Prologue

Act I

I don't remember the day the world ended. I was only six years old when it happened. All I know is what I've been told by the few survivors I've met along the way. They say it was a disease, a mutated virus that was supposed to cure cancer. Instead, it turned people into monsters. They called it the Echo, because it echoed the worst parts of humanity. It spread like wildfire, infecting millions in a matter of days. It triggered a global panic, a war, a collapse. It wiped out civilization as we knew it.
I don't know how I survived. Maybe it was luck, maybe it was fate, maybe it was something else. All I know is that I've been alone for most of my life, wandering the wasteland that used to be America. I've seen things that would make you lose your mind, things that haunt my dreams. I've fought, I've killed, I've scavenged. I've learned to survive, to adapt, to endure. I've never given up hope, even when everything seemed hopeless.
I've always believed that there was a reason for me to be alive, a purpose for me to fulfill. I've always followed the code of the samurai, the code that my father taught me before he died. He was a Japanese immigrant, a martial arts instructor, a man of honor. He taught me how to wield a sword, how to fight with stealth, how to live with dignity. He taught me the principles of bushido, the way of the warrior. He taught me to be loyal, courageous, respectful, honest, compassionate, honorable, and self-disciplined. He taught me to be a ninja, a shadow, a protector.
He also taught me to be curious, to seek knowledge, to understand the world. He taught me to read, to write, to speak different languages. He taught me to appreciate art, music, literature. He taught me to love, to care, to empathize. He taught me to be human, to be myself, to be Amaya.
He was the best father I could ever ask for, and I miss him every day. He died when I was twelve, protecting me from a horde of Echoes. He sacrificed himself so I could escape, so I could live. He gave me his sword, his katana, his legacy. He told me to find a safe place, a new home, a new family. He told me to never give up, to never lose hope, to never stop fighting. He told me he loved me, and then he was gone.
That was three and a half years ago. Since then, I've been on my own, traveling from one ruined city to another, looking for signs of life, looking for answers, looking for a cure. I've heard rumors, legends, myths, about a place where people still live, where civilization still exists, where the Echo can be stopped. A place called Eden, a paradise in the desert, a sanctuary in the chaos. A place where I might find what I've been looking for, what I've been longing for, what I've been dreaming of.
A place where I met her.
Her name was Nala Rain, and she was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. She had long, black hair that flowed like a waterfall over her shoulders, framing her delicate face. She had almond-shaped eyes that sparkled like emeralds, a small nose that twitched when she smiled, and full lips that curved into a gentle grin. She had a slender figure that moved with grace and agility, clad in a leather jacket, jeans, and boots. She had a backpack slung over one shoulder, a crossbow over the other, and a knife strapped to her thigh. She had a scar on her left cheek, a tattoo on her right arm, and a piercing on her left ear. She had a presence that radiated confidence, intelligence, and warmth.
She was the first person I had seen in three and a half years, and she saved my life.
I was in Chicago, or what was left of it. I had heard rumors of a hidden library that contained books, records, and data from before the apocalypse. I had hoped to find some clues about the Echo, about Eden, about anything that could help me understand what had happened to the world. I had spent days searching the ruins, dodging Echoes and scavengers, until I finally found it. It was a massive building, partially collapsed, but still standing. It had a sign that read "Chicago Public Library".
I entered the building, cautiously, hoping to find a way to the lower levels, where I assumed the most valuable information would be. I had a flashlight, a backpack, and my father's sword. I was ready for anything, or so I thought.
I was wrong.
As soon as I stepped inside, I heard a loud roar, followed by a thud. I turned around, and saw a huge creature, bigger than a bear, with horns, claws, and fangs. It was an Echo, a mutated animal, and it had spotted me. It charged at me, faster than I could react. I barely managed to dodge its first swipe, but it was too quick for me. It knocked me down, pinned me to the ground, and opened its mouth, ready to tear me apart.
I thought I was going to die.
But then, I heard a gunshot, followed by another roar. The Echo jerked its head, and I saw blood spilling from its eye. It let go of me, and turned to face its attacker. I looked up, and saw her.
She was standing on a balcony, holding a rifle, aiming at the Echo. She fired again, hitting it in the chest. The Echo stumbled, but didn't fall. It growled, and leaped at her. She dropped the rifle, and grabbed the crossbow. She shot an arrow, piercing its throat. The Echo fell, and didn't get up.
She had killed it.
She looked at me, and smiled. She waved, and gestured for me to come up. She had saved me.
She was Nala Rain, and she was the beginning of everything.