15th November 21XX

[ 5 MINUTES BEFORE THE FINAL TOMORROW ]

Tomorrow, everything will change forever.

The orange evening sky beamed warmly upon the Metropolis. Glass structures towered proudly over the streets that were filled with endless lines of multicoloured vehicles and bustling crowds of civilians, some whom were on their way homes from an exhausting day of work, and others who were exploring the different venues and shops that the city had to offer.

However, not a single one of these everyday people could have anticipated the hell that was to be unleashed. 

High up on a floor of a corporate facility, Tylo held in his very hands what will be, he thought, the key to changing the world. A single remote detonator. After many years of meticulous planning and creating webs of hidden political networks, he was about to achieve something that no one else in history was able to: a complete global takeover.

Even now, Tylo contemplated the very idea as being ludicrous, unfathomable, dangerous.

His mind raced with countless thoughts and raw emotions. His hands ice-cold, his pulse accelerating.

But he reminded himself that the world was in desperate need of a cleansing. There were far too many wars and far too little food to go around. Families lost loved ones consistently everyday through senseless violence and hoped that some hero could come to their rescue and answer their prayers, but to no avail. 

The natural environment was now completely unrecognisable compared to what it once was only a few years ago. Tylo was almost certain that at least half of all wildlife had been completely wiped out and the beautiful landscapes he used to see were now replaced by pillars upon pillars of concrete. Oceans were now tinted green, polluted with whatever gunk and waste that was not meant to be there.

Was this the world they dreamt about? The future they so eagerly looked forward to?

Tylo closed his eyes. There had to be a reason he was exactly here, in this moment and place. He almost felt like he was chosen by a divine being and was now given the opportunity to help humanity start afresh. An opportunity which may never appear ever again. The world needed someone who could lead, someone who could divert from the road to human extinction, someone who could promise a better tomorrow.  

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And with that, after a few deep breaths, Tylo opened his eyes and made his decision.

[ 2 HOURS AFTER THE FINAL TOMORROW ]

"Damn it, you win again."

Rishi had already been playing chess with his little brother, Zahir, for two hours straight now. The games were exhausting and time-consuming, but he didn't mind killing off some time.

"Ha, don't worry, I'll let you win next time", Rishi smiled but rather triumphantly. "Your skills are pretty impressive for your age, but you still need to work on your endgame."

Zahir nodded to show he acknowledged his brother's advice.

"Do you know when Mum and Dad will be home?"

Rishi shook his head. They have been gone for the entirety of the weekend on a business trip, but they should have been home a while ago today. 

"Well when they get back, maybe we can ask them if we could get that new console you've wanted?"

"Oh yeah, they're probably going to say no"

"Never know until you try, right?"

"I guess ..."

Rishi then stood up from the slouching posture he remained throughout the entire chess session, and felt an immense back pain. and turned on the television. However, when he switched to the news channel, his eyes widened as he skimmed through the glaring headlines:

GUARDSMEN KILL 49 PEOPLE IN METROPOLIS SQUARE

NUCLEAR BOMB WIPES OUT GRYNDALE CITY

UN TO ANNOUNCE IMMEDIATE GLOBAL LOCKDOWN

THE END OF THE WORLD.

Rishi repetitively read each of these headlines anxiously across various news sources, all of which contained similar absurd claims.

This must be some sort of joke, right? This can't be happening, he reassured himself, but a part of him feared for the worst. Instinctively, he opened his phone and scoured across all his social media. He was immediately met with feeds of graphical footage.

Vehicles were engulfed in huge orange flames scattered across the streets. Piercing screams that echoed and were distorted through the limited audio quality of the phone as people frantically ran over each other. Rishi then saw in the background and could make out Guardsmen pointing their firearms at crowds and mowing them down mercilessly like pigs in a slaughterhouse. Rishi suddenly pictured his parents.

Were they alright? Where are they right now?

His breathing began to become heavier, and his thoughts were becoming more clouded and uncollected. He rang his parents, desperate that they would respond to his call.

Beeeeep. Beeeeep. Beeeeep. 

After a series of nerve-wracking beeps, he was only met with voicemails, the automated voice further infuriating and already distressed Rishi. It was at this moment he began to seriously panic. This can't be happening. This can't be happening. This can't be- 

Knock. Knock. Knock.

The knocking on the door interrupted his train of thoughts, as if to conveniently answer his worries. His parents must have arrived back just now. They had to be standing by the porch.

"They're here!", exclaimed Zahir as he rushed to the door.

"ZAHIR WAI- "

But it was too late. As soon as Zahir opened the door, he was not met with the pleasant sight of his smiling parents.

Instead, it was a 6 ft Guardsman standing before him menacingly. Its glowing red eyes stared down at the little boy, in which, with its mechanical arm, slowly revealed a pistol pointing towards him.