The mall was unusually quiet at dawn.
A gentle orange hue filtered through the dusty glass panels of the rooftop, casting a surreal calm over the shopping center.
Muchen stood near the edge of the second-floor balcony, watching the faint sun push the darkness away. Behind him, the others were beginning to stir.
By five, everyone was awake and moving.
The sense of urgency lingered in the air despite the temporary comforts they had indulged in.
With the supermarket untouched, the group had managed to stock up on canned food, dried meals, energy bars, and even vitamins.
The oversized trekking bags they had found in one of the sport outlets now brimmed with supplies, their zippers stretched to the limit.
Muchen zipped his up with a grunt. "This should last us for at least a week," he murmured, eyes scanning the horizon beyond the windows.
