Chapter 3: The truth

Chapter 3: The Truth

The dim corridors of the underground shelter stretched ahead, lined with flickering lanterns and shadows that clung to the walls like stains. Alex and Jonah walked side by side, their footsteps echoing in the narrow tunnel.

"You haven't said a word since we started walking," Jonah said, glancing over his shoulder.

They passed a group of survivors gathered around a fire pit, their faces hollow, eyes dulled by exhaustion and fear.

Alex frowned. "Maybe because no one's said anything that makes sense yet."

Jonah gave a dry chuckle and stopped at a rusted door. With a grunt, he pushed it open and led Alex into a small, dimly lit room. It looked like an old storage closet, repurposed into a command post. A battered table stood in the center, with two mismatched chairs on either side. On the wall behind them was a map of the city, torn and covered in red circles and black Xs.

Jonah gestured to the chair. "Sit."

Alex didn't move.

"You wanted answers," Jonah said. "This is me giving them."

After a beat, Alex dragged the chair back and dropped into it. With folded arms, he stared icly, his expression,

unreadable.

Jonah leaned against his chair and replied with low voice.

"This place… it's not like any other fallen city. I meant that literally, when l said it. People come here, but they don't leave."

Alex scoffed. "So what—you're saying there's no way out?"

Jonah gave a short nod. "That's right. And I don't mean there's a wall or a border. It's intangible. Something you can't see or measure.People who try to leave vanish. Or they come back… insane. Or worse. We've found bodies at the edges—mutilated beyond recognition."

Alex leaned forward, his jaw tight. "And that's supposed to scare me?"

Jonah's expression didn't change. "That's not even the worst part."

Alex opened his mouth to speak, but Jonah continued.

"Every full moon, the Crazes change."

Alex raised an eyebrow. "Change how?"

"They transform," Jonah said. "Every one of them. Their physical strength triples, maybe more. Their bodies mutate, but their minds… sharpen and they become very intelligent. And worse—organized."

Alex's voice dropped. "What for?"

Jonah met his eyes. "Ritual sacrifice."

Alex went still.

"They hunt six people—three men, three women.

Every full moon. They drag them into the heart of the city—the Inner Layer, which by the way no one's has ever come back from there."

Alex felt his skin crawl. He took a step back, trying to shake off the cold building in his chest.

"Some believe they're feeding something. A greater Beast that lives in the center. Others think the Crazes serve something older. Something that made them what they are."

Jonah's tone grew grim.

"And the worst part? The selection isn't random. The Chosen see… things. A figure in their dreams. Inhuman. Then they wake up with a mark—black, like a tattoo. It shows up on a different part of the body each time."

Alex stared at him with a frown.

"That's ridiculous. Dream demons and magic tattoos? Seriously?"

Who was this fool taking him for.

He nearly laughed—but the look on Jonah's face wasn't joking.

Jonah saw the doubt in his eyes and said quietly, "I get it, if you don't believe me. If I were you, I wouldn't believe me either. But I'm not lying. Everything I told you—it's the truth."

He pushed off the wall and took a deep breath.

"I'll show you tomorrow. The Proof and evidence. But until then, stay inside. Do not go out at night. Not in this city."

Alex rubbed his temples. His gut told him this was crazy. But another part of him—the part that had seen too much death—knew better than to dismiss the impossible.

Believing felt foolish.

But not believing felt even more stupid. Anything could happen in this world that had gone mad.

He looked up. "Why hasn't anyone tried to fight back?"

Jonah sighed. "We've tried. We have tried to send scouts and scavengers.

We even tried a protector like Reyna. But it was never enough. No matter how strong or smart we were, this city had always won. Every time."

Alex stayed quiet for a moment, his mind racing. Then something clicked.

"Wait… earlier you said 'protectors like Reyna.' You mean she used to be part of a settlement?"

Now it clicked why she looked so farmiliar, her features were almost the same as the protector he had encountered earlier, when he set foot into this street.

Jonah nodded. "Yeah. She was a Protector. Still is, I guess, in her own way."

Alex scowled. "And you let her lead you? A Protector?"

"I know how it sounds," Jonah said, holding up a hand. "But Reyna's not like the others. She doesn't look down on survivors. She actually respects us, protects us. She really treats us like people."

Alex shook his head. "A Protector running a survivor group. Yeah, this place really is different."

Jonah smirked. "She'll grow on you. Eventually."

"I doubt it," Alex muttered. "Protectors are still protectors. Doesn't matter how friendly they pretend to be."

Jonah didn't argue. Instead, he tactfully changed the subject.

"Anyway. Get some rest. Tomorrow's a big day. I'm giving the new dwellers a tour—showing them what makes this place unique."

Alex looked up sharply. "New dwellers?"

Jonah smiled, choosing not to elaborate.

"What you didn't think that you were the only one who arrived here did you.

Alex did not say anything else after that.

Jonah led him to a guest dormitory. When they entered, Alex froze.

The room was clean—strangely clean. Rows of bunks stretched from wall to wall, lined with thin but neat mattresses. Dozens of people lay resting—some in pairs, others alone. A quiet calm hung over the space.

For a moment, Alex stood at the entrance, silent.

It was really rare to see this kind of scene in this world that had gone mad.

Alex couldn't even recall when was the last time he experienced the warm comfortable sleep on a clean bed.

His nights had been spend sleeping on cold floors with one eye open for any potential threats that might sneak upon him in his sleep.

After all comfort was a luxury only the strongest could enjoy.

"This place gives off a protected settlement vibe," scoffing Alex continued.

"Just what l would expect for a place runned by a protector "

Jonah upon hearing this comment couldn't help but release a resigned smile.

"Okay then , l will leave you to it then. Get some sleep, tomorrow is going to be a big day for you?"

Jonah after saying this then left the place leaving Alex alone with the other survivors.

Alex ignored the curious gazes that were being thrown by the other survivors and then found an empty bed.

He dropped his pack, and layed down, staring up at the cracked ceiling.

Sleep didn't come.

Not right away.

But it eventually arrived, and with it , Alex experienced a very weird dream.