“Tyranitar! Stone Edge!” The sturdy man shouts authoritatively.
The hulking beast called Tyranitar raises it rocky leg into the air as its head rears back in one swift motion.
”Electivire Brick Break!” The purple haired teen yells.
The large yellow beast raises it’s arm behind it as it glows with a luminous white light.
“Vire!” It yells.
The yellow beast barrels forward with its fist cocked behind it, ready to obliterate the green titan across from it. As it draws closer the Tyranitar bellows a beastly roar as it’s sickly green foot stomps into the dirt with such force the ground shakes and cracks open in places. Jagged rocks erupt and spike into the air, most hitting nothing but one gray rock thrusts towards the hulking Electivire approaching the Tyranitar hitting it square in the chest. The Electivire’s assault is stopped abruptly as the stone pillar forces the air out of its lungs and sends the monster flying backwards. Electivire’s huge form impact’s the ground with a large thud. It lets out a winded groan as it’s body slumps and it’s eyes slowly close. If it weren’t for the slow rise and fall of it’s chest you’d think it was dead.
The Tyranitar looks at it’s oppenent with a smug grin as it inhales deeps and lets out a triumphant roar.
Watching all this from his tv Ray lays slothfully on the comfy couch. He was passing time in the local vet’s waiting room. He lay on a couch in a small room connected to a bigger, more boring waiting room filled with chairs and white walls and stone tiles. This is the kids playroom, it was a colourful room with a heavy contrast to the monotone waiting room the adults used. Some people would look at him in confusion and sometimes disgust. So what if he was 16 and in a kid’s playroom? Better than being in a boring waiting room with nothing to do but stare at the news. The tv in here had a few kids shows that he didn’t really watch, well except for Pokémon. Pretty much his only reason for being in this room was the show, except for the comfy couch he stole from other kids of course.
There were kids toys and whatnot littering the place but Ray didn’t play with them. He just sat there watching his show. He would’ve brought his DS as well so he could’ve played Pokemom Pearl but since he was here for a private lesson on how to treat an injured animal he thought he’d try to be formal. But after waiting 2 fucking hours with no one around he just decided to sit and wait in the kids room. Seriously though, two hours when you have literally no one else in the waiting room? What’s taking so long? This vet has no animals in it normally to take care of except one white poodle that was in for a broken leg so they shouldn’t be too busy.
Hell he hadn’t even seen anyone at reception like usual. Something just seemed… off.
”Alright fuck it!” Ray said throwing his hand into the air. He stand up from the couch and stomped to the waiting room, imaginary steam blowing out of his nostrils. He turns a corner and loudly walks through the hall. He grips a doorhandle with a sign above displaying: ‘Employees only’ Ray hesitates for a second, wondering if he would get punished for this later. No shakes his head.
They made me wait 2 hours! They should be punished dammit!
He swings open the door with might and gets ready to yell at the workers but stops as he surveys the room. There’s no one in the break room. Annoyed he turns back and opens the opposite door labled ‘operation’
He swing the door and prepares to complain but, once again. No ones here. Ray looks into the room with disbelief, these are pretty much the only rooms the vets use. Why’s no one here? If they left they would have at least told him.
“Ruff!”
Ray jumps in fright as he looks down to see a poodle panting excessively. Ray spys one of it’s front legs is raised with a nasty swelled bruise on it. He remembers that this poodle was supposed to be the animal he was being taught how to treat today.
“Aw you poor thing.” Ray remarks as he bends down and gently picks up the dog, careful not to touch its lame leg.
Why was it just left on the floor here? Where are the vets? why’s a dog with a broken leg abandoned here? Ray’s face contorts in anger and disgust at the thought of the vets, the people supposed to care for animals, leave this poor thing ditched on the floor. He looked to the other side of the room to see an exit door leading outside open. It’s doornob is embedded into the drywall, probably swung open in a hurry. Weird. A radio on a metal table crackles to life, making Ray jump. An ominous message played. “We will repeat again, this is not a drill. You all now have 43 minutes until the meteor impacts with earth. Please say your goodbyes and prepare yourselves.”
Ray stood there in disbelief at what he’d just heard. Is this some kind of sick joke? A meteor? Seriously? There had been a few news reports talking about it that he’d heard as he walked past his home tv but he never took them seriously…
Ray just stood there for a minute, processing what he’d heard. Then it all clicked. The waiting room normally having a few people being desolate. No one being at the reception. Him not being called for his lesson for 2 hours. The empty rooms. The dog ditched on the ground. The door swung open in a hurry.
The realisation hit him like a truck. Why didn’t it play on the kids tv? Oh wait, it was a tv that went off recorded videos instead of live television. He had left his phone at home today, if he had it he would’ve gotten a message or maybe a call from his family.
Oh wait, his family. He didn’t have his phone and the vet stupidly only have mobile phones for reception calls because of their dwindling funding. The phones were always workers phones so they would’ve been taken by the home. He didn’t have any way to contact his family, his friends, no one. This center was a long way from his house, he could probably make it into 20 minutes if he sprinted. Wait how much time did he have left? 43 minutes? how long was he standing here? HE NEEDED TO FUCKING GO!
Still holding the poodle in his arms he ran out the exit door in a panic enduced sprint. He had always been a fast kid, but right now, even at full throttle, he felt unbearably slow. His time was running out.
“Haah, haah” Ray panted heavily.
He was tired, fucking exhausted beyond belief. He had arrived at his house. The small drab building he called home stood tall. It would probably be turned to ash soon. All his memories here, his life. Turned to ash.
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“Ruff!” The dog he still held im his arms barked, looking up at him and still happily panting.
Ray snapped back to reality and looked down at the fluffy dog in a somber and sympathetic stare.
This poor thing has no idea.
Ray blocked out the thoughts that distracted him. He had to focus, he didn’t have much time left. He kicked open the door to his house and called out.
”Mum! Dad! Brayden Sara!” He called.
No response.
Shit! they’re not home.
Ray ran through the house and to his room. He spotted his phone on his bed along with his DS, no doubt having Pokemon Pearl slotted in. Waiting to be booted up again. He thought about how many times he’d replayed that game, it was all he had since he was little. His family was pretty poor and couldn’t afford much. But they lived off what they could. He quickly snagged his phone and switched it on. over 20 missed calls plauging the screen from his family and friends. He quickly tapped on the phone icon to call his mum back.
Beep beep.
the first beeps came through the speakers
Beep beep.
The second came out and Ray becomes nervous.
Beep beep.
The third beep, Ray shifted uncomfortably, praying his mum would pick up.
Beep beep.
Ray’s heart sank, would she pick up? Would he die alone? Not being able to say goodbye to anyone?
”Ray!? Ray hello!?” His mother called out, her voice electronic through the phone speaker.
”Holy Shit Mum! Mum where are you!?”
“We’re in the town square! Oh Please Ray please come quickly! We need to see you!” His mother pleaded
”Okay! Okay! I’m coming! Stay There!” Ray dropped his phone and jumped out his open window. He was still fatigued from his run earlier but he didn’t care. He needed to get to his family. The road to the town square was a straight shot and would probably take 5 minutes. He could make it. As he ran he couldn’t help but look up at the sky. He almost tripped and fell in astonishment. In the blue sky above an absolutely gigantic meteor was descending. There was a thick red fire blanketing it with many smaller pieces breaking off of the rock. They were emmiting rainbow glares as they fell. The spectacle was a breathtaking literal once -in-a-lifetime experience. Ray couldn’t help but stare in awe at the meteor, his mind going blank as he stared.
He suddenly snapped out of his trance as he saw that he reached the town square. Many people were gathered there, embracing and some balling their eyes out as they lived their last moments. Ray spotted his family standing idly in the middle of the gathering. His mother Alice was holding onto his dad’s arm as his brother and sister Brayden and Sara following suit. Only his dad, Simon, looked up at the impending doom with his stoic face, ghostly white hair and piercing gaze. His little brother, sister and mother hid their sobbing faces in his father’s gray shirt, their blond hair being the only part of their head visible. They all had taken up his mothers genes while he had taken up his fathers. His black hair a contrast to his familys blonde. Ray rushed over to his family in a dash and called out.
”Hey! Mum! Dad! Brayden Sara!” Ray called out
His father looked over to him and smiled a warm, somber smile. The others lifted their red faces and tear filled eyes to look at him. The bubbly smiles on their faces helped ease Ray’s fear. His mother let go of his father’s shirt and slowly walked towards him, arms outstretched in a hug and he followed suit as he dashed to him. He smiled a desperate smile as he ran towards his mother.
*BANG*
A gunshot rang out throughout the whole town. Quicky silencing the crowd of over 300 people. A bloody corpse hit the ground with a wet slap. The head of a woman was opened like a plant with her pink brain matter and golden hair sprayed onto the ground. A pool of blood forming around her exploded head.
”Ahhhhh, I was going to kill someone tomorrow but I guess god forced my hand. Dang and I had it planned out and everything! It was gunna be great!” A tall man with a black crew cut held his hand behind his head, mimiking an expression of disappointment. He wore a blue jumpsuit, making it obvious he just left his job, whatever that job would be. In his other hand he held a shotgun, lazily, letting it dangle by his side.
”Buuuut I guess I don’t have to worry about getting caught today. Cuz Y’know, the worlds ending? Heh, hehheh, hehhahaHaHAHAHHAHA!”
The man laughed a tormenting laugh, one that struck fear into all who listened. No one payed attention to the death above them, all eyes were on this man. And no one dared to move. Ray looked at the bloody corspe on the ground with a distant gaze. He would’ve vomited if he wasn’t in such a state of shock. His mother, that was her. On the ground in a bloody mess. Ray stared, until a familiar voiced scream echoed throughout the square. Sara, his little sister stood and screamed. Her eyes shut tight but filled with tears. That seemed to be the trigger for everyone, as not long after, more screams erupted. And then more, and more, and more. Ray couldn’t hear anymore. The screams were endless. Stabbing at his mind violently.
Make it stop.
Stop it, please. Ray pleaded to no one.
Mum? Mum, get back up. please.. please mum…
Ray’s pleas for silence were granted as the man fired another shot into the air. Quickly silencing the crowd.
”HEEEY! SHUT UP!”
The aggressor’s face was contorted in disgust and anger. He held his shotgun high as he looked around. People shrinking back when he gazed upon them.
“Better…” he said
”Now,”
he looked over to the corpse on the ground.
”Now that was fun.” His face changed from disgust to a manic grin as he marveled his gruesome work.
“You…” The deep voice of Ray’s father penetraded the silence.
The psychopath looked over to Simon as the white haired man guided the kids behind him and out of harms way.
”You bastard… I’ll…” Simon hand clenched furiously. The look plastered on his face was the most angry he’d ever seen anyone. A fire blazing in his eyes as his mouth shaped into a deep frown.
The killer’s mouth formed into a smug smile.
”What’re you gonna do huh? Hm, We’ve got a few minuted left so i suppose I could add your stupid corpse to my kill count.” He said as he raised his shotgun to Simon.
Simon didn’t so much as flinch. He was about 10 meters away from the man, theres no way he could get his hands on him before he shoots him. Ray however was only a few meters away. Ray’s thoughts were all over the place, so much emotion he couldn’t put into words. His mother, the end of the world, this scum vermin in front of him. Wait. This man, who killed his mother was completely oblivious to him, his back was turned. his shotgun was the opposite direction. He was just asking for it. Rays’s jumbled thoughts suddenly faded into the back of his mind. His thoughts focused on one thing and one thing only.
This MaN Needed to DIE
Ray had never felt such anger before. He had always been a person who despised the thought of violence. But right now he had lost all sense of self. Ray dropped the dog in his hands and approached slowly. His face one of pure HATE. He approached the man, ready to strangle his worthless life out of his corspe. He would ignore his please for help and wring the life out of him, he would murder this man. He was almost in arms reach now. As he raised his hands in an aggressive stance the shotgun that was pointed at his father suddenly dropped back on the mans shoulder and pointed at Ray’s chest. The man didn’t even turn his head to look at him. He barely moved at all.
“Gotcha.”
*BANG*
Ray’s body flew backwards and onto the ground with a thud. He scraped along the stone floor as blood poured out from his chest. He lay on his side in a bloddy mess, his mind spinning out of control. He couldn’t hear anything, a ringing sound engulfed the world around him, his vision was blurry, focusing and unfocusing nauseatingly. His eyes slowly gazed at his grevious wound. His eyes couldn’t register what he was looking at for a good 5 seconds. Then his vision was finally restored. His chest was a mangled hole, his ribs were exposed although covered in a crimson coating. His chest housed a hole the size of a basketball with flesh scattered everywhere, blown off and littering the floor. Blood gushed from the wound and sprayed onto the floor with the sound of wet splashing.
Ray’s mind went foggy while he stared at the wound. But then one feeling penetrated the fog.
PAIN