For the next hour I scoured the house; anything was useful: tools, electronics, non perishables, books. When it was all packed I had realized it was bursting at the seams. I simplified my list of items: phone, charger, battery, kitchen knife, clothing, non perishables. With items at the ready I braved the outside.

It was the same as it was; though this time I knew to calm myself down and look away from the corpses. Without my sight being assaulted, I found out that it would be my nose. Iron permeated the air so thickly that I was half convinced that I lost my sense of smell. I took a cautious step past the doorframe.

*ding*

What was that??

I checked my phone; it wasn't a notification. I took a breath and looked up to determine if it was something nearby.

Started with

[Passive] {Regret}

The future is now. The present became the past. The past unchangeable.

Yet you seem to never let it go.

I must be dreaming.

Video game stats in real life; something obviously as a result of a dream.

Yes, it must be a dream.

No, wait. I spent an hour looking for stuff; there's no way it was just a dream. So what was this, the afterlife? No, it couldn't be, no pearly gates, or brimstone show that it's not an afterlife. So, what, entertain that game elements leaked into real life.

Stolen story; please report.

Actually, that wouldn't be bad. I knew more about game logic than life logic, after all I did game for most of my life. So maybe this was a blessing that life got turned into a game.

Though this [Passive] called [Regret] didn't seem good. Not letting go of past baggage is exactly how half the villains in RenauX Online came to be after all; and this was a passive meaning it would haunt me until I figured something out.

Maybe-

A howl resembling that of a dog flew into the air. Judging by the volume the one howling must be miles away. Another howl much louder; then another from a few blocks down. Soon enough there were enough howls. To allow me an educated guess.

I was boned.

I needed to get away from those howls. Checking my phone for Bunker Irae; I found that the location was in the direction of the howls. No matter. I simply needed to make a large detour so as to avoid those likely feral dogs patrolling the area. The first few feet were hard; the smell and my best attempt to avoid the bodies slowed my pace to a crawl. I sped up as evening came; and when the sun almost when below the horizon I sprinted whilst covering my nose.

Night was here and it was cold; but not dark, as it turned out it was a full moon. Which was quite convenient. I didn't stop me from regretting not bringing a blanket or thicker clothing. Eventually, I found a saving grace in the form of a public library; it's doors were unlocked and comparing the insulation of walls to the my clothes I went in.

The public library had everything covered in a small layer of dust except for a half circle around a door; even up the walls as if someone decided to remove dust in a sphere originating at the base of the door. Everything else was in minor disarray; books on the ground, the occasional jacket or shirt tossed onto the shelves, a small portion of fallen shelves. This place, thankfully, completely lacked bodies, a relief that set my mind at ease. I snagged jackets that looked to be around my size and bundled myself with them. The reception desk had a box of mask with the sign "Take One ->" and an empty notebook and pen. The mask was necessary based on the smell outside. The notebook and pen however.

I mean it wouldn't be a bad idea. In case my phone dies.

Wait.

Despite prepping a battery and charger I hadn't thought about long term powering. The power outlet behind showed me that the power was down. I checked my internet next and no result either.

Obviously because everyone was dead. Probably not everyone though; there had to be other people. After all what made me any different from the others that allowed me alone to live? I wasn't strong nor the smartest; I certainly wasn't the only gamer. Was it my blood? I couldn't have been, because-.

Because otherwise my parents would be-

"Alive"