City of Dream

The world smelled like rust and smoke. They had done it. After months of surviving among the walking corpses, the five of them stood in a place where the sky wasn’t red anymore. The air wasn’t heavy with rot. It was quiet—too quiet. “Is this… home?” whispered Evelyn, her trembling fingers still clutching a broken rifle. Liam looked around, blinking through the fog. The world before them shimmered faintly, like glass. They stood on a paved road lined with white marble walls and iron gates. Beyond it stretched a cluster of mansions so grand it looked unreal—balconies glimmering like crystal, fountains frozen mid-splash. A silver plaque by the gate read: > CITY OF DREAM “It’s like a castle floating above the clouds,” murmured Theo, the youngest of the five. His voice trembled between awe and disbelief. Raven, tall and sharp-eyed, stepped forward. Her gaze flickered; she saw flashes—moments yet to happen. Her power. “There’s something wrong,” she said quietly. “This place… it’s too still.” “Maybe it’s supposed to be,” replied Drake, brushing dirt from his coat. “After years in that hell, anything peaceful feels suspicious.” They had all sworn an oath before crossing the rift: Find the weapon that could destroy the zombies forever—and return. Now, here they were. Back in their world. Or something that looked like it. At the gate, a security guard in a navy uniform appeared from the fog. His name tag read “E. Collins.” His face twisted with confusion, his voice trembling. “What are you people doing here?” “We live here,” said Evelyn, stepping forward. “Apartment 208.” Collins narrowed his eyes. “Are you sure?” “Why wouldn’t I be sure about my own home?” she snapped. He hesitated, then stepped aside, still muttering under his breath. “Nothing’s been the same since they came back…” Raven caught his words, a shiver running down her spine. “They?” she whispered—but no one answered. When the gate opened, the group paused. Drake turned toward the fog-covered road leading down the hill. “My family’s house is in the city,” he said quietly. “If they’re still alive… I need to find them.” Evelyn nodded. “Of course. We’ll meet again soon—once we’re ready to start searching for the weapon.” “Same place?” asked Theo. Liam nodded. “Here. In City of Dream.” Drake smiled faintly, his eyes soft with exhaustion and something close to hope. “Don’t start the fight without me.” He turned and walked away, his figure swallowed by the fog until only his footsteps remained—fading, fading, gone. The remaining four stood in silence. Then Evelyn took a deep breath. “Let’s go home,” she said.