I couldn’t decide whether Horace would be dead weight or not. It was a heartless notion, to even consider what I was considering. Leaving him behind… it would be easy. I could argue that I’d work better alone anyway, that he was a risk. That whatever this strange [Solo] Class was, it clearly described a lone wolf, one who excelled alone.

And Horace? Horace was a loaded gun that could turn on me at any moment. A risk that could kill me, whether by dragging me down at the neck, or a bolt of energy to the head.

My decision was ultimately swayed by something I hoped wouldn’t change, even in the apocalypse.

I wasn’t a bad person. I could say that confidently. I warred with that morality, cursing myself for acquiescing to it, to putting myself at risk, but prideful at who I was.

If there was one thing in my life I could be proud of, it was that. No matter how many times the world kicked me down, no matter how hard it got or how angry I felt, I didn’t bring it to bear on others.

Younger me had been hotheaded, emotional, prone to violent outbursts. But that had always culminated in broken furniture or something similar. Never injuries on someone else.

Now, I looked at Horace and realized he’d die without my help. He could barely walk, he was stranded here, and he didn’t have the means to explore safely.

Meanwhile, as I sat here, I had a clone exploring the surrounding area, testing foodstuffs, and scouting the geography. Third was constantly gathering information, assessing the terrain, and watching for threats.

I tensed as, back in the lab, Second cut Horace’s bindings. I was ready to react, to dodge, or do anything. Instead, Horace rubbed his wrist. “Thanks.” Then it looked like the weight of the world came over him. “What are we supposed to do?”

My idea was already in progress, exploring the new world from the safety of this lab. To him, however, it couldn’t have looked more hopeless. We were both stuck in here for the time being.

“Maybe we should get some sleep. I’ll keep watch.” Said Second.

“And then what?” Horace asked.

“And then we’ll have to see how your leg is feeling,” I responded. It made him wince and I could see the thought cross his mind as if it had been written there on his forehead. “We won’t be leaving you,” I assured him.

He relaxed, somewhat, and we both had the pleasure of sleeping.

The mind was a strange thing, more when split across three bodies. Or was it my consciousness that was split? My will? Nevertheless, I was getting some much-needed shut-eye. The original me, that was.

Second watched Horace, and Third explored.

Outside, I was muddy and sore. My stamina was shot but I took plenty breaks. It was humid, a pleasant temperature, but ultimately wet. I was, as a result, sweating—and swearing, as buzzing flies assaulted my face.

The science building was surrounded by an evergreen swamp. Trees with root systems that weren’t only expansive, but large too, some rivaling the size of houses. Moving across the terrain came in only two flavors, navigating sucking mud and murky waters, or climbing the roots.

I stuck to the latter long enough to witness some of the wildlife. I was high above, far from the shoreline after witnessing the shadows that moved under the water. I wondered if I’d have missed them if my Perception had been cut in half.

Thankfully, I had enough to watch it emerge. A squat, four-legged, reptile sharing some traits of an alligator. Only this thing looked more ancient and vicious, thicker, and more reminiscent of something in constant battles.

It ripped apart a water bird, one which I couldn’t tell was alien or not. I wasn’t familiar with the kind. But seeing that was enough to keep me away from the shore. The noise of surging water, a snapping maw, the crack of its jaw-closing scattered every other bird within earshot.

I crouched above, in a nook between roots. Verdant blades of grass grew across the top of these roots like a perfect carpet. Moss filled the blank vertical areas where the grass couldn’t grow with colors varying from blue, green, purple, and yellow.

It was nature sublime. The forest felt alive. The trees reached towards the sky and if I moved far enough, the science building disappeared altogether. The air was clean and fresh, in a way that gave me an indescribable rush like I’d been inhaling fumes my entire life.

I kept my eye out for any dangers, resources, or landmarks to use. And that was the thing, there was a lot of each, but no obvious escape other than… just going. Striking out into an unknown forest.

The thought scared me.

Third returned to the science building, scouring it again for resources—weapons. Protective gear. Anything. I managed to get my hands on a gun, tucked away in a security guard’s car nearly eaten by the overgrowth behind the building.

There were two clips of ammo. I pocketed it, trying not to stare at the body as I stripped the guard of his vest. Then I found a random bag on the plaza floor and went back into the swamp.

I filled it to the brim with berries or fruits I found had no discernible side effects. I’d spent hours watching small mammals eating them, observing whether the wildlife fed upon them or not, and then tried them myself.

By the time I came back, it was already hours later. The sun was setting, throwing shadows across what was left of the campus I knew. I moved quietly down towards the lab, intending to drop the food off for myself.

And then I froze.

Down the stairwell, there were webs. Thick strong strands, pure white, hanging from the walls and stairs. I immediately pulled my gun out and… saw legs. Huge, meter-long things that bit into the walls lightly, two, three, then four emerging.

I was running before I could even think.

Inside the lab, I woke up, staring at the door, breathing heavily. It was like waking up from a nightmare, only it was real. One of me ran, far far from the building, slowing down in the plaza, staring backward in fear. The other two sat frozen in dread, like a deer in headlights, or flies in a web.

It was the thing that had killed me. There was no mistaking it. I’d gotten enough of a look to know what I saw. A giant fucking spider, except its legs were sharp enough to slice through my chest and take my head off. The memory, so fresh, rushed back at me.

I started hyperventilating. I had died.

Why hadn’t I barricaded the cave? Why didn’t I post someone outside? I should’ve kept watching outside the lab. I hadn’t heard a single thing. It must’ve emerged within the last handful of hours.

Horace blinked. “What’s wrong—”

My clone grabbed his mouth and pointed to the door. Kneeling beside him, he whispered. “Giant spider.” Two words, nothing else.

To his credit, Horace didn’t even argue or ask questions, he just went quiet and watched the door, glancing at his leg. I let go of him and he stayed noiseless. We sat there in silence, my mind trying to work through the fear.

I had a gun. That was something. If it didn’t kill me before I could figure out whether a bullet went through its brain or not. I tried to calm down and failed. I knew nothing, not even how it looked, just a vague impression of its form before it had killed me. But it couldn’t be anything else.

My heartbeat spiked again.

What the hell had I gotten myself into? And how was I getting out?