Waking up to the blaring sound of his alarm Fere groaned and silenced the alarm. Staying on his bed for a few more minutes he shot up remembering that he had a job to get to and his boss did not tolerate lateness, He already got his second strike of three the week before and another, obvious as it may seem did not mean being fired, it was something much worse, a demotion! Finding yourself back on the bottom of the ladder you had worked so hard to climb was a different torture compared to “simply being fired” as the man had put it, his workers suspected that he seemed to gain some twisted sort of pleasure seeing the look on his victims face when this happened. Simply resigning wasn’t a choice either considering how scarce employment was these days. Said victims had no choice but to silently bear the psychological trauma.

Fere having gotten ready rushed down the stairs of his apartment and out the door crashing into and pushing people out of his way, leaving a trail of curse words in his wake. The universe appearing to be on his side for once, there was an empty cab waiting which he jumped into, and promised the driver a generous tip if he could get him to Kel industries in 20 minutes, a journey that would normally take between 45 minutes to an hour depending on traffic to be completed in 20 minutes? The driver seemed to relish the thought of taking on this challenge. He pulled out and onto the road and completely floored the gas pedal.

Nervously checking his wristwatch on the way revealed that the time was 9:47am, he was due at work by 10:00am. Biting his nails and having enough adrenaline in his system to give him a heart attack, he urged the driver on. The car suddenly sputtered and came to a stop. In his hurry the driver had not taken note of the fuel gauge, and deprived of the important Fluid, the car stopped dead. The universe seemed intent on reclaiming the favor it had done him earlier.

And here I thought I had made it, thought Fere with agitation. Then, by some miracle he noticed a friend of his driving towards them on his way to work, calling out to him, he stopped. Fere got in the car and told him to drive promising to explain on the way, the cab driver forgotten and left to his fate.

On the way his friend Rheo didn’t need to ask to know what was going on,

“I am late again” sighed Fere dejectedly.

“Oh,” replied Rheo, who worked in the same company but under a different manager. He sympathized with his friend. “Xander might not be in yet” he tried consoling his friend.

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Suddenly there was a bright flash after which everything went dark, Rheo hit the brakes hard in shock and the both of them lurched forward. Kept in the car by their seat belts. Turning on his head lights and interior lights revealed an unconscious Fere, rendered unconscious from the shock. Then, the car lights flickered and went out.

Crashes resounded around them with what Rheo though was an occasional snarl. Scared out of his mind he made to ditch the car, a few steps later, he was recalled by a sudden gasp from Fere.

“Rheo?” A recently revived Fere called out

“I am right here” replied his friend, “how are you doing?”

“I have a killer headache” replied Fere, “feels like I was out drinking all night.”

“Why are your eyes glowing?” Asked Rheo

“What?” Replied Fere looking into the side mirror, “They’re not” he argued.

“Yes, they are!” retorted Rheo.

“Watch out!” exclaimed Fere.

Rheo wasted no time leaping to the side. He felt something whiz past where he was standing a few seconds earlier, probably an out-of-control vehicle.

“How’d you know?” asked Rheo.

“I saw it.” Fere said, answering Rheo like he had asked the dumbest question in history.

“You can see?” Asked Rheo.

“Of course I can, what sort of question is that?” Fere said feeling his head ache intensify.

“Well, I can’t see shit.” replied Rheo.

“What do you mean you can’t see?” Inquired Fere.

“I mean I can’t see!” Rheo screamed, agitated and scared, “You think the flash earlier blinded me?”

“Well, you just said you saw my eyes glowing?” Asked Fere.

“Yes, and after the flash I turned the lights on and saw you unconscious.” Rheo exhaled with relief. “Well…” he continued, “We’ll sort this out later, you can see right? Then, you’re going to have to lead us off the road to somewhere safe.”

"Sure, just hold my shoulder?” suggested Fere.

Rheo coughed, “I can’t see, remember?”

“Oh,” muttered Fere sheepishly as he made his way towards his friend and guided them off the road into the forest around it. Sitting Rheo down by a tree, Fere staggered and suddenly fell over holding his head and screaming.

Panicking, Rheo made towards the source of the sound but a sudden snarl kept him away. He kept his distance until the screams subsided but then he was suddenly rushed upon by something. Said thing made growling noises at him then ran off, tearing up the under growth. He laid there on the forest floor for a few minutes stunned before standing up and making his way off as fast as he could on shaky legs, opposite the direction he had heard what he assumed to be Fere run off in. Feeling the trees to guide himself, intent on putting as much distance between himself and who, or whatever that was as possible.

Feeling a sharp pain and warmth spreading on his chest after the adrenaline had worn off, he touched it and his hands came away wet with what he could only assume was blood. Feeling dizzy, Rheo fell, unconscious onto the forest floor.