Melissa huddled close to Dave, her eyes fixed on the newcomer who had just saved them from the monstrous rats. As Vera approached him, offering a place with their group, Melissa couldn't help but study the young man intently. Unlike the others around her, who were still shaken and disorganized, this guy - Irvin, she heard him say - exuded an eerie calm.

  A shiver ran down her spine as she recalled how he'd taken down those mutant creatures with his bare hands. It was both terrifying and... fascinating. Melissa found herself drawn to his composed demeanor, so at odds with the chaos surrounding them.

  She clung tighter to Dave's arm, her fear of being left alone in this nightmare world driving her to stay close. But her gaze kept drifting back to Irvin.

  "Did you see that?" she whispered to Dave. "The way he fought those things... it's like he wasn't even scared."

  Dave grunted, his own eyes wary as he watched Irvin. "Yeah, I saw. Guy's either crazy brave or just plain crazy."

  Melissa bit her lip, considering. There was something off about Irvin that set her nerves on edge. He seemed... too calm. Like he knew what was going on more than anyone else.

  As Vera continued talking to Irvin, Melissa's wondered if she should try to get closer to him? But the thought of leaving Dave's side made her stomach clench with anxiety. She couldn't bear the idea of being alone, not now.

  Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that sticking close to Irvin might be their best chance at survival. Melissa watched as he nodded at something Vera said, his expression unreadable.

  Irvin surveyed the group in front of him, his face a mask of calm indifference. Inside, however, his mind was frantically considering his options. These people could be useful, he mused. Scared, disorganized, but potential assets nonetheless. His eyes landed on a young woman clinging to a man's arm, her gaze fixed on him with a mix of fear and something else.

  What does she want? Irvin wondered.

  A low, grinding wheeze made Irvin's head snap up. Hairline cracks spider-webbed across the concrete facades of the surrounding buildings. The structures groaned, swaying like drunk giants ready to topple.

  Shit. These buildings are coming down. Irvin's muscles tensed, ready to bolt.

  "Everyone move! Now!" A stocky man in a wrinkled suit, waved his arms frantically. "The buildings are collapsing!"

  The group scrambled to their feet. Screams erupted as chunks of concrete rained down, forcing them to dodge and weave. Irvin barely managed to sidestep a falling piece of masonry that would have crushed his skull.

  These people are going to get themselves killed panicking like this. He watched as they scattered in different directions, no clear plan or destination in mind.

  The woman who'd been staring at him earlier stumbled and nearly fell. Her companion yanked her up roughly, dragging her along as they ran.

  More debris crashed down around them. The buildings tilted further, their steel frames screeching in protest. The sound set Irvin's teeth on edge.

  Need to get clear of these death traps. But where? His eyes darted around, calculating. The narrow streets were death traps, but the wider avenue ahead offered better chances of avoiding falling debris.

  "This way!" Mike shouted, apparently having the same idea. He gestured toward the avenue, trying to herd the scattered group in that direction.

  Irvin moved with purpose, keeping pace with the others while staying alert for more dangers. The city was transforming around them, and he had a feeling these collapsing buildings were just the beginning.

  At least these people might be useful as distractions if something worse shows up, he thought, watching the panicked office workers run ahead of him.

  The first building gave way with a deafening roar. Concrete and steel twisted, sending a rolling cloud of dust and debris down the street. Irvin's caught the wave of destruction almost in slow motion - the facade peeling away, windows exploding outward, metal support beams bending like rubber.

  His chest burned with each breath, blood still seeping from the cuts on his arm and chest. The earlier fights had drained him more than he'd realized. Around him, the office workers scattered like startled birds, their screams mixing with the thunder of collapsing architecture.

  Mike's voice cut through the chaos. "This way! Follow me!" But his words were swallowed by the cacophony of destruction. Half the group veered left down a side street while others bolted straight ahead.

  Irvin pushed forward, his legs heavy as lead. The wider avenue offered the best chance of survival, but reaching it meant navigating through a gauntlet of falling debris. His enhanced strength meant nothing if a ton of concrete crushed him.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  An older man stumbled ahead of him, wheezing as he tried to run. A woman in heels had given up on her shoes, limping barefoot across the broken pavement. Even the younger ones showed signs of exhaustion, their pace slowing as terror took their toll.

  The ground shook as another building started to collapse. Irvin's muscles screamed in protest as he dodged a falling air conditioning unit. The impact sent shrapnel flying, adding fresh cuts to his collection. Blood trickled down his arm, making his grip slick.

  The dust cloud engulfed them, turning day to night. Irvin could barely make out the shapes of people ahead through the choking haze. His lungs burned with each breath, and the cuts on his chest stung as sweat mixed with blood.

  Keep moving. Don't stop. He forced one foot in front of the other, fighting against the exhaustion that threatened to overwhelm him. The wider avenue was close - if they could just reach it before more buildings came down.

  Irvin matched his pace to another men's labored steps, watching the older man's determined but flagging stride. While others sprinted ahead in blind panic, He moved with a deliberate calm that seemed oddly out of place. His salt-and-pepper hair was coated in dust, but his eyes remained sharp and focused.

  How the hell is this guy so chill? Irvin thought, his own muscles protesting as he deliberately held back rather than pushing ahead with the main group.

  "Quite the day," The office worker wheezed between breaths, glasses sliding down his sweat-slicked nose. "Though I suppose... that's putting it mildly. I'm Tom by the way."

  "You seem to be taking it well." Irvin ducked as more debris rained down.

  Tom's laugh came out as a wheezing cough. "Read enough novels... to know where this is going. World's done... as we knew it."

  Crazy guy.

  A cry pierced through the chaos. To their left, a woman had fallen, dust swirling around her crumpled form as she coughed and called for help. Irvin took three more steps forward before something inside him twisted.

  Bad idea. Keep moving.

  "Don't stop!" Tom called out, pressing onward with labored determination.

  Irvin's jaw clenched as he turned back. The woman was on her knees, blood trickling from scrapes on her palms as she tried to push herself up. Her shirt and skirt were torn and covered in dust, her face streaked with tears and grime.

  Damn it.

  Irvin cursed under his breath and doubled back. The woman's dark hair hung in her face as she struggled to stand. His enhanced strength made it easy to lift her.

  She let out a startled sob but didn't resist as he started running again, pushing to catch up with the others ahead. Her arm wrapped around his shoulder, warm blood from her palms staining his shirt.

  This better not get me killed, he thought, adjusting his grip on the woman's legs. Her quiet crying mixed with the sounds of destruction around them.

  Irvin's lungs burned as they finally reached the wider avenue. The street stretched before them like an urban canyon, relatively clear compared to the chaos they'd left behind. Buildings still groaned and creaked, their foundations compromised by the explosive plant growth. The sound set his teeth on edge.

  Mike's voice carried over the group, barking orders that fell on deaf ears. Most people huddled in small clusters, shell-shocked or arguing among themselves. A few wandered aimlessly, as if hoping direction would materialize from thin air.

  Tom caught Irvin's eye and gave a subtle nod. They positioned themselves at the rear of the group, watching both the crowd and the destruction behind them. Dave had joined Mike up front, both men gesturing wildly as they tried to wrangle some semblance of order.

  Better if someone else takes the lead, Irvin thought. Better to watch and wait.

  The woman in his arms shifted slightly, and Irvin suddenly became very aware of her warm skin against his hands where her skirt had ridden up.

  "Can you put me down now?" She said softly, her voice still shaky.

  Heat crept up Irvin's neck as he carefully set her on her feet, his hands lingering a moment too long on her bare legs before he stepped back. She smoothed her torn skirt, dark hair falling forward to hide her face.

  "Thank you," she looked up at him through dust-covered lashes. "I'm Sarah."

  "Irvin," he replied, forcing himself to focus on the group rather than the way her blouse clung to her curves. Not the time for this.

  They stood in uncomfortable silence, watching Mike and Dave's impromptu leadership contest devolve into a shouting match. The rest of the group shifted restlessly, fear and uncertainty evident in their faces.

  This is going nowhere, Irvin thought, scanning the skyline. We need to move before-

  Another building collapsed in the distance, the sound like thunder rolling through the concrete canyons. Several people screamed. Mike's voice rose again, competing with Dave's as they argued over which direction offered the best chance of survival.

  Two alpha wannabes fighting while everything burns, Irvin thought, exchanging knowing look with Tom. This won't end well.

  The group shuffled forward, a disorganized mass of frightened office workers stumbling over broken concrete and twisted metal. Behind them, another building groaned and crumbled, sending vibrations through the ground. Irvin's muscles tensed with each thunderous crash.

  Mike jabbed his finger toward the east. "The park's our best shot. Open space, no buildings to fall on us."

  "We need supplies first," Dave stepped into Mike's space. "There's a market-"

  "You want to send people into buildings? Are you insane?"

  Irvin hung back, watching the power struggle unfold. His fingers twitched against his thigh as adrenaline coursed through him. Every instinct screamed at him to keep moving, to get away from the destruction spreading through the city.

  Tom stood a few feet away, his face an unsettling mask of calm. The older man's eyes darted between Mike and Dave, then settled on Irvin with an intensity that made the hair on his neck rise.

  What's his angle? Irvin wondered. Nobody's this collected unless they're planning something.

  "Fine," Dave threw up his hands. "Park it is. But when we're all starving tomorrow-"

  "We'll be alive to worry about it," Mike cut him off. He turned to address the group. "Stay together, watch your step."

  About damn time, Irvin thought as they started moving again. His eyes scanned the rooftops, searching for any sign of those mutated pigeons. The open sky above made him feel exposed.

  Tom fell into step beside him. "Interesting development with your strength earlier," he said quietly.

  Irvin's jaw clenched. He'd hoped no one had noticed how easily he'd handled those rats. "Adrenaline," he muttered.

  "Of course," Tom's smile didn't reach his eyes. "We should discuss it sometime. Compare notes."

  Before Irvin could respond, Tom quickened his pace to catch up with the main group, leaving Irvin with an uneasy knot in his stomach.

  Need to watch that one, he thought, following at a distance.