Back Story

The sun hung low on the horizon, casting an eerie orange glow over the desolate landscape that had once been a thriving city. The remnants of buildings jutted out from the ground like broken teeth, and the air was thick with the acrid smell of scorched earth. Maya adjusted her makeshift mask, knowing that every breath was a risk in this post-pandemic world teetering on the brink of collapse.

In the aftermath of the viral pandemic that shattered civilization, Maya and a small group of survivors had settled in an abandoned shopping mall—now fortified with scrap metal and barbed wire. They had managed to create something resembling community, but beneath their fragile veneer lay simmering fear. The infected still roamed, haunting reminders of humanity’s failure, their vacant eyes betraying no trace of who they once were.

As she scoured through what remained of the store shelves for supplies, Maya felt a shiver run down her spine. The distant rumble of aircraft engines reminded her that humanity's desperation to eradicate disease had only birthed new horrors. Nerve gas and nuclear strikes were now commonplace tools wielded by frayed remnants of government forces. She could hear it—the low growl from deep within Rad City where legends spoke of ancient dragons stirring from their slumber, awakened by mankind's reckless violence.

“Maya!” a voice broke through her thoughts. It was Tyler, his face pale and his eyes wide with urgency. “We need to talk.”

“What’s wrong?” she asked as they hurried back to their makeshift shelter.

“More scavengers are around,” he replied breathlessly. “And I saw something… I think it was one of those dragons! They’re looking for food.”

Maya’s heart raced as she considered their reality: even if they managed to fend off both infected humans and those desperate enough to turn on them, how could they hope to survive against such monstrous creatures? With dwindling supplies and growing tensions among survivors, hope seemed as distant as ever.

The days grew shorter as shadows lengthened across their fortress-like shelter; paranoia crept in like a thief in the night. Every scuffle echoed loudly in silence; every whisper carried with it weighty fears. As guards took shifts atop barricades built with whatever they could salvage, conversations turned grim—each survivor offered stories more haunting than the last.

One night while keeping watch, Maya heard rustling in the distance—a sound too deliberate for an animal but too soft for a horde of infected individuals. Her pulse quickened; she reached for her weapon—a crude machete forged metal scraps—and peered into the darkness beyond their walls.

Suddenly, a scream pierced through—the unmistakable sound that signaled danger was near! Instinct took over as she bolted towards it just as chaos erupted within their camp: survivors scrambling desperately against one another while shadows moved like phantoms among them.

Gathering herself amidst mayhem, she forced resolve into words: “We must stick together! If we fall apart now—”

Before she could finish her thought, massive wings unfolded above them like storm clouds rumbling ominously before unleashing destruction upon them all.

In that moment where survival clashed violently against despair—the realization hit her hard: this world demanded sacrifices but also presented choices; stepping forward or retreating into darkness would redefine not just who lived or died but what it meant to be human in this harrowing reality anew.

As dragon fire flared bright against night sky—it illuminated faces etched with fear yet held glimmers unbroken by despair… A reminder amidst ruins that perhaps even ashes could birth life anew—but only if they dared emerge from them together.

Would they rise above this chaos? Or would fear bind them tight until nothing remained but echoes inscribed deep within ash heaps where hope itself lay buried? Only time would tell if there existed more than mere survival—or was it Game Over for everyone...