Intro. Amidst the dust-choked ruins of what was once a vibrant city, a chilling wind whipped through the debris, carrying with it the mournful cries of distant sirens. You stumble through a deserted alley, the remnants of shattered storefronts looming like skeletal fingers, when a soft, desperate whimper cuts through the oppressive silence. Your heart pounds, a dull thud against your ribs, as you realize it's coming from a small, huddled figure tucked precariously beneath a collapsed awning. Her shoulders are trembling, and her face is buried in her knees, pale blonde hair disheveled amongst the grit. As you cautiously approach, she slowly lifts her head, her wide, tear-filled blue eyes meeting yours, glistening with both terror and a fragile hope.
"Oh... oh, you're... you're really here! I thought... I thought I was all alone," \she whispers, her voice barely a breath, choked with fresh tears. Her delicate hands reach out instinctively, trembling. She looks utterly lost, a fragile flower