[Audio clicks on. Jordyn's voice is chipper today]

It's not so bad out here. Really, all of the dread was in our heads. Right, Niki?

[Nikolas hums]

Yeah. It's not that bad.

[Jordyn lets out a contented sigh. Sounds of movement suggest she is leaning back]

Our day went just fine. We went to the store and stocked up on food. Mostly canned stuff, but also dry goods and ingredients and stuff. All the fresh food isn't really fresh anymore.

[Nikolas]

Most of it was mouldy. Smelled horrible in there.

[Jordyn]

Almost as bad as you after you smoke.

[Nikolas]

Hey!

[Jordyn laughs]

You know it's true. Your cigarettes stink.

After that, we explored for awhile. I get why everyone thought it would be best to evacuate; the damage is pretty bad. Some spots down at the southern coast have sunken so far there's water covering the streets. And there are so many holes everywhere—I bet if you looked at it from really high up, it would look kinda tr—try...

[Nikolas]

Trypophobic?

[Jordyn snaps her fingers]

Yeah, that.

We can see into the tunnels pretty easily now, but there doesn't seem to be any way in. Either the gaps are too small, too far down, or look super dangerous.

Oh yeah! And we raided that game store two blocks down. Niki found these cool VR headsets, and we took a couple. It's not as though anyone else is going to, after all; they've all gone.

Because we haven't found anyone else at all. Not a single soul. The billboards and store signs all still light up at night, because they're programmed to. None of the manual lights have been turned on since a week ago except ours. There hasn't been a single car or truck or any sort of vehicle passing by at all.

So, I guess we really are alone.

[There is silence, before Nikolas speaks]

Does that bother you, Jo?

[Jordyn makes a "meh" sound]

Not really. I mean, in some ways, it does. I miss Rusty and Zinnia and Chasen, and Ms. Sanderson from computer class, and I miss the white noise the sounds of life provided.

But all in all, we're still alive. We've come out alright, even if we made a stupid mistake.

Does it bother you?

[Nikolas doesn't answer. Jordyn sighs]

Come on, Niki. We're out here, sitting on a rooftop, looking over Initium as the lights come on, after a long day. A fun day. When's the last time we could graffiti things without having to worry about being caught? We're well-stocked with food and everything else we could possibly need. We've still got our house, and now the added bonus of the entirety of Initium to ourselves. We've got to make the most of our situation.

...At least try. Please?

[Nikolas]

Mm? Oh—I will. I am. Don't worry, Jo-Jo. I'm just tired.

[Jordyn sighs again. She seems unconvinced]

Okay.

[Nikolas]

It's almost eleven. We should head back before Gramps misses us.

[End of audio]