Chapter 11: we die together
Cough, cough...
Blood stained my hand. So, my time had come.
A week had passed since that conversation on the rooftop. So much had happened.
The next day, the city had awakened. People went out, worked, and returned home. Parents walked their children to school.
I could have believed that yesterday’s events were just my imagination—if not for the damage left by the explosions, the scattered debris. No one had bothered to remove the rubble. Only the bodies of the traitors had been incinerated, reduced to dust. The strangest thing was that the Enforcers hadn’t investigated further, as if their objective had already been met the moment they announced the recruitment.
People tried to act normal, but their anxious eyes, forced smiles, and distant conversations betrayed their unease. The parents had finally grasped the situation, yet no further disturbances occurred. Maybe only the children behaved normally? Could they sense the fear of the adults? I had no idea. But how many of them would be orphans in a few days? Those who had yet to reach the age when symptoms appeared could never awaken. Would they be discarded like trash? Did the Calamities have plans for them?
My thoughts wandered endlessly. As I walked through the city, the symphony of cars on the road seemed to promise that tomorrow would be just another day. But I knew the truth—nothing would ever be the same again. Maybe we all knew it, yet no one dared to say it out loud. Each person would have to reflect on their own life. It was said that those who truly understood who they were had a better chance of surviving. Unfortunately, while no study could prove it, none could disprove it either.
Brenda still hadn’t woken up. The symptoms had officially begun to manifest. What could possibly accelerate her awakening? Victor had been by her side the entire time.
Then, there was something strange. Everywhere Iris went, people greeted her. She had become a sort of mascot for the city. Every time someone saw her, they gave her gifts. Her performance must have truly left a mark on them.
Time passed like this, like the calm before the rising tide.