Remnants

Chapter 1 - Mira

Mira gripped her weapon tightly as she tried to catch her breath. She got lucky that it was only a lone Gorehound. Had she encountered an entire pack, she would have been in big trouble. The large mutated dog's body lay before her, the large gash along its neck, a result of Mira's blade, poured out dark red blood. Mira stared at the rows of sharp teeth inside the creature's mouth. The scent of decayed meat drifted from its gaping mouth.

"That was too close," she whispered to herself.

Mira scanned the area for more threats. Once she was convinced that the coast was clear, she let out a relieved sigh and continued on her trek.

The ruined city sprawled before her, remnants of a forgotten time. The once lively streets were now covered in silence. Nature had begun to reclaim the land. Vines and other plant life covered the fallen skyscrapers, wrapping around them like a verdant blanket. Trees burst through the pavement, forming a sort of urban jungle in the middle of the once-bustling city.

Mira gazed in awe at the sight before her, haunting reminders of a world that once belonged to them.

It had been thirty years since the world ended. The planet was now overrun with deadly mutated creatures. Everyone tried to fight back, but everyone lost. All that was left were a few survivors and some scattered villages.

Survival was the only thing that mattered. One had to learn to fight and scavenge to keep themselves alive. And that was what Mira was doing - another routine scavenging run. The supplies from her village were running low, so Mira had to venture out and search for items that would help keep everyone alive and safe for just a little bit longer.

Mira was one of the best scavengers in their small town. She was also a skilled fighter, as evidenced by the dead Gorehound behind her. Years of experience and multiple scavenging runs had sharpened her senses, making her more attuned to the subtle sounds and movements around her. The slightest rustling of leaves would make her entire body alert and ready for a fight.

I need to take a break, Mira thought. The backpack she was carrying felt heavy as she continued to walk through the ruined city.

She noticed a rundown bus parked in the center of the previously busy highway and decided to approach it. Mira saw it as an opportunity to take a short break. She still had a lot of ground to cover and knew she needed to conserve her energy.

I hope no one's home.

Mira stepped inside the bus and was immediately greeted with a somber scene. Inside were items and belongings abandoned by people trying to escape the rampaging mutants. It wasn't anything new for Mira. Being a scavenger, Mira was always rummaging around the remnants of the old world. This had exposed her to scenes like these. She always tried to picture what these people's lives must have been like before the world ended.

Mira had been born after the collapse. Her only connections to the old world were from stories told around in their village and from the books she read during her scavenging runs. Despite not having experienced the old world, she had always felt a special connection to the past. It could be because she had spent a lot of time in these ruins, among the memories of people that are long gone.

She sat down on one of the empty seats and set her backpack down. Mira took a deep breath and calmed her mind. It wouldn't do her any good thinking about dead people right now. Right now she had to fight for those still trying to survive.

Mira took off her hair tie and let down her long dark hair. She saw a small mirror on the seat beside her. She picked it up and examined her face. Dried blood from the Gorehound she killed earlier was splattered on the side of her face.