January 19th , 08.31am, 2211.
Only six days remained until the first occurrence began.
The world had partially recovered, Incident C was being put down as a one off event, a weird spacial phenomenon that would never happen again whilst conspiracy theories still ran rampant around the web.
Only on an abandoned work site did the true answer remain, stuck inside Kale's mind as no one would believe him, he would more than likely be called a mad man and locked up for the rest of his life if he kept on trying to tell people. He would have to wait, if he was summoned again then others would undoubtedly be as well.
Then the truth would come out.
"Honorary titles have been bestowed upon the victims of Incident C for their actions in providing others with the chance to live longer healthier lives. I am broadcasting today from the Interstate city of Aveleen, the first joint project of the Free World Union to cement ties between our nations and work as one. Today in this magnificent city as more work is under way, the leaders of our nation have found the chance to stand here today before the monument and honour the families that have lost loved ones due to Incident C."
"I will now switch over to the live words and speeches of our beloved leaders from across the Free World Union."
"Idiots."
With a grunt Kale continued moving even as sweat glistened and fell from his body, he was running around the inside of a now empty warehouse as he carried a heavy steel pole across his shoulders, he wanted to work his stamina and strength now that the first occurrence was drawing closer.
Whilst the world recovered and those who never returned were given medals and titles he continued, Kale continued to strengthen himself and prepare as best he could, not knowing what was going to happen next, what monsters he would have to face.
He had finally finished moving the last of his meagre belongings to the work site just before Christmas, another Christmas spent alone. The state of the work site was a mess, his Boss had taken all the expensive machinery and fled so fast as if leaving the scene of a crime, undoubtedly due to some other illegal dealings that Kale wasn't privy too. At least that left with him suitable goods and materials to work with, a stable way to prepare himself.
The work site itself was just large enough to accommodate the two warehouses next to each other, one that was completely bare as Kale ran around it whilst the other was for storage, still featuring piles of scrap metal and building site components, stuff that he hadn't yet used or touched. A serviceable on-site kitchen still remained along with a semi functioning portable shower and toilet block, Kale was lucky that his Boss had enough decency to leave him with some working facilities.
Kale himself slept in a two storied office block, the kind that could be hitched by a crane and instantly deployed elsewhere, a building made of mostly plywood and plasterboard with tin walls, but still better than his old apartment. The first floor was barren and bare save for a couple of wooden boxes whilst the second floor was accessible only via a metal ladder, this where Kale slept. He had his few meagre belongings carefully placed atop a box beneath the window whilst an old faded mattress and sleeping bag acted as a bed that he managed to fashion together.
It wasn't much but to Kale it was home. This was Kales new enclosed world, the quiet desolation of the forested surroundings hid him from the outside world.
With an empty sigh and a clang Kale dropped the steel pole to the floor as he began to massage his weary shoulders, every day was the same for him, wake up, exercise until he almost dropped, eat and repeat. Only occasionally did he leave the work site to restock on the food he had eaten, he had nothing else to do, no one else to see.
Peering out through the warehouse doors Kale expected he probably looked like a convict as the whole work site was penned in by a rigid metal fence, all sporting nasty prongs on the end, his Boss's way of discouraging people from entering.
He always had someone oil them as punishment for some mis-demeanour or another. He really was one cruel bastard.
Shaking his head Kale sighed again as he hoisted the steel pole in his arms once more and continued to run, he wasn't some kind of physical expert but he was happy with the progress he had made. His original gangly and stooped frame had filled out somewhat more as he stood straight, revealing the lines of toned muscles that were starting to come into fruition, his hard work was slowly paying off.
"... You heard it here first folks, the joint Leaders of the Free World Union have announced that Aveleen and Mire will now enter a mutual agreement to help one another grow and expand as the focal points of the Free World Union when trading with the rest of the world."
Clang.
Kale couldn't help but drop the steel pole in shock, for all the years he had been stuck in the Free World Union the leaders of each country had never shown such cohesion, they had constantly been divvying up land and testing borders as they sought to gain more control over each other. Centuries of hate and racial disorder couldn't be ignored just because the world had shifted, Kale had already seen the collisions as extremists groups from many sides had clashed leaving dozens injured in the streets, no one liked the way the world was changing.
He was lucky enough to find himself living in Mire, a place that rested along the borders of nearly all the lands and countries that made up the Free World Union, this placed it under close scrutiny but also made it a place where people of different nations were slightly more tolerated.
It truly was a frightful world in Kale's opinion with War undoubtedly brewing again.
Having lost the motivation to exercise Kale headed off to take a shower and clear his mind, he only needed to focus on one goal, and that was to keep surviving, but still he worried if other people would be able to.
Would Chloe be able to turn someone down in their time of need? Or would her morals tie her down and cast her into desolation, piling her body high along with those who also didn't survive, forming a mountain of humanity's corpses that Kale would be forced to tread on, leaving a bloody trail in his wake.
He didn't want to see if there was an achievement for being the last human alive.
"Argh!"
Kale clenched his hand hard and punched it against the brick wall of the warehouse, causing him to cry out in pain as blood ran down from his knuckles, driving away the depressive thoughts and guilt that still burdened him, it was slowly getting better but Kale doubted if he'd ever truly be free of them. Even now when he closed his eyes Kale could see the disgusting green figures of the goblins as they swarmed and charged at him, wanting him, seeking to devour him.
They needed their sacrifice, they hungered for it.
Kale resumed his shaky steps towards the showers, trying his best to ignore the images that appeared in his mind, he would go for a long walk after this, it helped to calm him and allow him to focus on what was important.
January 24th , 21:58am, 2211.
"Miss."
"You mustn't leave. Your father… he… he wouldn't allow this Miss."
"I may be my fathers daughter but that doesn't make me his slave nor property. I will not be chained in this house because of his debauchery, I have my own life to lead, now move."
Helpless in his choices the butler of the Lee household could only stand aside as his little miss strutted by and entered her car.
Looking inside the butler shot his little miss a very worried look, she was in all essence of the word a drop dead bombshell. Lithe tight figure with pearlescent white skin and luxurious long black hair, the tight navy playsuit she wore did little to hide her natural curves or ample features, he could only sigh and keep sending her worried looks.
She had inherited all of her mothers charms and good looks.
"Don't look so worried. I'm only going out to a party with friends and maybe some fresh air after, please don't stay up for me."
"Yes Miss. But…please be careful, these are very dangerous times, snakes often hide where you least expect them."
"Please how many times do I have to tell you, call me Seo-Yeon, after the name my mother gave me… and… I'll be fine."
Flashing the butler a cheeky grin Seo-yeon started her car, determined to go out and enjoy herself, this is what youth was about after all. She didn't care about the Lee family name or the company her father ran. He might as well be a stranger to her.
Bowing his head the butler could only sigh to himself, they say like mother like daughter, but Seo-yeon's mother was never this stubborn, it was her father she followed.
"I would never dare be so bold miss."
Without a care Seo-yeon roared the engine of her Model X V2 sports car, the latest of its line and most arguably fastest so far, in a yellow flash she was gone leaving the poor butler scared stiff as he feared her fathers response. They had been continually clashing against one another ever since the little miss's mother passed away, as the little miss rebelled and floundered around she refused the Lee family name and her father refused to acknowledge her as his daughter.
They were both too stubborn to see sense.
Sighing again the butler headed back inside to take up a seat and watch the front gates carefully, waiting for his little miss to come home, it would be another sleepless night for him. At least there was no one else in the house for him to worry about, the master of the house never stayed here as he slept with his new wife and then spent the rest of his days heading the company, he wasn't concerned about a child who didn't listen.
Looking around the butler wondered how much longer it would be until this house was gone, the little miss was spending money like water not realising that their once steady stream was soon to be a dried up well. When her mother was alive she had active shares in the company but those were since taken upon her death and the master refused to provide for a child that didn't comply to his rule. The master was simply waiting Seo-Yeon to crash before he extended an olive branch and married her off, the Lee family wasn't a small one after all, the master had been very busy over the years.
Miles away from Seo-yeon and her problems was Kale as he over looked the city of Mire, watching as head lights glinted and sped in the distance, imagining that he could be one of them as he carelessly drove around seeking to make merry but instead he was stood atop a hill waiting for the clock to strike midnight.
He had rested well and slept early, he had prepared as best he could. He wore the clothes he had scrounged from the work site, a pair of steel toe capped boots and yellow hard hat with frayed rough denim wear, he looked foolish in his patchwork get up but he didn't care as long as it helped him to survive. In his hands were two short iron pipes that he had laboured over, sharpening the ends into two cruel points that shined with their own wicked glow, a testament to his conviction.
With what might be his last look Kale drank in the sight of Mire at night, he doubted it would look so lively and pristine tomorrow.
January 24th , 23:27am, 2211.
Soon it would begin and he needed to get back before it started, hoping his work over the last few days would come in handy.
As the clock struck midnight, Kale saw the message that he dreaded.
[Planet ERY0248, First Occurrence Commencing]