The Last Taste Of Heaven [On-Going]

Chapter 1

The rusted Ferris wheel groaned like a dying beast, its skeletal frame swaying against the oppressive gray sky. Averie shivered, the chill seeping through his worn jacket. He tightened his grip on his sniper rifle. The abandoned amusement park, once a place of laughter and joy, now echoed with an eerie silence, broken only by the mournful creak of the Ferris wheel and the whisper of the wind. It was a constant reminder of the world they had lost.

He'd been perched on a crumbling wall for hours, scanning the barren landscape, his heart a drum against his ribs. His team – his family – was out there, scavenging for scraps in the northern reaches of the park, a place of danger like a half-forgotten nightmare. Every shadow seemed to hold a hidden threat, every rustle of leaves a potential predator.

A shout cut through the tense silence, and Averie's head snapped up. "Hey! Ave!" Bethany's voice was a lifeline, her familiar figure emerging from the fog, arms laden with supplies. 

Relief washed over him like a tidal wave. Seeing them all return, battered but alive, was a victory in itself. 

"So far, so good. No signs of Ferals or Threats," he reported, his voice rough with anxiety.

They were in Richwood City. Once a thriving metropolis, it was now a battleground, a wasteland ruled by fear and violence. The Ferals, driven by primal instinct, lurked in the shadows. The Threats were even more terrifying, their explosive attacks leaving devastation in their wake. And then there were the Targets – people like them, struggling to survive in a shattered world.

Carl let out a long breath, a rare smile flickering across his face. "That's good news, indeed." Happiness was a luxury they could rarely afford, but the absence of immediate danger was enough to bring a glimmer of hope to their weary eyes.

Each of them carried a single bag, a lifeline filled with the essentials they needed to survive another day. They had learned to travel light, to shed any unnecessary weight, for in this world, every ounce could mean the difference between life and death.

Clint, their leader, signaled the time to move, and they fell into their familiar formation, a silent understanding passing between them. Justine's gaze lingered on Adrian, his long-time friend... and his secret crush. Adrian was lagging behind, his exhaustion evident in every line of his body. Justine's heart ached for him.

"Can't we just walk for a bit?" Adrian's voice was a ragged plea.

Clint's response was sharp, his eyes locking with Adrian's in a silent challenge. "Are you complaining?"

"Yes! Isn't it obvious?" Adrian shot back, his voice laced with frustration.

The air crackled with tension, and Justine knew he had to intervene before things escalated. "Hey, guys, let's all calm down," he said, his voice firm but calming. "We're all on the same team here. We need to work together if we're going to make it."

The tension slowly dissipated, fists unclenching, breaths evening out. Justine felt a surge of relief. He hated seeing them fight, hated the way it fractured their fragile sense of unity.

"Come on, let's go!" Bethany urged, her voice a welcome distraction.

They moved as one, a pack of survivors honed by hardship. Clint, their fearless leader, always at the front, his hand-to-hand combat skills unmatched. Bethany, the strategist, her mind a weapon as deadly as any blade. Carl, swift and agile, a master of close-quarters combat. Justine, the sharpshooter, his aim steady, his focus unwavering. Lolita, small but fierce, her guns an extension of her will. And Adrian, the gentle giant, a force of nature when provoked. They were a mismatched bunch, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, but together they were a force to be reckoned with.

"Umm... Guys?" Adrian's voice brought them to a halt.

"What now?" Clint's voice was tight with impatience.

Adrian hesitated, his gaze flickering towards Justine, who offered him an encouraging nod. They had developed a silent language over the years, a way of communicating without words.

"I'm sorry for losing my temper earlier," Adrian finally said, his voice low. "I'm just... really worn out."

Justine's heart went out to him. Adrian looked like a scolded child, his shoulders slumped, his eyes downcast. Justine wanted to reach out and comfort him, to tell him it was okay.

"We're all family here, Adrian," Justine said, stepping closer. "Even if we don't share the same blood. In this messed-up world, we only have each other. We have to look out for each other, care for each other, like a real family would." He gave Adrian's shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

A wave of empathy washed over the group, their exhaustion momentarily forgotten. They exchanged tired smiles, a silent acknowledgment of their shared bond. Justine felt a surge of gratitude for these people, these misfits who had become his everything. The thought of losing any of them was unbearable.

"Thanks, Justine," Adrian said, meeting his gaze. "You always know how to make things better."

For a fleeting moment, Justine saw a vulnerability in Adrian's eyes that made his heart skip a beat. He'd been harboring a crush on Adrian for what felt like forever, and though Adrian seemed to reciprocate his feelings, he always kept him at arm's length. Justine wanted to kiss him, to erase the worry lines from his forehead, but the ever-present danger kept him anchored to reality.

"Justine's right," Clint said. "We need to stick together, no matter what."

"This is a rare moment," Bethany chimed in. "I feel like we should hug it out."

She opened her arms, and they all came together in a clumsy embrace. They held each other tightly, drawing strength from their shared connection. Justine closed his eyes, savoring the feeling of their warmth, their presence a beacon in the darkness.

"I love you guys," he whispered.

Their answering smiles were full of understanding. They hugged again, tighter this time, and Justine vowed to etch this moment into his memory, a reminder of the love and loyalty that kept him going.

"Come on, let's go," Lolita said, wiping a tear from her cheek.

They started running again, their footsteps echoing in the silence. They reached the edge of the park, their haven, their temporary sanctuary. And then the siren blared, a chilling sound that sent a shiver down their spines. It was the unmistakable warning of the Threats.

They whirled around, weapons at the ready, but it was too late. The Threats emerged from the shadows, their explosive devices glinting menacingly in the fading light. A hulking tank, a relic from the Millennium War, rumbled into view, its scarred metal a testament to battles past. Justine's heart hammered in his chest. 

They were trapped.