Kade rubbed his temples, feeling the weight of the awkward silence. Mira and Velra were still watching him like they were waiting for him to either crack or make a run for it.
He cleared his throat.
"Alright," he said, slumping back into his bedroll like it could somehow absorb his frustration. "Kade Marlowe, 17 years old, college student—gamer, obviously."
Mira raised an eyebrow.
"Is that supposed to mean something?" Velra asked, her tone flat.
Kade let out a sigh, leaning back slightly to stretch his sore limbs. "No, no. It's just… in my world, that's how we introduce ourselves. Name, age, a quick bit of info. I don't know why I said it like that—habit, I guess."
He fidgeted with his sleeve for a moment before continuing, feeling the heat creep up his neck. "And, uh… not that it matters here, but I haven't exactly got a girlfriend yet." He gave a sheepish smile, hoping they would just let that part go.
There was a long, pregnant pause before Mira spoke up, her tone dry. "I mean, that tracks. You're in the middle of a bloody apocalypse."
Kade shot her a deadpan look. "Thanks. That's exactly what I needed to hear."
Velra, on the other hand, had a more thoughtful expression. "You seem strange. But not in the way most survivors are. You don't act like you belong here. Like you're... not from this world."
Kade nodded slowly. "Yeah, that's... that's the gist of it. I don't really belong here. Or at least, I'm not supposed to be."
He paused, rubbing his face with one hand. "I'm just trying to figure out how to survive. One step at a time, right?"
Mira didn't look convinced. "You don't seem like the type who'd need to survive in a place like this."
Kade couldn't help but let out a short laugh. "Trust me, I'm not."
Kade's fingers dug into the torn fabric of his pajama pants as he glanced down at his ridiculous outfit. The thing was pink—faded, with old cartoon characters from some anime he barely remembered.
The soft cotton had been torn in multiple places, a few rips that probably wouldn't have even been noticeable if it wasn't for the constant abuse from getting thrown around by zombies and mutant creatures.
Velra's eyes narrowed as she took in his attire. "Are you... some kind of jester?" she asked, her tone flat but laced with a hint of confusion.
Mira smirked, clearly trying to suppress a laugh. "Is this some kind of trick?" She looked at him more closely. "A jester with a weapon? Strange look for a clown."
Kade blinked and then let out a groan under his breath, rolling his eyes. "Yeah, sure. Because nothing says 'mysterious survivor' like a torn pink pajama set, right?"
He gritted his teeth, fighting the urge to facepalm. Of course, he had to be yanked into some crazy world while in the worst outfit imaginable. It wasn't like he'd had a chance to pick anything out before getting pulled through some interdimensional portal. Nope.
One minute, he was in his dorm room, sitting cross-legged on his bed, trying to figure out how to beat the next level in his game. The next, he was thrown into an apocalyptic fantasy land wearing this.
Great! Now that Kade has introduced himself, it's a perfect moment to dive deeper into why he's survived so long in this dangerous world and why he's alone. This can add more tension and mystery, as the characters (and readers) will start questioning his backstory, motives, and perhaps even his abilities.
Here's a continuation to guide that conversation:
---
Velra's eyes narrowed, studying him more intently.
"So," she said, leaning forward slightly, her voice low and measured, "you've been alive in this... forest of undead for who knows how long. Alone. No one's come to find you, no one's rescued you. How?"
Kade hesitated, unsure how to answer. If he told them the truth—about the "Saved Files" mechanic, the constant resets, the weird glitchy interface—he would sound insane. But lying felt even more dangerous, especially with two people who could probably kill him in the blink of an eye.
"I…" He shifted uncomfortably, trying to form an answer that made sense. "I'm not really sure, honestly. It's just… a lot of luck. And being careful. Staying hidden, moving fast, making sure I'm always one step ahead." He shrugged, his voice tight. "And I guess being alone helped. If you don't have anyone else to protect, you can be a lot more... stealthy."
Mira tilted her head, her gaze never leaving him. "That's a hell of a story. But it's hard to believe someone survives this long without... something else. Some trick, some tool, or some skill you're not telling us about."
Kade's fingers twitched nervously. He glanced at the torn pajamas again, wishing they weren't the only armor he had. "I've got some tricks," he muttered. "Nothing special, but enough to get by."
Velra crossed her arms, clearly unconvinced. "I've seen plenty of survivors, and most of them aren't as... well, odd as you. You've been alone this whole time? Not even a single ally?"
Kade bit his lip, thinking of all the "returns" he'd experienced—how each time, he was the only one left standing after the resets. "I've been alone for a while, yeah," he said, his voice dropping slightly. "There were others at first, but... things happen."
He cleared his throat, forcing his voice to steady, and dropped his gaze to the half-eaten biscuit in his hand, something to distract himself from their prying eyes. "I've been alone for a while, yeah," he said, his voice a little quieter, a little more resigned. "There were others at first.
A group of us... survivors, I guess." He glanced up, his eyes briefly flicking to Mira and Velra, watching them closely to see if they were buying it. "But, uh… things happen. People get separated. Some... didn't make it. I guess I'm just the lucky one who got away."
Mira was staring at him again, this time with more suspicion. "You don't act like someone who's been fighting for survival for long. You're either a liar or something's off about you."
Kade let out a frustrated breath, his patience running thin. "Look, I don't know what you expect me to say. I'm not some hero. I'm just trying to survive, like anyone could."
Velra seemed to weigh his words carefully, then nodded slightly. "We'll see. But don't think we're going to let you off easy. If you survive in this world, you have to earn it. You can't keep secrets forever."
Kade swallowed, feeling the weight of their eyes on him. It wasn't just the undead and mutants he had to worry about in this place. It was the people too.