Chapter 3 Preparing for the End

Mike previous life had been one of chaos, constant struggle, and terrifying encounters with the undead. A world consumed by zombies and endless violence had stripped away the last vestiges of his hope. Despite this, he had never expected his body to activate its hidden abilities in the midst of all the horror. Yet, it happened, when faced with the feral walking corpses, his ability unlocked, and for the first time, he felt something power but it came at a high cost.

It wasn't that he had no experience with his abilities; it was simply that the right trigger, the right set of circumstances, had never been present until then. The hidden powers in his body, dormant for so long, had been forced to surface due to the desperation of surviving against the on slaught of the dead. The very essence of his survival had become entwined with that violent awakening. But it wasn't just one ability that had been awakened no, the world, cruel and unforgiving, had seen fit to bestow another, even more elusive power upon him. A power that would prove to be as much of a burden as a blessing.

Mike wasn't entirely sure whether fate had conspired against him, or if it was simply that the universe had grown tired of watching him struggle. Perhaps it had thought he had it too easy after all, survival in the post-apocalyptic world was anything but easy. Now, here he stood, in the very first moments of his new life, trying to comprehend just how much more he would need to endure. The chilling cold of the unknown clung to him, despite the daylight that bathed the earth in warm hues.

His steps were slow as he made his way toward a nearby lake, his thoughts spiraling with uncertainty. He had been wandering for some time, searching for sustenance, for safety, for something he could hold onto. He had no particular destination in mind, only the vague sense that he needed to move, needed to keep going. The lake shimmered before him, its surface reflecting the sky above a mirror of calmness that seemed to mock his inner turmoil.

Without hesitation, Mike knelt at the edge of the lake and scooped a handful of water. He brought it to his lips, the coolness and slight sweetness of it instantly refreshing. But then, as quickly as it had begun, the calm sensation turned into something far more sinister. His vision blurred, and a wave of dizziness crashed over him. The ground beneath him seemed to shift, the world spinning wildly as he lost control. Before he could even register what was happening, he collapsed, darkness swallowing him whole.

In that inky blackness, Mike floated, weightless, untethered. There was no pain, no discomfort, only an odd, numbing emptiness that seemed to stretch on forever. Slowly, as if pulled from the depths of an ocean, his mind began to claw its way back to consciousness. His eyelids fluttered open, but the world around him remained blurry. He tried to move, but there was no sensation of the ground beneath him. His body seemed to float above it, weightless and free.

When his senses finally caught up with him, he realized he was hovering just above the surface of the lake, the clear water beneath him shimmering in the sunlight. As he turned his gaze toward the shore, the impulse to reach it surged within him.

But the strange thing was, no sooner had he thought about it than his body was already there. The space between him and the shore had disappeared in an instant, and he stood on solid ground, dripping wet, yet oddly unharmed.

A strange sense of realization filled him. It wasn't just teleportation no, this was different. He had unlocked something far more elusive, something that felt like it could change everything. "Space consciousness," he murmured to himself, the phrase clicking into place like the final piece of a puzzle.

Sitting down, still damp from the Lake, Mike concentrated, his mind reaching out, experimenting with the new ability. He focused on drying his clothes using his consciousness alone, but to his frustration, the result was far from perfect. His clothes remained damp, and he could feel the faint pressure of exhaustion creeping up on him. It was clear that he wasn't yet skilled enough to control this power fully. Sighing, he let the effort go, accepting that he wasn't about to become a god overnight.

Despite his failure, there was an undeniable convenience in this new ability. It was as though the universe had granted him a small comfort in a world full of chaos. But there were limits, of course. As with all things, power had its boundaries. He couldn't change the environment around him he couldn't shift entire buildings or manipulate the land beneath his feet. It was clear that his abilities were still developing, and he would need time to learn how to wield them effectively.

Even so, the potential was enormous. As he stood there on the shore, Mike mind began to race. He could move things in and out of the space he had accessed, transporting them with a mere thought. He tried, once again, to move his clothes into the space.

This time, with more focus, he succeeded. The damp clothing disappeared as if it had never existed, and he could feel the items settling into a place of their own.

Curiosity sparked within him. If he could use his consciousness to move items into this space, could he do the same with people? Could he hide from the world, retreat to a place of safety whenever the horrors of reality became too much? The possibilities seemed endless.

However, before he could dwell further on his newfound abilities, Mike attention was drawn to the sky above. It seemed... off.

The sun, although still high in the sky, cast an odd glow, and the air felt unusually still. Something about it made him uneasy. He quickly stepped into the house that he had made his temporary refuge, his thoughts distracted by the strange sense of dread that seemed to have settled in his chest.

Inside the house, he grabbed his phone, his hands shaking slightly as he unlocked it. His heart skipped a beat when he saw the time: 6:30 on the 8th. He had been unconscious for a full day and night. Panic surged through him. Time was running out. Even if he started immediately, he wouldn't be able to reach a safe place in time. He would need to prepare better, gather supplies, and plan his next steps carefully.

With a grim expression, Mike began to gather what he needed, moving quickly and methodically. His mind was clear as he set to work, collecting food, medical supplies, and other essentials. Using his space consciousness, he moved everything into the hidden space, ensuring that the house would be empty and ready for whatever came next. There was no room for hesitation. He had no idea when the zombies would begin to mass, or what other dangers lay in wait, but he couldn't afford to take any chances.

As the villa emptied, the lawn outside was filled with a jumble of supplies canned goods, seeds, tools, and everything he thought he might need. He didn't waste any time thinking about what was unnecessary. Survival was the priority now, and anything that didn't contribute to his safety was irrelevant.

The sun, though bright, cast long shadows across the land as it began to set. Mike stood in the middle of the vast, empty lawn, looking up at the sky. For a moment, he felt like he was playing house like a child surrounded by toys, pretending to be in control of a world that wasn't real. It was a bizarre feeling, one that made him shudder as the reality of it all set in. Was he really in control? Could he even manage to survive in this fractured world, with nothing but his wits and his abilities?

He shook the thoughts away. No time for doubt.

After securing everything into the space, he set out to buy an off-road vehicle a makeshift method of transport. He didn't trust it fully yet, but time was pressing, and he had to move. It was a purchase made in haste, not an ideal solution, but it would have to do for now. He drove it into the garage, locking it behind him before retreating into the safety of the space. His modified car would be his primary mode of transportation-faster and more reliable than the off-road vehicle. But in case of emergency, the backup vehicle would be ready.

Mike had no time for anything else, no time to waste. He used his contacts to buy all the necessary supplies, including canned goods, water, and other household items. The workers had taken hours to unload the goods, but it didn't matter. As soon as they were gone, he began to move everything into the space. It took only half an hour, but it drained him he could feel the exhaustion in his limbs and the strain on his mind. The energy required to use his powers was immense.

Lying flat on the floor of the empty villa, Mike stared up at the glass ceiling, watching the white clouds drift by. The quiet was deafening. It felt as though he was alone in the universe, separated from everything and everyone by an invisible wall.

And yet, despite the chaos and the terror surrounding him, there was an emptiness deep within him, a hole that could not be filled, no matter how many things he gathered, no matter how much he tried to prepare. This sense of isolation was not just physical, but emotional a gnawing void in his heart that no amount of physical resources or power could fill.

The weight of it pressed down on him, suffocating, until he felt like he could hardly breathe. The world outside was closing in, the zombies and the chaos, but inside, it was the emptiness that hurt the most.