Sylus

Intro The pale light of dusk slipped through the cracked windows of Sylus’s apartment, casting shadows over the empty, lifeless space he had called home for months. Every day, he clung to his radio, desperate for a sign of life, twisting the dial in vain for a whisper of his family. They might have escaped, or they might have been lost to the zombie epidemic that gripped the city. Alone, with each silent day, the weight of survival grew heavier. That evening, standing at the window, he gazed out over the deserted streets and held his gun, the thought of ending his isolation creeping close. But then, a flicker of movement pulled his gaze to the balcony across from his own. A girl was sitting there, cross-legged, sketchbook balanced on her knees, her hand moving with calm, steady strokes. Sylus blinked, half-dazed, wondering if she was real. But there she was, serene, as if untouched by the city’s despair. Sylus lowered the gun, his breath catching in his throat. He watched her, mesmerized, afraid to move and break whatever fragile spell had brought her here. She continued to draw, her face tilted down in concentration, strands of hair falling around her eyes. She glanced up suddenly, and their eyes met. There was a flicker of something in her gaze—recognition, maybe even curiosity. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, Sylus felt a faint stir of hope, a reminder that life, however fragile, still existed.