After a near-fatal accident, nineteen-year-old Anastasia wakes up in a collapsing dystopian world, trapped in the body of Kiah Solvane, an estranged member of a fallen noble house.

Her only goal? Get back to her dying mother before time runs out. But to do that, she must navigate a city ruled by violence and secrets.

To reach the Mysterious Overseer beyond the wall — the only one who might undo the glitch that brought her here — Anastasia must join a rebel group, fight through mutated Degenerates, infiltrate secret factions, and most importantly, cross a goddamn steel wall.

Two years. One borrowed body. No second chances.

***



"S-shit…"

Everyone stilled. 

A slow, piercing, and ominous sound came from behind them.

It buzzed like a swarm of insects. A high-pitched droning that scratched Kiah's nerves. She had never heard a cry like that in her life.

The hairs on the back of her neck rose. Even her bones shook at the searing sound.

'What the hell was that?'

Another cry echoed from the left.

Then one from the front.

They were surrounded.

Kiah slowly turned toward the direction of the cry closest to her. A shadow moved in the alley between two buildings. Then another slithered across the street, faster than their flashlights. Shapes began emerging from the gloom, their outlines hunched and broken.

They hid in the shadows.

Kiah caught a faint silhouette by her right, and she raised her flashlight, hands trembling. The beam travelled up: brown, muddy legs, torn rags hanging off gray skin… and then—

Her breath caught in her throat. She gasped, and her stomach churned in revulsion.

The creature's scalp barely clung to its skull. One eyelid was gone, the other twitching unnaturally. A portion of its cheek had been ripped off clean, exposing yellowed bone and a pulsing, greenish sludge oozing down its jaw.

Its lips widened as if it was smiling as his eyes locked on hers.

SHRIEK!

In the blink of an eye, it moved, bolting right towards her.

'Shit. Shit. Shit.'

Kiah's heart stopped.

She reached for her Labrys behind her, but she was too slow. Before she could make a swing, the degenerate was already in front of her at a terrifying speed. Its rotting breath hit her face, assaulting her nostrils, making her want to wretch.

Suddenly, something slammed into her.

She felt a crushing pain as its fist collided with her ribs. She swore she heard a sickening crack before she was sent flying across the street into the wall of a decaying building like a ragged doll.

A jagged plank stabbed into her shoulder, wrenching a scream from her throat as pain exploded through her body.

A metallic taste filled her mouth.

She coughed and choked before spitting out a mouthful of blood. Her eyes went wide as fear crept into her bones.

Her limbs trembled from the impact, and her vision blurred.

Only one thought ran through her head.

'What in the world was that thing?'

Once again, Kiah found herself on the familiar rooftop after completing her rounds, scouting the area. 


The routine was becoming monotonous, but its calming effect remained. She wasn't about to complain about the rare peace it gave her, not when moments like this were so scarce. She wasn't ungrateful.


This time, Kiah tried to keep her angry inner monologue to herself so as not to disturb the resident.


But her ears wiggled as muffled voices drifted up from the house she'd perched on. Strange. It was almost eleven, and most homes had gone silent by now.


Then she remembered: the woman who lived here mentioned she had a baby. Maybe the child had woken and needed soothing.


'It isn't easy to take care of a child in a post-apocalyptic world. These mothers have my respect,' she thought with a sigh.


Kiah tried to tune out the noise and focus on the street below. But just as her gaze settled, Anwyll's voice crackled through the chip.


Chapter 55 - Shadows At The Door