Jerry's consciousness began to blur, his entire body swathed in an overwhelming sense of fatigue. He didn't even have the strength to feel the pain that surged from his wounds. He surrendered to the encroaching darkness and lost consciousness.
When he awoke, he found himself in an unfamiliar place. Dim light filtered through partially closed curtains, casting long shadows across his body. He lay in the center of an apartment, surrounded by four strangers deep in whispered conversation. Kelly stood off to the side, her face serious.
They were Wall Street employees, once bustling in grand skyscrapers, but disaster had plucked them from that thriving world, trapping them in this decrepit office building. They had been working late when the catastrophe struck, and now, they had been forced to become a quasi-military team, battling for their survival.
They began to recount a terrifying battle they'd once faced. They had attempted to escort a coworker home, only to stumble into the territory of giant ants. Kelly's superpowers were potent, but against such an enormous number of enemies, they seemed almost insufficient. Limited to firing her golden rays only once every ten minutes, they'd lost six companions in their fight against the ants.
That failed mission had exposed the harsh reality of their situation. Unable to contact their families, clueless about what was happening in the outside world, they could only wait helplessly in this office building, anticipating an unpredictable future.
If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
"This guy has superpowers," Kelly's words dropped like a bombshell into the exhausted team, inciting a flurry of reactions. Every gaze instantly turned to Jerry, curiosity and hope twinkling in their eyes, as if expecting him to bring about a turnaround.
"Really? That's fantastic! We're in desperate need of strength in our team," an overweight man enthusiastically slapped Jerry's shoulder, his eyes brimming with hope.
Kelly placed her hand on Jerry's shoulder to reassure him, "It's true. He has a superpower that allows him to morph into a human-sized mosquito."
The atmosphere in the room instantly tensed. Some looked at Jerry with amplified curiosity, while others showed skepticism and fear. But mostly, there was anticipation and joy.
For the next few hours, they hospitably offered food to Jerry, inquired about his health, and tried their best to make him feel accepted. They even began fantasizing about how Jerry could utilize his superpowers to aid them.
However, this superficial harmony could not mask their internal concerns. They began to debate whether Jerry should receive more food and resources. Some argued that as a superhuman, Jerry should get more supplies, considering his potential pivotal role in future battles. Yet others countered that their resources were already limited, and they couldn't favor Jerry just because of his superpowers.
Beneath this surface-level unity, the team was rife with conflicts. Each one of them feared the uncertainty of the future, their hope and fear for superhumans interwoven. It was their struggle for survival, their fight like cornered beasts.