Chapter 6
“The Companions”
Raya sat in the dim light of the basement, her eyes fixed on the flickering bulb above her. Ani's breathing was slow and steady beside her, his warmth a comforting presence against the cold concrete. She turned the gamepass over in her hand, the edges smooth from where her fingers had traced them a hundred times before. It felt heavy now, like a promise she wasn't sure she could keep. The words from the poster echoed in her mind—"A new beginning."
What if she took it? What if she left this place and everything that had defined her life for as long as she could remember? Could she really leave Ani behind? The thought twisted her insides, a painful knot forming in her chest. He had always been there, from that very first day when she'd opened her eyes to find herself alone and lost. Ani had been her hope, her protector. He'd given her a reason to keep fighting, even when the world seemed determined to break them.
Raya stood, her bare feet silent on the cold floor. She needed air. She needed to think—to clear her head of the confusion that weighed her down. She slipped out of the basement, the night air hitting her like a shock as she stepped onto the street. The city was quiet now, the only sounds the distant hum of failing air processors and the occasional bark of a stray dog. The streets were empty, a rare stillness settling over the crumbling neighborhood.
She walked without direction, her thoughts a tangle of doubts and fears. What if she left, knowing there was no coming back? What if this "new beginning" was just another lie, another false promise of hope masking what everyone knew—a guaranteed death? And even if it wasn't—even if it was real, and she could escape this life—somehow, if she were strong enough to survive—what kind of person would she be if she left Ani behind? He had saved her, over and over again. How could she even consider abandoning him now?
Her steps slowed as she reached an intersection, the streetlights casting long shadows across the cracked pavement. She could see the posters from here, pasted on the walls of the abandoned buildings, their bright colors a stark contrast to the decay around them. The words seemed to taunt her, their promise of hope so at odds with the reality of the world she knew.
Raya clenched her jaw, her hands balling into fists at her sides. She hated this—the not knowing, the fear that clawed at her insides. She wanted to be strong, to make the right choice, but how could she when every option felt wrong? Her heart ached at the thought of leaving Ani, but it also ached at the thought of staying—of continuing this endless fight for survival, day after day, with no end in sight.
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A noise broke through her thoughts—the rumble of an engine, growing louder. She turned her head, her eyes narrowing as she saw the headlights coming down the street. A delivery truck, its rusted grille smeared with old stains, barreling toward her at an alarming speed. Raya froze, her mind suddenly blank, her body refusing to move as the vehicle bore down on her.
It was like everything slowed, the world narrowing to just the blinding headlights and the roar of the engine. She could hear her own heartbeat, loud in her ears, her breath caught in her throat. And then—
A flash of movement, a powerful shove, and she was tumbling to the ground, the rough pavement scraping against her skin. The impact jarred her, knocking the breath from her lungs, and for a moment, she couldn't process what had happened. She pushed herself up, her vision blurry, and that's when she saw him.
Ani.
He lay in the street, his body twisted, the truck's taillights disappearing around the corner. Blood stained the pavement beneath him, his once-strong frame now broken, his breaths coming in short, painful gasps. Raya's heart stopped, her entire world narrowing to that single, horrible moment.
"Ani!" she screamed, her voice breaking as she crawled toward him. Her hands shook as she reached for him, her fingers brushing against his fur, now matted with blood. His eyes—those warm, hopeful eyes that had always looked at her with so much love—met hers, and she saw the pain there, the fear.
"No, no, no," she whispered, her tears falling freely now, her throat tight with the kind of pain that felt like it was tearing her apart from the inside. "Please, Ani. Please don't leave me."
Ani's tail gave a weak wag, his eyes never leaving hers. He tried to lift his head, but it fell back to the pavement, his body trembling with the effort. Raya could see it—could see the life slipping away from him, could feel the cold finality of it settling over her like a shroud.
"You saved me," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "You always save me." She leaned over him, her forehead resting against his, her tears mingling with the blood on his fur. "I promise, Ani. I promise I'll make it right."
His eyes closed, his body stilling beneath her touch, and Raya felt something inside her break. The world around her seemed to fade, the distant sounds of the city disappearing until there was nothing but silence. She was alone—truly alone for the first time since that day she had found herself in that alley, lost and scared. And in that silence, a resolve began to form, a fire igniting in her chest.
Raya lifted her head, her eyes red and swollen from the tears. She looked at the gamepass still clutched in her hand, the words "A new beginning" standing out in the dim light. She had to go. She had to make this sacrifice mean something. Ani had given his life for her, and she would not let that be in vain.
Slowly, Raya stood, her body trembling, her heart heavy with grief. She looked down at Ani one last time, her hand resting gently on his still form. "I love you," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I swear, I'll find a way back to you. Somehow, someway."
With that, she turned, her steps unsteady as she walked away from the intersection, the gamepass clutched tightly in her hand. The posters loomed ahead, their colors bright and hopeful, and Raya felt the weight of her decision settle over her. She would step into the unknown, not for herself, but for Ani—for the promise she had made to him, and for the hope that maybe, just maybe, she could find a way to make things right.