The night stretched on, an abyss swallowing the world in silence. The road ahead was cracked and uneven, the remnants of a world once alive now reduced to rubble.

  The headlights carved through the darkness, revealing flickering street signs and abandoned cars with shattered windows. The eerie quiet was suffocating, a stark contrast to the honking, shouting, and life that once filled these roads.

  Inside the car, Nero kept his eyes on the surroundings, gripping the edge of his seat. Every shadow looked like it could move. Every building seemed to hold secrets.

  Badong, ever focused, kept both hands on the wheel. Amira sat with Eclipse curled on her lap, her fingers absentmindedly stroking its fur.

  Then, something caught Badong's eye.

  "There," he muttered, pointing ahead.

  A small, rundown mini-mart stood at the corner of an intersection. Unlike the other buildings they had passed, this one wasn't completely destroyed. The windows were shattered, the door slightly ajar, but the structure itself still stood firm.

  Badong pulled over. "Let's grab what we can."

  They all stepped out, their boots crunching against debris. The air smelled of rust and stale dust, the scent of a world long forgotten.

  The inside of the mini-mart was a mess. Shelves were overturned, snack wrappers littered the floor, and half-eaten instant noodles had dried into brittle clumps on the counter.

  Yet, surprisingly, some things remained untouched.

  "Looks like whoever was here left in a hurry," Nero noted as he grabbed a bottle of water.

  Badong rummaged through the shelves. "They took most of the good stuff, but there's still plenty left." He tossed a few cans into a bag. "Enough to last us a while."

  Amira picked up a chocolate bar. It was slightly melted, but still edible. She smiled faintly, tucking it into her pocket. "It's been a while since I had sweets."

  For a brief moment, it felt almost normal—like they were just on a late-night supply run.

  But then…

  Something changed.

  Amira felt it first.

  A strange sensation, like someone was watching her.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  Her breath hitched as she instinctively turned toward the shattered glass storefront.

  Her reflection stared back at her.

  And behind it—a light.

  A single, glaring spotlight pointed directly at her.

  Her heart pounded. "Guys… did you see that?"

  Nero looked up. "See what?"

  Amira kept her gaze locked on the glass, but the light was gone.

  "It was… a light," she whispered. "A spotlight. Right at me."

  Badong frowned, standing up straight. "Where?"

  She pointed. "There! Outside, across the street—"

  But when they all looked, there was nothing.

  Just darkness.

  Just silence.

  Nero exchanged glances with Badong. "You sure?"

  Amira swallowed hard. "I know what I saw."

  Badong rubbed his chin. "Maybe a reflection? Could be our headlights bouncing off something."

  "No…" Amira whispered. "It was real."

  Eclipse, the black cat curled in her arms, suddenly let out a low, guttural growl. Its fur bristled.

  Nero stiffened. He had never heard the cat growl before.

  Something was out there.

  Watching.

  Waiting.

  Badong slung his bag over his shoulder. "We're leaving. Now."

  No one argued.

  They quickly gathered their supplies, stuffing their bags with anything useful. Nero took one last glance out the broken window.

  The city was still.

  Lifeless.

  Yet… he couldn't shake the feeling that they weren't alone.

  With hurried steps, they climbed back into the car.

  The engine roared to life.

  As they drove off, Amira cast one last glance at the store.

  She wasn't crazy.

  She saw that light.

  The car sped through the empty streets, cutting through the ruins of what was once a thriving city. The headlights illuminated collapsed buildings, abandoned vehicles, and streets reclaimed by nature. The deeper they went, the more eerie it felt—like ghosts of the past still lingered in every shadow.

  Badong, his grip firm on the wheel, glanced at Amira through the rearview mirror. "You sure about that light?"

  Amira nodded, her fingers gripping Eclipse tightly. "I saw it. It wasn't a reflection. It was real."

  Badong exhaled through his nose, determined. "Then we find it."

  Nero looked out the window, his pulse quickening. "But what if… it's not friendly?"

  Badong smirked. "Kid, I'd rather take my chances with people than ghosts."

  They drove in the direction Amira pointed, following roads that twisted through the broken city. The deeper they went, the more unnatural it felt.

  Then, something changed.

  The darkness faded.

  A faint glow appeared in the distance.

  Nero squinted. "Is that… light?"

  As they got closer, the glow became brighter, flickering like fire—but not just any fire. Neon lights.

  And then they saw it.

  A street—alive.

  It was lit up with torches, hanging lanterns, and makeshift electricity. Colorful LED lights dangled from ruined buildings, casting an almost festive atmosphere.

  And the people—there were people.

  Laughing. Drinking. Dancing.

  Music blasted from speakers, distorted yet joyful. A crowd had gathered in the middle of the street, their bodies swaying as if the world wasn't buried in ruins.

  Badong slowed the car, his expression unreadable.

  Nero's eyes widened. "Are we hallucinating?"

  Amira's breath hitched. "This… doesn't make sense."

  They pulled up to the side, stepping out cautiously. The trio exchanged uneasy glances as the music thumped against their ears.

  The people—survivors, dozens of them—turned to look at them.

  Then, as if nothing was unusual, someone cheered.

  "More survivors!" a man shouted, raising a bottle in the air.

  A roar of excitement followed.

  A woman stumbled toward them, tipsy, her grin wide. "Welcome, welcome! You made it!"

  Badong furrowed his brows. "What is this…?"

  The woman spread her arms. "A celebration, of course!"

  Nero took a step forward. "A celebration?"

  The woman nodded, her eyes gleaming. "Of survival. We're alive, aren't we?" She turned to the crowd, raising her arms. "We're all still here!"

  The people cheered again, as if nothing was wrong.

  Badong muttered under his breath. "What the hell…"

  A man, slightly older and more composed, approached them. His clothes were cleaner than the others, his presence commanding. "You must be new." He extended a hand. "Welcome to Haven."

  The trio hesitated before shaking his hand.

  Amira looked around, still dazed. "How… how are you all so happy?"

  The man chuckled. "Because we survived, dear."

  He gestured toward the party. "The world ended, sure. But does that mean we have to live in misery? No. We choose to celebrate."

  Badong narrowed his eyes. "So you just… party?"

  The man smiled. "We live. Every day could be our last. So why not make the most of it?"

  Nero swallowed hard. Something felt off.

  These people weren't starving. They weren't mourning. They weren't struggling.

  They were…thriving.

  And for some reason, that terrified him.