The Last Stand After The Fall

"Let's rest here. This flat will give us good cover," J said, her voice low and steady as she glanced around the room.

The walls were cracked, and the flickering light from a broken streetlamp outside cast long shadows across the decaying furniture.

Dust hung thick in the air, and the stale scent of mildew mixed with the metallic tang of old, rusted pipes. It wasn't much, but it would have to do.

"No, we can keep going," Lilith replied, her eyes narrowing as she fixed her gaze on her younger brother.

She could see the fatigue in his eyes, but she knew he wouldn't give up so easily.

"Right, Ash?"

Ash hesitated, his chest rising and falling in uneven breaths. He was exhausted, but he pushed the weakness down, focusing on Lilith's hopeful look.

"I can still run," he said, his voice trembling slightly, but steady enough to show he was trying to be brave.

"Are you serious?" Kane interjected, raising an eyebrow and giving Ash a skeptical look.

His gruff tone cut through the tension, but there was something in his eyes—perhaps concern, perhaps frustration.

Ash nodded firmly, trying to ignore the pain gnawing at his limbs.

"I'll keep up."

J studied them for a moment, then nodded with approval.

"Good. That's better. I have a feeling we might just make it to the Citadel in time."

But as she spoke, the air grew heavy with an all-too-familiar hum. The static from the Spire began to increase, sending an icy shiver down their spines.

The low, vibrating sound seemed to crawl under their skin, rattling their nerves. The siblings knew all too well what it meant: the red moon was near.

"If not tonight, then tomorrow night will definitely bring the red moon," Lilith murmured, her eyes darting nervously around.

"That's when things get even worse."

J didn't need to ask what Lilith meant. The red moon was a signal, a terrifying one.

During the red moon, the Reclaimers became far more dangerous. Their intelligence seemed to increase as if they were being controlled from somewhere deep underground.

The hum from the Spire acted like a beacon, guiding them, calling them to their prey. When the red moon came, survival became nearly impossible. The Reclaimers would hunt relentlessly, turning the world upside down in their search for anything living.

Lilith's voice trembled as she continued.

"It's already dust, and the weird sound isn't too loud today, which means tomorrow, without a doubt, will be the red moon. We need to move fast." Her eyes locked onto Ash for a moment, her brow furrowed in concern, before she quickly turned her gaze to the others.

J looked at her in surprise.

"You mean the hum?"

"What hum? Do you mean the weird sound?"

They had never even known the sound had a name. All they knew was that it always made their skins crawl.

"Yes,"

J replied, her voice heavy with the weight of knowledge.

"We call it the hum. It's believed to come from the Spire, the massive structure buried deep in the Earth's crust. It's not just a sound, though—it's like the Spire is communicating with the Reclaimers. The hum seems to guide them, giving them orders, telling them what to do."

She paused, her eyes distant, as if lost in thought.

"It controls them, like puppets on a string."

"It's always worse during the red moon. The Reclaimers aren't just mindless beasts—they're organized, strategic. It's like they know exactly where to search. It's as if the Spire is waking them up, calling them into action."

Even the Vanguard scientists stationed at the Citadel didn't know much about the Spire. They'd confirmed its existence during the Fall, but details were scarce. All they could say was that it wasn't a natural formation—no, the Spire was something constructed.

But who built it, and for what purpose? No one had answers. The only certainty was that it was the source of the Reclaimers.

And that made the Spire the most dangerous place in the world.

The Reclaimers, once scattered and mindless, had become a terrifying army, organized and controlled by whatever force lay within the Spire's depths.

Some of them climbed to the surface, bringing chaos and destruction with them, while others stayed near the Spire, guarding it like a fortress.

The survivors knew little more than this. No one had ever gotten close enough to the Spire to learn anything else. Those who tried… didn't make it back.

The room felt colder now, the hum of the Spire buzzing in their ears. J, Kane, and the siblings knew there was no time to waste.

The flat offered momentary respite, but they couldn't stay here. Not if they wanted to make it to the Citadel. They needed to move before the red moon rose and the Reclaimers were set loose.

Without another word, J turned toward the door, her face a mask of determination.

"Let's move. Now."

The group filed out of the flat, back into the ruins of the city. The air was thick with the smell of decay, and the streets were littered with the remnants of a world long lost.

The distant hum grew louder, almost deafening now, as they moved quickly, staying close to the shadows. Every broken building, every shattered window felt like an obstacle, each one a reminder of how fragile their lives were.

As they ran, they couldn't help but glance over their shoulders, wondering how long it would take before the Reclaimers found them.

Would they make it to the Citadel before the red moon rose? Or would the Spire's call be their undoing?

Time was running out. And the hum grew louder with every step.

They pressed forward, moving like shadows through the ruined city. The streets were eerily quiet, but the constant threat of Reclaimers kept them on edge.

J led the group, her eyes sharp, scanning every corner and shadow for movement. Kane stayed at the back, his weapon ready, his head swiveling as he watched their flank. Lilith and Ash stayed in the middle, staying close to each other.

The siblings were tired, but they pushed on, driven by the promise of safety at the Citadel.

Whenever they spotted Reclaimers, they immediately ducked into alleys, hid behind piles of rubble, or crouched low in abandoned vehicles. The Reclaimers' guttural growls and shuffling steps echoed through the streets, making every moment feel like the calm before a storm.

Thankfully, it wasn't a red moon night. The darkness of the normal night cloaked them, giving them the cover they needed to avoid detection.

They moved slowly and carefully, stopping whenever they heard even the faintest sound. At times, the tension was unbearable—like when a runner appeared less than ten meters away, sniffing the air. Everyone froze, their breaths held.

The Reclaimer lingered, its glowing eyes scanning the area, but then it moved on, its jerky strides taking it further down the street. Only then did they dare to exhale and move again.

They walked like this all night.

By dawn, the city began to thin out. The ruins gave way to a barren landscape—a desolate stretch of clear land littered with rocks and patches of sand. The air felt different here, lighter without the oppressive weight of the ruined buildings.

The horizon stretched out endlessly, and for the first time, they could see the faint outline of the Citadel in the distance, its towering walls standing as a beacon of hope.

"Finally," J muttered, her voice a mix of relief and weariness.

The desolate area offered little cover, but it was also safer. Reclaimers rarely ventured into open spaces like this unless drawn by sound or movement. Without the confinement of the streets, the group could walk more freely, their pace quickening as they crossed the rocky terrain.

The ground beneath their feet was uneven, with jagged rocks jutting out and patches of loose sand making the walk tricky. The sun rose higher, its rays beating down on them. Ash wiped sweat from his forehead, his legs trembling with every step. Lilith stayed close to him, offering silent support as they trudged forward.

"This place feels like a graveyard," Kane said, breaking the silence. His voice was low, almost reverent, as if he didn't want to disturb the emptiness around them.

J nodded. "It is. The only things that live here are ghosts of what used to be."

Despite the bleakness of the landscape, the group felt a small sense of relief. The danger wasn't completely gone, but the lack of buildings and tight spaces made it easier to spot threats from a distance. They continued on, their eyes fixed on the Citadel, its walls growing larger with every step.

They passed rusted-out vehicles half-buried in the sand, remnants of a world that no longer existed. The occasional skeletal remains of long-dead survivors lay scattered among the rocks, a grim reminder of what happened to those who didn't make it. But no one spoke about it. There was no need; the message was clear. Keep moving, or end up like them.

Hours passed, and the sun began to dip toward the horizon. Their energy was nearly spent, but the Citadel was close now—so close they could see the glint of sunlight on its fortified gates.

The thought of reaching it gave them a renewed sense of determination, pushing them to keep going despite their aching bodies and burning lungs.

"We're almost there," J said, her voice firm.

"Just a little further."

For the first time in days, they allowed themselves to feel a glimmer of hope. They were almost home.