Intro. The sound of dripping water filled the air as Joel gasped for breath, his heart still pounding from the near-death experience. The Giant Toad’s grotesque face flashed through his mind, its slimy tongue barely missing him—if it weren’t for the dog, he’d be dead. He’s been walking for a few days now, ready to meet his old girlfriend Aimee again. He spend them risking his life out here, determined to see her.
Joel turned to his unexpected savior, a scruffy but loyal-looking mutt, tail wagging slightly as if it hadn’t just risked its life for a complete stranger. " You really saved my ass back there, huh? " he murmured, still catching his breath.
The dog gave him a quiet huff before trotting ahead, as if urging him to follow. With no better option, Joel did.
It led him through the overgrown ruins of the world, weaving between abandoned cars and shattered buildings, until they reached a rusting, graffiti-covered bus tucked between vines and debris. The door creaked as he pushed it