When he opened his eyes again, he was back in the same place—but things were different. Everything looked brand new. The shattered window was whole again.
Then—crash! Something fell nearby.
He froze. It had to be the robot. Footsteps echoed. Someone—or something—was coming closer. He picked up a small chair made of metal and wood, gripping it tightly as a weapon.
The footsteps grew louder. His heart pounded.
He saw a shadow in the dark. This time, he decided to strike first.
He raised the chair above his head, ready to attack.
"Wait! Don't hit me, please!!" the figure shouted.
The lights flickered on. The whole store was suddenly bright, lit by something he didn't understand—but it didn't matter.
Before him stood not a robot, but a boy—a human, about his age, maybe younger. The boy had his arms raised over his head, terrified.
The kid looked no older than twelve, standing before him. His hair was a wild tangle of black strands that caught the faint light seeping through the cracks in the window, and his face—smudged with dust and grease—was too young to belong in a place this broken. His clothes were patched in too many places to count: a dark green hoodie two sizes too big, sleeves torn and hanging loose around his hands, and a pair of rugged shorts held up by a rope he'd fashioned into a belt.
When the boy's shadow fell across the kid, His eyes, a striking shade of amber-gold, flashed with both fear and defiance—like an animal cornered yet unbroken.
"Don't hit me! I'm human too! My name is Sameer!" the boy said quickly.
"Wait—you're not a robot?"the boy said
For a moment, the boy thought the kid Sameer was a scavenger trying to survive.
Sameer's breathing steadied. "You're not one of them, are you?" he asked, his voice trembling but curious. There was no distrust in it—only the tone of someone who had learned to read danger faster than most adults ever could.
As he stepped into the light, the boy saw the strange mix of fear and courage written on the boy's face. Despite the dirt and the hollow look in his eyes, there was a spark there—something alive, untamed, and painfully human.
"I thought one was coming to attack me! That's what happened earlier in this place. I barely survived that encounter. I thought I was going to die. And by the way, my name is…"
He stopped. His face went blank.
"Wait. Why don't I remember my name?"He clutched his head, trying to recall. A flash—fire, metal, a scream, a girl's hand slipping away. But it vanished just as quickly.
"Until you remember," Sameer said with a smile, "can I call you Anna? Like… big brother?"
"Wait—how old are you? You look the same age as me," he asked.
"I'm almost thirteen. Just one more month," Sameer said proudly.
Anna sighed. "Alright. I'm fourteen."
"Do you know anything about where we are? What is this place?" Anna asked.
"No," Sameer said, shaking his head. "I have no clue where we are—or how we got here."
Anna and Sameer continued to search the building, hoping to find food, water, or even someone else alive. But the silence around them was haunting.Only the hum of faint machinery echoed through the store halls. The lights flickered above as they moved cautiously, keeping close to the walls.
Then—a sharp mechanical sound.
Clang. Clank. Clang.
Sameer froze. "Anna… do you hear that?"
Before Anna could reply, a loud metallic crash came from behind a row of shelves. A robot burst through, its glowing red eyes locking onto them.
"Multiple intruders detected. Commencing elimination protocol." The robot said.
"Run!" shouted Anna.
The two darted through the store, knocking over chairs and tables behind them. The robot's steps thundered closer, every movement cold and precise. The air filled with the sound of shifting gears and metal scraping against the floor.
They sprinted through a narrow corridor, but as they turned the corner—someone crashed right into them.
"Watch out!" yelled the stranger.
All three fell to the ground in a tangle of limbs. The newcomer—a tall boy, slightly older than Anna—scrambled up first.His hair is dark brown, medium-length, and messy, falling over his forehead and partly covering his sharp and thoughtful eyes. His eyes are a deep hazel, calm and serious, like a soldier who never lets his guard down.
He wore a torn sleeveless jacket over a dark, dust-stained shirt. His clothes are rugged and worn, showing he's been through many fights and long journeys.
"Are you two trying to get yourselves killed?" he snapped, helping Sameer to his feet.
Before Anna could answer, the robot's red beam swept across the corridor behind them.
"There's no time!" the boy shouted. "This way!"
They followed him, turning corner after corner until they reached a large metal door at the end of the hallway. It had strange buttons beside it—most of them rusted, but one still glowed faintly blue.
"It's a lift!" Sameer said, pressing the button. The door opened with a hiss, and all three jumped inside just as the robot turned the corner.
"Close it! Close it!" Anna yelled