The sunlight slowly dwindled through the evenly spaced glass ceilings. A subdued gloom settled over the surroundings as it scattered across the base. The camp, once filled with a cold and somber atmosphere, now seemed even more despondent. Yet, amidst the prevailing darkness, a glimmer of hope stirred in Arjun's heart.

The reunion with his best friend provided a welcomed respite, unleashing a torrent of emotions that had long been suppressed. It was the first time Arjun felt the warmth since he woke up in what everyone now referred to as "hell." Tears flowed freely down both Arjun and Victor's faces as they embraced in a profound hug. At that moment, gratitude overwhelmed them, knowing they had found each other against all odds.

Arjun's excitement was evident as he stepped back from the embrace, a smile lighting up his face. "You can't imagine how relieved I am to see you," he exclaimed. Victor, equally elated, responded, "We all thought you were gone. What happened? Where have you been?"

Arjun shook his head, saying, "I honestly don't know."

Hiroshi interrupted the reunion, apologetically stating, "I hate to break this up, but we need to keep moving."

Victor inquired, "Where to?"

Arjun shrugged, prompting Victor to turn to Hiroshi. Hiroshi explained, "I've arranged an empty room in the C section for him." Victor, pleased with the news, said, "Perfect, that's where I'm staying. I'll join you guys." Hiroshi, however, questioned Victor, "Shouldn't you be working in the storage section?" Victor nodded in confirmation, replying, "Yes, I wrapped up today's tasks and was about to head back." Hiroshi, not eager to prolong the conversation, sighed and motioned for Victor to join them. Victor signals his readiness to move forward.

*****

The group stepped into a broken-down room that emanated an air of neglect. Arjun was met with a stiff bed, a torn pillow, and a scant collection of soiled garments. Hiroshi observed a grimace on Arjun's face.

He retorted, "What were you expecting in this disastrous world? Gucci shirts? Consider it a miracle that we're even surviving here." Victor chimed in, gesturing towards his attire in support of the statement. It was only then that Arjun realized it. Except for a few individuals wearing military tactical output, everyone else he saw shared similar worn-out clothing.

As Hiroshi exited the room, he turned back to Arjun and remarked, "Rest here for now. We'll discuss and determine your assignment tomorrow."

Confused, Arjun inquired, "Assignment? What do you mean?"

Hiroshi, displaying a hint of irritation, replied, "You know what? Ask your friend. He'll fill you in. See you tomorrow," and walked away.

Facing Victor, Arjun sought clarification, "What is he talking about?"

Victor responded, "I'll explain that later. First, tell me, what happened at the experiment? Where did you go?"

Arjun explained, "I don't know, man. After being dragged into the portal, all I saw was darkness. The next thing I knew, I ended up in a place these people refer to as 'Zone C'. I'll delve into that later. Right now, tell me, what the hell happened to you? What happened to everyone? What's going on out there?"

Seated on the floor, Victor leaned against the wall, and Arjun settled across from him. Letting out a profound sigh, Victor revealed, "It's been ten years."

Arjun, bewildered, questioned, "Ten years since what?"

Victor clarified, "Since the day you disappeared."

Arjun sought confirmation, "Since the day of the experiment?"

Victor nodded and continued, "Yes, exactly. Since the day the portal experiment went awry."

The weight of the revelation hit Arjun hard. Victor went on, "When the portal destabilized, I tried everything to prevent it. Despite my efforts, I raced to P2 to retrieve you. However, upon reaching there, there was no one—neither you nor anyone else. Just the portal, closing with an explosive sound."

Victor's eyes welling up, met Arjun's gaze, and continued, "I searched tirelessly for any trace, any sign of you. But there was nothing. We all believed you were gone. I blamed myself, you know. It took months of therapy to come to terms with the idea of your death."

Arjun lowered his head and murmured, "I'm sorry."

Victor dismissed the apology with a casual wave of his hand, remarking, "Forget it."

Curious, Arjun inquired, "What happened then?" Victor sighed, explaining, "Nothing much. The lab got shut down, our funding was revoked, and they let go of us involved in the project." He paused for a moment and continued, "It's expected, given the circumstances."

Arjun reiterated, "I'm sorry."

Victor, wearing a playful grin, retorted, "You don't have to apologize every time I speak a sentence." Arjun chuckled, and they both shared a brief moment of laughter.

Victor sat up straight, declaring, "You know, getting fired turned out to be the best thing for me. I landed a job as a college professor." Arjun perked up, eager for more details. Victor went on, "And I met someone there." Arjun lifted his head, sporting a playful grin. Victor, noticing the teasing expression, implored, "Come on, cut it out, for God's sake." Arjun maintained his playful grin, curiosity evident in his eyes.

"Who was she?" he asked.

Victor's smile grew as he reminisced about the memories. "Lily. Her name is Lily Grace. She was one of the students at the university," Victor replied. He turned to Arjun, continuing, "Remember all those times I nagged about finding 'The One'?"

Arjun, recalling those persistent reminders, replied, "How can I forget? You never let me."

Victor leaned back against the wall, took a deep breath, and reflected, "She was the one, Arjun. Truly. Lily had this infectious, innocent smile and a carefree nature. I fell hard, buddy. The moments I shared with her are, and always will be, the most precious moments of my life."

As Arjun observed sadness creeping onto Victor's face, he inquired, "What happened? Did the creatures..."

Victor swiftly interrupted, "No, no, not that... It was the pandemic."

Arjun inquired, "I heard about it on the way here. What pandemic are you talking about?"

Arjun sensed Victor's reluctance to revisit those memories and could see the pain in his eyes. Victor reluctantly shared, "Around two years after your presumed death, a pandemic swept across the entire world. Animals, birds, humans – everything was succumbing to the outbreak. The entire world came to a standstill, everyone was forced into quarantine. Unfortunately, it didn't prevent much; countless people lost their lives." Victor felt a lump in his throat as he struggled to contain his emotions. He continued, "And Lily was one of them."

Arjun inquired, "What caused it?"

Victor responded, "Some virus called Fauxvid or Fauxona, something like that. People even started calling it FauxVID-19 or twenty. But, I just remember it as the devil that took my Lily."

Arjun expressed his condolences, saying, "I'm sorry."

An awkward silence followed. Arjun then sought more information, asking, "Did that virus cause all of this?" He gestured towards the disfigurement of Victor's body. Victor shook his head, explaining, "No, I don't think so. Pharmaceutical companies began distributing multiple vaccines, and the death toll gradually decreased."

Arjun recalled the engraving he had seen in the mutation-checking device and questioned, "Paladin too?" Victor nodded, confirming, "Yes, especially them. They were hailed as the saviors or heroes of the world."

Arjun sought clarification, "Saviors? Why?"

Victor elaborated, "It seemed like Paladin played a crucial role in creating and distributing the vaccines. And they collaborated with other pharmaceutical companies. Eventually, they became the saviors. But why do you ask?" Arjun responded, "No reason. Forget it. What happened after that? "Although Victor was puzzled by the question, he chose to disregard it.

Victor continued, "It was a grueling two years of the pandemic, and things eventually seemed to return to normal... at least for about three years." Arjun inquired, "What happened then?"

Victor responded, "Can't say for sure. Reports came in about people losing their sanity, some resorting to violence and all. They even said that animals undergo strange transformations and all that. There were even accounts of newborns with deformities. Yet surprisingly, it only fascinated the world more than it frightened them."

Victor glanced at Arjun and remarked, "We tend not to take the news seriously. Until we find ourselves living through it." He motioned toward his own disfigured body. He added, "It didn't happen overnight, but we couldn't prevent it. No one could."

"Before we knew it, the entire world plunged into chaos. Everything went haywire. Remember the old man Jacob who lives next to me?" Victor asked. Arjun nodded in recognition. Victor continued, "I witnessed him, of all people, tearing into his dog - the very pet he once cherished, using his teeth. And eat it." Arjun's face contorted with disgust, and Victor mirrored that expression, saying, "Yeah, I had the same reaction."

"Those monsters and creatures you've seen outside? Many of them were once human. That's how much the world has transformed, Arjun. From civilized humans to mindless, ferocious, flesh-eating monsters. Perhaps, that's the true nature of humanity," Victor mused.

Arjun asked, "Didn't the Governments do anything to stop it?"

Victor replied, "Nope. As I said, No one could prevent it."

He paused, then added, "But, they began constructing survival camps like this one. And it all became about one thing: survival."

Arjun inquired, "I heard about the cure. What's that about?"

Victor nodded and explained, "Yeah, about that. I don't recall the exact circumstances of its discovery, but it was stumbled upon somehow. We learned that the Fauxvid vaccine could help regulate the mutations we're experiencing."

He paused and continued, "You see, the higher the mutation level, the more we resemble the monsters roaming outside."

Arjun questioned, "Doesn't it seem strange? How can a vaccine for a disease serve as a cure for something else?" Victor nonchalantly shrugged and responded, "Don't know. Haven't looked at it that way."

Arjun pressed, "Why not?"

Victor sighed and responded, "For God's sake, Arjun, it was chaos. Total freaking chaos. I don't know what your idea of 'chaos' is, but it means bad, very bad."

Victor straightened up, piercing Arjun with a serious gaze. "Sorry, I didn't turn into Sherlock Holmes and thoroughly investigate the vaccine. But let me make it clear - it was either getting killed or eaten by those monsters or using the vaccine to survive. Get it?" Arjun fell silent, witnessing a side of Victor he hadn't seen before.

Victor repeated, "Got it?"

Arjun nodded.

Victor closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and after a moment, he apologized, saying, "Sorry." Arjun shook his head and responded, "No, you're right. I'm the one who should be apologizing."

A moment of silence lingered before Victor broke it, saying, "Hey, I'm really glad you're alive and all. Wait a minute, have you met Dee yet? She was the most devastated person, even more than me, when she heard about your supposed demise. It pushed her into depression, and it took over a year of therapy for her to recover."

Arjun experienced a blend of happiness and sadness upon hearing Dee's name. The recent memories of Dee stirred a hint of anger, tightening his chest. Shaking his head, Arjun remained silent. Victor suggested, "Then let's go see her. Just a heads up, don't hug her like you did with me; she might shatter. I mean it, literally."

Victor was preparing to rise, but Arjun placed a hand on his knee. Victor glanced at him, and Arjun shook his head, saying, "No. I don't want to see anybody right now."

Victor attempted to protest, but Arjun cut him off, saying, "Please."

Respecting Arjun's request, Victor settled back down with a sigh and conceded, "Okay."

"Alright, anyway, you take a rest. We're not sure where you'll be assigned," Victor advised. Arjun inquired, "About that, what does it mean? That guy named Hiroshi also mentioned the same thing."

Victor replied, "You see, the people in the camp who can do tasks are assigned to one of the three jobs: supply section, wall patrolling, and raid force." Arjun gave a confused look. Victor explained, "The supply section is where I'm working. It mostly deals with rations and medicines and distributing them to the people. Usually, leaders of each section come and collect the portion for the whole section and people living in that section will need to take their portions from him.

Victor paused, and continued, "I have to rephrase that to 'beg him' for a portion. Anyways, in the case of the rich and powerful people, living in the center of the base sitting, we may have to home deliver the ration to each their house."

Arjun asked, "What do you mean by beg him?"

Victor said, "Though the Earth is in ruin, it is still Earth. There will be always some rich and powerful people, who control things. Their supporters or you could say their footlickers would become 'representatives' or leaders and decide things. The ordinary and poor people who work their asses off to get so little of the rations." Victor looked intensely toward Arjun and said, "Like it used to be before, there is no free lunch. At least for us ordinary people."

Arjun inquired, "What's the point of money and wealth in this chaotic world?" Victor, adopting his customary mentoring stance, remarked, "You still have a lot to learn about the world. Money, or currency, is basically an abstraction. It has no tangible object attached to it. In the past, the money system was different like gold, etc. And even before that, in ancient times, it took the form of a barter system and such. Now, the paper we once deemed as money is nothing more than, well, toilet paper." Victor chuckled and added, "Sorry, even worse. Now, toilet paper is more valuable. Anyway, objects change. Now it's..."

Arjun interjected, "Vaccine."

Victor nodded and confirmed, "Exactly. Whoever possesses more vaccines is considered richer. And whoever controls this vaccine is the wealthiest. Now you're catching on." Arjun nodded in understanding.

"So, that's essentially what the supply section involves. Now, as the names suggest, wall patrolling is primarily about guarding and patrolling the extensive wall. This may include maintaining the machinery and artillery attached to the wall," Victor explained.

"The raid force, which Hiroshi and his team belong to, operates outside the base. They search for rations, medicines, and, if lucky, Fauxvid vaccines. Their duties also include rescuing stranded individuals. Whether it's due to their base being destroyed or assisting surviving members of the raid force who are trapped. Essentially, they function as the combat army for the base. A role found in every base, ours just happens to be larger. The person who brought you, Hiroshi, their team captain Serena, along with their team members – they are, well, like an elite squad within the raid force groups." Victor explained.

"Did you catch the overview?" Victor asked.

Arjun felt overwhelmed by the information but nodded in acknowledgment. Victor got up, stretching his back, and suggested, "Alright then. I think you should tidy up the place tomorrow." He glanced at Arjun, adding, "Anyway, It's good to see you. Take a rest and let's hope you get the supply section. It might be a long shot, but who knows? You might get lucky, just like me."

Arjun questioned, "What? Long shot?" Victor bowed and shook his head with a hint of disappointment, sighing. He explained, "You child, the supply one is considered the easiest among the three jobs. So, those close to the wealthy pricks and those leaders usually secure these positions."

Arjun looked puzzled.

Victor clarified, "Arjun, forget it. Think of it this way – people likely to end up in government jobs are often those close to influential figures and political leaders, right?" Arjun nodded in understanding.

Victor continued, "Same thing here."

Victor walked towards the door and turned back, asking, "Are you sure you don't want to see Dee?"

Arjun nodded.

Victor shrugged his shoulders, affirming, "Okay. Sleep well."

Arjun lay on the hard bed and felt uncomfortable as a rock. He couldn't shake off the annoying discomfort. Thoughts about everything that had happened that day raced through his mind - from the moment he arrived in this strange place until now. He couldn't tell if it was all a nightmare or real. Staring at the cracked ceiling, he half-expected it to fall on him. As tiredness took over, his vision got blurry, and he slowly drifted off to sleep.