Chapter 2
289words
Abandoned vehicles lay cocooned in grayish-white mycelium, fungal clusters blooming on windows like patches of rotting snowflakes.
Kay's "Ark" rolled over the fungal mat, sticky cracking sounds rising from beneath the chassis.
"The hydroponic rack is leaking!" Lila screamed, huddled in the passenger seat, nails digging deep into her palms.
The metal USB drive pressed against her chest—the doomsday seed bank, humanity's last oasis.
Kay glanced at the control screen. The pH value of the aquaponics system was plummeting. "Open the third wastewater valve! Spray the vehicle!"
"Are you insane? That's acidic wastewater!"
"Just do it!"
Murky liquid gushed from both sides of the vehicle.
Fungal hyphae that touched the liquid instantly curled and blackened like scalded worms. The intermittent shrieks outside suddenly ceased.
"Acidic environment inhibits fungal growth..." Lila suddenly fell silent. On the windshield, a massive shadow slowly rose.
It was an overpass.
The bridge structure had been hollowed out by fungi, reinforcing bars twisted like exposed ribs. Kay slammed the gas. The "Ark" roared as it crashed into the collapsed bridge pier—
BOOM!
Steel bars scraped against the graphene coating with a piercing screech. The sound of shattering glass erupted from the rear.
"The fish tank!" Lila lunged toward the back cabin.
Tilapia frantically jumped among broken glass and fungal filaments. One fish, its scales partially peeled away, emitted a faint blue glow.
Kay had no time to deal with it. The navigation screen suddenly dissolved into static as jasmine fragrance surged through the air vents.
"Electronic graveyard..." he muttered through gritted teeth, wrenching the wheel as tires rolled over a half-melted police car.
Suddenly, a dull THUD sounded on the roof.
Someone was up there.
