As soon as the general stepped into a windowless meeting room, Arjun knew it was time to leave. He had taken enough risks for the day.
Silently, he slipped out of the building and onto the dimly lit pavement outside. The air was thick with the scent of burning debris and decay, a constant reminder of the crumbling world around him. He pulled his hoodie over his head, blending into the scattered survivors trudging through the streets.
His mind raced.
From what he had overheard, the infection was spreading faster than expected. If things continued like this, the stronghold wouldn't last. The undead would eventually overwhelm them.
Should he just leave them to their fate? Or should he build his own safe haven?
Creating a stronghold of his own seemed like the best option. He had space—his own world, where he wouldn't have to rely on anyone. Sooner or later, he would gain access to limitless resources. It was only a matter of time.
But he needed to be patient. His planet was still primitive, barely out of its early development stage. And his energy was running low. He would have to hunt again soon.
Lost in thought, he barely noticed the sound of hurried footsteps approaching from behind.
"Arjun? Is that you?"
The familiar voice made him stop in his tracks. He turned around, eyes narrowing in disbelief.
"Deepak?"
Standing before him was a young man around his age, slightly disheveled but still carrying an air of his old self.
"It's unbelievable! A damn miracle to find you here!" Deepak exclaimed, his voice a mix of relief and excitement.
Arjun hadn't expected to run into anyone he knew, let alone in the middle of an apocalypse. Meeting someone from his past should have been a pleasant surprise, but in a world like this… it felt different.
"What are you doing here?" Arjun asked, scanning him up and down.
Deepak scratched the back of his head, looking a little embarrassed. "Uh… I work as a barista in a coffee shop."
A barista?
For a moment, Arjun was taken aback. Deepak had once been part of the elite—born into wealth and privilege. Seeing him reduced to this, struggling like everyone else, felt surreal.
"I see," Arjun said with a small smile.
Deepak let out a chuckle, patting Arjun on the shoulder. "Man, you haven't changed at all. We haven't seen each other since university, right?"
"Yeah."
"It's crazy that we even ran into each other," Deepak said, shaking his head. "So, when did you get here?"
"Two days ago."
Deepak nodded. "And? What's your plan now?"
Arjun hesitated for a moment before answering. "Thinking of heading out of the stronghold soon."
Deepak's expression immediately shifted to shock. "Going out? Are you insane?"
His reaction was understandable. Leaving the safety of the stronghold was practically a death sentence unless you had a solid reason—or a death wish.
Then again… some people did it for survival. Gathering supplies, earning contribution points.
Deepak frowned. "Wait… you're not going out just to scavenge, are you? That would be the dumbest thing ever—especially if you're not an awakener."
Arjun simply smiled. He didn't bother to explain.
Because Deepak wouldn't understand.
Deepak never even considered the possibility that Arjun could be an awakener. Out of the 500,000 people in the city, fewer than 10,000 had awakened, and they were practically celebrities—powerful, admired, and unmistakably different. Arjun didn't seem like the type.
Shaking his head, Deepak clapped a hand on Arjun's shoulder. "Come with me. Let me introduce you to my boss. I'm sure he can get you a job as a waiter or something."
Before Arjun could protest, Deepak grabbed his wrist and pulled him along.
As they walked, Deepak glanced over. "By the way, have you met any of our old classmates? We have a student association, you know."
Arjun raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. The student association still existed, even after the world had fallen apart?
He had never been fond of it back in university. The leadership was always made up of the top intellectuals or students from powerful families—people who had never known struggle.
Officially, the association was supposed to represent all students, but in reality, it functioned like a popularity contest. Those who handed out the most free stuff got the most votes, and in return, the council made whatever rules they wanted, without considering how it affected everyone else.
Once, they even planned a university-sponsored trip to Singapore, completely ignoring the fact that not all students could afford to go.
Arjun, an orphan with no financial support, had known right then that he didn't belong in their circle. He had kept his distance ever since.
"No, I haven't met anyone yet," he replied flatly.
Deepak hesitated, sensing Arjun's disinterest. Still, in times like these, old grudges shouldn't matter. So few of their classmates had survived. They needed to support each other.
"I have the number of our old student president, Ishita Bansal," Deepak said. "Let me call her and set up a meeting."
Arjun nodded. If there was one person from the association he respected, it was Ishita.
Back in university, she had actually fought for students like him—challenging unfair policies, raising donations for struggling students, and making real efforts to help. She was smart, capable, and well-liked by almost everyone.
Unlike the rest, she hadn't been in his engineering department. She had been a medical student, excelling in everything she touched. A true all-rounder.
But something nagged at Arjun. First, Shubash had given him his number. Now, Deepak had Ishita's.
How were they all staying in contact?
Arjun had a phone too, but it was useless. Even if he charged it, there was no signal. Was Deepak using a satellite phone?
As they walked, Arjun's thoughts were interrupted when Deepak stopped in front of a small shop.
"We're here," he said.
Arjun looked up and was immediately surprised. "Whitefield Telecom?"
A telecom shop?
His shock deepened. "Wait… does this place still provide communication services?"
Even though he had expected the city to have better infrastructure than the outside world, he found it hard to believe.
Deepak chuckled. "Of course. Communication is one of humanity's basic needs."
Something about the way he said it made Arjun pause. There was an underlying meaning there that he didn't quite grasp yet.
Stepping inside, he saw an old-fashioned telephone sitting inside a protective box.
A landline.
Arjun blinked. It had been ages since he had last seen one.
He quickly put the pieces together. Since landlines used physical wires, the military must have repurposed the old communication network, making modifications to restore connectivity.
"I'd like to make a call," Deepak said.
The shopkeeper, a middle-aged man with tired eyes, gave a small nod and pointed toward the phone.
Deepak moved to the side, while Arjun lingered near the door, quietly observing.
He watched as Deepak dialed the number manually, pressing each button on the old keypad before lifting the receiver to his ear.
The low hum of the connection filled the small shop.
Arjun remained still, waiting.
The first level of the stronghold was where the rich and noble resided, their lavish villas standing as a testament to their wealth and influence. But those who lived in the towering high-rise apartments above them weren't ordinary either. These people were the best of the best—individuals with extraordinary abilities, elite scientists, and key personnel essential to rebuilding society.
Inside one of these high-rise apartments, behind a large glass window overlooking the city, a young woman sat curled up on a plush sofa, lost in the pages of a book.
She wore a simple white nightdress, a silk bathrobe draped loosely over her shoulders. The dim glow of the evening lights cast soft shadows across the room, adding to the peaceful atmosphere.
As she flipped a page, a cheerful voice interrupted her.
"Ishita, I'm so bored!"
Ishita Bansal glanced up, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Her best friend, Esha, walked over, holding a steaming cup of tea in both hands.
"You could read a book," Ishita suggested, her tone calm as always.
Esha groaned dramatically. "Your family's books are all about serious stuff—medicine, strategy, history. I opened one and nearly passed out from boredom!" She plopped down beside Ishita, pouting. "And since the catastrophe, there's no TV, no internet… Ugh, it's unbearable."
She suddenly perked up, eyes gleaming with excitement. "Oh! How about this? You stop reading for once and come to dinner with me tonight. My boyfriend is bringing a few of his friends—they'd love to meet you."
Ishita sighed, shaking her head. "I can't do that."
Esha frowned. "Why not?"
"You've been spending more time socializing than training," Ishita said, closing her book. "Esha, this isn't the time for distractions. We don't know how long this place will last. Instead of wasting time, shouldn't we be honing our skills? Understanding what's really happening out there?"
Esha groaned and threw herself onto Ishita's arm, hugging it tightly. "Ugh, you're no fun! Why are you always so serious? And why is your skin so perfect? It's unfair! I'm jealous—absolutely jealous!"
Ishita chuckled, pulling away just as the sharp ring of a landline phone filled the room.
Grateful for the distraction, she stood up and picked up the receiver.
"Hello? Who is this?"
"Ishita, it's Deepak," came a familiar voice from the other end.
She smiled. "Deepak! How are you?"
"I'm good," he replied. "Listen, Ishita—I just got in touch with an old university friend, Arjun Mehta. You might remember him?"
Ishita paused, trying to recall the name.
Then it came to her—a quiet boy, someone who had always kept to himself and rarely participated in any university activities. She wouldn't have remembered him if not for one particular moment—when she had helped raise funds for his tuition.
A warm feeling spread through her chest.
"Yes, I remember him," she said, her voice lighter now.
Hearing that another one of their classmates had survived filled her with a quiet sense of hope. Maybe… just maybe… more of them had made it through this nightmare.
And maybe, together, they could still carve out a future.
"Where is he now" Ishita asked back.
"He is with me now in the 5th level district " He quickly answered. Arjun was just strolling in the 5th level when Deepak met him.
"Ah? The fifth level"
Before Esha's voice had died away, Ishita said, "Please help me tell him that I'll come to find him in an hour. Tell him to wait at Aurora Coffee House."
Ishita felt they should celebrate the reunion.
"Okay, sure. I will tell him. I'll talk to you later. Bye," Deepak said as he put down the phone. He couldn't talk for too long since phone bills were extremely high in these times.
Ishita looked at Esha.
"Esha, you can accompany me if you want." Ishita asked for her friend to come because she would feel embarrassed meeting Arjun alone.
"So far!" Esha was unwilling to go. But at the same time, she felt curious about the so-called classmate. Obviously, the name indicated he was a man, so Esha would like to check.
"Alright, although it's far I will come with you," Esha took Ishita's arm and slyly winked, "But in exchange, you should go with me for dinner tonight."
Ishita reluctantly agreed, "Okay, I'm afraid of you."