The Last Silence

In the year 2080, after the Great Biological War, the world as we knew it came to an end. Cities turned to ash, and the air became a deadly poison. Those who survived fled underground, into a massive tunnel stretching for thousands of kilometers, where life was divided into zones and people were isolated from one another in the name of survival. We no longer live... we simply wait for death in silence.

Ryan (speaking quietly as he looks through the ventilation hole):

“In 2080, the Great Biological War broke out... the nations of the world used viruses as weapons. Nothing was left outside. Trees burned, the sky collapsed, and the seas became pools of blackness.

Those who survived descended into the tunnel, believing it to be a safe place... a refuge. But we did not know that we had walked into our graves. The outside world became a graveyard of nuclear waste, and silence... silence is death. No one goes out. No one comes back.”

In the capital of the British Kingdom, London, within the massive tunnel, human life continued, where survival itself was considered a divine blessing. Each sector of this tunnel differed from the others. Ryan, a nineteen-year-old young man, worked in pipe maintenance and the ventilation system.

He had a strong build and sharp features that reflected toughness despite his youth. His dark brown eyes and short brown hair gave him a calm and serious appearance, yet his presence carried a certain defiance.

Ryan was not someone who easily admitted fear; on the contrary, he showed great courage in facing daily hardships, though he suffered from sudden bursts of anger that often drove him into fits of rage. Today, as on every other day, Ryan was in his usual workplace, inspecting the old pipes that stretched along the tunnel walls. The walls were full of cracks and crevices, and the stale smell in the air grew heavier.

He moved among the pipes with practiced hands, watching every detail of the system and making sure it functioned properly. He was used to this routine work, but this time something felt wrong.

As he examined an old pipe in the wall, he heard a faint sound through the metal and unsettling whisper, as though someone were speaking directly into his ear:

“You are not alone... this is not your place.”

Ryan froze. He stood motionless for a moment, trying to convince himself that what he had heard was only a fluctuation in air pressure or noise from the ventilation shafts. But something deep inside him said otherwise.

“Am I losing my mind? Was that only a hallucination?”

he muttered to himself.

He quickly dismissed the thought and tried to focus on his work again.

Yet the voice, as if rising from the walls themselves, remained trapped in his mind.

At that moment, a blonde girl approached him, her features soft and delicate. Her golden hair flowed over her shoulders, and her blue eyes were like a calm sea.

She wore a simple work uniform, but its gentle colors made her seem like a bird flying through a lifeless place. It was Maria, his friend for years, always appearing whenever he most needed peace.

Maria approached Ryan with a warm smile, then gently placed her hand on his shoulder.

Without looking directly at him, she took his hand and pressed it softly against her cheek before kissing him affectionately on the face. It was her way of showing support in difficult moments.

Maria (in a calm voice):

“Are you all right, Ryan? Don’t let these thoughts consume you. You know we are in this together, and you will never be alone.”

Then she embraced him, overwhelmed by her love for him.

Ryan felt comforted for a moment, but he could not escape the thoughts swirling in his mind.

Maria had always been there to support him, yet the voice in the walls continued to follow him, whispering into his thoughts, forcing him to wonder whether it was more than a delusion.

Ryan (calmly, gazing at the pipes):

“We have become prisoners here, Maria. Even the pipes are beginning to decay. No one knows how much longer we can survive. Things worsen every day.”

Maria (worried, looking down):

“I know... food supplies are running low. The poorer sectors of the tunnel may soon face starvation. People are beginning to lose hope. Poverty has never been stronger.”

Ryan (with restrained anger):

“The rich live in relative comfort, but us... those in the worst conditions have almost nothing. And there is something even worse: the killings.”

Maria (shocked, stepping closer):

“Killings? What do you mean?”

Ryan (sadly, closing his eyes):

“Yes. Most of the dead are from the poor, Maria. People from the lower classes are being murdered under mysterious orders, disguised as chaos. Some believe they are being eliminated to reduce pressure on the limited resources. Death comes swiftly, without warning.”

Maria (angrily):

“Is this what our world has become? The strong slaughtering the weak so easily? How can we live in such a world?”

Ryan (with deep sadness, folding his arms):

“Our lives have become a game in the hands of those who hold power. Everyone here lives in fear, trying to survive by any means. And the Silence... no one knows whether it is only a myth or a real threat hiding in the shadows. But we, the ones who have nothing, are always the first to fall.”

Maria (looking at him sadly, placing her hand over his):

“You are not alone, Ryan. We are together... I will make sure we remain together. Do not let this world drag you into darkness.”

Ryan (sighing, lifting his head slightly):

“I do not want to be just another number in this system. If there is any hope for a better life, then we must find a path out... despite everything they say about the Silence.”

The massive tunnel, stretching for thousands of kilometers underground, was the only refuge left for humanity after the Great Biological War. Huge concrete walls were lined with old pipes, and dim lights flickered weakly, casting long shadows.

The tunnel was divided into sectors, each with its own inhabitants. Life was split into districts assigned to different social classes, with each area dedicated to labor and manufacturing, while most people lived in harsh, overcrowded quarters. It was said that a mysterious disease called “The Silence” haunted the world outside.

Anyone who dared leave the tunnel or even approach the exit was doomed. No one had ever truly known what the Silence was, but every report agreed on one thing: it was a merciless plague that killed anyone who attempted to escape. Everyone lived in constant fear, for none dared even imagine leaving.

Tunnel Z-47 was dark and cold, heavy with the smell of dampness. Beneath its dim lights entered Fatima Al-Zahra. She was a Muslim woman dressed in a simple black abaya and a black veil covering her face. Her features were calm and humble, and her shining eyes reflected strength and patience.

Her hair was carefully wrapped beneath the veil, and as she walked, a deep serenity seemed to move with her. Despite the harsh life of the tunnel, Fatima always smiled through hardship, firmly believing that all of this was only a test.

Fatima Al-Zahra was the mother of several children who had grown up amid the tunnel’s suffering, surrounded by the hardships endured by everyone there. She and her husband had managed to keep their family united as much as possible, and she always treated those around her with great respect and affection born from her deep faith.

Her meetings with Ryan and Maria were always opportunities to offer emotional and moral support in that dark world.

Fatima Al-Zahra approached cautiously. She met Maria and Ryan, then sat down calmly, observing her surroundings before she spoke.

Fatima Al-Zahra (with a gentle smile, looking at them):

“Peace be upon you, my brother and sister. How are you today?”

Ryan (tense, trying to smile):

“Peace be upon you, Sister Fatima. We are well, thanks to God. How are you?”

Fatima Al-Zahra (calmly, sitting and sighing):

“Thanks be to God, but I bring bad news. The judge has issued an order for your arrest, Ryan.”

Ryan (shocked, staring at her in disbelief):

“What? Me? Why?”

Fatima Al-Zahra (looking at him sadly, speaking softly):

“They have accused you of being responsible for the recent murders. They claim there is evidence against you, though everyone knows you are not that kind of man.”

Ryan (sighing, trying to understand):

“But I did none of that. I do not even know the people who were killed. This is a false accusation.”

Maria (worried, placing a hand over her chest):

“Could this be a trap? Could the judge himself be involved?”

Fatima Al-Zahra (hesitantly, looking at them):

“The truth is, everyone in the tunnel is in a fragile state. There may be forces greater than us controlling what is happening. No one dares speak against the judge, or even oppose him.”

Ryan (angry, clenching his fists):

“I will not let this pass unanswered. I will bring the truth to light, whatever the cost.”

Fatima Al-Zahra (looking at him with concern):

“You are like a brother to me, and both of you are dear to me as family. I want to protect you. But matters are becoming complicated. It may be wiser for you to disappear for a while until things calm down.”

Maria (holding him firmly, looking into his eyes):

“We are with you, Ryan. We will remain together in this fight until the very end.”