Armageddon

One: The Beginning

Mira woke up gasping for air. She quickly looked around her and panicked when she couldn't find her katana, the one she always carries with her. The honks of cars and chirping of birds suddenly caught her attention.

She hurriedly got up from the bed and opened the window. Mira immediately backed away and closed her eyes when the sun rays hit her in the face. She slowly opened her eyes and saw people walking happily in the streets.

"What the f**k is happening?" she muttered under her breath. Mira opened her drawer beside and pulled the calendar she had. She quickly scanned the date and cursed once again. She sat on the chair while clutching her shirt. She had gone back five years ago.

"How?" she whispered. The vague memory she had was when the armored type lurkers overran the camp, and she was fighting in the frontline. Mira quickly got up and began examining her body in the mirror. There were no visible signs of scars and wounds. She really got back to her body - the body of twenty years old woman.

"f**k. This is so surreal," she muttered. Mira glanced at the clock hanging on the wall, and her eyes went wide. As far as she can remember, she was still a university student before the infection invaded the whole world. A familiar knock on the door made her snapped out of her thoughts. Mira's eyes welled up as her heart started beating erratically.

"Mir! We're going to be late. Hurry up!" the voice said. Mira slowly walked and put her hand on the door.

"K-Kimberly?" she stuttered and forced herself to swallow the lump on her throat.

"Yes, it's me! Hurry up! Professor Slane doesn't like latecomers," Kimberly said. Mira crouched down and covered her mouth with her hands. Five years. For five years, she was blaming herself for her best friend's death. She was too weak to protect her, and when the lurkers came, Kimberly was one of the people who got infected.

"I-I'll be t-there in a minute," Mira answered. The footsteps went away, giving her time to breathe. If her return was really a miracle or a work of God, then this time, she will definitely protect what's important to her.

Mira stood up and began packing essential things in her bag. If her memory serves her right, this day is the day that the infection will spread, first, to the city. Second, the country, and third: the whole world. Based on the time, Mira has approximately four hours 'till it starts. She must have the sword and take Kimberly into a safe place she once knew in the future.

Mira showered, and when she got out, she was about to grab her favorite camo pants when she remembered that she wasn't able to get one until they run into a Mall. She let out a sigh and took the leggings. Mira quickly dresses, comb her hair, and strapped the bag on her shoulders. She looked into the room for the last time before going out.

"Why are you so slow, Mir?" Kimberly said while pouting her lips. "And why do you carry a bag that big? We're going to university, Mir, not running away," she added and chuckled. Mira smiled at her words and put her hands on her shoulders.

"Kimmy, do you trust me?" she asked. Kimberly looked at her weirdly. They have always been together. They both grew up in the same orphanage, and when they had enough savings, they moved out and stayed in a small apartment.

"What are you talking about? You're not involved with the gangsters again, right?" Kimberly asked and narrowed her eyes. She knows Mira would sometimes do the dangerous task for the gangsters in the neighborhood. She tried to stop her but knowing how hard-headed Mira, she couldn't do anything.

"What!?" Mira said and shook her hand. "Of course not," she added. Kimberly breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at her.

"I trust you, Mir. You know you're like a sister to me," Kimberly said, which made Mira happy.

"Then you must follow whatever I say," Mira said.

"Okay?" Kimberly unsurely muttered while looking at Mira. Seeing how serious she was, Kimberly clung to her arm.

"Fine, fine. I'll follow you everywhere," Kimberly said and leaned on Mira's shoulder.

"Do you promise?" Mira asked and raised her pinky finger. Kimberly nodded her head and sealed the promise with her pinky finger.

"I promise," she said. They went out of the apartment, and Mira scanned the place. She already memorized the area so many times. As much as possible, they needed to avoid the lurkers and hoards. The two went to the university on foot and arrived a minute late.

"Stay in the class. I'll be right back," Mira said.

"Where are you going?" Kimberly asked her.

"I'll just get my precious katana," Mira said and walked away, leaving Kimberly in confusion. She quickly headed towards the Dean's office, where the sword she was using in the future was located. Mira hides in the tall bushes, waiting for the perfect time for the Dean to come out.

When the Dean went out with his secretary, Mira stealthily unlocked the door and glanced around her before entering. She immediately saw the katana hanged on the wall. It was beautiful, and its blade was sharp that could able slice the lurker's head. It was also light that its every slashes and swing would kill the enemy.

Mira grabbed the sword and put it on the sheath. She opened the window that faced the wide field and jumped down. It still crosses her mind from time to time why the Dean had a sword in his office.

Mira halted when a loud explosion erupted. It came from the tallest building in the city. Her eyes went wide, and she immediately looked at her wristwatch.

"No, no. f**k! It should be starting later," she mumbled anxiously. Was the time frame disrupted when she went back before the apocalypse? Another explosion exploded, which made the students around her began panicking.

"Was it a terrorist attack!?" she heard one of the students said. Mira gripped the sword tightly. It was worse than a terrorist. These lurkers pushed humankind into extinction.

"Kimberly," she whispered and ran as fast as she can. It's no time dilly-dallying; they must survive no matter what.