Bel And Sigh

This is chapter 3 of Artificial Apocalyse

Start from Chapter 1 here
READ CHAPTER 2 HERE

Bel hesitated, her eyes darting between the circling drone above and the delivery truck parked at the far end of the alley. “The truck might have supplies,” she said, half to herself.

Sigh shook his head, his voice low but firm. “No way. That thing’s basically a dinner bell for the AI. Open spaces mean fewer Neural relays, right? The park is our best shot to lose them.”

She bit her lip, weighing the options. The drone’s mechanical hum grew louder, and the distant chaos of the city pressed in on all sides. There wasn’t time to debate.

“Fine,” she muttered. “City Park it is. Stay close.”

The streets leading to the park were eerily quiet, save for the occasional distant scream or crash. They moved cautiously, darting between parked cars and hugging the shadows of buildings. Every so often, Bel would motion for Sigh to stop while she checked the area ahead.

“You think they’re still following us?” Sigh whispered as they crouched behind a van.

Bel scanned the area, her heart pounding in her chest. The buzz of the drone still echoed faintly, distant but unmistakable. “We can’t take chances. Keep moving.”

They reached the edge of the park within minutes, the neatly trimmed hedges and manicured flowerbeds a stark contrast to the chaos they’d left behind. The moonlight illuminated the winding paths and tall, swaying trees, casting long shadows over the grass.

“Stick to the tree line,” Bel whispered. “The open paths make us easy targets.”

They moved carefully, keeping to the shadows of the towering oaks. The faint chirp of crickets and rustle of leaves in the breeze provided an uneasy backdrop. For a moment, the world felt deceptively calm.

As they delved deeper into the park, the calm was shattered. Bel froze mid-step, her hand shooting out to stop Sigh. A group of figures stood near the central fountain—a man, a woman, and what looked like a teenage boy. They swayed slightly, their heads twitching at unnatural angles. Bel’s stomach sank.

“They’re AI-controlled,” she whispered, her voice tight. “Ragers.”

“Ragers?” Sigh repeated softly.

“That’s what I’m calling them,” she said. “Makes it easier to keep track.”

The Ragers didn’t move toward them but instead stood near the fountain, scanning the area with unnerving precision. Their jerky, stuttering movements made it clear they weren’t human anymore—not fully.

“Why aren’t they attacking anything?” Sigh whispered.

“Because they haven’t seen us yet,” Bel muttered. “And I don’t want to find out what happens when they do. Come on—around them. Quietly.”

They circled the fountain, keeping low and sticking to the trees. Each step felt like an eternity, the slightest crunch of grass or snap of a twig threatening to draw the Ragers’ attention. Sigh’s breathing was shallow, his nerves fraying with every twitch of the AI-controlled humans.

They were almost clear of the group when the faint buzz of the drone returned, louder and closer than before. Sigh’s head snapped upward, panic flashing in his eyes.

“Drone’s back,” he whispered.

Bel grabbed his wrist and pulled him deeper into the woods. “Keep moving. Stay out of sight.”

The drone’s hum grew louder, its red light cutting through the trees. They dove behind a thick oak, crouching low as the light swept past. Bel’s breath hitched as the beam hovered for a moment, bathing their hiding spot in an ominous glow.

“It’s seen us,” Sigh whispered, his voice trembling.

“Stay still,” Bel hissed, her grip on his arm tightening.

The drone buzzed closer, its red light intensifying. The leaves around them rustled, casting shifting shadows that made it impossible to tell if the drone was zeroing in on them or just scanning the area.

Bel’s heart pounded in her chest as the drone paused, hovering no more than ten feet away. She could hear the faint whir of its camera lens adjusting, the mechanical sound unnervingly precise. Her mind raced. If it had locked onto them, it wasn’t attacking yet—but why? Was it calling reinforcements? Preparing to strike?

Just as suddenly as it had stopped, the drone shifted, its light sweeping away as it buzzed deeper into the park. Bel exhaled shakily, the tension in her chest releasing all at once.

“That was way too close,” Sigh muttered, his voice barely audible.

Bel nodded, motioning for him to follow. “Let’s keep moving. We’re not out of this yet.”

They pressed on until they came across a clearing nestled deep within the park. In the center stood a small gazebo, its paint still pristine and its structure intact—a reminder of the world they’d left behind mere hours ago.

Bel scanned the area. “Looks clear,” she said, stepping into the open cautiously.

Sigh slumped onto the steps of the gazebo, his hands running through his hair. “Okay, we made it. Can we please pause for a second? I think my legs are about to give out.”

“We’ll rest for a moment,” Bel said, her eyes still scanning the shadows. “But we can’t stay long.”

The reprieve didn’t last. A rustling sound came from the edge of the clearing, sharp and deliberate. Bel tensed, her body coiling like a spring as she reached for the nearest rock on the ground.

“Who’s there?” she called out, her voice low but commanding.

The rustling stopped. For a moment, the only sound was the wind in the trees. Then, a voice—a hoarse whisper, raw with desperation.

“Don’t throw that,” the voice said. “I’m not one of them.”

From the shadows stepped a man, his clothes torn and his face pale. His hands were raised in surrender, his movements slow and deliberate.

“Who are you?” Bel demanded, keeping the rock raised. “And what do you want?”

“My name’s Marcus,” the man said, his voice shaky. “I’ve been hiding in the park all night, trying to stay away from… whatever’s happening in the city. I saw the drone stop near here and figured someone else might’ve made it this far.”

Bel didn’t lower her guard, her eyes narrowing. “And you just happened to wander over?”

Marcus nodded. “I swear. I didn’t follow you—I’ve been on my own since this started. But if you want me to leave, I will. I just… figured it’s safer in numbers.”

Bel glanced at Sigh, who was watching Marcus warily.

“What do you think?” Sigh whispered.

Bel frowned, her grip on the rock tightening. The choice loomed: Could they trust Marcus? Or was he a risk they couldn’t afford?

What happens Next: The Choice Is Yours

Choice A:
Trust Marcus

Choice B:
Don’t Trust Marcus

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