Joyful voices filled the air from the mouths of people attending this city's annual festival. Trumpets and other musical instruments echoed through every corner of the wide main streets. Everyone looked happy and cheerful—together with their friends, families, or lovers.
"What a beautiful sight," said a man with his family.
"Let's capture this moment," said a girl who came with her best friend.
And there I was, with my wife, also taking part in this festive event. Even though I mostly sat on a bench, I was happily accompanying my beloved wife, who was exactly eight months pregnant today.
"Honey, look, there are people cosplaying over there."
I turned to where my wife was pointing, and I saw a group of cosplayers striking poses as the characters they were dressed as. Their cosplay looked really detailed and passionate to me, even though I didn't know much about cosplay. This event is always vibrant every year—perhaps because of the overwhelming enthusiasm of the city's people, or maybe because of the many influencers attending, which attracts others to come.
"Would you want to try cosplaying too, once our baby is born?" I asked my wife without thinking much.
She thought for a moment, then replied that she wouldn't mind, as long as the character's outfit wasn't too revealing in certain areas.
After chatting for a while, we got up from the bench and continued strolling through the vibrant event.
Before we knew it, it was already noon, and we were getting hungry. So, my wife and I bought food from one of the nearby food stalls and continued enjoying our time together, accompanied by the music that would play throughout the night.
Suddenly, a scream rang out from a visitor in the distance. The cheerful crowd turned into panicked screams. The music abruptly stopped. People started running to the back, trying to flee from whatever was happening ahead. My wife gripped my hand tightly—her hand trembled slightly, likely from fear. I was scared too, but since the chaos was still quite far from us, I felt a little relief.
That relief didn't last long, though, when I saw people being chased by strange, grotesque creatures whose forms I couldn't even describe. The monsters began biting the people they caught. That's when I realized the situation was extremely dangerous.
Without hesitation, I pulled my wife and ran away from there. Gunshots from the police trying to control the situation made everything worse. Panic completely took over, and people scrambled desperately to escape.
Shot after shot was fired at the monsters that were biting and eating people. But it seemed useless. These creatures didn't feel pain. Perhaps they were undead—like zombies from video games. But how could such beings exist in the real world? It made no sense. Yet, this was the reality. The police trying to protect the people were also devoured mercilessly, just like humans in a zombie apocalypse.
It was a horrifying scene. If this were a movie, it would be the scariest film of all time.
Some were unlucky and couldn't escape the monsters. Others lost loved ones before their eyes. I was somewhat grateful not to be near the monsters when they first appeared. But just as I had that thought, bad luck struck me. Several monsters emerged from a portal right in front of us, blocking the path where my wife and I, along with others, were fleeing.
"Stay behind me," I told my wife, bracing myself to face the monsters.
They charged at us with terrifying speed. I was so scared, but I knew it was my duty to protect my life partner. Then, just as one of the monsters was inches from me, I was suddenly hit by a speeding fire truck.
The truck was swarming with monsters hanging off the windshield, making it impossible for the driver to see the road clearly.
My vision blurred. The last thing I remember was the wide blue sky above me. I must've been thrown far by the impact. That was when I realized how beautiful the world actually is. Sadly, I might not get to enjoy its beauty much longer.
My body ached. My breathing was labored. I was ready to let go of life if this was truly my time. But then I remembered—I have a wife… and soon, a child. I began crawling across the ground, desperately looking for my wife. Through my fading vision, I saw someone lying still in the distance.
I prayed that my wife was safe as I crawled closer to see who it was. My heart sank—it was her.
I held her tightly in my arms as my consciousness began to fade. Perhaps this is where our lives would end. My eyes closed as I whispered my last words to her
"I love you."