After thinking for a moment, Kael Voss walked over to the window, slightly pulling back the curtain to peek outside.
He couldn't quite pinpoint when it happened, but the crisp autumn air and bright sunshine that had previously filled the sky were now gone, replaced by dark, looming clouds. He wasn't sure if it was about to rain, but he had the sense that it could.
A quick glance outside revealed the streets filled with zombies, wandering aimlessly. There were so many of them that the sight was chilling.
Kael closed the curtains and returned to the room. He resumed searching the area for anything useful, ideally something that could serve as a weapon for self-defense.
If nothing else turned up, he'd have to make do with a kitchen knife. It was better than going in empty-handed.
He had found a cigarette in the cupboard and lit it as he combed through the rooms. Unexpectedly, behind a bookshelf in the study, he found a long sword.
Although Kael wasn't well-versed in blades, his best friend, Cyrus Quinn, had a deep passion for swords from a young age and often lectured him on the finer points of weaponry. Seeing the sword instantly brought a word to Kael's mind: Scimitar.
The blade was about three feet long, and the hilt was a foot and a half. It could be held with one hand or two, depending on the situation.
According to Cyrus, the scimitar was known for its devastating power. In the age of cold weapons, it was an incredibly effective tool for combat, though only those trained in its use could truly harness its potential.
Kael examined the sword in his hands, admiring the craftsmanship. The ivory-white scabbard gleamed under the light as he swung the blade through the air a few times. He nodded to himself—this was a good weapon. It felt natural in his grip.
Unfortunately, this scimitar appeared to be more of a decorative piece, with the blade yet to be sharpened. To use it in battle, he'd need to hone the edge; otherwise, it would be no more effective than a stick.
Kael searched the house but couldn't find a sharpening stone. Left with no choice, he pried off the tiles from the kitchen sink and used the rough cement underneath to begin grinding the blade.
It was slow and exhausting work, but in the current situation, it was the best option he had.
By the time the sword's edge was sharp enough, the day was almost over. The lack of sleep had made Kael's eyelids heavy. He forced himself to stay awake as he walked into the guest room and locked the door behind him.
Still feeling uneasy, he pushed the wardrobe against the door for extra security, then breathed a sigh of relief.
Outside, the sky had turned pitch black. Through the window, he noticed that every building around him was dark, with no lights on in any of the apartments. The whole area was blanketed in darkness.
Looking up at the horizon, Kael saw occasional flashes of lightning, as if a storm was on the way.
He sighed quietly to himself. This was the apocalypse—a world where humans devoured each other. Even if someone were nearby, they were likely hiding just like him, too scared to make a sound.
Kael didn't lie down on the bed but instead leaned against the wall, trying to rest. It was safer this way—he could react more quickly if something went wrong.
"Ding-ling-ling!"
Suddenly, a ring tone broke the silence. Kael jolted awake, his body reacting instantly. He quickly opened his eyes and scanned the room. Seeing no immediate danger, he set down the scimitar.
"Ding-ling-ling!"
He grabbed the phone, which was vibrating with an incoming call. The unknown number on the screen made Kael frown. He answered, keeping his voice low.
"Hello..."
Meanwhile, in a corporate building in London...
Lyra Solis furrowed her brow, a trace of anxiety in her eyes. Her left hand instinctively traced her right finger, where the faint memory of a ring lingered.
"Ah! Where did my grandmother's ring go?"
The previous night, her most treasured ring had mysteriously disappeared. She had searched every corner, but it was nowhere to be found. The loss of the ring had made Lyra increasingly agitated.
Just as she was about to give up, a sudden thought crossed her mind. Oh right, the phone call she had made from her best friend's house last night. She had tried calling again, but it had gone straight to Dorian Hale, not the strange man she had spoken to earlier.
Could the disappearance of the ring be connected to that man?
It sounded far-fetched, but Lyra decided it was worth trying. She grabbed her phone and slowly walked toward the window. Looking out at the pouring rain, she pulled the curtains closed and dialed Dorian Hale's number.
"Beep... beep... beep..."
The phone rang, and an odd sense of tension gripped Lyra. Would she reach the man who had claimed to be surrounded by zombies last night?
"Hello..."
Just as Lyra was lost in thought, the phone call was answered, and a rough voice came through the receiver.
Hearing that voice, Lyra's heart skipped a beat. It was the man from last night. She immediately asked cautiously, "Is this Kael Voss?"
"Hmm?"
Kael's voice sounded hesitant, but there was a trace of happiness in his tone as he quickly responded, "It's me. Kael Voss. How did you manage to reach my number?"
"I—I don't know. Are you really in 2034?"
Lyra's question echoed the confusion that had plagued her the night before.
Kael was momentarily stunned by her words. He had recalled what she had said about being in 2025. After a brief hesitation, he decided to tell the truth. "Yes, I'm in 2034."
"This..."
Lyra hesitated. She didn't entirely believe him, but something about the man's voice made it hard to dismiss him. Thinking about her lost ring, she asked, "Kael, did you see a ring last night?"
"A ring?"
The mention of the ring made Kael pause. Then it hit him—could the ring he had seen last night really have been hers?
How could it have ended up on his side of the world?
Could his phone not only link the realities but also transfer objects?
Before Kael could process this new realization, there came a loud knocking at the door.
"Come in!"
Lyra placed the phone on the table, and with a soft click, the door opened. A woman wearing black-framed glasses entered, looking visibly anxious.
"Lyra Solis, there's something urgent to report."
The woman's face was filled with worry, and she quickly spoke as soon as she saw Lyra. "Our company's funds are running low. The prepayment deadline for Vanhai Technologies is in four days. What should we do?"