The rhythmic bumps and the occasional bang from the exhaust of his car were the only thing going through the mind of Steven as he drove across the city. The sky itself was unnaturally orange at this time of day, it currently around noon, although Steven didn't seem to notice or mind. Heck, he would probably be a work right now if his boss didn't fire him about a few hours ago.
Now, he didn't really like his job particularly much. He was an IT for a branch of some cable corporation, and due to the lack of other tech experts working there at the time, he was usually the only one working any server problems or unassigned computers. They were never difficult task, just a lot of them, but all got done. Plus the paychecks were enough to keep him and his girlfriend's heads above water.
This month was especially taxing, with the newly hired manager starting a brand new project of moving all of the training computers into a completely new and separate room, making more room for the already trained call service. It was only at the end of the project that he was informed that he was being replaced by a newer, less paid, IT straight from college.
This hurt, yes. No one likes to go home without a job, especially after what was essentially an out of nowhere stab to his back. But at the end of the day, he didn't care as much. He could find another job, and maybe this time it could actually be well staffed, or maybe even a challenge! But before all of that, he just wanted to go home. Tell his girlfriend, Heather, about what happened, and then fall asleep with her while watching a movie.
Unfortunately again, this day had other plans. It was still early in the day at this point as he pulled into the driveway of their apartment. He tried to unlock the door, it weirdly already being unlocked. He made particular note of this, remembering that he locked the door. But maybe Heather just went out on a run and forgot to lock the door? That must of been it. Either that or he was really in rush to work this morning.
Opening the door, he couldn't help but feel unease about the place, almost as it he was looking at it for the first time. It was a big apartment. Two bedrooms, one for them while the other one was for guest or just general storage, two bathrooms, and a living room/kitchen area. The main bedroom was all the way at the back, past everything else. Each of Steven's steps towards his room almost felt like they echoed, the silence deafening. But just then, it was easily pierced through as he stepped past the kitchen. It was Heather. And then another person.
He didn't need to see them, not at this point. The sounds were enough, more than enough. He could feel words start to form in his throat. Shouts! Curses! But they all seemed to have a weight to them, falling back down. Needing to escape, he rushes out of the apartment, her apartment, not even noticing as he SLAMS the door. He doesn't wait or look back as he got back into his car, the car in some act of mercy starting up with only one turn of the key.
He now finally gets to a hotel after driving for what felt like hours. Or maybe it really was hours? If he was honest, it seemed as if the whole drive was just a blur. "Is it the afternoon? When did it get this late?" He looks up to the sky, now seeing that it's red. Almost if on queue to distract him, one of the hotel staff gets his attention, allowing him to quickly pay for a cheap last minute check in. As he approaches the room, he can feel it. The dam cracking. The knot forming into his throat. But he has to hold it in. He needs to hold it in.
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Entering the room, he takes the remote off of the nightstand next to his bed for the night, turning on the TV and increasing it's volume. It's a bit awkward since it's on a tv guide channel, the hostesses beautiful filling the room while only talking about what shows are airing and on what channels. Not really concerning himself with what's on, he simply walks to the bathroom next and turns on the faucet and shower. Then, he slowly walks back to the bed, his movements getting sluggish before he sits down onto the floor with his back hitting against the bed.
The dam fully breaks now, as he pulls his knees closer to himself, wet sobs escaping being muffled out by the storm of sound surrounding him. He stays like this for hours, a phone call finally bringing him out of it. It was his mother.
"H-Hey mom. How's it going?" He tries to gulp down his rock in the way of his voice, but can't help but to choke out the first few words as he answers.
"Honey, are you alright?" She ask, already seeing through his attempt. "There's a lot of static around you. Are you watching the news as well?" Her voice seemed to suddenly have a spike of worry.
"The news?" He looks down to his phone, looking through it to see if he could get a guess at what's happening. His mother was usually never kept up with the news. "What's going on-"
His mom's voice cut him off suddenly, this time a frantic yell. "Steven, look out side!" The call then ends, the screen glitching out afterwards.
But before he even pulled away the curtains, he could already see a blue light poking at the edges. Almost on compulsion, he pushes his head through the curtain, his eyes trailing back up to the sky. It wasn't red or orange, but now covered with blue flames, coming closer and closer down. But more concerning was the center of the fire storm, a orb of bright blue light that seemed to becoming bigger and bigger. It then dawns on him. "Is that our sun!?" He backs away from the curtains slowly, before trying to call his mom again. It didn't go through. He tried to call the police. Didn't go through. Heather! No. Anyone! But the ringing of his phone seemed to go on and on, only the voice of the lady on the TV being able to pierce through it.
Then suddenly a series of messages started appearing on his phone in front of him.
*System creation starting*
Gathering data....
-Notification Sound Set-
-Guide Voice Set-
The words confused him. Was his phone really updating at the end of the world? Whatever was happening really must be frying it in the inside. But shutting it off only caused more panic, the words not disappearing off the screen. What was worst was when he eventually looked away from the phone, the messages following his eyes. It didn't help that the blue lights from outside where now piercing through his window. He tried to backup, away from the light, away from the messages. But both followed. Finally, a new message popped up, along with a voice to read it.
- An astral disaster has occurred -
Currently gathering data... Analysing Myth/Legends... extracting...
"Wha... What's happening?"
- Steven System has been made -
-Installing System... User going into hibernation-
The last this Steven saw before darkness took him, was a blinding light swallowing his whole room and one last massage.
May you bring entertainment to the watchers