Z-Strike: Sector 3008

After running for what felt like forever, I slipped into a shopping center just to catch my breath. From the outside it looked normal enough — bright lights, clean glass, the kind of place that shouldn’t still exist. Inside, it was almost comforting. Soft music drifting through the speakers. Fully stocked shelves. For a minute, it felt like I’d stepped back into a normal afternoon. The employees move a little strangely, but I shouldn’t judge. Everyone copes in their own way. Long shifts. Stress. The world ending has that effect on people. Still… it didn’t look this big from the parking lot. I’ve been walking longer than I meant to. The aisles repeat. The signs feel familiar in ways they shouldn’t. At some point the lighting shifted. Not darker exactly — just colder. I didn’t notice the music had stopped until I caught myself listening for it. Ever since everything started, I’ve learned to trust that feeling. The one that tightens in your gut before your brain can explain it.