Apocalypse | Jenlisa/Chaesoo

Forward

The forest was cloaked in an eerie silence, the kind that pressed against the ears and made every heartbeat feel like a drumbeat. Lisa sat beside Jennie, the cool night air brushing against their skin as they huddled near the dim glow of the campfire.

" You mentioned an ace up our sleeve," Lisa said, breaking the silence. " What did you mean?"

Jennie reached into her jacket pocket, pulling out a small, weathered pouch. " These," she said, revealing four vials filled with a shimmering, iridescent liquid.

" They're called 'Eclipsers.'"

Lisa raised an eyebrow. " Eclipsers?"

" A rare concoction developed by the Resistance. They temporarily mask our presence, making us invisible to trackers and sensors. It's not foolproof, but it might give us the edge we need."

Lisa took one of the vials, holding it up to the firelight. " How long does the effect last?"

" About an hour per vial. Enough to get us through tight spots or ambushes. But we have to use them wisely."

Lisa nodded, slipping the vial into her own pouch. " This could be the advantage we've been looking for."

They sat in contemplative silence, the weight of their mission pressing down on them. The path ahead was fraught with danger, but with the Eclipsers in hand, hope flickered anew.

The morning sun filtered through the dense canopy, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor. The group gathered around a makeshift table—a flat rock—ready to inventory their supplies.

Jisoo laid out her items: a compact first-aid kit, a flint striker, gunpowder, what's left of her explosives and a small pouch of dried herbs.

Lisa contributed: a multi-tool, a half-empty canteen, and a folded map with annotations.
Jennie presented: the four vials of "Eclipsers," a compass, a dragonheaded dagger and a weathered journal.

All eyes turned to Rosé, who hesitated before emptying her pockets—revealing only a locket and a piece of string.

"I'm sorry," she murmured.
" I didn't bring anything useful, and oh, I picked some wild apples from the edge of the clearing."

Jisoo offered a reassuring smile. " Survival isn't just about tools; we will be expecting another attack soon, and I have seen how you deal with those, barehanded."

The other two smiled and nodded, Rosé's shoulders visibly relaxed as she looked back at them.

As they talked in hushed words and discussed their next steps, the atmosphere charged with determination and a renewed sense of camaraderie.