Dawn of the lost: her story after the end

The awakening

Nora Barrett lay in her makeshift bed, her eyes fixed on the dim glow of her laptop screen. Another day of online classes had come to an end, leaving her alone in the basement once again. The basement, with its dim lights and musty smell, had been her sanctuary for as long as she could remember.

The basement was more than just a storage space; it was her entire world. It had become her refuge, her sanctuary from the outside world that she barely knew how to navigate. The basement had a certain comfort to it, despite its lack of natural light and the faint smell of dampness that always lingered in the air.

Nora had been confined to the basement for as long as she could remember, ever since her parents decided it was safer for her to stay hidden away from the outside world. They had constructed a cozy living space for her, complete with a bed, a desk for her online schooling, and shelves filled with books and supplies.

But why was Nora down there in the first place? The answer lay in her anxiety and her parents' overprotective nature. Nora had always been a timid and anxious child, prone to panic attacks and overwhelmed by the chaos of the world outside. Her parents, worried for her safety, had made the difficult decision to keep her hidden away, shielding her from the outside world as much as possible.

As Nora grew older, her isolation became more pronounced. She had little contact with the outside world, her only companions the characters in the books she devoured and the virtual classmates she interacted with online. Her parents would bring down her meals each day, but their interactions were minimal, their conversations strained and awkward.

Nora often wondered what life was like beyond the confines of the basement walls. She longed to experience the world outside, to feel the sun on her face and the wind in her hair. But her fear held her back, paralyzing her with anxiety at the mere thought of venturing into the unknown.

And so, Nora remained in the basement, trapped in a prison of her own making. She knew that she was safe there, protected from the dangers of the outside world. But as the events of that fateful night would soon prove, safety was never guaranteed, and sometimes the greatest dangers lurked closer to home than she ever imagined.

She glanced around at the familiar surroundings—the neatly arranged desk, the shelves stacked with books, the worn-out couch where she sometimes curled up to read. Despite its lack of natural light, the basement had a certain coziness to it, a refuge from the chaos of the outside world.

As the clock struck 1:00 AM, Nora finally closed her laptop with a sigh of relief. It had been a long and exhausting day of studying, her eyes weary from hours spent staring at the screen. She rubbed her temples, trying to ease the dull ache that had settled in her head.

With a sense of satisfaction mingled with exhaustion, Nora decided that she was done for the day. She pushed herself away from the desk and stretched her cramped muscles, feeling the tension slowly dissipate from her shoulders.

Standing up, Nora glanced around the dimly lit basement, taking in the familiar surroundings. The shelves of books seemed to beckon to her, promising a brief escape from the worries of the world outside. But tonight, she was too tired to lose herself in the pages of a story.

Instead, Nora turned her attention to the task of getting ready for bed. She shivered as she peeled off her sweatshirt, the cool air of the basement sending a shiver down her spine. Despite the warmth of the blankets on her bed, the basement always seemed to retain a chill that seeped into her bones.

Nora quickly changed into her pajamas, relishing the feeling of soft fabric against her skin. She brushed her teeth and washed her face, the ritual a comforting routine that helped her unwind after a long day.