In an endless field of soft green gradishevelledntinuous pitter-patter of raindrops fell from the dark grey clouds. In the middle of this field, two young boys, around the age of six, stood face to face, even though one of them was faceless.

  "Mike?" the first boy said, his blank face able to produce sounds. "Why did you call me here?"

  His voice was confused and laced with annoyance. However, the other boy—Mike—stood still, smiling without answering.

  "So?" The faceless boy pressed.

  "Johnny, what would you do?"

  From that question alone, the boy–Johnny–felt a sudden anger rise in his chest as he gritted his teeth.

  "What would I do? What would I do?! I don't know! Where the hell are we, Mike?"

  "Johnny... I'd sleep."

  "Hah," Johnny scoffed, a snide laugh escaping him. "Of course you would. You lazy fuck. Fine. I'd walk—walk away from everyone and everything. Walk away from you."

  Mike only smiled and closed his eyes.

  "I'll hold you to it..."

  —

  "...n."

  Soft snores could be heard as a voice tried to wake the sleeping figure.

  "...JOHN!"

  "I'M UP!"

  Sitting up quickly, John bumped his head against Mike’s forehead as Mike rubbed his head in annoyance.

  "Fuck! What are you doing?"

  "Trying to wake you up!" Mike sounded excited as he stood up and stretched. Apparently, he had found an electric lantern.

  "Let’s continue getting the hell out of this city!"

  Looking out from the small window on the barred emergency exit door, John saw it was night.

  "Right. We need to do that."

  Getting up as well, John packed his belongings. One item that caught his attention was his journal. Picking it up, he took out a pen and began to write:

  「What would I do? I still haven't figured out what he meant when he asked me that question.」

  After jotting down a small excerpt, he packed his journal away and followed Mike out of the small café. Mike illuminated the way with the lantern, ensuring they took the stealthiest path.

  "Are there any new things we have to look out for?" Mike asked, stopping to glance back at John.

  "Hm, well... I don't know. It seems things are being released earlier."

  "And that is?"

  "Be careful of the sky; it isn't safe anymore."

  After another cryptic message, Mike turned back and continued walking, leaving John to figure out what he meant.

  "Hm, alright... what the hell does any of that mean?"

  As he looked up at the sky, he saw something zoom past them, holding what looked like a carcass with its talons. Suddenly, Mike turned off the lantern, plunging them into darkness.

  "...a"

  "...oj"

  "Iw...ts"

  As they remained in the dark, voices could be heard, and eyes began sprouting from the shadows, almost calling them to enter.

  Click—

  Screeeetch!

  Michael turned the lantern back on, ignoring the crying eyes as the light cut through the darkness. John followed while covering his ears.

  "Can they shut up?!"

  The screaming was overwhelming—both from the darkness and from John.

  Michael turned around and lifted his finger to his lips.

  "Those screams aren’t real; they’re only in your mind. Do not scream."

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  His warning made John realise that this was not his world anymore...

  "Right..."

  John followed along as Michael picked up speed, the screams in John’s mind fading the further they went.

  "How far do we have left," John asked, his feet trying to keep up with Michael's almost deliberate and sped-up steps.

  "Have you never seen the city or something? We have half a day's worth of non-stop travel left."

  A groan escaped John's mouth as he let the words sink in. He just wanted to escape now—from this hellish place.

  "Once we do, we will have to find a safe area before the forest is next."

  John froze, his body unmoving, causing Michael to turn as he stopped hearing his footsteps. John looked... frightened.

  "Even the forest isn't safe? Then why the hell are we going there?"

  John's voice had a slight and unnoticeable shake to it as he spoke.

  "Because this place will soon switch status from a city to a grinder."

  His words become stranger still as his words mean a sort of nothing as he begins to walk again.

  "Seriously, what do you mean."

  What happened next was uneventful, nothing happened for a long time. Well, that is until they were three-quarters of the way there.

  "S-survivors!"

  A man spoke from behind them, he had disheveled clothes as he ran up to greet them.

  Michael took out his sword and aimed it at the man.

  "Do not step closer." His voice was filled with distrust as the man stopped in fright.

  "W-wait! Im not any of them!"

  His clothes were ruined and disheveled, his bright blinde hair was dirtied from dirt as his red eyes had a small shimmer to it as he put his hands up in surrender.

  "Who are you–"

  "Sam?"

  Before Michael could figure out the identity of this sudden stranger, John spoke out... almost longingly.

  "Who–...John?"

  The disheveled man–Sam–answered as he called out a familiar name, causing John to run up and hug him.

  "Sam! Fuck man! Where have you been!"

  "I-i don't know! All this crazy stuff happened!"

  "What is going on?"

  The voice to break this warming moment was Michael as he was left there, a proper(?) Confused face on him.

  "Oh, right. Michael, he's Sam, my old friend in highschool."

  "...oh! That Sam!"

  Michael closed the distance as John pulled back from the hug, leaving poor defenceless Sam to deal with the newly energized Michael.

  "I've heard so much about you! From John, he said you were the only person who didn't annoy him to oblivion!"

  Sam was left confused as Michael put his sword away and began to shake his hand vigorously.

  "W-well, I was his bestfriend."

  "Excuse me?"

  Michael slightly tightened the grip on Sam's hand.

  "Who's best friend?"

  "U-uh... well..."

  Michael had this strange glint in his eyes as he tightened his grip, slowly as the pain began to emerge.

  "H-hey, could you let go-"

  "Michael."

  In the distance, John, who was now holding the electric lamp grabbed their attention as he signalled them to begin walking again.

  "Right. Nice to meet you, Sam."

  Michael let go of his hand and turned around to leave.

  "C'mon."

  The newly found trio began to walk.

  "We change..."