This is The End

Year 2097 AD. Embervale City in Sceyria.

This was the end of the world.

It was on the verge of an apocalyptic demise.

In just a matter of minutes, it had fallen to pieces.

Lysandra Mullendore stirred in the darkness, her minds obscured by a thick fog. She was a little dazed for a few seconds, unsure how she got here or even what had happened to her. It felt like a never-ending night since there was pitch blackness, which only made her mind blank.

"What happened? Why am I on the floor?" she muttered.

She blinked her eyes, trying to make sense of the impenetrable darkness that surrounded her. The weight of fear and uncertainty pressed down on her chest, and her heartbeat quickened as she struggled to regain her bearings.

In a state of daze and confusion, she struggled to recall the incident that had led to her current situation. The last thing she remembered before losing her consciousness was being at the campus just before the catastrophe struck.

As she made her way through the hallway, her legs felt strangely numb, and she moved along with the flow of fellow students. There were people all around, and more ringing phones kept increasing. Everyone's raising their voices, trying to be heard.

A few folks had started crying. But she oddly can't feel a thing. It seemed as though she was seeing everything from a distance. She wasn't bothered by it. She's even able to rationally come to the conclusion that this had to be a defense mechanism, and she should be grateful for it.

As she walked past a window, she could feel the warmth of the day seeping through her thin shirt. Beyond the glass, the sun was shining brightly, casting a vibrant green hue over the trees. It was still early in the morning.

The warning alarm blared relentlessly, drowning out all other sounds. She recognized the prime minister's voice but can't make out the words. Broadcasters' voices overlapped as they made urgent announcements, adding to the confusion as a throng of people hurriedly evacuated the campus. 

When she stepped outside the building, chaos had taken over the world. It was like all hell had broken loose out there. Streets were jam-packed with panicked people running amok, buildings were in shambles, and sirens blared incessantly in the distance.

It was total mayhem.

People were scrambling for safety, looting whatever they could, and trying to escape the impending disaster. It was a scene straight out of a nightmare.

It became clear to her that this was no defense mechanism.

She just had one purpose in mind: returning home as soon as possible to be with her father and Kevan, her elder brother.

Her phone rang suddenly, and she answered on the first ring.

"Are you still at campus?" came the voice from the other end. It was her dad, Ronan Mullendore.

"No, Dad," she replied. "I was in the class when I heard the warning alarm. I'm on my way home now."

"Hurry! It's an emergency"

"What's going on, Dad?"

"There's no time to explain, just get home quickly! It's dangerous out there."

Her mind raced with thoughts. Was it a terrorist attack? A war? But she never could have guessed what truly happened.

Her house was just a few blocks away from the campus, nestled in the heart of Croydosa Valley, one of the valleys within the Alberbourg Range. She broke into a run, skillfully maneuvering through clusters of students, the soles of her shoes rhythmically slapping against the asphalt.

Birds were chirping noisily. The atmosphere was thick with the scents of impending summer break: the sweet fragrance of wildflowers, the dampness of grass, and the subtle hint of morning dust in the shade.

When she got inside the house, her father wasted no time and urgently instructed Lysandra and Kevan to seek shelter in the bunker. Just as they huddled inside, the deafening roar of an explosion shattered the earth. It seemed to shake the very core of the earth. The impact of the blast from a distant land was unlike anything she had ever experienced.

It started with an ominous rumble that rolled through the valley, and then came the blinding flash of light from the distance, casting eerie shadows across the landscape. 

Buildings trembled, and windows shattered, raining shards of glass like deadly confetti. Dust and debris filled the air, obscuring everything in a thick, choking haze. The once-sturdy structures were reduced to rubble, and the earth itself seemed to convulse in response to the distant cataclysm.

It was a moment of sheer chaos and terror, as she could only wonder what had caused this catastrophic event and what horrors lay ahead in its aftermath. 

The last thing she remembered was a massive wave of shockwave that followed felt like a physical force, knocking her off her feet and sending her crashing to the ground, unconscious.

It was hard to believe that only a few hours back, Embervale was like a dazzling paradise with all its crystal and glass, like every wish and dream come true. But turns out, it was all a lie. It's not a dream; it's a freaking nightmare. And with nightmares come the terror.

When Lysandra woke up, she struggled to sit up but a dull, throbbing pain pierce through her head, causing her to wince. It felt as though a heavy weight rested on her temples, and her senses were still clouded from the shock of the explosion. 

Aches and pains radiated throughout her body, an impact of the physical toll the blast that had taken on her. Her limbs felt heavy, and every movement seemed to be accompanied by a protest from her muscles and joints. 

Grimacing, she slowly pushed herself into a sitting position, taking in her surroundings as the pain gradually subsided to a bearable level.

She knew she had to check on her father and Kevan. Feeling helpless in the darkness, she grappled with her limited options. She raised her voice and called out for them. "Dad? Kevan?" Her voice echoing through the dark bunker. Panic began to well up inside her, and she added, "Are you both okay?"

No response. 

Freaking out, she called out once more, "Dad? Kevan?"

This time, she caught the faint sound of movement. Kevan's faint voice broke through the darkness. "Help!" he cried out.

As she touched her pocket, Lysandra found her phone. Realizing it was the quickest way to illuminate the room for the time being, she took it out and activated the flashlight.

In the dimly lit bunker, Lysandra staggered toward the direction of his voice. When she reached him, she asked urgently, "Kevan, are you okay?"

Her flashlight directed to Kevan who was lying near the steel door, his voice filled with pain as he weakly explained, "I think I twisted my ankle."

"Hang in there, Kevan. I'll help you." Lysandra gently offered some comfort as she reached her hands to help him with concern. "Are you okay? Can you walk?"

Kevan managed to speak and replied, "Thanks, Lys. I think I can bear it. Let's find Dad and get to safety."

They shouted for their father over and over again, but there was still no response.

Their father's continued silence increased their anxiety, and they were left in both fear and uncertainty, not knowing what had happened to him.

After a few moments, the tension was broken by the sound of movement nearby. They both turned their heads in the direction of the noise, hopeful and anxious for any sign of their father's presence.

Ronan's voice reached them, filled with urgency as he called out, "Lysandra! Kevan! Help me!"

They moved slowly and unsteadily towards the direction of their father's voice, fumbling through the dim light as they went.

Before they reached where Ronan was lying under the steel desk, he urgently instructed them, "There should be a torchlight or some candles in the cabinet. Get them quickly. We need light!" He managed to have some words with them while whimpering in pain.

Kevan touched Lysandra's shoulder and gestured to her with a nudge as he said, "I'll go get the torchlight and candles. You stay with Dad."

"Okay. You can use my phone's flashlight to get there."

"No," he insisted. "Don't drain your battery. We might need it later."

"All right, then. Be careful."

She switched off her phone and moved slowly toward her father, the darkness feeling like a tangible presence in the confined space.

As she reached her father, she wasted no time and immediately grabbed his hand. "Dad, are you okay?" she asked anxiously.

He reassured her, "I'm okay, sweetheart. I was unconscious earlier, just a bit shaken."

"What happened, Dad?" Lysandra asked with worry, "Was it a war or a terrorist attack? Or maybe the Blight?"

Her father's voice was grave as he replied, "I have no idea. But the enemy didn't just ignite nuclear explosions in some distant lands. They've also been dropping random missiles in various other places."

"What the hell?" Her eyes widened with shock.

"Yes," he continued. "They've been targeting different locations without any clear pattern, creating chaos and destruction wherever they strike. This random bombing strategy has made it difficult for us to predict their next move and protect our people."

"How did you know about it?"

Her father paused briefly before answering, "I got a warning call just before it all went down. There wasn't enough time to explain, only to seek shelter. Thankfully, it wasn't one of the massive explosions." He sighed heavily, continuing, "But even the smaller ones have their consequences. The fallout, the uncertainty... it's all still a threat to deal with."

"Who could have been so evil to activate a nuclear detonation?" she asked.

"It seems a new regime has emerged, one that seeks to conquer potential prosperous countries and spread chaos."

"Those damn bastards!" she cursed under her breath. Clenching her fists in frustration, she added, "They're extremely cruel to destroy everything for their greed and power."

"Yes, my dear. The world is filled with darkness and chaos now. We must stay strong and protect each other."

Trying to process the shocking revelation, she probed, "Dad, how did we manage to survive these catastrophes? It's not something to take lightly."

"It was mere luck and our preparedness. We had the super bunker with hyper-advanced system, and the warning allowed us to get inside in time," he replied. "Fortunately, I had built this secure bunker even before you were born, just in case of emergencies like this."

"Thank goodness you did, Dad. We owe our lives to this bunker."

"Don't be happy just yet! We must not let our guard down. We still have no idea how bad things are in the aftermath. We need to follow the emergency protocol," he explained. "We'll stay in the bunker until it's safe to come out. I've prepared enough supplies to last us for a while."

After a few weeks spent in the dimly lit bunker, they cautiously emerged into the world above. The once vibrant landscape had transformed into a desolate wasteland, its beauty marred by ashen skies that seemed to stretch endlessly. The once-familiar sounds of life were replaced by an eerie silence, broken only by the occasional howl of the wind.

The world they knew well had transformed into a desolate wasteland, scarred by the aftermath. Cities lay in ruins, once-thriving communities reduced to rubble. Suddenly, the modern conveniences they'd taken for granted vanished in an instant. It was as if they had been hurled back in ancient time.