Tears streamed freely down her cheeks, soaking into the cracked tile floor beneath her.
Her body trembled with her gasping breath. Her sobs muffled only by the hands she pressed desperately to her mouth.
She remembered Jack’s warning that she shouldn’t be too loud. But the dam inside her had burst, and stopping it now felt impossible. But she still try as hard as she can to muffled her voice.
She clamped her lips tighter. She hunched forward. She curled herself smaller, as if she could vanish into her own body.
She didn’t want to draw more monsters. She didn’t want to make Jack angry. But most of all, she didn’t want to feel this broken.
The pain came in sharp, staggering waves. She had been told this would happen. Jack had trained with her and looked her in the eye and said terrible things were coming.
He had taught her how to fight, how to survive. He had handed her a dagger and said to use it without hesitation.
And she had. She had fought the monsters. She had driven the blade into flesh. That part was surprisingly easy.
The monsters were clear. They were inhuman and horrific. Killing them didn’t feel like murder.
That man who had tackled her, pinned her, and tried to steal her only weapon—who choked her and screamed in her face—he had been desperate. And he had slapped her hard.
Her cheek still stung from the blow.
And Jack moving with that silent fury and had lifted the man like a rag doll and thrown him aside. No hesitation. No mercy. Just raw, cold strength.
It wasn’t right. None of this was!
This wasn’t some game. This was much harder than one of the scenarios Jack had described during their training. This was real, and it was ugly and hurt.
She still cried, her voice catching in her throat as she tried to swallow it down.
Her hands clenched into fists. Her body shook. But she didn’t scream. Most importantly she didn’t collapse.
He stood silently near the shattered window with spear in hand. His eyes never left the street. He didn’t speak.
He didn’t try to comfort her and sahing that this is going to be alright.
Because he knew that things weren’t going to get better.
This was just the beginning and something worse is coming.
After minutes passed, her sobs quieted. Her breath came in shallow hiccups now, her body sore and drained.
Slowly, she wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her jacket, smearing dirt across her face.
She reached into her pocket and pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed her face with it.
Then, still sniffling, she pushed herself to her feet.
Her legs trembled but held. She picked up her dagger. Her fingers still shook but she held it tighter.
"I’m done crying," she said softly.
She didn’t look at Clyde.
But he heard her. He nodded.
Clyde glanced over his shoulder, his voice low but clear.
"You have two choices now," he said. "One, you stay here, wait out the six-hour time limit while hiding."
He turned toward her fully, eyes looking sharp.
"Or two, you can come with me outisde. We hunt and kill monsters. We level up then we get stronger."
Mina blinked. Her breath still shook in her chest, but she listened.
Clyde’s tone wasn’t forceful. It wasn’t demanding. It was cold and simple like he was just listing facts.
She remembered the training and explanations. The long weeks of drills, the endless explanations Clyde gave her about the system. About the levels, EXP, stats, and magic skills that she can perform using magic power.
At the time, it had felt abstract as if she will be entering a Game-like world. Something distant fir her brain at that time.
But now she understood. Now it was very real. She had saw it herself.
The more they fought, the more they killed, the stronger they became. And if she didn’t grow stronger she would die sooner or later.
The thought of stepping outside again made her stomach twist.
What if another man like the last one attacked her? What if she saw someone crying for help and had to decide whether to risk herself for them? When she knows that she cannot just play as a hero in this situation?
What if she froze again?
What if she had to kill another person?
She looked down at the dagger in her hand. It was still streaked with drying blood. Her grip on it tightened.
If she stayed here, she’d be safe. But only for now.
She would still be weak and useless. Dependent on Jack. She can’t protect her parents.
The thought made her chest clench even tighter than fear did.
She didn’t want that.
Slowly, Mina straightened her back. Her hands were still trembling slightly, but she forced her jaw to still.
She wiped the last of her tears with the back of her hand, then stepped forward.
"I’ll go witb you outside," she said, her voice quiet but certain. "I want to hunt those monsters."
Clyde looked at her for a moment. There was no praise in his expression, or smile. Just a brief nod.
"Good," he said. "Stay close to me and watch everything around you. Danger can be evrywhere."
Then he turned and moved toward the cracked doorway. Mina followed. Her steps were cautious at first, but each one now looked steadier than the last.
Outside, the street was still chaos. Fires burned in the distance. Shadows moved between wrecked cars.
Screams echoed faintly down alleyways. Blood soaked the pavement in blackened trails.
But they walked forward.
Clyde’s spear gleamed in his hand.
Mina held her dagger close to her chest.
The monsters were still out there. The apocalypse hadn’t paused for anyone.
Mina had decided to fight so she told herself that she must ready for everything.