1

"The rain hasn’t stopped since the machines took control." Savine thought to herself as she peered through the cracked window of the abandoned gas station. Outside, the relentless downpour reflected the neon lights of the half-submerged city, casting a gloomy glow across the flooded streets. The world had transformed into a watery wasteland, a stark contrast to the vibrant, bustling metropolis it had once been. The machines, cold and unfeeling, ruled with an iron fist, indifferent to the plight of the humans they had displaced.


Savine tightened the strap of her backpack and checked her gear one last time. She had picked up a few useful items from the station—waterproof matches, a flare gun, and a map that was already disintegrating at the edges. The rain had brought a chill to the air and she could feel it seeping through her drenched clothes. She needed shelter and soon. The machines usually didn’t hunt in this weather, but she knew they wouldn’t be far behind once the storm passed.


Her boots squelched through the waterlogged interior of the gas station. The sound echoing off the metal shelves and concrete walls. Savine’s eyes searched the darkness beyond the pool of light from the emergency exit sign. The silence was eerie, only occasionally pierced by the distant wail of a machine patrol siren. She stepped outside, the cold rain slapping against her face as she scanned the horizon for any sign of life or more importantly, shelter.


"Maybe the library." She mumbled to herself. It was a long shot, but the thought of warmth and dryness was too tempting to ignore. The library had a basement and it was a fair distance from the city center where the machines usually patrolled. If she could make it there without being detected, she might have a chance.


The water was up to her shins as she waded through the flooded streets. Her eyes peeled for any movement. The rain was a constant drumming in her ears, making it difficult to hear anything else. The buildings around her loomed like ancient ruins.


2


A sudden burst of lightning illuminated the path ahead and she spotted it—a flicker of movement in the distance. She froze, her heart hammering in her chest. Was it a person or one of the machines? She waited, her breath held, until the thunderclap drowned out the patter of the rain. The movement didn't repeat, so she took it as a sign to keep going.


That was a pattern of these machines.They repeated movements two or three times.


Savine hurried her pace, her breath coming in ragged gasps. The rain was in her eyes, making it difficult to see more than a few feet ahead, but she knew the layout of the city like the back of her hand. She had to trust her instincts now. The library wasn’t far, just a few more blocks. The buildings grew closer together, creating a narrow corridor that felt almost claustrophobic in the dark. The water was rising and she could feel the current tugging at her legs.


"Wait!" The voice was faint, almost lost in the cacophony of the storm, but Savine's heightened senses caught it. She spun around. Her hand instinctively reached for the makeshift spear at her side. Through the veil of rain, she made out a figure stumbling towards her, waving frantically.


"Melio?" Savine's voice cracked as she called out into the storm, hope and fear warring within her. The figure stumbled closer and she saw that it was indeed a person. But the person was not Melio, her long-lost brother for whom she had been searching since the takeover. It was a young girl, no older than twelve. Her clothes in tatters and her skin pale from cold.


"Please take me with you!" The girl's voice was desperate, barely audible over the rain's relentless roar. Savine hesitated for a moment, her instincts screaming at her to keep moving. But something in the girl's eyes made her pause. She was small, frail and obviously in need of help. The machines didn’t care about the weak, but Savine did.


3


It was then a mist of white appeared. "Run." A voice told them. The mist was one of the dead that meant no harm.


The girl looked at her with wide eyes, not understanding, but fear did the job. She bolted down the alleyway, her small feet splashing in the murky water. Savine followed closely behind. The girl's lightning-quick movements surprisingly nimble. They turned a corner and saw the library, its grand facade marred by the ravages of the flood and the machines' indifference. The doors hung open, inviting them in from the storm.


"Let's move!" Savine shouted over the rain, urging the girl to quicken her pace. They sprinted towards the library. The water was now up to their thighs. The girl's strength was waning, but she didn't falter. It was driven by a primal need to escape the unforgiving night.


They moved to a back corner of the library. It was a maze of overturned bookshelves and debris, but the water had not reached the upper floors. They climbed the stairs, the girl leaning heavily on Savine's arm. Her legs were shaking with exhaustion. On the second floor, they found a small office with a working lamp, the flickering light casting shadows across the water-damaged books.


"At least we are safe in here for now. What is your name?" Savine asked.


The girl looked up at Savine, her eyes full of gratitude and fear. "Nickel." She managed to say through chattering teeth. "It's a nickname. Mother use to say 'If I had a Nickel for every time you got into trouble, I'd be rich'." She grew sadder. "But I only asked for food, water and shelter."


Savine nodded, understanding the pain. "We'll find something here, get you warmed up." She began rummaging through the cabinets and drawers, finding a couple of blankets and a first aid kit. She wrapped Nickel in one of the blankets. The warmth was a welcome relief against the biting chill of the rain.