I searched around my local junkyard, trying to find different resources to help. My attention shifted to something that skimmed across my leg. I seemed to have discovered a robot of some kind. I dusted off the item and grabbed it near a pile of rubble to get a better look. Even after dusting off the worn out thing, I couldn't figure out what it was.

My hands skimmed across the machine, looking for a button or switch to turn it on. My hand eventually cruised toward the middle, and I gently opened the machine. The moment I did, I immediately recognized what it was. It looked more like an old laptop than anything. I only checked to see if it was still in working condition. Holding the power button did the trick, which honestly surprised me.

Considering the dust covering its contents and the specific keys that were missing, I would have never imagined this hunk of junk would be functional again. Its screen turned on with a tainted greenish color for its background and a matching giant eye. The tone of its voice sounded as if it had been hacked somehow, making it difficult to hear clearly. The words that spewed from the metal machine were stuttered and glitched.

"Where? You? Help me."

I brought it back to my house for repairs, hoping the robot could provide useful information. I wanted to study it more closely. I crept inside my house, careful not to make a loud sound. My house, thankfully, was clean as day, nothing like the wreckage of the other houses nearby. Once I entered, I let out a sigh of relief, knowing that nothing had seen me yet.

I was fortunate in my hometown. Despite the lasting hell we lived in, there were still survivors like me. I understood the abnormal pain each person suffered, survival came at a cost. That feeling lingered in my mind every day, every hour. It had only been a year since everything changed, yet we had still managed to form a somewhat feasible community. We had shops and electricity thanks to people who cared and several backup generators. Our area was basically heaven's hell if you could call it that. I might make everything sound peachy clean, but the truth was we still faced things beyond our understanding every waking day.

After I entered my house, I realized my mistake. I had brought in a robot when technology like that should not even exist. This type of technology seemed out of the ordinary to me.

"What are you exactly?"

Cling.

Something scraped against metal outside.

"Shit."

I knew exactly what that sound was. Creatures now roamed the world, and that noise came from one of them. I rushed outside to investigate what type of creature was lurking about.

Standing before me was a common creature around our hometown, almost too common, you could say. It had long black hair covering its entire body from head to toe. Its hands were giant silver scissors, and its legs were conjoined kitchen knives. These were the most basic creatures to appear. We called them grunts. They were fragile yet deadly to inexperienced individuals.

Despite their danger, they had value. Their weapons could be collected and used as tools. However, they had to be gathered quickly, or they would disappear forever until another grunt spawned.

In retrospect, carrying giant kitchen knives and scissors sounds pretty ridiculous. As an inexperienced person, I cannot be bothered with handling that type of weaponry and would instead use essential knives, despite everyone saying getting those types of weapons is the "cool" thing to do. In fact, I happen to carry a pocket knife with me in case of emergencies. This is because it is ridiculous and hard to handle in a deadly situation. I think people who carry these weapons around with them twenty four seven come off as laughable. Although we do have people here who are at least considerate enough to help.

Across the street is another person who is a well known blacksmith. She lived a peaceful life like me. As I said, it all went to hell when they came. She is the same age as I am, around eighteen or so, but she does not show up often in public areas and only wears a costume to hide her appearance. No one is sure why she does what she does, but hey, her job has helped many of us prepare with sleet and clean weapons for our defense. She is at least sane, unlike some of our other "friendly neighbors."

A girl who lived at the end of the block had locked herself in her room after seeing her mother being decapitated right in front of her. No one is able to talk to her, as all attempts lead to violent bursts of rage. A neighbor who lives two houses down is an old man in his late eighties who sits on a rocking chair while wearing a mask and holding a shotgun in his palms. Anyone who tries to approach him will be met with a warning that he will shoot them. Many have suffered during this pandemic and turned into an alternate version of their original selves. "It is fascinating what the mind can accomplish."

Two people are sitting at a table.

"A two to A three."

A chess piece is placed on the spot that is called.

"H seven to H five."

"Ever find it funny how intriguing the human mind is? I always think of it as the puppet master and the human body is the puppet."

"That is a weird way to put it."

"The human mind is often, and I think it is for the most part, in a state neither of pain nor pleasure, which I call a state of indifference."

A loud, ear piercing scream wakes me up in the morning. I could infer someone was in peril. I knew at least there was no time to waste. Action is needed immediately when someone's life is on the line like that. I heard a loud, gargled growl outside. I quickly grabbed my knife and ran outside to see the danger. I am already too late though, the monster had already stabbed the woman in the eye, killing her instantly.

"Shit," I whispered under my breath so the beast would not hear me. Though thankfully, the creature was occupied with boasting about its kill.

The creature had a red apple for a head, rotten in a sickly green with a giant darkened hole for an eye. The texture almost gave off a type of skin decaying around it. Blackened around every crevice that was exposed, moldy, and quite unpleasant to look at. The creature also accompanied a smile that resembled a human skeleton's lower jaw. Its body was made of decaying vines, twisted and rigged to form a human like appearance. They were what we called poison apples. They were uncommon creatures who liked to sneak up on their prey as they could crawl on all fours and climb any object. They first appeared as an ordinary Lucius red apple to trick unsuspecting prey into their trap. They would then use their stems as daggers to slash or stab anyone who came into contact with them.

The only way to kill them would be to aim for the head, as targeting their limbs is pointless. They can shoot seeds that regenerate their limbs and even spit on the ground, causing vines to wrap around their prey for an easy kill. There is another way, however, albeit difficult to pull off, as they are highly flammable. Fire does the trick, making them flail around in a frenzy before withering away in a slow and painful death. Unfortunately, flammable material is incredibly hard to come by. Flamethrowers and other incendiary weapons are outrageously expensive, and no one has the currency to afford them. The most efficient option is to stab them in the head. It is quick, effective, and the only realistic way to dispose of them.

I wanted to avenge her.

Fueled by rage, I drove my knife into its skull. But rage is a dangerous weapon in this world. If not used wisely, it can be your downfall. The creature staggered slightly, but to my horror, it pulled the blade out and lunged at me. The force of its attack sent me crashing to the ground as it struggled to regain control. But in its moment of vulnerability, I saw my chance. Seizing its own weapon, I turned it against the creature and finished it off. It screeched before collapsing into a heap and disintegrating into dust.

"Fucking bastard."

I scavenged the woman's body for supplies. It sounds cruel, but this is just the reality of survival. It is a kill or be killed world. Of course, I felt terrible that she died, but that would not stop me from taking anything useful. She had some pills—not much, but better than nothing. You are lucky if someone carries medical supplies at all. Slipping them into my pocket, I turned my attention elsewhere.

I decided to visit the girl across the street to see if she could sharpen my knife.

I had some money on me, just enough to afford her services. Getting a weapon sharpened usually costs between sixty and eighty dollars. It might not seem like much, but in this world, that amount is hard to come by. You need to work for someone or scavenge just to earn that kind of wealth.

Even though she is an introvert and always shrouded in a heavy robe, she is quite the conversationalist. I have always wondered why she hides in the shadows, but I never asked. It is not my place to pry.

"Greetings!"

"How have you been, Melody?"

"Can't say for sure, but I know I am improving my mental health every day."

"That is great to hear. I have been trying to do the same. I am surprised you are managing so well. Others would kill for that kind of mental strength."

"They sure as hell would. So, you must have brought another weapon for me to sharpen?"

"Ah, yes, my bad. The old lady across the street did not carry anything useful. All I have is this damn kitchen knife. I am hoping you can make it more efficient for combat."

"So, you do not have the big toys everyone else carries around? Kind of shocking, considering you live alone."

"Well, that was true until yesterday. I found a new friend near the local junkyard. It is some kind of robot I named Skip, but it needs repairs. I know you are not the person for that, so I have been searching for parts every night, hoping I can fix it up."

"I hope you get the parts you need. If you ever manage to repair it, make sure to drop by and show me, okay?"

"I will make sure to stop by when I can."

"You mentioned the woman across the street earlier, right?"

"Yeah… Woke up to hear her screaming. By the time I got there, one of those poison apples had already killed her."

"You at least gave that freak hell?"

"Killed it with its own weapon. Did not stand a chance."

"A shame you had to deal with that, but there is nothing we can do except move on."

"Damn, kind of harsh."

"Oh, come on, you just admitted you searched her body for supplies."

"Guess that is true…"

"Well, anyway, I will have your knife ready in no time. Make sure to stop by later to pick it up. And do not forget who your true friends are. Everyone is important. We cannot abandon each other for selfish gain. It is tough out there, and we need all the help we can get."

"Yeah, that is true. I am just glad we can rely on each other. Thanks again!”