Armageddon

One: The Beginning

Mira woke up gasping for air. She quickly looked around her and panicked when she couldn't find her katana, the one she always carries with her. The honks of cars and the chirping of birds suddenly caught her attention.

She hurriedly got up from the bed and opened the window. Mira immediately backed away and closed her eyes when the sun rays hit her in the face. She slowly opened her eyes and saw people walking happily in the streets.

"What the f*ck is happening?" she muttered under her breath. Mira opened her drawer beside her and pulled out the calendar she had. She quickly scanned the date and cursed again. She sat on the chair while clutching her shirt. She had gone back five years ago.

"How?" she whispered. She had a vague memory of when the armored-type lurkers overran the camp, and she was fighting on the frontlines. Mira quickly got up and began examining her body in the mirror. There were no visible signs of scars or wounds. She really got back to her body—the body of a twenty-year-old woman.

"F*ck. This is so surreal," she muttered. Mira glanced at the clock hanging on the wall, and her eyes went wide. According to her memory, she was still a university student before the infection invaded the entire world. A familiar knock on the door made her snap out of her thoughts. Mira's eyes welled up as her heart started beating erratically.

"Mir! We're going to be late. Hurry up!" the voice said. Mira walked slowly and placed her hand on the door.

"K-Kimberly?" She stuttered and forced herself to swallow the lump in her throat.

"Yes, it's me! Hurry up! Professor Slane doesn't like latecomers," Kimberly said. Mira crouched down and covered her mouth with her hands. Five years. For five years, she blamed herself for her best friend's death. Kimberly, unable to defend herself, became infected when the lurkers arrived.

"I'll be there in a minute," Mira answered. The footsteps went away, giving her time to breathe. If her return was really a miracle or a work of God, then this time she will definitely protect what's important to her.

Mira stood up and began packing essential things in her bag. If her memory serves her correctly, this is the day that the infection will spread, first to the city. Following that, the infection will spread throughout the country and, finally, throughout the world. Based on the current time, Mira has approximately four hours before the event begins. She must have the sword and take Kimberly to a safe place she once knew in the future.

After taking a shower, Mira was on the verge of grabbing her favorite camo pants when she remembered that she hadn't been able to find them until they had run into a mall. She let out a sigh and took the leggings. Mira quickly dressed, combed her hair, and strapped the bag to her shoulders. She looked into the room for the last time before going out.

"Why are you so slow, Mir?" Kimberly said it while pouting her lips. "And why do you carry a bag that big? We're going to university, Mir, not running away," she added and chuckled. Mira smiled at her words and put her hands on her shoulders.

"Kimmy, do you trust me?" she asked. Kimberly looked at her weirdly. They have always been together. They both grew up in the same orphanage, and when they had enough savings, they moved out and stayed in a small apartment.

"What are you talking about? You're not involved with the gangsters anymore, right?" Kimberly inquired, narrowing her eyes. She knows Mira will occasionally do dangerous tasks for the neighborhood gangsters. She tried to stop her, but knowing how hard-headed Mira was, she couldn't do anything.

"What!?" Mira replied and shook her hand. "Of course not," she added. Kimberly breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at her.

"I trust you, Mir. You know you're like a sister to me," Kimberly said, which made Mira happy.

"Then you must follow whatever I say," Mira said.

"Okay?" Kimberly, unsure, muttered while looking at Mira. Kimberly clung to her arm, recognizing how serious she was.

"Fine, fine. I'll follow you everywhere," Kimberly said, leaning on Mira's shoulder.

"Do you promise?" Mira asked and raised her pinky finger. Kimberly nodded her head and sealed the promise with her pinky finger.

"I promise," she said. They went out of the apartment, and Mira scanned the place. She had already memorized the area so many times. As much as possible, they needed to avoid the lurkers and hoards. The two went to the university on foot and arrived a minute late.

"Stay in the classroom. I'll be right back," Mira said.

"Where are you going?" Kimberly asked her.

"I'll just get my precious katana," Mira said and walked away, leaving Kimberly in confusion. She quickly headed towards the dean's office, where the sword she would use in the future was located. Mira hides in the tall bushes, waiting for the perfect time for the dean to come out.

When the dean went out with his secretary, Mira stealthily unlocked the door and glanced around before entering. She immediately saw the katana hanging on the wall. A friend, a collector of katanas, gifted it to the dean. As students, they were all aware of this fact due to their frequent interactions with the man who gifted it, who was also one of the school's sponsors. It was beautiful, and its blade was so sharp that it could slice the lurker's head. It was also light that every slash and swing would kill the enemy.

Mira grabbed the sword and put it in the sheath. She opened the window that faced the wide field and jumped down. From time to time, she wonders why the dean had to display such a magnificent sword in his office instead of his home.

When a loud explosion erupted, Mira halted. It came from the city's tallest building. Her eyes went wide, and she immediately looked at her wristwatch.

"No, no. F*ck! It should be starting later," she mumbled anxiously. When she went back before the apocalypse, was the time frame disrupted? Another explosion occurred, causing the students around her to panic.

"Was it a terrorist attack!?" she heard one of the students say. Mira gripped the sword tightly. It was worse than terrorism. These lurkers pushed humankind into extinction.

"Kimberly," she whispered, and she ran as fast as she could. It's no time to dilly-dally; they must survive no matter what.