Get down! Get out of my way!

The world was ending.

Outside, chaos reigned—far worse than what had erupted inside the church. The creatures' guttural growls split the air like trumpets of war. They had taken over.

Lukewarm City was now a ravaged wasteland.

Just that morning, the sky had been clear, the sun warm on her skin. Before driving to the wedding, she had leaned out the car window, inhaling the crisp air as well-dressed passersby strolled past.

It had felt like a perfect day. A beautiful, ordinary day.

Now, everything had changed.

As she stepped out of the church, the chaos intensified. People scrambled for shelter, ducking their heads as they fled from the advancing creatures. The beasts charged after the vulnerable, ruthless in their pursuit.

The church sat on the outskirts, where tall trees lined the road in solemn rows. It was only an hour drive to the main city

Maybe this horror hadn't reached there yet. Maybe the chaos was confined to this desolate place.

Heart pounding, she broke into a run, heading for one of the cars parked outside the church. She had to get out—get to town. To safety.

There was no sign of Ethan. She couldn't even go back inside to find her mother. It felt like everything was slipping away, like she was unraveling with it.

"I have to go to town," she whispered, breath shaky as she crouched toward a red Camry. "I have to contact Ethan."

Her phone was gone—lost in the panic. And with the creatures swarming the area, finding another wasn't an option. The only way out was to drive.

She reached the car and pulled the door handle. It opened. Thank God. The keys were still in the ignition—left behind in someone's frantic escape attempt.

Beside her, corpses were piled in the grass. She didn't dare look. She couldn't. Terror gripped her too tightly.

She slid into the driver's seat and shut the door.

Her wedding dress was rumpled, the skirt torn. She caught her reflection in the rearview mirror—brown eyes brimming with tears, red lipstick cracked and faded, her face powdered with dust. Her black hair, styled in tight curls, still held the wedding veil in place.

With a groan, she yanked the veil off and threw it aside. She stared at herself one last time before starting the engine.

The car shot forward, speeding away from the church. The roar of the engine drew the creatures' attention—they gave chase, howling in fury.

Her chest rose and fell in rapid breaths. In the mirror, she saw them—hunched, fast, relentless—closing in on the empty road behind her.

"What are they?" she whispered, glancing from the side window to the road ahead.

Thud!

A creature leapt onto the roof, pounding hard against the car.

Ayra's hands trembled on the steering wheel.

"Keep going," she whispered to herself, pushing harder on the gas.

A few scattered houses began to appear, hidden behind thick trees—but she was still far from the city.

"Keep going," she whispered, gripping the wheel tighter.

More creatures clambered onto the car.

One dropped in front of the windshield, blocking her view. Ayra's breath hitched.

"Get down! Get out of my way!" she shouted.

But the creature only bared its fangs, its hollow eyes locked on hers. Then, to her horror, it slammed its fists against the glass.

Tears slipped down her cheeks. Is this the end?

More creatures crowded the windshield. She couldn't see the road anymore.

Then, out the side window—just beside the driver's seat—she spotted it: the edge of the mountain.

Her lips tightened into a grim smile. "You took everything from me. I'll make sure you lose, too."

Without hesitation, she floored the accelerator, steering straight for the cliff. Just before the edge, she threw open the door and hurled herself out, slamming into the hard ground.

She gasped, pain flaring through her body, but forced herself to rise.

Behind her, the creatures scrambled to escape, clawing at the windows in a frenzy—but it was too late.

The car, still crawling with them, plunged over the edge and vanished into the abyss.

The road was silent. The only sound was the frantic thump of her heartbeat. Overhead, the evening sun hung low in the sky, casting a soft orange glow across everything.

The light bathed her skin.

Ayra closed her eyes for a moment, still clutching the fork in her hand. Then she stood and scanned her surroundings.

This place still wasn't safe. She had to move.

Just as she started walking, a cry pierced the air.

"Don't hurt me!"

She spun around.

Across the road, a girl—no older than ten—was on the ground, clutching a teddy bear. A creature loomed over her, moving in for the kill.

"Mummy…" the girl sobbed, hugging the stuffed toy like it was her last hope.

Ayra froze. The kitchen fork in her hand felt useless. What she needed was a gun, a machete, anything else.

But this fork had saved her once. It had made her first kill.

She was still scared—but she ran anyway.

Before the creature could lunge, she threw herself at it.

"I'll kill all of you!" she screamed, leaping onto its back.

The beast thrashed and grabbed at her, but she stabbed wildly—shoulder, neck, any part the fork could pierce.

"Die! Die! Die!"

The little girl stopped crying. She watched Ayra in stunned silence, lips parted in awe.

"Run!" Ayra shouted, and the girl blinked before taking off toward one of the small, hidden buildings in the woods.

The creature shoved Ayra to the ground and hissed, its breath hot and rancid.

She scrambled to her feet, fork raised, ready to strike.

It lunged—but she dodged just in time, avoiding its snapping fangs.

"You took everything from me," she growled.

Fueled by rage, she charged and drove the fork straight into its chest.

The creature let out a guttural snarl—then crumbled into dust, just like the first.

She staggered back, eyes fluttering. Her entire body gave out, collapsing to the ground.

"What's happening to me?" she whispered, clutching her head.

She fought to stay conscious, blinking rapidly. But the dizziness kept crashing in waves. I can't pass out, she thought. If I do, the creature will get me.

She forced herself to sit up, shaking her head to stay alert.

It was no use.

The world tilted.

And then everything went dark.

Moments after she blacked out, a voice echoed in her mind—clear, mechanical, commanding.

[Sequence 01: Riftwalker Combat System Activated]

Her eyes snapped open.