The boy named Elias
"AHHHHHHHH!"
A young boy with golden-blond hair and striking blue eyes jolted upright from his bed, his breath ragged.
He frowned, glancing around in confusion.
"...What's that sound?" he murmured, pushing off the bed and padding toward the window.
He looked outside.
"Huh?" The sight before him made his breath hitch.
People were running—chaotic, frantic, like ants scattering from a collapsing hill. Screams filled the air, raw with terror. Smoke curled into the sky in thick, choking plumes.
Panic.
Destruction.
"Don't look!"
A warm hand suddenly covered his eyes, pulling him away from the window.
"Mom?" he whispered, instantly recognizing the voice. He could never mistake it for anyone else's.
Her hands trembled against his face. He could hear it—feel it—deep in her voice.
Grief.
Something terrible had happened.
"It's okay... It's all going to be okay," she whispered, but even as she said it, the words lacked conviction.
She grabbed his hand, gripping it tightly. "Come on, baby, we have to go."
She pulled him forward, rushing him out of the room.
The hallway was in ruins—plaster crumbling, furniture overturned. Elias stumbled over his feet, nearly falling face-first, but his mother caught him just in time.
"I got you. It's okay."
She pulled him along again, urgency in every step.
"Mom—"
"Just keep running."
"MOM!"
She skidded to a stop, finally turning to face him.
His voice trembled as he asked, "Where's Dad? Lil' sis? Big bro? Where is everyone?"
Silence.
Then—tears welled in her eyes, slipping down her cheeks.
"...Listen, baby—"
BOOM!
An explosion ripped through the air.
"ELIAS!" his mother screamed.
The force of the blast shattered their home. Walls collapsed. The ground trembled.
And then—darkness.
…
…
Elias groaned. His body ached. The air was thick with dust and the acrid stench of burning debris filled his lungs.
"Cough!" He wheezed violently, struggling to push himself up.
His arms shook. His vision blurred.
Rubble surrounded him—piles of broken wood, shattered glass, and twisted metal.
It was still morning. Not much time had passed since the destruction.
"Mom?" he called, his voice hoarse. He forced himself to his feet, staggering through the wreckage.
"Mom?" he tried again, louder this time, stumbling over the debris.
Nothing.
"MOM!"
Still, no reply.
The dust swirled around him, obscuring his vision. The ruins of his home lay in pieces.
"MOMMMMMMMM!" he screamed, his throat raw, but only silence answered him.
Then—
"Sir, there's another one."
A voice.
From the haze of dust and destruction, figures emerged—men clad in strange uniforms, carrying weapons that gleamed ominously under the morning light.
One of them raised a hand to his wrist, speaking into a device.
"...Understood. Take them. And also... light it up."
The man flicked his fingers in a silent command.
The soldiers behind him advanced.
Elias took a step back, his breath hitching.
Then—
"STOP! DON'T TAKE MY CHILD, YOU MONSTERS!"
A broken, desperate voice tore through the air.
The soldiers halted, turning.
There—limping, bloodied, barely standing—was his mother.
Her right arm—gone.
Her face streaked with dirt and blood.
But her eyes—her eyes were fierce.
"You already… killed them all… Please… stop…" she begged, her voice breaking. "Take me instead… Let him go…"
Elias froze.
His vision blurred with tears.
And then, his mind caught up to her words.
He pieced it together.
And his world shattered.
…he froze.
"…No." That was all he could say.
"Captain." The men turned to their leader.
"…" He didn't respond. Instead, he clenched his fist—a silent command. The men raised their guns, aiming at the woman.
"Mom…"
"RUN, ELIAS! RUN!"
Realizing what was about to happen, she tried to run, reaching desperately for him.
However—
ZMMMMMMMMMMM!
A searing beam of light tore through her abdomen. Her outstretched hand, so close yet failing to reach, trembled before she collapsed. Her vision blurred, turning hollow.
"Take him." The captain's voice was cold. He turned without another glance and began walking away.
The young boy could only stare at the lifeless form before him.
He couldn't speak.
He couldn't move.
He couldn't even blink.
He was frozen in place.
"…Mom…" He muttered once more, and just as he did—
ZZZZZZZZZ!
A sharp jolt coursed through him, his body convulsing before the world went dark. The taser function of their weapon had done its job.
"Light it up," the man holding him said, glancing at his comrade.
"…Fine," the other muttered, placing a strange device on the ground.
"DMT successfully implanted," he confirmed.
"Get out of there," the captain ordered. His gaze was impassive as he turned away.
"This planet is done."