John sat on the weathered bench, his gaze fixed upwards as the heavens wept. Rain

cascaded down in silvery sheets, each drop a tiny messenger from the clouds above. But

John wasn't bothered by the wetness; rather, he found solace in the rhythmic pitter-patter,

a melody that seemed to soothe his soul.

With a nonchalant expression, he watched as lightning streaked across the sky, illuminating

the darkness with a mesmerizing glow. In those fleeting moments, the world was painted in

shades of purple, an ethereal canvas crafted by nature's hand.

Despite the storm raging around him, John remained calm, his eyes wide open, absorbing

every detail of the spectacle above. There was a certain beauty in the chaos, a beauty that

whispered secrets only the observant could hear.

After a while, John hoisted his backpack onto his shoulders, a silent companion on his

journey through the rain. With practiced ease, he boarded a bus, leaving behind the serenity

of the bench and venturing towards the warmth of home.

At home, John's world was one of opulence and privilege. His father, a formidable

businessman, commanded respect in boardrooms and beyond, while his mother, a

trailblazing CEO, was a force to be reckoned with in the tech industry.

But amidst the wealth and success, there was something more precious to John's parents –

their son. John was their pride and joy, the sole focus of their love and attention. Whatever

he desired, they would move mountains to provide, showering him with gifts and affection

in equal measure.

Yet, despite the lavish lifestyle afforded to him, John remained grounded, his heart set on

two simple things – his parents and the pursuit of knowledge. He was a diligent student,

excelling in his studies not out of obligation, but out of a genuine passion for learning.

In the quiet of his room, John's mind buzzed with ideas and possibilities. He was an inventor

at heart, always tinkering with gadgets and gizmos, seeking to unravel the mysteries of the

universe one experiment at a time.

His latest project consumed his thoughts, a conundrum waiting to be solved, a puzzle

begging to be pieced together. With determination in his eyes, John set to work, fueled by a

relentless curiosity and an unwavering belief in his own abilities.

As the night stretched on, the glow of his computer screen cast shadows across the room, a

testament to the hours spent lost in the pursuit of knowledge. For John, there was no

greater thrill than the rush of discovery, no sweeter victory than unlocking the secrets of the

unknown.

And so, as the world outside slept, John dreamed, his mind alive with endless possibilities,

his heart set on a future filled with promise and potential. For in the glow of purple skies

and the warmth of his parents' love, he found the courage to chase his dreams and forge his

own path in the world.

John was a man of many talents, a master of martial arts and a savant in the realm of

science. In his secluded laboratory, surrounded by the hum of machinery and the scent of

innovation, he delved into the mysteries of the universe with relentless curiosity.

His passion for survival games and movies was more than mere entertainment; it was a

calculated study, a preparation for the unknown challenges that lay ahead. John believed in

being ready for anything, in honing his skills to face whatever adversity the world might

throw his way.

But amidst the chaos of his experiments and the solitude of his pursuits, John found solace

in two steadfast companions – James and Jerry. They were his friends by circumstance,

fellow travelers on the journey of life, but John kept them at arm's length, wary of letting

anyone too close.

For John, trust was a precious commodity, reserved only for his parents, the pillars of his

world. He reveled in their love and guidance, finding comfort in their unwavering support.

Yet, amidst the cacophony of his busy mind, there was one dream that whispered to John in

the quiet of the night – to escape the trappings of society and disappear into the wilderness,

alone save for the company of a loyal canine companion.

It was a longing born from a deep-seated desire for simplicity, a yearning to shed the weight

of expectation and obligation and find freedom in the embrace of nature.

But for now, John kept his dreams tucked away, hidden from prying eyes, content to live in

the shadows as a background character in the grand theater of life.

On that fateful rainy day, as John made his way home, a sense of unease settled over him

like a heavy cloak. It was as if the air itself crackled with tension, whispering secrets that

only he could hear.

As he lay in bed, the darkness closed in around him, suffocating in its embrace. And then,

like a bolt from the blue, the voices came – faint at first, but growing louder with each

passing day.

At first, John dismissed them as the product of an overactive imagination, a trick of the mind

born from fatigue and stress. But as the days wore on, the voices refused to be ignored,

their words haunting him day and night.

And then, just as John began to unravel the mystery of the voices, disaster struck. A

cataclysmic event, an unknown rock falling from the heavens, wiping out swathes of the

population in its wake.

In the chaos that followed, John's world was shattered. His parents, his anchor in a sea of

uncertainty, were gone, leaving him adrift in a world turned upside down.

But amidst the wreckage, John found strength. With grim determination, he buried his grief

and set to work, crafting robots to protect what remained of his home and fortifying his

defences against the encroaching darkness.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Alone but not defeated, John embarked on a journey into the unknown, his path illuminated

by the flickering flame of hope burning bright within his heart. For in the crucible of

adversity, he would discover the true measure of his strength and the depths of his

resilience.

As the world teetered on the brink of collapse, John knew that self-sufficiency was the key

to survival. With a keen eye and a skilled hand, he transformed his garden into a bastion of

abundance, a sanctuary of sustenance in a world plagued by scarcity.

Through tireless experimentation and a deep understanding of nature's ways, John

cultivated a cornucopia of crops, each plant a testament to his ingenuity and

resourcefulness. From tomatoes to potatoes, from carrots to cucumbers, his garden thrived

under his care, a lush oasis amidst the barren landscape beyond.

But John's vision extended far beyond mere vegetables. With a herd of cows and a flock of

chickens, he ensured a steady supply of protein, each animal a vital link in the delicate chain

of survival.

Yet, as John toiled in his garden, he knew that food was just one piece of the puzzle. In a

world ravaged by chaos and conflict, security was paramount, and John spared no expense

in fortifying his home against potential threats.

With a network of automated machine guns lining his walls and hidden sentries poised to

strike at a moment's notice, John's house was a fortress, impregnable to all but the most

determined of adversaries.

But it was not just the walls that protected John's sanctuary. Behind the facade of normalcy

lay a web of defenses, from electrified barriers to concealed traps, each one designed to

deter would-be intruders and safeguard what was his.

Yet, amidst the preparations for the inevitable struggle ahead, John knew that water would

be the true battleground. In a world parched by drought and desolation, access to clean

water was more precious than gold, and John was determined to secure his own supply at

any cost.

With a keen eye for opportunity, John scoured the map of his surroundings, seeking out the

nearest sources of water. And when he discovered a lake and river not far from his home,

he wasted no time in devising a plan to tap into their bounty.

Armed with pipes and guns, John set out on a perilous journey, his path fraught with danger

and uncertainty. But with every step, he drew closer to his goal, driven by a singular purpose

– to ensure that he and his would never thirst again.

As John's preparations neared completion, a sense of quiet determination settled over him.

In the face of adversity, he had forged a path forward, a path illuminated by the flickering

flame of hope burning bright within his heart.

For in the crucible of survival, John had discovered the true measure of his strength – not in

the weapons he wielded or the walls he built, but in the resilience of his spirit and the depth

of his resolve.

And as he looked out over his garden, his fortress, and his future, John knew that whatever

challenges lay ahead, he would face them head-on, armed with nothing but his wits and the

unwavering determination to survive.

John trudged through the mountainous terrain, his eyes fixed on the pipeline that snaked its

way down to the city. He had a plan, one that would ensure his survival in a world that

seemed determined to destroy him. As he worked to connect the pipes to his own, he

couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. The voice in his head, the one he had grown to

fear, whispered sweet nothings of paranoia and mistrust.

The sound of panting behind him broke the silence. John turned to find a puppy, its big

brown eyes staring up at him. Without hesitation, he scooped up the dog and continued his

descent down the mountain.

But fate had other plans. A group of armed thugs blocked his path, their eyes fixed on John's

car and supplies. The voice in his head growled, urging him to take action. John, ever the

skilled negotiator, tried to reason with them, but they would not be swayed.

The voice in his head grew louder, more insistent. _Kill them, John. They're a threat to your

survival._ John's hand instinctively reached for his gun, and before he knew it, he was firing

into the crowd. The sound of screams and gunfire echoed through the mountains, and

John's heart raced with a mix of fear and adrenaline.

As he stood victorious, but shaken, a small figure emerged from the chaos A little girl,

maybe ten years old, came over to one of the dead and cried out for her dad. The voice in

John's head hissed its harsh advise, and his pulse skipped a beat. John, kill her. One day, she

will come get you.

John clenched his finger around the trigger as his gaze went straight to the youngster. The

voice inside his head became more insistent and louder. He raised his head to the sky,

hoping to see some sign of mankind, but it was too late.

The voice was in charge now.

"It's not my problem," John mumbled, emotionless. "Die in peace, child."

As he drove away from the carnage, the sound of the gunshot echoed in his mind. When he

got back to his house, he tried to clean the bloodstains on his conscience by standing under

the blazing hot shower. However, the voice inside his skull would not go away.

A shadowy reflection in the mirror looked back at him.

The voice had conjured up a doppelganger, a dark entity who appeared to represent John's most sinister tendencies.

"John, you took the necessary action," a hushed voice said. "You'll do what it takes to

survive."

John felt a wave of despondency as he fixed his gaze on the reflection. He uttered false and

unpersuasive remarks,

"I'll live my life how I want,"

Even after the tragedy happened days ago, the memories lingered in John's head. He could

still hear the sound of gunfire, and every waking second he was plagued by the picture of

the child's beseeching eyes. His nightmares at night were a warped mirror of his reality

during the day.

John dreamed of walking a blood-stained trail while the sound of the child's crying

reverberated through the night. He would never forget the child's face as a continual

reminder of the life he had stolen. The voice within his head muttered nasty insults, "John,

you'll never be at rest. There's no getting away from the blood on your hands."

John had restless nights and was always awake to the sound of gunfire and screaming. He

would awaken, sweating profusely, his pulse pounding with terror. Once reflecting his

physical appearance, the mirror now revealed to him a man drenched in blood, his eyes

tormented by memories of his past with John caught a vision of his future self one evening

as he gazed into the mirror. A devil reclined in a chair made of bodies, surrounded by a

crimson sky, his fiery eyes streaming with blood tears. Though brief, the vision made John

more determined.

He was aware of his obligations. John decided with a heavy heart. At all costs, he was going

to follow the path of blood. In a world that seemed intent on destroying him, he would stop

at nothing to live. The voice in his thoughts encouraged him to welcome the darkness and

gave him encouragement.

Once a whisper, the voice inside his head had become more forceful and louder. "John, a

kind person cannot exist in a terrified world. You have to change or perish. The words

reverberated in his head, serving as a continual reminder of the gloom that was there.

John caught a glimpse of the guy he once was as he studied himself in the mirror—a man

tormented by the shadows. He was aware that the tragedy had permanently altered him

and that he would never be the same. But with a will to live no matter the cost, he was

prepared to face whatever lied ahead.

In the aftermath of restless nights plagued by haunting dreams, John emerged from the

crucible of self-discovery with a newfound clarity. With the acceptance of the shadow that

dwelled within him came a steely resolve, a determination to forge his own path, no matter

the cost