Dusk had arrived following the sun as it sunk in the sky. Somewhere in the Pacific ocean a specific island lied hidden amongst the fog covering the seas around the perimeter. Trees loomed over the island, shrouding it's grounds from any public eyes passing by in boats. In a certain spot free from any trees was a large mass of land marked with a few buildings, a helipad and a couple gravel roads that led to certain spots. Inside one of the buildings, a lodge to be exact, was a group of individuals sitting on chairs arranged in a circle. One was reading a book while the rest had their eyes glued to their phone screens. The silence was broken by the sound of a ringing phone coming from the pocket of the blonde-haired man in the suit.

"Hello? Oh you're almost here?? I'll have everyone gather to the landing pad at once. Yes I'll see you soon." He spoke before hanging up. The others glared at the man. He displayed a wicked smirk across his face. "It's time everyone! Phones away now and follow me!"

"About time Joseph. Curious to meet this person you have spoken highly of since last night's meeting after the ball dropped." The dark black-haired woman with green eyes replied sharply.

Joseph gathered the group to leave the lodge. He led them northwest towards the yellow helipad, with the distant sound of a helicopter heard piercing the once eerie silence of the hidden island. The helicopter appeared before the fog and loomed over them, descending onto the helipad. The rotors started to slow their rotation as the side door facing the group slid open. A figure emerged from the chopper to step down. The helipads red lights unable to reveal the shadowy silhouette amongst the dimly-lit grounds they stood on. The figure walked in their direction while the rotors on the chopper had finally come to a complete stop. The single light post shining down on the spot where the group had stood to gather would soon reveal the figure as they got closer and closer. Everyone in the group except Joseph were both surprised and curious to see who had approached them; A tall, beautiful and voluptuous woman wearing a black fur coat with a dark purple dress suit and black tights matched with black heels. Her scarlet eyes pierced their gazes behind the slim black-rimmed glasses she wore. Her beauty was enhanced by the deep black eyeliner, beauty mark under her left eye and crimson lips. Tucked under her right arm she held a book with a dark red spine. She smiled as she took a glance at everyone before setting her sights on Joseph.

"Natalia Emerson the Madame President herself welcome welcome!" He said ecstatically. The two shook hands then nodded. His eyes noticed her long, crimson nails matching her lipstick.

"Joseph Carter. Pleasure. And this is your entourage I presume?" Natalia asked speaking with a composed tone, her voice smooth and sultry.

"Yes. You are looking at the one true Kabbalah right here. The most important group of men and women in the entire world all gathered under one flag. Figuratively speaking of course. We have been eagerly anticipating your arrival ma'am. May I properly introduce everyone?"

"Go right ahead sir."

"Right. Here we have Laurie Dawson, Peter Masterson, Maria Zakharova, Xiang Hao, Edmund Flores and Omari Adebowale. Each a well-respected and influential figure from their native lands.

"Hmm...quite the diverse group here. So you are the figureheads pulling the strings of the world powers behind closed curtains, huh? Seems things have gotten rather out of control over this past decade."

"Unfortunately people and the whole of society are an unhinged beast. With the world slowly dying right in front of our eyes, we hope you bring us some promising news regarding this 'revelation' you spoke of."

"Indeed. Let us go inside and gather around. I have much to explain in precise detail regarding my arrival here."

"Of course. Right this way."

Once Joseph had lead the group back into the lodge's conference room, everyone sat down. Natalia stood facing each and every one of the members with her book open. The lights were dimmed down to set the mood, with all eyes now on Natalia. She cleared her throat as she began to speak;

"Two years ago I secured the seat of the President of the United States. The first woman in history to do so. My sole purpose was to repair the damage done to our economy, infrastructure and pride as a superpower in the world inflicted by the previous...residents of the White House and their incompetence. I initially thought that my sheer determination and shining charisma alone are what landed me the position. I wasn't entirely wrong. Those factors did help. I then started to think...maybe this was fated to happen. I won by a landslide against the competition. While I have been working my bones to the grind running this once great country, something...changed in me. This change was felt just after I became president. That night while I sat inside the oval office by myself...a voice started speaking to me. I cannot describe how it sounded. But I remember specifically what it told me. The visions planted inside my mind like a virus...showed me the future. I read this book here from start to finish to fully understand it all. Now here I stand before all of you to deliver that message I was given from the voice that very night from my point of view..." Natalia paused to take a deep breath.

Joseph began to worry now, picking up on the rather ominous tone her voice shifted to. The others were all enraptured by her words. They all sat quietly waiting for her to continue.

"...I became the vessel for this voice to expound it's knowledge upon. Me. Why me? Because of my significance as a human being. I had become the leader of one of- no! The, most important nation in the entire world. I am a beacon of hope for the country. The world. A leader that has brought about significant change. But the cold, harsh truth of reality is that...we are doomed. This planet has been corrupted and soiled by our own hands for many decades now. That who spoke to me was clear that we as humans should not cease to exist anymore. That we have ruined something beautiful. And now the time has come. Twenty-Thirty. The new year, and new decade of history. All of you, members of the Kabbalah...this is our final year on Earth. I bring forth this message from beyond our human comprehension to all of us. On the seventh day of the seventh month...the fall will come. Extinction. And those of us who are chosen will be spared. To be saved and delivered to a new plane of existence for eternity. These are the words that I...Natalia Emerson...the Harbinger...have spoken and delivered. May our time left here be spent well amongst ourselves and our families. For there is no stopping the end..." Natalia's scarlet eyes were gleaming before she shut them along with the book she held.

Silence. Shivers ran down everyone's spines. Joseph felt goosebumps on his skin. He wore a horrified expression as did Peter and Edmund. Omari was deep in thought despite being petrified. Xiang was shaking in his shoes, thinking about his family back home in China. And Maria was about to erupt in anger even though she never got visibly aggravated. But she broke.

"You...you mean to tell us that the world is going to end and we cannot do anything about it?! This bitch!" She hissed, cursing in her native Russian tongue. Natalia just sighed and nodded.

"Extinction, I-I cannot believe this..." Peter stammered.

Joseph glanced around, panicked. He stood up and stared directly into Natalia's eyes after they had opened, the gleaming once bright had fizzled away.

"Natalia...you were supposed to be bringing us a message of hope and optimism for our own future...instead you're telling us that everything and everyone we care about and live for is doomed...??" He spoke loudly.

"Thus fate has decreed our end. I'm not insane. My mental state is perfectly stable. I was chosen as the messenger to tell you all this. Do you believe me...or do you not want to believe me? Because every word I have spoken is truth. This isn't any easier for me to fathom either. My mind has been overwhelmed with this knowledge...locked away until this very moment in time when those who need to hear it will listen. Do you understand Joseph?"

Tears started to well up in Joseph's eyes. His mind was spinning, hands clenched so tight that his palms were turning red. Edmund lit up a cigar and took a deep puff. His foot tapping the floor at a timid pace.

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"I do not wish to believe you Madame President. But considering the state of the world...perhaps it is not too insane to think that doomsday was encroaching upon us sooner or later. We're all bloody fucked." Edmund spat, taking another puff of his cigar. "Now we are to live these last several months with this knowledge. May I ask...are we allowed to tell those closest to us about this revelation?"

Natalia raised an eyebrow. She was not expecting such a question.

"That is not up to me to decide. The voice did not say. So I leave it up to you. Be it your best friend, family members, co-workers. It does not matter. This inner circle already has been informed of our eventual demise. That is the goal I was given and I have achieved it." Natalia replied softly. "But heed my word of warning...you are responsible for the consequences should those you tell not be able to grapple with this revelation, or wish to simply not believe a word you say and keep their doubts."

"My family must hear of this. I never keep secrets from my wife or children. But only they shall know. My expanded family cannot know now. Not yet anyway." Xiang murmured, fighting back tears.

The atmosphere in the room had grown quite distressing. Everyone was originally excited to meet Natalia and hear what she had to say, now they fear her and the words she had said. Joseph thought he had to do something. These were all his closest friends and this sudden shift in tone had this group in shambles. He stood up and approached Natalia before turning around to face everyone.

"Hey...everyone could you listen to me?" He spoke softly with a cough to clear his throat. Everyone's attention went to him. "Okay look! I get it...after hearing what our esteemed guest had said, it is leaving us with many mixed emotions. Fear, doubt, anger, sorrow, I understand. But you all need to realize that we...we are the most important group of people in the entire world. If we let Adrianna's words strike us deep down then nothing will get done. We'll be too busy coping with the news that our planet's due date is coming. Don't! Damn it, we are the Kabbalah! We have this knowledge of the supposed eventual collapse of the world. Should we one-hundred percent believe it? Not necessarily. No offense ma'am. We are allowed to have our doubts, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't take this seriously. If! If this turns out to be some prophetic truth some lunatics predicted long ago, then fine. We've had at least a thousand of those prophecies and not once did any of them come true. And if this doesn't end up becoming reality, then everything will be okay. If our world is fated to end...then let us do what we can to make sure that we bring about as much change as possible. Because if this doomsday scenario is false...then sitting on our asses and just continuing to let the planet burn and humanity tear each other apart will only further kill this world we call home. Do you all understand me?"

The others nodded their heads, wiping their eyes and calming their tempers. Natalia's eyes were wide open and mouth agape with shock. She placed a hand on Joseph's shoulder. He suddenly felt chills down his spine.

"You really are a strong-willed man Joseph. I can see now why you lead this group of individuals. This is why I came to you all. I apologize for instilling fear in each and every one of you. I once again decree that my words were the utmost truth. Many around the world proclaim that they receive divine messages spelling the end. But I am not one of those people. Does the timing seem not...relevant? Two years from the final year of the planet...becoming the most prominent figure in recent history...representing a country so very crucial to the world that harbors many of the darkest secrets of humanity...and on that very same day of inauguration suddenly becoming one with something beyond our world and even reality. The dots connect Joseph. I solely came to visit this secret cabal of people that control the world. You must believe me. You will...believe me." Natalia had turned Joseph around, placing both hands on his shoulders and staring deeply into his eyes with her own. He felt hypnotized by her scarlet eyes. He shook his head as she let go of him.

"Y-you're right. Don't worry Madame...we will all take this seriously. No matter what doubts some of us may have. You have my word." Joseph stammered with a fist clenched over his heart. Natalia smiled and nodded.

"I believe you. Now why don't we try and lighten the mood some since I am here now and have delivered my message. I don't suppose you have alcohol stored away somewhere?"

"We do..the finest in the world. Come with me to the wine cellar downstairs. Let's...give everyone here a moment."

Down in the wine cellar, Joseph and Natalia had collected four bottles of the finest, most expensive wine from around the world. Before proceeding to head upstairs, Natalia grabbed Joseph's collar, pulling him close. Once again, his eyes met hers. He could feel his heart pounding hard inside his chest. A nervous sweat beading his forehead.

"I do not care if the others have their doubts Joseph. But you must not. Be honest with me...do you doubt the words I bespoke earlier?" She asked softly. Joseph bit his tongue.

"Doubts? I...I do not. Madame...I have extensive knowledge of things this world cannot know about. Mysterious ships of unknown origin hidden underground, the truth behind deaths and disappearances of key figureheads from the past century, government projects created to experiment on society, you name it. With all of the bullshit idiots on the internet and the streets spout about people like us...those who have eyes and ears over how the world runs...I have become numb to crackpot conspiracy theories. But hearing you speak...I sensed nothing but pure honesty. Am I terrified? Of course I am. I have a family, I have friends and relatives I care about. But I knew someday that the end of human life would come. We have prevented wars capable of wiping out civilization as we know it. Meanwhile the smaller problems like hunger, poverty, unhinged lunatic leaders corrupting their nations and economic instability, are much more difficult to handle. Maybe we all do deserve to perish. Humans have ruined this beautiful planet. Governments took too long to give a shit about the environment and it's been biting us in the ass for over a decade. So yes Natalia...I believe you." Joseph spoke following with a deep breath having spilled his guts out.

"Just what I wanted to hear. Remember that I too have my own issues to deal with. Having to bear this weight on my shoulders has not been easy in the slightest. But let us shelve this discussion for another time. I'm sure the others could use a drink or four. Including myself. I don't get to indulge often especially in my current position."

"Of course. Let's go."

Time passed on into the night. Joseph and Natalia exchanged words with Peter and Laurie. Omari and Xiang discussed bring up the news with their families. Maria and Edmund meanwhile weren't talking and instead were busy drowning themselves in alcohol. The mood seemed to shift from overall dread to somewhat lighthearted, even with everyone still holding the news of the end deeply within their minds. The grandfather clock proudly standing tall in the break room rung out. It had become midnight. That was around the time when any business would be concluded amongst the cabal members. However this particular night the conversations drew on until around two in the morning.

"I'm heading to bed. That's enough booze for tonight." Edmund said.

"Quitter! I'll...finish this damn glass and have another before...before sleeping!" Maria spat, gulping down the wine. "Oh...that hit good. I uh, actually think I'm done..."

Omari and Xiang had already left for the lodge to sleep nearly an hour ago. Peter and Laurie said goodnight before heading out. Natalia and Joseph waited for the remaining members to leave. The two were alone now. With liquor running through their systems, the two didn't know what else to do besides head off to bed as well.

"Will you be staying the night here Madame? We have guest bedrooms in the lodge. Usually for celebrities of course." Joseph asked.

"Hmm, thank you for the offer. This may be one of very few moments where I have some time off. The staff always stays on top of things whenever I leave for business trips or meetings with other government officials from different countries. Say, when you said family...did you mean a wife and kids too?" Natalia asked, spinning her finger around an empty glass.

"Oh? Well, yes actually. Two daughters and a son. Those of us with families are the most concerned about the catastrophe you spoke of."

"I couldn't imagine what that must feel like. Hopefully as your significant other and kin born of your own blood...they too will make it with us when the fall comes."

"I...I sure hope so too. Even I need to have some ounce of optimism you know?"

"Sure, sure. I will be departing at the crack of dawn in the morning by the way so I assume you will still be asleep by then. May you lead me to a bedroom?"

"Of course."

Joseph escorted Natalia over to the sleep lodge just across from the main lodge. He stood outside her room, meeting her eyes once again. She pressed her hands on his shoulders.

"I will be seeing you again eventually. For now I have much to get done as I'm sure you do as well Joseph." She said.

"Right. I...look forward to our next meeting together."

"Same here. I...hope you can sleep well tonight, Joseph. May you rest as easy as you can if possible. Goodnight."

"Yeah...goodnight."

Joseph watched as Natalia closed the door behind her. He sighed, sulking as he slowly ventured to his own room. He stripped down to his boxers and shuffled into the bed. He stared up at the ceiling for a few minutes before closing his eyes and drifting off to sleep. Hopefully expecting to clear his mind with dreams of peace and his family, nightmares of calamity and chaos would plague his mind throughout the night well into the following morning...