infectents Edited

beginning of new era

A man with black hair and an athletic build, wearing a gas mask, sprinted through a dark corridor. His gasps echoed off the walls, each breath fogging his mask.

He skipped one or two stairs by jumping to escape faster but still felt it wasn't fast enough, so he quickly climbed a floor using the railing. Reaching the top, he checked the apartment doors but found none open. An inhuman scream pierced the darkness behind him, sending a shiver down his spine.

He then headed toward the terrace, knocking the door open and wedging a crowbar between the door handles. Just as he paused to catch his breath, another scream came, much closer than before. The door shook violently. Having no choice, the man moved toward the edge of the terrace. Looking at the desolate street below, he positioned himself and jumped.

(Dreaming)...

Hruday woke up abruptly, eyes wide and back drenched in sweat. His heart pounded in his chest, and he felt paralyzed. Slowly, his racing heart calmed, and he could move again. He tousled his messy curly hair and rubbed his sleep-deprived, wrinkled eyes. "These dreams are getting scarier,"

He tried to recall the details. "Actually, what was the nightmare again?" he murmured. "I can't recall; it's so blurry."I was running and falling... But why do I still feel chills? I need to Google why we forget dreams so easily."

Feeling suffocated, he decided, "Ah, man, I need some fresh air." Stumbling towards the balcony, he leaned against the railing, trying to calm his racing heart. The early morning air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of wet earth. From a nearby TV, he heard rapid-fire news reports about missing persons, rumors of a wild animal from the forest, and chaos caused by a movie release. Curious, he looked at the news. It showed images of zombies scaring people and biting them and news about a cheetah escaping from a nearby zoo.

He focused more on the news. "Breaking News at 9 AM: A terrorist base lab was discovered in the forest after a huge explosion caused a massive fire. Was this an attack by the secret agency? Watch at 9 a.m. for full exclusive coverage." Hruday was so engrossed in the report that he didn't notice someone approaching.

His father's deep voice startled him. "What are you doing, Hruday? Do you know what time it is?"

Hruday jumped. "No, Dad. I was getting some fresh air. I had nightmares, and in today's dream, I was paralyzed."

"Didn't I tell you not to watch horror movies?"

"No, I didn't. I stopped a week ago. Did you do everything I said?"

Hruday scowled. "Yes!, I did everything AGAIN! and again, changed places, prayed before sleeping, and stopped watching movies." His voice softened as he realized he had raised his voice in the corridor.

Seeing his frustration, his father asked, "You know you can always tell me anything, right? Now tell me what your dream was about."

"Ah, yes," Hruday sighed. "I couldn't remember today's dream properly; it was hazy. All I remember is running. But there was one vivid dream during my trip with friends. I woke up and drank a glass of weird-colored water without realizing it. It tasted disgusting. I went outside because of some crashing noise and saw a mutilated crow, or was it? It had tiny bullet holes and red pulsating veins. It bit me and sucked my blood, then puked blood inside me. I felt dizzy and shocked. After throwing it off, I don't remember anything."

Hruday's mom, overhearing the conversation, started nagging, "Why are you still here? Do you know what time it is? Have you ever gone to school early without my help? How long do I have to remind you?"

After what felt like centuries, Hruday obediently went to the balcony again, staring at the sky. "Sigh, after spending my 'holy days,' it doesn't feel good to return to school. No, it should be called hell. It's the start of hellish days. This time, I have to meet expectations and score well, or else my future..."