Snowflakes fall from the dark clouds above the brightly-lit city streets. Thousands of people are gathered in good spirits, bantering amongst themselves both cheerfully and melancholy. Some are excited and optimistic. Others are wallowing in self-loathing and fear. Some are drinking and laughing. Others are smoking and remaining quiet. Soon the gleaming ball of lights will drop down the shaft and signal the new year for the entire world. Nothing out of the ordinary for this time of the year post-Christmas. One individual stands alone leaning against the wall of a vendor's stand adorned with newspapers, magazines, snacks, drinks and cigarettes. Tall, black leather boots leaving their mark in the thin white sheet of snow layering the sidewalks. She wore black leggings decorated with white skulls and donning a black leather-studded jacket with the collar popped up. Her long hair was as black as the midnight sky with a few red streaks mixed into her parted bangs that hung just slightly over her piercing blue eyes. She pulled out a small hand mirror from inside her velvet red handbag to look into it. She observed her black eyeliner and cherry red lips that complimented her beautiful face and soft, lightly pale skin. She just quietly let out a sigh, breath visibly hanging in the blistering cold air. Her attention turned back to the giant neon signs above the plaza. The countdown was about to commence.

"Ten...nine...eight...seven...six...five...four...three...two...one..." The girl muttered. "...Happy fucking New Year."

The ball finally dropped with sparks lighting up around it. The glitzy signs on the buildings proudly showing; 'Happy New Year 2030!' The crowds of people burst out in cheers and applause that lasted for what felt like five minutes. The girl shook her head before turning around to head down the street away from all of the chaos. A few men standing around drinking beers outside an apartment building noticed her walking their way. They all decided to step down and block her way. She stopped to face them.

"What's a fine piece of ass like you doing all alone on New Years? Should be out celebrating. Could join us ya' know? Got plenty of drinks up in the crib." The middle man in the backwards cap spoke.

"Yeah babe. Come have a good time with us. Shouldn't be by yourself on a day like this. World's going to hell anyway so may as well enjoy life while it lasts!" The man on the right with the trench coat added.

The girl shook her head and slowly approached the middle man before lifting her right hand, clenched into a fist and punched him in the face. Marks were left on his skin from the three metal rings she wore on her fingers. His nose bled, coughing and hacking while he lied on the ground. The other two men slowly backed away from her scared out of their minds in their slightly intoxicated stupor.

"Piss off." She hissed before strolling past them to continue on home.

The girl walked up the stairs to the top floor of the eight-story building where her apartment was located. She unlocked the door to go inside. The jacket she wore came off and was hung up on the wall along with the boots placed on the rug next to the door below the coat. She felt tired and a bit frustrated since the person she was supposed to be meeting up with at the ball drop didn't show up. She sat down on the couch to turn the TV on then sent a text to that person. A few minutes later the phone vibrated. A response. They were heading over. She slid her leggings off and tossed them aside, now only wearing a black t-shirt and black laced panties. She grabbed a couple beers from the fridge and set them on the coffee table. She brought her legs up onto the couch to get into a comfortable, laying position. All that was left was to wait.

Around half an hour later knocks rapped upon the door. She looked over at it.

"Come in!" She shouted.

The door opened. A tall, dashing man with medium-length black hair, black snake bites on his lips, and a black rose tattoo on his left hand came in. He took off his dark brown coat and his black boots then approached her, his dark brown eyes lit up upon seeing the girl laying in a rather sensual pose on the couch.

"V-Victoria. I'm sorry I couldn't make it to the ball drop. Got stuck at work and ended up watching it on my phone while I was waiting in traffic to head back to the office to drop the work truck off." He murmured.

"Figures. On this night of all nights. Whatever. Just come sit with me Adrian. Had a long night and I need a drink."

"Same though."

Adrian sat next to Victoria. The two cracked open their beers and raised a toast before chugging them down halfway. Victoria took a moment to explain what happened on her way back home.

"You decked him?? Holy shit." He gasped.

"Frat boy deserved it. They were drunk anyway so bleeding nose aside I'm sure he's fine and barely felt the impact."

"Yeah, sure. Let's go with that."

"Hell of a way to start the new year. Already assaulted someone."

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"Eh it's whatever. Besides I gotta' say you are looking really...really sexy right now. You were just waiting for me, huh?"

"Maybe. I got a lot of stress right now and need to get it out."

"I can help with that."

Adrian finished his drink shortly after Victoria did. She then leaned over to kiss him. He pulled her top off as she pulled his shirt off, his eyes bouncing from her black lace bra to her eyes. He grabbed her shoulders and pinned her down to the couch, undoing his pants. Victoria clung to the couch as he thrust into her repeatedly, biting her lower lip to muffle her moans. The couch cushions underneath them shifted slowly as the two eloped in rough, steamy intercourse. She pulled on his shirt to bring him down, kissing him as he continued to penetrate her deeply, gripping her curvaceous, soft thighs with his hands. She breathed heavily, face flushed while looking into his eyes. The two fornicated for at least fifteen minutes. Victoria arched her back upwards, letting out a loud moan as the two climaxed simultaneously. The heat emanated from their bodies had them both sweating profusely and panting. He pulled out and laid back opposite of her on the couch.

"Fuck that felt good..." Adrian said, wiping his brow. His eyes gazed down at her perky breasts, pierced with silver rings.

"It sure did." Victoria sat up and nodded, leaning back with a smirk on her face. "You're lasting a lot longer then you used to."

"Yeah? Well...shit you sure can go awhile too. It's also like, been a whole week so I had to really let go there."

"At least this New Years wasn't completely wasted. We both don't work tomorrow so...wanna' go somewhere or do anything?"

"Nah. Think I'll just take it easy tomorrow. Gonna go crash on the bed actually. I'm fucking exhausted. That cool?"

"Sure. I'll join you soon."

Adrian got up and headed for the bedroom. Victoria meanwhile stood up to go glance out her window, partially staring at her reflection in the glass. For a moment all was calm. Before she went to go and brush her teeth, the reflection slowly shifted to something distorted yet humanoid. She felt herself locked in it's gaze. Where her eyes were turned to black, soulless husks. Suddenly they flashed red and sent her reeling back away, letting out a sharp yelp.

"You okay?!" Adrian shouted from the bedroom.

"Y-yeah I'm fine!" Victoria shouted back. She shook her head and took a deep breath. "What was...I don't know." She muttered to herself, fixated on the window where her reflection stood, now remained normal.

The large flat-screen TV mounted to the wall played out the New Years celebration happening in New York City. A group of six individuals sat at a large oval-shaped table inside the office all watching the party unfolding on-screen. The atmosphere in the room felt tense. They all wore expressions of concern on their faces. The door to the office opened where a man with short blonde hair and wearing a dark blue suit and red tie stood. Everyone turned their attention to him.

"Ah, good. You're all here." He said stepping to go to his seat at the far end of the table. "Well everyone...the new decade is here. I can see that you all look in high spirits. Eh, just a joke relax. We all know why we're here. The night is still young but...not for us. Because this evening we all will be departing for the island. A...certain individual is going to be meeting with us. I can't say who yet but they are very important."

"So out of the blue this is the news you tell to us, sir?" One of the people, an older woman in a white dress spoke.

"Yes. For their own sake they are to remain anonymous until further notice. And by that I mean, when we all have the meeting."

"Alright alright get to the point. We all want to go home soon ya' know?" A shorter, plump man said.

"Yes yes. Ahem. Well...it is the new year and the new decade. Things are looking...quite grim these days. Forests burning, ice caps melting, political turmoil. Poverty, famine and war have eroded and ruined several countries across the world...it's not good. We can't seem to control the natural order at this point. There are just too many bad seeds out there. But...something must be done. Now I assure you all that there may be hope after all. This anonymous individual spoke to me and said that they are meeting with us for the sole purpose of...reparation. Of the world. They know many things, have connections all over the globe, secrets even some of us I'm sure don't know of. Perhaps a glimmer of hope if you will. Because our time is running short. Exactly seven o' clock on the dot in the evening is when we are holding this meeting. If it's not too late to come up with something to change the world...then this will determine that plan. You all already have written up your ideas and thoughts. I will keep them stored away for now. Maybe they can come into play later. The doomsday clock is ticking people. Let's stop that hand from turning before it hits high noon. Agreed? Agreed. Any questions before we dismiss for the night?"

The others in the room all glanced at each other for a brief moment. They were shrugging and shaking their heads. Nothing but murmurs but nobody spoke out loud. The well-dressed blonde man clapped his hands together with a forced smile.

"I'll take that as a no then. Alright. This little meeting is adjourned. You all have a great night okay? Okay!"

He watched as everyone stood up and one-by-one left the large office until he was all alone. He pulled out his phone to make a call. The other line picked up.

"Hello? It's Joseph. I updated everyone on the current situation and state of the world in case they weren't already aware. Yes. Yes they will all be there on the dot as I stated strictly. Oh I'm sure they will be surprised to see you as our surprise guest. Hoping for that good news you promised me. Just, make sure you have a good cover. Can't have the people knowing you're going to the island or it will raise some suspicions. It's not exactly a 'secret' location but those who visit it is always under wraps by our order. Nonsense me and the others will be enthralled to hear what news you bring us. Nobody expected you to get into such a prominent position, myself included you know? Alright well I'm looking forward to our meeting. You have a good night now okay? Okay." Joseph hung up the phone with a now optimistic smile on his face. "Please let this be promising. I can't let the world my children are growing up in to fall to ruin..." He sighed. He went to shut the lights off and leave the office, locking the door behind him.