March 15, 2028, Refuge Site "Berm", Centralia, Washington, United States.
It's 10:48 PM, me and my family find ourselves having dinner in the midst of a night that is both peaceful and chaotic, clear yet foggy. However, at this point, everyone could hardly call it as unnatural. The events of the past few months have blurred into a nightmarish haze.
The Riftborns had marched through our once-beautiful home country, leaving destruction and despair in their wake. Our Canadian roots, now a distant memory, serve as a grim reminder of the life we once knew.
I looked around the dimly lit makeshift shelter, my eyes lingering on the flickering candle in the center of their meager dining area. I sighed, the weight of the world heavy on my shoulders, but I was determined to keep our spirits up.
"You know, despite everything that's happened, I'm grateful we're all together. It could be so much worse." I said
Sarah, sitting across from me, managed a small smile as she spooned out some canned vegetables onto Lily's plate.
"You're right, John. We're lucky to have each other." she said
Lily, our 10-year-old daughter, chimed in, her eyes wide with curiosity as she examined her meal.
"Dad, do you think things will ever get better? Will we ever go back home?" she asked
I reached across the table and gently squeezed Lily's hand and said "I don't know, sweetheart, but we'll do our best to make this our new home. And who knows, maybe one day, things will change."
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Sarah nodded in agreement, her gaze never leaving her family. "We're survivors, and we'll stick together no matter what. As long as we're together, we can face anything." she said
Suddenly, we started hearing soldiers running around outside, there shouts breaking through our shelter, "Get more men on the north gate, go!" one of the soldiers shouted
Then, sirens started blaring. At this point on, we knew that our peaceful night had once again, turned into chaos.
Chapter 6 ------- Terror's Call
"Please remain calm and move slowly, there's plenty of trucks here." A soldier announces through the megaphone
As we slowly move forward towards one of the military trucks, Lily grabbed my hand and asked "Dad... are we leaving again?"
I leaned down and gave Lily a reassuring smile as we inched closer to the waiting truck. "Yes, sweetheart," I replied, "We're going on another adventure. We'll stick together as a family, just like always."
Lily nodded, her wide eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity and anxiety. She squeezed my hand tightly, finding comfort in our connection as we joined the line of evacuees, ready to face the unknown once again.
As we reached the truck, it seems like we'll be able to leave without incident, but then...
*Boom*
"They're here! Open fire!"
A large explosion erupted at the northern gate and the soldiers started firing. The Riftborns are here.
Panic then engulfs the crowd as everyone desperately tries to board the trucks. I grabbed Lily and Sarah and pulled them out of the stampede.
The chaos of the situation intensified as we struggled to navigate the panicked crowd. The sound of gunfire and explosions echoed all around us, filling the air with a deafening roar. Holding tightly onto Lily and Sarah, I scanned the area for an escape route.
"Stay close, both of you!" I shouted over the cacophony, trying to reassure them even as fear gnawed at my insides.
Sarah clutched Lily to her chest, her face pale with terror. We pushed through the crowd, desperately seeking safety amid the madness. Soldiers yelled instructions, trying to maintain some semblance of order, but the panic was spreading like wildfire.
As we neared one of the military trucks, I saw soldiers fending off the Riftborns at the northern gate. The creatures were unlike anything we'd ever seen before, their eerie, metallic suits gleaming in the dim light. They moved with an otherworldly grace, their weapons unleashing devastation.
With a surge of determination, I urged my family forward. "Come on, we can make it!"
We reached the truck just in time, soldiers motioning for us to climb aboard. Sarah, Lily, and I scrambled onto the back of the vehicle, finding a spot amidst the other evacuees. The engine roared to life, and the truck began to move, leaving behind the chaos and destruction.
But as I looked back, I couldn't help but wonder if we were truly escaping, or merely entering a new chapter of the nightmare that had become our reality.
End of Chapter ------- Terror's Call