Six months ago, things were different.
Back then, none of them were shaped by loss or survival yet. They were careless in the way only young people can be, unfinished, rough around the edges, still figuring out what their choices actually meant. There was laughter everywhere, easy smiles, inside jokes. The apocalypse that had shattered the world three and a half years ago felt distant somehow, like an old scar you forget about on good days. Friendship softened the fear. Time created an illusion of safety.
Class 12 had only twenty-five students left. Most had been lost in the first wave. The ones who survived trained hard, pushing themselves from scared teenagers into something stronger. Not soldiers yet, but no longer children either. And now came the final hurdle, the internship. A real field assignment, issued by the Army itself. Pass it, and they would earn direct recruitment into a military branch of their choice after graduation.
Purnima was among them. Sharp, focused, and already turning heads. Major institutions were watching her closely. MedTek Corporation, one of the biggest players racing to cure the apocalyptic disease, offered her a junior research trainee position. It was rare. Coveted. She turned it down. She wanted the military internship first. She wanted to earn her place the hard way. MedTek, impressed, agreed to hold the offer.
The man overseeing all of this was General Roy. Late forties. Built like he still belonged in the field, his mind even sharper than his body. He was not distant or ceremonial. He had trained these students himself and watched them stumble, grow, and adapt. And if he had a favorite, everyone knew it.
Vidhan.
The golden boy. Intelligent, disciplined, calm under pressure. Clean record, clean conscience. Top of the class without ever seeming to try too hard.
At least, that was how the rankings stood back then. Vidhan first, followed by Snehil, Aditya, Jay, and Amrit. But rankings mean very little before life decides to interfere. That single internship week was about to rewrite everything.
The class was split into three teams, eight in Team 1, eight in Team 2, and nine in Team 3.
Team 1 consisted of Vidhan, Snehil, Aditya, Anaaya, Purnima, Jay, Amrit, and Gaurav.
Team 2 had Samarth, Sakshi, Gaurav's younger sister, and a few others.
Team 3 took the remaining students.
Before anything was finalized, Vidhan spoke up. He asked for Samarth to be moved into Team 1 and Gaurav shifted to Team 2 so he could keep an eye on his sister.
The reason was not complicated. Vidhan saw something in Samarth, raw potential, maybe even more than his own. Samarth did not see it that way. He never wanted attention or responsibility. All he wanted was a quiet life in the residential zone once this was over. But fate, as usual, did not bother asking.
While Teams 2 and 3 were assigned perimeter-securing missions, clearing dead zones for future civilian settlements, Team 1 was given something else entirely.
General Roy called them into the briefing hall. Draft files in his hands. His face unreadable.
"Before I hand these out," he said, "I want to congratulate you all for making it this far. Some of you took things a little too lightly." His gaze flicked briefly toward Samarth. "But I trust even they will find their motivation during this internship."
A few chuckles rippled through the room. The mood was still relaxed. Still innocent.
Then Roy's tone shifted.
"Pay attention," he said. "Your assignment may look safer on paper, but it is the most dangerous and confidential mission any intern team has received since the apocalypse began."
Every spine straightened. The room went quiet.
"There is a school," Roy continued, "that faced an outbreak a year ago. It was classified as a Level-2 safe zone, yet it collapsed. Strangely, the survivor count was much higher than expected. They regrouped and formed an independent body called Eden. Their leader is a girl named Nidhi. Nothing about her stood out, but there was a boy with her. He was different. He proposed a deal."
Roy paused.
"They would form a recognized independent organization. In return, they would help us monitor and intercept smuggling routes used by the Chinese Empire. We agreed."
His expression hardened.
"For a while, it worked. Good intel. Successful raids. Then the reports slowed. We assumed the enemy adapted. But now we suspect Eden is playing both sides. Our latest information suggests they may be giving smugglers safe passage, not to us, but to a third, unknown party. There are also rumors of illegal research happening inside Eden."
"Our job," Vidhan said quietly, "is to investigate and report whatever illegal activities we find."
Purnima hesitated. "Vidhan, your brother lives in Eden, right?"
"He does," Vidhan replied. "But he is young. If something is hidden, he may not know. Or maybe Eden is just very good at hiding things."
Roy nodded. "That is exactly why we are trusting you with this. You will investigate three things, smuggling routes, illegal research, and this unknown third party."
Samarth finally spoke. "What are they smuggling?"
Roy answered without blinking.
"Human bodies."
The silence that followed was sharp and heavy. No one asked why. Some questions did not need answers.
Roy outlined the plan.
One squad would enter Eden as student researchers, officially interviewing leaders and citizens. Six days inside, using school credentials as cover. The second squad would remain outside, hidden, tracking smuggler routes and searching for signs of the third party.
"Let's split the teams," Amrit said, trying to break the tension.
Vidhan nodded. "I will go inside Eden with Purnima, Jay, and Amrit. My brother can get us in. If he has seen anything, we will find out."
Then he turned to the others. "Samarth, Aditya, Snehil, Anaaya, you are better suited for covert work."
Samarth groaned. "Why do I always get stuck doing the risky stuff? And why her? She is going to drive me insane."
Anaaya snapped back. "Like I wanted to be in your team. I would rather be with Vidhan."
The words stung. Everyone knew how she felt about him. Vidhan pretended not to.
He handled it gently. "I would have liked that too, Anaaya. But the teams are final."
From there, everything moved fast. Maps. Radios. Cover identities. Emergency codes. A quick drill for worst-case scenarios.
The other teams left first. Team One departed at dawn, winter fog swallowing the road ahead.
Six days.
Find the truth. File the report. Secure your future.