A curtain of red mist fell from the sky; mountains and skyscrapers engulfed in the silky embrace.
Everyone stared upwards. They watched as droplets of red mist consumed their surroundings. It took only seconds before all was red. Time ticked by, spanning to infinity. Minds broke. Hearts faltered. Any who failed to endure were swallowed by the mist and turned to ash. Then, those who remained intact awoke; shaken from slumber by a frantic urge to breathe.
***
“ITS THE RAPTURE!! IT HAS FINALLY DESCENDED! REPENT FOR YOUR SINS AND BE DELIVERED BY GOD'S GRACE!!” A voice laced with passion emanated from a man in billowy white robes. Despite his shrill tone and voice that cracked, his words ignited the hearts of those who listened.
“OH LORD, PLEASE SHOWER ME IN LOVE! PLEASE ABSOLVE ME OF SIN AND DELIVER ME FROM HELLISH SUFFERING!” From there, his sermon continued, gaining energy and momentum, and his charisma grew more resplendent. Eventually he literally glowed white and sprouted wings. Stricken with gratitude, he kneeled and clasped his hands in prayer. “THANK YOU GOD FOR BESTOWING YOUR BLESSING ON ONE AS UNWORTHY AS I” He cast his eyes upwards and saw god looking back. Tears flowed from his eyes followed by drops of blood. But he remained, still and unflinching, staring at something no one else could see. The crowed became nervous. People were confused. Wasn't this man blessed? Why must he suffer so? They watched as his body withered, and his hair thinned, and his skin sloughed off and rotted. He seemed to age a millennia over the course of a moment. All the while, he was beholden body and soul. An obsession so pure and thoughtless, it ripped the life out of him. The day following, all that remained was a marble statue. A depiction of an emaciated skeleton with wings upon his back. His bright limpid eye sockets still shed tears of blood. At the statue's base, a small plaque read, “Fido the faithful.”
Stolen novel; please report.
***
From seemingly nowhere, all manner of eldritch terrors emerged. Dripping maws, barbed chains, corrosive fumes, and murderous glares emerged.
These beasts struck a nerve in humanity. So they ran. No one knew where to. They scurried without regard for life, limb, camaraderie, or even family. A surging fear so intense it blotted out the sun.
Eventually one person saw hope. And then another, and another. Golden sparks lay in the distance, bastions of safety from their wretched adversaries. Each spark was guarded by a terror but it was one the humans would rather face than the horrors in pursuit.
When the humans reached the sparks, they found them to be towers. They were guarded by hideously large monsters. Each monster offered a deal. In exchange for protection, sacrifices had to be made. "Adorn these shackles, hold them in greater esteem than a kin or lover or sustenance." This rule was common between of each spark, although each held nuance. The humans accepted their new burden without hesitation, for if not, what would become of them?