- Leo -
The sun hung low in the sky, casting the city in shades of molten gold and deepening shadows. Leo trudged along the crowded street, each step heavier than the last. His backpack felt painfully heavy on his shoulders, like it carried far more than just books. Around him, life surged forward relentlessly—chattering crowds, impatient honks, vendors shouting offers—but to Leo, it all blurred into a distant murmur, muffled as if he were submerged underwater.
I wonder what Mom's making for dinner tonight… he thought numbly, desperate to cling to something familiar amid the overwhelming gloom. Maybe her curry. The mere thought stirred a faint warmth inside his empty stomach, a small, fleeting comfort. He pictured himself sinking into the softness of the couch, enveloped by the gentle aroma drifting from the kitchen. It's stupid, but right now… that's all I need.
He navigated mechanically through familiar faces and storefronts he passed every day. The scent of fresh pastries intertwined with roasted chestnuts, floating softly in the evening air. Children's laughter rang out, innocent and carefree. Leo felt a sharp pang in his chest, an ache of longing. I wish I could feel like that again.
At a crowded crosswalk, an elderly man struggled with heavy grocery bags, his face flushed and tired. Without hesitation, Leo approached him.
"Hey, do you need some help with those?"
The man glanced up in surprise, a relieved smile spreading over his weary face. "Oh, yes… thank you, young man."
Leo gently took some of the heavy bags, startled by their weight, and began walking alongside the old man as the traffic light turned green.
"Where do you live? I can help carry these to your place," Leo offered politely.
Suddenly, the elderly man froze mid-step. A harsh, wet cough erupted violently from his throat.
Leo's heart skipped a beat, dread seeping into his bones.
The coughing intensified, blood splattering onto the concrete beneath them. Crimson droplets dripped from the man's nose, mouth—even the corners of his eyes.
"Mister?" Leo asked, voice trembling, panic starting to rise.
Without warning, the old man collapsed lifelessly to the ground, his limbs sprawling awkwardly as though strings controlling his body had been abruptly severed.
Leo dropped the groceries, produce scattering across the sidewalk. He knelt urgently beside the fallen man, shaking his shoulder desperately. "Hey! Are you okay? Can you hear me?"
Silence.
"Somebody, help!" Leo shouted, his voice echoing through the chaos, eyes scanning frantically for someone—anyone—to assist.
But no one came.
Because, all around him, others were falling too.
One by one, adults staggered helplessly, violent coughs wracking their bodies before they collapsed onto the streets, blood pooling beneath them. The street erupted into nightmarish chaos. Terrified screams of children pierced the air, cars veered wildly as their drivers fell unconscious, and vehicles crashed violently, sending metallic shrieks echoing through the air.
Boom!
A nearby car exploded into flames, shaking the ground and filling Leo's lungs with acrid smoke. The scent of burning rubber and gasoline hung thickly, choking him.
Leo's mind spiraled into panic, but one haunting thought screamed louder than the rest:
Mom. Dad.
If everyone here is dying… what about them?
For a terrifying moment, fear rooted him in place.
Then adrenaline took control.
Leo bolted forward, his legs pumping harder than ever before. His lungs burned, his heartbeat thundered in his ears, and the city blurred past him, transforming into streaks of shadow and fire. All sounds faded except his ragged breathing and desperate thoughts.
Please, be safe… please be okay.
The streets around him were a nightmare. Flames danced menacingly, illuminating fallen bodies and terrified children stumbling aimlessly, their faces hollow with shock and grief. Leo pushed past them, his eyes locked onto the distant, familiar sight of home.
When his building finally appeared ahead, Leo skidded to a stop, his chest heaving painfully. His shaking hand reached for the doorknob, freezing halfway as dread clutched his heart.
What if they're…?
No. They have to be okay.
Swallowing hard, Leo forced himself to push open the door.
His world shattered instantly.
His parents lay motionless on the floor, their bodies bathed in the soft amber glow of the setting sun filtering through the windows. Blood pooled silently beneath them, darkening the wooden floorboards like ink spreading slowly across paper. Leo's heartbeat thundered painfully in his ears as the world seemed to pause, holding its breath alongside him.
"No…" The word slipped past his lips, barely more than a whisper.
His knees buckled, sending him crashing to the floor. He scrambled desperately toward their still forms, hands trembling uncontrollably as panic surged through every vein.
This can't be real. They can't be…
"Mom? Dad?" Leo's voice broke painfully as he reached out, gently shaking their shoulders, praying for any sign of life. "Wake up… please, wake up!"
Only oppressive silence answered, smothering his desperate hope.
With frantic urgency, Leo fumbled for his phone, hands shaking so badly he could hardly grip the smooth device. His breathing came in short, rapid gasps as he forced himself to dial emergency services, each number pressed deliberately despite the blurriness clouding his vision.
The call rang once, then silence.
Leo stared at the phone in disbelief, dread pooling heavily in his chest.
Suddenly, every device, every speaker within range crackled to life, an icy, emotionless voice resonating clearly:
"You are now under the rule of the Vulsar Empire."
The chilling declaration hung in the air, oppressive and inhuman.
"The age of humanity is over. Your past is forgotten—your future is ours to command."
Leo's phone slipped from his numb fingers, clattering loudly onto the bloodstained floor.
This can't be happening. It's a nightmare… it has to be.
Outside, the desperate cries of children intensified, interwoven with the sharp crackle of flames devouring cars and buildings. Gathering what little courage remained, Leo stumbled toward the window, peeking anxiously through the blinds.
Dark figures moved through the chaos, swift and silent, cloaked in shadow. They glided effortlessly, their cloaks billowing softly, as though untouched by the surrounding destruction. Leo watched, paralyzed with fear, as they burst into homes and dragged screaming children out into the street.
Suddenly, one figure stopped sharply, its head snapping directly toward Leo's window.
Did it see me?
Leo instinctively dropped below the windowsill, pressing himself tightly against the cold wall. His heart raced, pulse pounding violently against his throat.
I have to hide. Now.
Fueled by pure survival instinct, Leo dashed up the stairs, each step heavy with dread. He burst into his bedroom, slamming the door shut and immediately shoving his dresser against it. His muscles strained painfully, adrenaline surging through him as he secured the barricade.
Quickly, he grabbed his old baseball bat, gripping it so tightly his knuckles turned white. Backing into the furthest corner of his room, Leo stood rigid, eyes fixed unwaveringly on the door, breath shallow and uneven.
Seconds stretched into agonizing minutes, silence pressing down like a suffocating weight, broken only by distant screams and explosions outside.
Then—
Crash!
Glass shattered behind him.
Leo spun around, heart leaping into his throat, raising the bat defensively.
A shadowy figure stood in the jagged opening of the broken window, outlined against the fading twilight, its presence radiating cold menace. Before Leo could move, it surged forward inhumanly fast, effortlessly tearing the bat from his trembling grip.
A cold, powerful hand seized his throat, lifting him effortlessly from the ground. His vision darkened, panic flooding every cell as he weakly struggled, legs kicking uselessly beneath him.
Is this it? Is this really how it ends?
The grip tightened mercilessly, pulling him deeper into darkness.
I'm sorry… Mom… Dad…
Blackness consumed him completely, cold and absolute, swallowing him into oblivion.