"You think that’s funny?"
"It was fun creating it, but it was not me who unleashed it on Earth," the man explained.
"What are you talking about?"
"I have no idea what’s going on. All I know is that the world is ending and I want to have fun."
"You’re insane," John said.
"I suppose that’s one way to look at it. But I prefer to think of myself as a visionary. After all, who else would have the courage to create such a beast? A Skullmaw! That’s a creature of nightmares. It’s something that belongs in fairy tales and horror stories, not the real world.
"What are you? Are you really the System?"
"I’m the one who controls this place. I’m the one who decides how this all works. The rules are mine, and so are the monsters. I’m the one who makes sure the monsters follow the rules. If you want to live, you’ll have to play by my rules.
"Why did you bring me here?"
"Because you’re a special case, John. You have a lot of potential. You’re not like the other humans. You’re stronger, smarter, and more resilient than they are. You are uniquely qualified for an apocalypse. I am giving you a chance to live a better life. Do not worry, you are not the only one I saved."
"What do you mean?
"I corrected a mistake, the Skullmaw. It was not supposed to be there, but more importantly, I wanted to save you, John."
"Why would you do that?"
"Because I need someone to carry out my plans."
"Your plans? What are you talking about?"
"There are many things that you need to know, John. The world is not as simple as it seems. There are things you cannot understand, and I cannot explain them to you."
"So, why am I here? What are your plans?"
"You will soon find out, but first, you need to rest," the man said and snapped his fingers.
John woke up in a room, surrounded by nothing but walls and darkness.
"Oh fuck," he said.
The room was dusty and it smelled like rotten food.
"What the fuck happened?" he thought.
John’s body was sore and bruised.
"Why can’t I remember anything?" he wondered.
The man had mentioned something about the system space, but John didn’t know what it was.
He stood up and tried to move his body, but it was stiff and painful.
John felt dizzy and his head throbbed.
He leaned against the wall and looked around the room.
The room was dark, with no windows.
The walls were made of concrete, and the floor was covered with dirt. It took him a moment to realise, but it was a store he was familiar with. He had made a stop there when he left his new base to look for the girls. John’s eyebrows furrowed. How did he get there?
He walked out of the store with heavy steps and headed towards the exit. The city was empty and quiet. The only sound was the wind blowing through the broken windows.
John felt like he was going insane. He could hear voices whispering to him in the darkness, telling him to give up and die.
But he didn’t.
Instead, he pushed forward, walking through the deserted streets and searching for answers. The buildings were all abandoned, and the streets were littered with debris and rubble.
John wandered aimlessly through the city, feeling lost and uncertain about his next move. The bleak sky hung low above him and the cold wind nipped at his face, making it feel damp and chilled.
In search of any indication of life or guidance, John’s gaze darted around the desolate surroundings. His eyes settled on a nearly spotless black convertible, and he couldn’t help but narrow his focus when he noticed a door that should not have been there. This particular door was damaged during a confrontation with Razorlin.
His eyes widened as he remembered his encounter with the System. He understood everything at that moment. The System had turned back time.
But he had no time to be amazed at the System’s might. He had to get Stephanie, Dalia and Julia to safety. He needed a vehicle. He couldn’t walk, the base was far, and the girls were weak.
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His lips tugged upwards as he spotted the decrepit apartment complex. He remembered hiding his enduro motorcycle at the back of the building. With any luck, it’d still be there. He circled around the building to the back, where he found his motorcycle.
"Jackpot," John muttered.
He approached the bike and climbed on. The engine sputtered to life. John grinned, relieved that the machine was still functional. He revved the engine and pulled out of the parking lot, driving away from the desolate city.
His destination: Theodore’s shelter.
"Come on," he whispered, urging the bike to go faster.
He knew it was foolish to drive so recklessly, but he couldn’t afford to waste any more time. As he sped through the deserted streets, the sound of his engine echoed through the silent air, filling the silence with its thunderous roar. The city was eerily quiet, with no sign of life anywhere.
Everything was a mess. The streets were filled with rubble, and the buildings were crumbling. The smell of smoke lingered in the air, and the sky was filled with clouds of ash.
As he drove through the ruined city, John couldn’t help but think about how different it had been just a few days ago. The streets had been crowded with people going about their daily lives.
Now, they were empty and lifeless. As he reached the National University’s campus, the now reinforced walls loomed high in the distance.
The moonlight shone on the steel gate, which was guarded by a dozen armed men. At least there were people this time. It meant that whatever had happened before he was sent back in time did not happen this time. Was it only he who remembered? He couldn’t know, but as always, he snuck back inside with some help from his camouflage coat, using his Quiet Steps.
As he reached the old familiar lean-to, a blue-haired girl caught his gaze. It was Stephanie.
"John," she muttered. "Where have you been?"
"Looking for you, baby." Then he tenderly wrapped his arms around her.