The day the world ended began much like any other for Emmet. The fields needed tending, the animals needed feeding, and the distant mountains loomed under a clear sky. He had just finished the morning’s work when the first unnatural tremor shook the ground beneath him.
It wasn’t an earthquake, but something deeper and stranger, as though the earth itself were groaning in protest. Emmet froze, staring toward the horizon.
The farm bell rang, loud and frantic. His father’s shout followed, breaking through the stillness. “Emmet! Get your brother and sister!”
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Emmet found Theo and Mila in the small room they shared. Theo, barely eight years old, stood near the window, clutching his wooden toy sword. Mila sat on the floor, reading a book too large for her small hands.
“Get your things,” Emmet said, trying to keep his voice calm. He was nineteen then, old enough to know when something was wrong but too young to understand the magnitude of what was happening.
“What’s going on?” Theo asked, his wide eyes darting between Emmet and the door.
“I don’t know, but we need to go,” Emmet replied, helping Mila to her feet.
They hurried outside, where their parents were preparing the wagon. His father’s face was grim as he handed Emmet a small pack of supplies.
“Take them into the woods,” he said. “Follow the stream until you reach the old hunting cabin.”
“What about you?” Emmet asked, his voice faltering.
His father didn’t answer right away. Instead, he pulled Emmet close and whispered, “You’re in charge now. Keep them safe.”
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They hadn’t made it far when the sky split open. The first portal appeared above the farm, a jagged tear of light and shadow. From its depths poured creatures Emmet couldn’t name—twisted shapes with too many limbs and eyes that glowed like embers.
The sounds of chaos erupted behind them—screams, roars, the crackle of fire. Emmet didn’t look back. He held Theo’s hand tightly, Mila clinging to his back, and ran as fast as his legs could carry him.
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The forest swallowed them, its shadows providing a fragile sense of safety. Emmet didn’t stop running until his legs gave out, collapsing near the stream his father had mentioned.
They huddled there for hours, the sounds of destruction growing fainter but never fully fading.
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The days that followed were a blur of fear and exhaustion. The hunting cabin provided temporary shelter, but supplies ran out quickly. Emmet had to learn how to forage, hunt, and defend himself while keeping his siblings alive.
Theo adapted quickly, his natural curiosity turning into resourcefulness. He fashioned simple traps from sticks and vines, managing to catch small game.
Mila, though quiet and shy, proved invaluable in her own way. She knew which plants were edible and which could be used to treat wounds, her knowledge gleaned from the books she’d spent so much time reading.
But survival wasn’t just about food and shelter. The creatures that emerged from the portals were relentless, prowling the woods day and night. Emmet kept watch, clutching a makeshift spear, his eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of movement.
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Six months into their struggle, their luck ran out. A pack of beasts found them near the cabin, their guttural growls echoing through the trees. Emmet stood between his siblings and the monsters, his hands trembling around the spear.
The creatures closed in, and for a moment, Emmet thought it was the end. But then, something inside him shifted—a strange, burning sensation that spread through his chest.
The air around him seemed to ripple, and with a flash of light, the serpent appeared. It was massive, its scales shimmering with an otherworldly glow. The beasts recoiled, their snarls turning to whimpers as they fled into the woods.
Theo and Mila stared in awe, their fear momentarily forgotten.
“What is it?” Theo asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
“I don’t know,” Emmet said, his own voice shaky. “But it’s here to help.”
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From that day forward, the serpent became their protector. It guided them to safer places, helped fend off threats, and became a symbol of hope for the small group.
Emmet, however, felt the weight of his new role more than ever. He was no longer just a brother—he was their guardian, their leader, their only chance at survival.
Every decision felt like a gamble, every step fraught with danger. But no matter how tired or afraid he was, Emmet never let it show. His siblings needed him to be strong, and so he was.
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Years later, as Emmet stood in the bustling streets of Haven’s Reach, the memory of those early days felt distant yet vivid. He still carried the same determination, but the burden of those memories remained.
Theo and Mila were gone, their souls now a part of his own. But in moments of quiet, when the city was still and the waves lapped gently against the shore, Emmet could almost hear their voices, reminding him why he fought.
For them. For the future they never got to see.