The Encounter

### **Chapter 3: The Encounter**
*(Lena’s point of view)*

The sun had already risen, and the light illuminated the ruins almost magically, revealing details that had previously gone unnoticed. Kael and I decided to leave the library and explore the devastated city further. Our goal was to find traces of survivors, any sign that life still existed among the ashes.

After a few hours of walking, we spotted what looked like a school. The building was partially standing, though the windows were shattered, and the walls were covered with graffiti. Something inside me stirred at the sight of the place. I had always had a soft spot for schools — a symbol of learning and hope. Sharing a knowing glance with Kael, we approached the entrance.

As we crossed the threshold, we were greeted by an unsettling silence. The classroom was filled with overturned chairs, as if the students had left in a hurry. The air was thick with the smell of mold and dust. “Lena, look at this,” Kael said, pointing to a mural still displaying children’s drawings, the innocence of their art forever etched on the walls.

A tightness gripped my chest. Looking at those scribbles, I thought about how the children likely never understood what had happened. The weight of loss pressed on me, yet there was also a glimmer of hope — maybe some had survived.

Suddenly, a noise echoed from a hallway. Kael and I exchanged glances, our survival instincts kicking in. “Let’s check it out,” he suggested, and cautiously, we followed the sound.

As we rounded a corner, we found a woman. She looked as startled as we were, her eyes wide, and her body trembling. “Who are you?” she shouted, instinctively taking a step back.

Kael moved slightly to introduce himself, but the moment she saw him, her expression changed instantly. Panic seized her face, and she gasped. “What… what are you?”

It was the first time I realized the effect Kael had on others. Even amid desperation, his alien appearance — his softly glowing skin and eyes that seemed to hold entire galaxies — could evoke fear.

“Wait!” I raised my hands in a gesture of peace. “He’s not a threat. He’s with me!”

The woman hesitated, her features still tense with fear. “Are you… here to attack us?”

“No!” Kael said, his voice firm yet gentle. “We’re here to help. We’re just trying to survive, like you.”

The air between us was heavy with tension as she looked back and forth between Kael and me, trying to make sense of the situation. Finally, she seemed to relax a little, though her guard remained up. “I’m Mia,” she said, her voice shaking. “You’re the first people I’ve seen since… everything happened.”

“We’re looking for other survivors,” I explained. “We know the world is a dangerous place, but we want to help.”

Mia still seemed unsure, but curiosity began to replace the fear in her eyes. “You… you really won’t hurt me?”

“We promise,” I assured her, and Kael leaned slightly forward, offering a small gesture of goodwill.

She looked at Kael again, fascination and fear wrestling within her expression. “Are you… an alien?”

Kael nodded slowly, his expression calm. “I am, but that doesn’t make me your enemy. I’m here to learn and understand, just like you.”

Mia observed Kael more closely now, her features softening as she began to comprehend the sincerity behind his words. Fear was natural, but there was something about Kael — a depth that invited trust.

“So, you really are on our side,” she said, allowing herself to relax a little more.

“What can we do for you?” Kael asked, determination resonating in his voice like a call to action.

Mia seemed pensive, and I realized she was weighing her options. “I’ve been hiding here for the past few days, but I don’t know if anyone else is alive. It’s dangerous out there, and I’m scared of being attacked.”

“We’re in this together now,” Kael said, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “We can help you find a safer place. We have a shelter in mind that could work.”

Mia glanced between us, her expression softening even further. “I don’t know what to think, but the idea of not being alone anymore is comforting. I don’t know how much longer I could have lasted by myself.”

Hearing this, a wave of empathy washed over me. We were all victims of a greater tragedy, and solidarity was the only way forward. “If you’d like, we can leave now,” I suggested, eager for her to join us.

Kael and I moved to stand beside her, and as we walked toward the school’s exit, a new feeling began to stir within me. We weren’t just two survivors searching for answers; we were becoming part of something greater — a network of hope in a world reduced to ashes.

As we crossed the door, Kael looked to the sky, where dark clouds were beginning to gather on the horizon. Something in him shifted; a worried expression replaced his usual calm demeanor.

“We need to find shelter quickly,” he said, and the urgency in his voice put me on alert.

Mia stopped and looked at us with renewed fear. “Something’s coming, isn’t it?”

Kael only nodded. “Something bad. We need to be ready.”

Together, we made our way through the ruined city, fully aware that the road ahead wouldn’t be easy. But even so, there was a spark of hope binding us together. With Mia by our side, we were no longer just two lost souls; we were building something new amid the ruins — a chance to survive, and maybe even start again.

And so, we pressed on.