The Flicker of Hope

The Flicker of Hope

Tears blurred my vision as I sobbed uncontrollably, my chest tightening with each breath. The world outside was crumbling, filled with screams of agony, the sound of monstrous roars, and the metallic stench of blood wafting through the cracks of our fragile walls. I could barely comprehend it—was this the end? Had God abandoned us, left us to be devoured by creatures straight from nightmares?

My cries echoed through the hollow house, mingling with Lina's soft sobs upstairs and Mom's hushed attempts to comfort her. My heart felt like it was being crushed, each beat weaker than the last. I curled up on the cold floor, shivering not from the temperature but from the sheer terror gripping my soul.

Is this how it ends?

Then, as if mocking my despair, my phone rang.

I froze.

Who the hell would call at a time like this? My hands trembled as I fumbled for the phone, wiping my tear-streaked face to glance at the screen.

Emma.

I blinked in disbelief. Emma? She'd never called me before. We barely spoke outside of the occasional polite nod in the hallways. Sure, we had each other's numbers, like most classmates did, but this was different. This was surreal.

Taking a shaky breath, I tried to steady my racing heart. The monsters—those creatures—were already outside, their guttural growls growing louder as they prowled around our home. I forced my legs to move, stumbling upstairs where Mom and Lina huddled, their faces pale with fear.

"Go to my room," I whispered, my voice hoarse. "Lock the door. Don't open it no matter what."

They nodded without question, their trust in me both heartwarming and terrifying. I watched them disappear into the room, my hand lingering on the doorframe for a second longer before I answered the call.

"Hello?" I rasped, my voice a fragile thread.

"Ethan… how are you?" Emma's voice came through softly, surprisingly calm despite the chaos outside.

My mind snapped.

"How am I?!" I shouted, my voice shaking with fury and fear. "Is this some kind of joke to you?! Do you think I'm okay when there are monsters outside my house, trying to kill my family?! My dad is gone, my mom is terrified, my little sister is crying—and you're asking me how I am?!"

Silence.

Then I heard her start to cry on the other end.

I closed my eyes, guilt cutting through my anger like a blade. But damn it, I was scared. I didn't know what to do. I didn't know how to be strong.

"I… I'm sorry," she whispered between sobs. "I didn't mean to upset you. I—I just…" She sniffled, trying to regain her composure. "I don't know who else to call. I thought… I thought maybe you'd understand."

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. She wasn't the enemy. None of us were prepared for this.

"Emma, just tell me what's going on. Make it quick—I don't know how much time I have before these things break in."

Her breathing grew steadier. "I don't think I can explain over the phone. Just… stay safe until I get to your house. I'll protect you."

She hung up.

I stared at my phone, disbelief etched into every fiber of my being.

She's coming here? To protect me?

Was this some kind of joke? Did she think she had superpowers or something? This wasn't a game. This was real life. People were dying. I could die.

My thoughts were shattered by a deafening crash. The front door burst open, splinters flying like deadly shrapnel. A monstrous, wolf-like creature with glowing red eyes snarled, its claws tearing through the remains of the doorframe.

Panic surged through me. My body moved on instinct. I sprinted to the kitchen, grabbing the first thing I could—a knife. My heart pounded like a war drum as I faced the beast, its growls vibrating through my chest.

With a scream fueled by pure terror, I lunged, plunging the knife into its eye. The monster roared in agony, thrashing wildly. Blood—dark and thick—spurted from the wound, splattering across my face.

I didn't wait to see if it was dead. I ran.

Not upstairs—I couldn't risk leading it to Mom and Lina. Instead, I bolted outside, hoping to draw the creature away. My legs burned, my lungs screamed for air, but fear kept me going.

More monsters appeared, drawn by the commotion. They surrounded me, their twisted forms closing in like shadows of death.

I slipped, crashing to the ground. The cold, hard pavement greeted me like an old friend.

This is it, I thought, my tears mixing with the dirt and blood. A monster leaped toward me, its jaws wide, ready to kill me and then.

This is the story of Ethan Cross. Just another name in the list of the dead. 

Thank you all for reading this I hope you like it make sure to leave a review or comment.

Wait where are you going, This was just the beginning.

But then—

A blinding light.

The monster froze mid-air before exploding into ash.

I stared, my mind refusing to process what was happening. A figure stood amidst the fading glow, wielding a staff that pulsed with ethereal energy.

Emma.

But not the Emma I knew.

Gone was the timid, shy girl who barely spoke in class. This Emma stood tall, her eyes fierce, her presence radiating power. Magic crackled around her like a living thing, and with a flick of her staff, another monster was reduced to dust.

I couldn't believe it.

"Emma?" I whispered, my voice lost in the chaos.

She didn't look at me. Not yet. She was too busy saving my life.

And as I lay there, too weak to stand, too stunned to think, I realized—

This was just the beginning.

The beginning of a nightmare… and a story I never expected to be part of.