1st Arrondissement of Lyon, Saint-Nizier – April 16th, 2030 – 7:00 PM
Lyris stood beside the old mechanic, helping to tend to his son, whose jaw had been bashed in by Sergeant Léo.
— "You can go home now... Lorane and your mother must be worried."
— "And your son?! And... and Thomas too... Wait—how do you know my mother and Lorane?"
Lyris asked, torn between guilt and curiosity, his eyes downcast, burdened by the shame of not having defended himself. He felt the weight of Thomas's sacrifice—taking blows meant for him.
— "He saved a bug like me..."
He murmured, clenching his fists, overwhelmed by his own helplessness. Charles, the mechanic, stood up with a disapproving look and slapped Lyris across the face—then rested a comforting hand on his shoulder.
— "Stop putting yourself down. He knew the risks. It was his choice. And me—I'm proud of him. He acted like a man. So lift your head, son. This world is already cruel enough without us giving in to it."
He paused, then continued in a gentler voice:
— "Your mother… she saved my son's life a few years ago, when he was in a dark place. He's only here today because of her. I owe her everything... and you too, Lyris."
His gaze, laced with melancholy, softened. Charles opened his arms to embrace Lyris, treating him like his own son. Touched by this unexpected warmth, Lyris finally smiled and hugged the old man back.
— "Alright, off you go, kiddo!"
Charles laughed, giving him a playful push forward. Lyris, slightly off balance, stumbled ahead, triggering a hearty chuckle from the mechanic.
— "See you later!"
Lyris called out as he stood up again, feeling lighter. He jogged away from the garage, oddly eager to get home. Strangely, he felt more at peace in this broken world than he ever had at school—far from bullies and indifferent stares.
When he reached their temporary shelter, he bounded up the stairs and knocked on the door. Lorane immediately greeted him with a warm hug.
— "I missed you!"
she whispered, clinging tightly to him. Her embrace was stronger than usual—almost possessive. That's when Lyris noticed the adventurer's backpack at her feet.
— "You didn't forget, I hope? Because if you did…"
she said, her smile turning mischievous, almost threatening. Lyris swallowed nervously.
— She really is my opposite… he thought.
— "SO?"
— "OF COURSE…?"
he blurted out hastily.
— "Then where's your bag, huh? You know what that means if you forgot it, right?"
She pointed to a chair, where Lyris's bag was sitting. He gave a sheepish smile. Lorane, always prepared, had packed it for him, knowing he'd be too absorbed in his apprentice work to remember.
— "Thanks, Lorane…"
Outskirts of Lyon – 9:30 PM
The two teens walked in silence, having left the city center to avoid attracting infected. Around them, the oppressive silence felt heavier than the threats themselves.
— "I'm not scared… I'm not scared…"
Lyris whispered quietly, as if trying to convince himself. Yet, in the midst of this eerie landscape, he found strange beauty in the fallen city. The sky was filled with stars, lighting their path. With human activity all but gone, nature had reclaimed its place.
— "Why are you so freaked out? There's no infected here!"
Lorane said cheerfully, oblivious to the danger that still loomed. Her enthusiasm was quickly cut short by a sharp sound that made them both jump.
— "What the hell was that?!"
But it was just a stray cat that had broken a car window. Relieved, they continued walking toward Saint-Cyr-au-Mont-d'Or, having already crossed the secured zone.
— "It's beautiful… This is the first time I've ever seen the sky so full of stars… It almost makes me want to cry, you know?"
Lorane said, awestruck. The stars shone with unusual clarity, their light reflecting off the ruined buildings.
— "We never saw this before—too much pollution. Now… nature has taken over again."
Lyris gently squeezed Lorane's hand, sharing the moment with her amidst the chaos. As they walked, they came upon an abandoned sporting goods store.
— "Wait!"
Lorane shouted, dashing into the store. Within minutes, she returned with two bicycles.
— "We'll get around faster with these."
Lyris, who had stayed outside to keep watch, suddenly spotted a silhouette in the darkness, moving with feral intensity. His heart clenched.
— "Shit…"
he murmured. An infected. But just then, the stray cat triggered a car alarm, drawing the creature's attention. Suddenly, inhuman shrieks echoed from all directions. Lyris froze, curled up on the ground, paralyzed. Distorted shapes passed just inches from him, all drawn to the noise.
— "Lyris…?"
Lorane called out. But she too went still the moment she saw a group of little girls—pale-eyed—watching them silently in the dark.