The Fool’s Guide to Surviving the Apocalypse

The group had been resting after escaping the forest, but "resting" was a generous term. No one truly relaxed. Most sat stiffly, fidgeting with nervous hands or staring vacantly toward the horizon where the fortress loomed. The clearing felt like a fragile bubble, ready to pop at the slightest sound.

Jess stood at the edge of the group, arms crossed, scanning their surroundings. Her gaze flickered between the fortress, the grasslands, and the treeline behind them. Every muscle in her body remained taut, coiled, ready to spring into action at the first sign of trouble.

She didn't trust the quiet. Her job taught it the hard way.

'Hmmm...'

Her mind turned over the facts they knew—or rather, what they didn't. The creature that killed Kyle was still lurking beneath them. The monsters in the forest had stayed back, likely fearing the same underground threat.

But that wouldn't last.

Night was creeping closer.

She exhaled through her nose, running a hand through her short hair. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she caught movement.

Harry.

The young man wandered a short distance from the group, shoulders hunched, face thoughtful. He bent down, picked up a rock, and lobbed it a few meters ahead.

Jess's lips quirked. What's he doing now?

At first glance, Harry was just another slacker—a jokester who didn't take things seriously. But that wasn't the whole picture. He was sharp, quicker on his feet than most. His humor, while grating at times, had a way of cutting through the tension and keeping the group grounded.

She smirked faintly, shaking her head. 'If he trained under our boss, maybe… nah, he'd drive him mad. Or maybe he'd surprise us all.'

Harry threw another branch. It landed with a soft thud, kicking up a puff of dirt. Nothing happened.

Clicking his tongue, he crouched to grab another rock.

Jess watched him for a moment, her brow furrowing slightly. Others started noticing, murmurs rippling through the group—curiosity mixed with exasperation. Harry's antics weren't exactly subtle.

Tim soon joined him, exchanging a few words before tossing a rock of his own.

That's when it clicked.

They were testing something.

It was crude, but… maybe it could work.

Her eyes widened slightly as an idea formed. One rock wasn't enough. But what about dozens?

Jess pushed off the tree and straightened. Her voice cut through the murmurs.

"Alright, everyone, listen up!"

The crowd turned, startled.

Jess didn't waste time. "Grab whatever you can—rocks, branches, anything heavy. We're joining them."

Confusion flickered across their faces, but Jess's tone brooked no argument. Slowly, they rose, hesitating but obeying.

When they approached, Harry looked up, startled. "Uh… what's happening?"

Jess smirked. "You're not the only one throwing rocks now."

Harry blinked. Then he grinned. "Team effort, huh? I like it."

Jess ignored him and addressed the group. "We're aiming for one spot—twenty, thirty meters out. Same spot, all at once."

The group spread out, clutching their makeshift projectiles. Jess positioned herself near Harry, eyes locked on the patch of ground ahead.

"On my count," she said firmly.

"Wait, wait—this is my thing!" Harry protested, though there was no real bite to his tone.

Jess gave him a sidelong glance. "You can count next time."

Harry huffed but didn't argue.

Jess raised her voice. "One… Two… Three!"

Rocks, branches, and debris soared through the air, landing in a concentrated area with a series of dull thuds and cracks. The clearing fell silent, every pair of eyes fixed on the spot.

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then—

SWOOSH!

The ground erupted. A massive, spiked tendril shot upward, its dark surface glinting in the fading sunlight. Gasps and cries of alarm rippled through the group as the creature writhed, searching for prey.

It twisted and hovered, jagged edges glinting. But finding nothing, it froze—almost hesitant. Then, as suddenly as it had appeared, it slammed back into the ground, vanishing.

Silence.

Then—

Harry's laughter shattered the tension.

"Ha! Did you see that?!" He spun toward the group, grinning wide. "We made it come up! And it was scared of the sun! The big bad tentacle monster's a wimp in daylight!"

The group stared at him, their shock slowly melting into something else. Tentative smiles. Chuckles, hesitant but growing.

Jess exhaled, a small smile tugging at her lips. Tension has been broken. Good.

Harry's grin widened as he gestured dramatically. "So, what's next? Are we throwing boulders next time? Maybe we—"

"Boy," Jess cut in dryly, though amusement tinged her voice. "Save the jokes until after we figure out the rest of the plan."

Harry held up his hands in mock surrender. "Fine, fine. But you gotta admit, that was pretty alright."

Jess shook her head, smirk lingering. 'This kid might be a fool, but he's a fool with heart and head.'

Now came the real question.

Do we take this further?

She rolled her shoulders, flexing her fingers. Her body still ached from their earlier sprint, but she'd recovered enough stamina to move fast if needed.

'My agility and perception are maxed. If that thing lashes out, I can dodge it.'

She was the best suited for this. Anyone else?

They'd be propbably dead before they could react.

She exhaled and muttered under her breath, "Alright, Jess. Time to put your money where your mouth is."

She took a step forward—

A collective gasp from the group stopped her cold.

"What—?"

She whipped around, following their wide-eyed stares and pointing fingers.

Then she saw him.

Harry.

Fifteen meters ahead. Hands shoved in his pockets. Casually strolling toward the fortress as if he were out for a Sunday walk.

Jess's heart lurched.

"That fool!"

"What the hell is he doing?!"