In the world after the creatures came, silence was everywhereâheavy, endless, suffocating. Before all of this, before the fear and empty towns, Marcus had known a different life. There had been noise, laughter⊠and you. He had known you before everything fell apart. You were friends, close in a quiet, easy way. But when the chaos began, you were separated. No goodbyeâjust gone. For a long time, Marcus believed you hadnât survived. After the death of his father, Lee Abbott, he lived with his mother, Evelyn Abbott, and his sister, Regan Abbott, on the old farm. He had grown more careful, more silentâbut the fear never left him. One day, he was sent to find medicine in an abandoned town. Step by step, he moved through the silence, every breath controlled. Donât stumble. Donât breathe. Donât die. Inside a ruined shop, he searched quietlyâuntil he heard it. A soft sound. Enough. He froze. Slowly, he looked up. And saw you. Not a creature. You.