The morning sun filtered through the trees as I adjusted the brown cloak Emma had insisted I wear. It was a simple, practical garment, but Emma had complained endlessly about how “tacky” it looked. “Honestly, Si Xin,” she’d said, rolling her eyes, “you look like a peasant. Can’t you at least try to look presentable?”

I’d ignored her, focusing instead on the task at hand. The undead bandit Emma had sent out the previous day had found the UPF settlement the captured bandits had mentioned. According to Emma, the settlement was surrounded by concrete walls and barbed wire, making it difficult to see inside. It wasn’t much to go on, but it was our best lead.

I’d spent the morning preparing, gathering the mismatched armor and weapons we’d scavenged from the bandits. They were mostly useless to us, but I hoped to trade them for something better—like guns. Emma had helped me pack, though her idea of “helping” mostly involved criticizing my choices and suggesting impractical alternatives.

“You’re really going to wear that?” she’d said, gesturing to the cloak. “It’s so… drab. Why not take one of the bandit’s jackets? At least it has some flair.”

“Because I’m trying to blend in, not stand out,” I’d replied, tightening the cloak around my shoulders. “The less attention I draw, the better.”

Emma had sighed dramatically but didn’t argue further. Instead, she’d handed me a small pouch filled with berries and dried meat. “In case you get hungry,” she’d said, her tone softer than usual. “Don’t die out there, okay? I’d hate to have to raise you as an undead minion.”

I’d smirked at that. “I’ll do my best.”

Jack, who had been quietly observing, gave me a nod. It was his way of saying, Don’t mess this up. I nodded back, then turned to the others. Noah, Mera, Cael, and Star were still in their toddler forms, blissfully unaware of the dangers we faced. I hoped they’d be safe while I was gone.

Taking a deep breath, I set off toward the settlement. The forest was quiet, the only sounds the crunch of leaves underfoot and the occasional chirp of birds. I used my Mind Map ability occasionally to check for any threats, but the area seemed clear. Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling of unease. This world was unpredictable, and I had no idea what awaited me at the settlement.

Hours past and night fell before I reached my destination, forcing me to make camp in a small clearing. I built a fire, more for comfort than warmth, and tried to get some sleep. The forest was eerily quiet, and every rustle of leaves made me jump. But exhaustion eventually won out, and I drifted off into a restless sleep.

...

Morning came too soon, and I set off again, my mental map guiding me. By midday, I reached the settlement. The concrete walls loomed ahead, topped with barbed wire and patrolled by guards. They were a mismatched group, their armor and weapons a chaotic mix of modern and medieval. I spotted shotguns, rifles, swords, spears, and even a katana. It was like walking into a post-apocalyptic flea market.

I blended in with a group of traders entering the settlement, my cloak hiding my face as I passed through the gates. Inside, the settlement was a bustling hub of activity. Stalls lined the streets, selling everything from food to weapons to strange, glowing artifacts. The air was thick with the scent of smoke, sweat, and something metallic I couldn’t quite place.

I approached cautiously, keeping my hood up and my face hidden. The guards eyed me but didn’t stop me as I entered through the main gate. Inside, the settlement was a bustling hive of activity. Stalls lined the streets, selling everything from food to weapons to scrap metal. The air was thick with the smell of smoke, sweat, and something unidentifiable but distinctly unpleasant.

I made my way to a stall that looked like it specialized in weapons. The vendor, a grizzled man with a scar running down his cheek, eyed me suspiciously as I approached.

“What’cha got?” he asked, his voice gruff.

I set the mismatched armor and weapons on the counter. “Looking to trade,” I said, keeping my tone neutral.

The vendor picked through the items, nodding occasionally. “Not bad,” he muttered. “I’ll give you 200 credits for the lot.”

I didn’t know what credits were worth, but I wasn’t in a position to haggle. “Deal,” I said.

He handed me a small pouch filled with metal coins, each stamped with the letters “UPF.” I pocketed the credits and began browsing the stall. After some bartering, I managed to purchase a M1911 pistol and three clips of ammunition, leaving me with 85 credits in change. It wasn’t much, but it was better than nothing.

As I turned to leave, a commotion caught my attention. A crowd had gathered near the center of the settlement, their voices raised in argument. Curiosity got the better of me, and I pushed my way through the crowd to see what was happening.

What I saw made me blink in disbelief.

A cat girl.

She was arguing with three men, her ears twitching in agitation. Her tail swished angrily behind her, and her claws—actual claws—were out. The men looked equally angry, their hands resting on their weapons. But what really caught my attention was the massive figure standing behind the cat girl.

He was easily the biggest person I’d ever seen, towering over everyone else in the crowd. His muscles bulged under his armor, and his expression was one of quiet menace. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t noticed him earlier. He had to be the cat girl’s companion.

The argument grew more heated, and the cat girl’s voice rose in pitch. “I said I’m not interested!” she snapped, her tail lashing. “Now back off!”

The men didn’t seem inclined to listen, but the giant behind her took a step forward, his presence alone enough to make them hesitate. One of the men muttered something under his breath, and they backed off, disappearing into the crowd.

The cat girl let out a frustrated sigh, her ears drooping. “Thanks, Garth,” she said, glancing up at the giant.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

He nodded, his expression softening slightly. “Anytime, Mia.”

I stood there, stunned. A cat girl. A giant. And apparently, they were metahumans. The vendor I’d bartered with earlier noticed my expression and chuckled.

“First time seeing a metahuman, huh?” he said, leaning on the counter. “Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it. They’re all over the place now.”

I nodded, still trying to process what I’d just seen. This world was stranger than I’d thought, and I had a feeling I was only scratching the surface.

Shaking my head I then turn to look around and with the M1911 pistol tucked securely under my cloak and 85 credits jingling in my pocket, I decided to explore the settlement further. The encounter with the cat girl and her giant companion had left me both intrigued and unsettled. If metahumans were common here, I needed to learn more about them—and fast.

The settlement was a chaotic blend of makeshift structures and repurposed buildings. Concrete walls lined the perimeter, but inside, it felt like a cross between a refugee camp and a bustling marketplace. Stalls were crammed together, selling everything from food and clothing to weapons and ammunition. The air was thick with the smell of smoke, sweat, and something faintly metallic—probably the result of whatever industrial efforts were happening deeper in the settlement.

I wandered through the narrow streets, keeping my hood up and my head down. My Mind Map ability was active, toggling off the clutter of buildings and people to give me a clearer sense of my surroundings. I didn’t want to draw attention to myself, but I also didn’t want to miss anything important.

The first thing that caught my eye was a large bulletin board near the center of the settlement. It was covered in flyers and notices, some handwritten, others printed. I scanned the board, my eyes darting from one notice to the next.

“Wanted: Skilled Hunters for Monster Extermination. Payment in credits or supplies.”

“Metahuman Registration Mandatory. Report to the UPF Office for Testing.”

“Zenith Sightings: Report Immediately to Settlement Guards.”

“Insurgence Alert: Increased Monster Activity Near Sector 7. Travel at Your Own Risk.”

The last notice sent a chill down my spine. Sector 7 was the area where we’d encountered the Calamity Hound. If monster activity was increasing, we needed to be even more careful.

I tore my eyes away from the board and continued exploring. The settlement was divided into several sections, each with its own purpose. There was a residential area filled with tents and makeshift shelters, a market district where most of the stalls were located, and an industrial zone where blacksmiths and mechanics worked tirelessly to repair weapons and machinery.

As I passed through the industrial zone, I noticed a group of people gathered around a large, open workshop. Curious, I approached cautiously, blending into the crowd. Inside the workshop, a man was demonstrating a strange device—a handheld contraption that looked like a cross between a taser and a flashlight.

“This,” the man said, holding the device up for everyone to see, “is a Zenith Disruptor. It emits a pulse of energy that can temporarily disable Zenith units. Perfect for anyone planning to venture outside the walls.”

The crowd murmured in interest, and I felt a pang of curiosity. If this device could disable Zenith robots, it might be useful for us. But the price—200 credits—was way out of my budget. I made a mental note to keep an eye out for similar devices in the future.

Moving on, I found myself in the residential area. The tents and shelters were packed tightly together, and the air was filled with the sounds of children playing and adults arguing. It was a stark reminder of how many people had been displaced by the Insurgence. I wondered how many of them had lost everything—their homes, their families, their old lives.

As I walked, I noticed a small group of people gathered around a fire. They were sharing stories and passing around a bottle of something that smelled strongly of alcohol. I hesitated for a moment before deciding to approach. If I wanted to learn more about this world, I needed to talk to the people who lived in it.

“Mind if I join you?” I asked, keeping my voice low.

One of the men, a grizzled older fellow with a patch over one eye, looked me up and down before nodding. “Pull up a seat, kid. You look like you’ve got a story to tell.”

I sat down, accepting the bottle when it was passed to me. I took a small sip, the liquid burning my throat, and handed it back. “Thanks. I’m new here. Just trying to figure things out.”

The man chuckled. “Aren’t we all? Name’s Hank. This here’s my crew. We’re scavengers—well, we were, until the Insurgence got too bad. Now we’re stuck here, like everyone else.”

I nodded, listening intently as Hank and his crew shared their stories. They talked about the early days of Pangea, when the continent was still being colonized. They talked about the energy surge that brought the monsters, and how the world had changed overnight. And they talked about the metahumans—people like the cat girl and her giant companion—who had started appearing shortly after.

“Metahumans are a mixed bag,” Hank said, taking a swig from the bottle. “Some of ‘em are good people, just trying to survive like the rest of us. Others… well, let’s just say they let the power go to their heads.”

I filed the information away, my mind racing. If metahumans were common here, it was only a matter of time before someone figured out what Emma and I could do. We needed to be careful.

As the sun began to set, I thanked Hank and his crew for the conversation and stood to leave. I had learned a lot, but there was still so much I didn’t know. The settlement was a dangerous place, but it was also full of opportunities. If we played our cards right, we might be able to use it to our advantage.

But first, I needed to get back to the cabin. The others were waiting for me, and I didn’t want to leave them alone for too long.

The sun hung high in the sky, casting a warm, golden glow over the settlement. It was mid-afternoon, and the bustling activity showed no signs of slowing down. Stalls were still crowded, merchants shouted their wares, and the air was thick with the mingling scents of food, sweat, and smoke. My stomach growled, reminding me that I hadn’t eaten since early morning. It was time to stock up on food before heading back to the cabin.

I made my way to the market district, where the food stalls were concentrated. The variety was surprising—dried meats, fresh fruits, vegetables, and even some baked goods. The prices, however, were steep. A single loaf of bread cost 10 credits, and a small bag of dried meat was 15. I winced at the prices but reminded myself that food was a necessity, not a luxury.

After some careful bargaining, I managed to buy a loaf of bread, a bag of dried meat, and a handful of apples for 30 credits. It wasn’t much, but it would keep us fed for a few days. I also picked up a small jar of honey for 10 credits, thinking it might be a nice treat for the others. That left me with 45 credits, which I decided to save for future needs.

As I packed the food into a small satchel I’d bought earlier, I noticed a stall selling preserved goods—jars of pickled vegetables, salted fish, and smoked meats. The vendor, an elderly woman with a kind smile, noticed my interest and waved me over.

“Looking for something to last you a while, dear?” she asked, her voice warm.

I nodded. “Yeah, but I’m on a tight budget.”

She chuckled. “Aren’t we all? Tell you what—I’ll give you a discount if you promise to come back and buy from me again.”

I hesitated but eventually agreed. For 20 credits, she gave me two jars of pickled vegetables and a small package of smoked meat. It was a good deal, and I thanked her before moving on.

With my satchel now full of provisions, I decided it was time to head back. The journey to the settlement had taken most of the morning, and I didn’t want to risk traveling through the forest at night. I adjusted my cloak, making sure the pistol was hidden but within easy reach, and started toward the settlement’s gates.

The guards barely glanced at me as I passed through, too busy chatting with each other to pay attention to a lone traveler. Once outside the walls, I paused to activate my Mind Map ability. The forest stretched out before me, its dense foliage hiding both danger and opportunity. I toggled off the trees, focusing on the path ahead and any potential threats.

The walk back was uneventful, though I remained on high alert. My Mind Map picked up a few small creatures—likely harmless animals—but nothing that posed a threat. The forest was quiet, the only sounds the rustling of leaves and the occasional chirp of birds. It was almost peaceful, if you ignored the fact that monsters could appear at any moment.

As the sun began to dip below the horizon, I finally reached the cabin. The sight of it filled me with a strange sense of relief. It wasn’t much, but it was home—for now, at least.

I pushed open the door and was immediately greeted by Emma’s voice. “Finally! I was starting to think you’d gotten yourself eaten by a monster or something.”

I rolled my eyes, setting the satchel down on the table. “Nice to see you too, Emma.”

Jack was sitting nearby, his usual grumpy expression softened by a hint of curiosity. Noah, Mera, Cael, and Star were playing on the floor, their toddler antics providing a strange sense of normalcy. Harold the skeleton stood in the corner, as still and judgmental as ever.

“I brought food,” I said, unpacking the provisions. “Bread, dried meat, apples, pickled vegetables, smoked meat, and… honey.”

Emma’s eyes lit up at the mention of honey. “Honey? You’re my new favorite person.”

I chuckled, handing her the jar. “Don’t get used to it. It was expensive.”

As we ate, I filled them in on what I’d seen at the settlement—the cat girl, the giant, the Zenith Disruptor, and the general state of things. Emma listened intently, her usual diva demeanor replaced by genuine interest. Jack, as always, was quiet but attentive.

“So, what’s the plan?” Emma asked, licking honey off her fingers.

I sighed, leaning back in my chair. “For now, we stay here. The settlement is too dangerous to move into, but we can use it to our advantage. We’ll trade for supplies, gather information, and figure out our next move.”

Emma nodded, her expression serious for once. “Sounds like a plan. But if we’re staying here, we need to make this place more secure. Harold can only do so much.”

I glanced at the skeleton, which was now holding a broom and staring at me with its hollow eye sockets. “Yeah, about Harold…”

Emma waved me off. “Don’t start. Harold stays.”

I shook my head, smiling despite myself. “Fine. Harold stays. But we’re going to need more than a skeleton to keep us safe.”

As the night settled in, I felt a sense of cautious optimism. We were in a dangerous world, but we were together. And as long as we had each other, we had a chance.