Chapter Text
I’m tired. We’re all tired. It’s never ending survival and running. We just want a break. All we want is a reliable shelter, for even a week at least. All we pray for is peace.
Peyton Judy lets out light pants as she moves with the pack of 18 others. The only two that appear to be unbothered are Glenn Cliff, their survivalist leader, and Kitty, his under four foot animatronic, only a simple robotic replacement for a service animal.
Even Elizabeth, a mixed breed dog bred for endurance and work, is panting heavily behind her own gas mask.
There aren’t many left in the world. They say 99.9% of humans had been wiped out a mere two years ago, though it’s almost felt like only last week.
A sudden heavy dose of oxygen released into the atmosphere, taking only about 7 months to spread across the world. It started with only doses of nausea and lightheadedness, blurry vision, muscle twitching at the worst. But soon came convulsions, fainting, and pulmonary damage, and leading to death. Many can even completely lose their memory.
And to replace the dominant species came massive bugs, larger animals in general, and plants invading every possible crevice and area they could reach.
Only one thing was clear. It wasn’t natural.
These survivors were once a part of other groups, but had whittled down to finding eachother. And so far, it has been going well, especially due to their leader being a professional survivalist. He seemed to always know how to get everyone out of a tight patch.
“Glennnnn…” Chandler Lufu groans out, bordering on a whine “How much longer?”
“Only a few more minutes, I promise” Glenn glances back at the group following close behind himself. “It’s out of the way, but a perfect shelter. I’ve scouted it already. Food, an air purifier, endless supplies. And a protective dome over the entire area.”
“Does that not sound a little too good to be true?” Ezekiel Lansbury grunts softly, barely dragging himself along
“Maybe” Glenn glances back “but is it not worth it to just look?”
When they arrive upon the shelter, everyone gazes up at the air locked door, and up the dome
Ayane Hanabira stares upward, hand having to shield her eyes against the sun “it’s massive…”
Peyton’s eyes shift to the school, eyes narrowing as she scans over it “Is this…Shizen academy?”
“You know this place?” Hank Darnell glances over
Peyton nods softly “Yeah, it’s a college that takes in students. Gives them an ultimate based on what they’re best at. You don’t even sign up, a letter just…gets to you.”
“Wait, we’re in Maine?” Hapi asks, sounding baffled “damn it, I thought we were still in New York!”
“Can’t blame you” Glenn glances over “State lines have blurred quite a bit. Klotho, Ryder, can you open the airlock? It’s a bit heavy.”
Klotho Santoro and Ryder McGraw both nod, each gripping one side of the handle, and tugging it open
The door hisses as it opens, metal and sterilization scented air rushing out
“Alright, we can’t all fit at once. One of you open the second door, and we rush in as quickly as possible”
Ryder opens the door, and everyone rushes in as quickly as they can. Lastly is Klotho, door slamming behind her, Ryder shutting his door once she’s through.
Everyone glances to Glenn as he removes his mask, moving his scarf down and taking a deep breath of relief.
Everyone hesitates, the trauma of breathing air without a filter too strong. But a couple begin to remove their masks, and soon everyone is taking in the air
“It’s clean…” Libra Starling whispers, breath quivering a little in her relief “we really can breathe…”
“Good ol Nitrogen” Letty Estrada sighs out, grinning
“And Argon, Carbon, whatever else you’ve listed in it?” Vez Lungo smirks, Letty laughing a little under her breath, giving a light push “Aw, you’ve listened to my science rambles…”
“So, Glenn, food? You mentioned food?” Lassie Duke asks, removing Elizabeth’s mask “Lizzie and I are starving…”
The dog looks up to Glenn once the mask is removed, letting out a whine to agree to the statement
Glenn chuckles softly before nodding, beginning to follow the edge of the dome “yes, follow. I’ll lead you to the building…”