars were too far apart. Some too close. Medium distances? Doable. Even a few long ones seemed possible. But the risk wasn't worth it—not with slippery car surfaces.

Just when he was deep in thought, a pleasant voice broke the silence.

"Are you going to crouch there all day?"

"Jesus Christ!" Keneric's soul nearly jumped out of his skin. He almost slipped off the car but managed to stabilize himself at the last second.

Too close. That was way too close.

His makeshift spear wasn't as lucky—it rolled into the green water and disappeared.

Keneric quickly got back up and turned to see who the hell had just tried to send him to the afterlife without warning.

A young woman sat inside a nearby SUV, arms crossed, staring at him with a judgmental look. She had short dark hair and wore large white-framed glasses. A small flower-patterned dress clung to her like she had been on her way to a picnic or Church. Not exactly apocalypse-ready attire.

"You nearly gave me a heart attack!" Keneric shouted.

"Sorry," she said first. "I've been stuck here for hours. Thought I'd be buried here alone."

Keneric rolled his eyes. "I'm Ken. Engineering."

"Joy. Dentistry." She pointed toward the green water with a smile. "Welcome to the pool party. Our theme is forest green, in case you haven't noticed."

Keneric's first thought was: This girl is crazy. Let's leave her here stranded. But then some lingering humanity kicked in, and with a sigh, he asked, "How did you end up here? Dentistry building's on the other side of campus."

Joy's cheeks flushed slightly. She turned her head, suddenly fascinated by the dim emergency light near the exit.

"I was… supposed to meet someone today."

"In a parking lot?" Keneric raised an eyebrow.

Yeah, she's definitely mad, he thought. Too many days in that all-girls building. No sunlight or grass. It makes sense now.

"Yes, in the parking area," she snapped defensively. "Not that it's any of your business!"

"Uh-huh." Keneric went full judgement mode on her.

To break the awkward silence, Joy quickly asked, "So what's a vent guy like you doing in an open place like this?"

Keneric almost slipped again hearing that. Yep… that's why Dentistry girls should be avoided.

He gave her a disconcerting look. "I was playing volleyball with friends."

"So where are they now?"

"They left in the afternoon—"

"No need to make excuses," Joy cut in. "You don't have to pretend you know people. Just say you were playing alone."

Keneric wanted to strangle her. Too bad murder wasn't on his bucket list. Not today. He sighed and pretended she didn't exist.

But Joy wasn't done. "So why'd you come through the vents? Not the entrance like a normal person?"

Miss, if anyone here needs friends, it's clearly not me—with the amount you talk.

But outwardly, he answered, "You wouldn't believe me even if I told you."

"Try me," Joy chuckled.

"Sure. There's a hungry, giant wooden golem currently in the gymnasium with his mushroom minions. They're searching for me."

Keneric delivered the line with a deadpan expression and with the speed of someone trying to catch a train.

But instead of mocking him, Joy pondered and just said, "No, I believe you." She added, "I've seen a fair share of weird things today too."

Keneric raised a brow, intrigued. "Like what?"