<< Curse of the Night - IN CHRONOS'S MIND >>
'What is ... That ....?'
There was a blinding flash of light in the sky, an ominous sign of the end times.
A giant spaceship approached, its dark, metallic surface gleaming in the light of the stars.
The forcefield that protected the planet from foreign invaders could not withstand the vessel's sheer power, and it gave way like a paper wall.
As the ship descended closer and closer to the surface, a door on the side of the ship opened with a hiss, revealing a sleek device floating out, glowing with an eerie red light.
The device descended towards the ground, emitting a faint humming noise as it went.
I could feel the fear rising within me, a primal fear that threatened to consume me whole.
The device was dangerous, of that I was sure.
And then, with a blinding flash of light and an ear-splitting explosion, everything changed.
The world was plunged into chaos as the futuristic bomb unleashed its devastating power, obliterating everything in its path.
The sky turned a sickly shade of red as the ground shook beneath my feet.
"NOOoooOOO !!!"
Buildings crumbled to the ground, cars exploded in fiery wrecks, and millions of humans were vaporized on the spot - including me.
Even though destruction befell upon me in less than a second, I felt the excruciating pain of each cell in my body vaporizing into nothingness.
The sheer horror of it was almost too much to bear.
The split second it took for the fibers of my being to completely be eradicated sent a burst of profound pain that was intense even to my hardened consciousness.
The agony palpated as I slowly faded into the ether...
======================
<< THE OUTSIDE WORLD >>
[Unknown Location]
*Beep* *Beep*
"Attention all cadets, please follow the neon markers on the ground and make your way to the Main Hall now"
"Attention all cadets, please follow the neon markers on the ground and make your way to the Main Hall now"
Chronos' eyes shot open, he bolted upright, gasping for air, drenched in cold sweat.
His mind was foggy and his body heavy.
These cursed nightmares of death have become a part of his life for three years now.
These agonizing cursed nightmares started as a deterrent to sleep, he spent more than a year sleepless and drained.
But as his mind broke down and consciousness healed repeatedly, Chronos started to gain a degree of immunity.
Gradually, as his mind grew stronger with the cycle of destruction and repair, the cursed nightmares of death became less frequent.
As his eyes adjusted to the dim light, he surveyed the gleaming walls of his surroundings.
The metallic material, smooth and sterile, had an eerie quality about it.
The room lacked windows, and the only guiding light was a trail of fluorescent blue, leading to an open door which beckoned him outside.
But should he trust it?
Was it truly an invitation to freedom, or a trap?
The memories of his abduction flooded back to him as he sat up on the bed.
The entire kidnapping incident replayed in his savant mind, and he found something peculiar about it - no one was actually hurt?
The Royal Vanguards were put to sleep and Sophia was knocked unconscious, if the ambushers were really enemies…
He glanced down at his hands, half-expecting to see restraints still binding him to the bed. But there was nothing, no sign that he had been restrained at all.
It was as if he was a free man.
Could he not be a captive?
Chronos shook off the grogginess and quickly got up, his heart pounding with a mixture of confusion and curiosity.
The sudden sight of the Yorubian twins standing by his doorway in their vibrant warrior outfits added to his confusion.
The male and female twins were dressed in a manner similar to the warriors of Wakanda, the flair of tribal African influence in their outfits contrasting sharply against the sleek, futuristic surroundings.
They had glorious dark skin that gleamed against the neon fluorescent markers lining the walkway.
"Are you [ Prince ] ??!"
The female twin asked, her high-pitched voice carrying an infectious excitement.
" I was watching the live stream of the press conference while hunting the other day!"
She exclaimed.
Chronos nodded at the excited female as her twin brother stood stoically behind her.
He stood with a confidence and pride that spoke of a deep connection to their culture and heritage.
The Yoruba were a high-tech civilization famed as a warriors class who embraced their roots and heritage alongside their technological advancements.
"En-Le! I'm Taiwo Ibeji, and this is my brother Kehinde Ibeji. I'm your biggest fan!"
Taiwo shrieked like a typical fan girl, completely forgetting the confusing situation they were all in.
Her skin was the color of rich, warm mahogany, and her eyes sparkled with an intelligence and determination that belied her youthful appearance.
Chronos replied with a smile,
"Call me Chronos,"
He said with a smile, trying to make sense of their unexpected encounter.
"Do you have any idea what's going on?"
"Prince Chronos! We were abducted by a group of cloaked people while hunting, and we woke up here… What about you?"
Taiwo replied eagerly as she motioned to take a step into Chronos's room.
Before Chronos could reply, Kehinde placed a hand on his twin sister's shoulder and pulled her back.
"Main Hall… now…"
He said in a deep and hoarse voice.
Chronos nodded his head and replied,
"Let's go check what all this fuss is all about."
Chonos's mind went into overdrive as he took in every nook and cranny of his surroundings.
'What's going on? It doesn't seem like we're prisoners…'
'Where are we ? The walls look foreign, almost… alien… even after having spent three full years in this futuristic sci-fi world…'
Chronos analyzed as his eyes darted from side to side.
Taiwo on the other hand seemed much more carefree, hopping excited behind the lead of her idol.
As they walked along the blue neon fluorescent markings, more and more kids stepped out of their rooms and joined the crowd.
The hallway itself was a masterpiece of futuristic design, with sleek angular walls and an almost clinical cleanliness.
The air around hummed in a quiet orchestra of almost organic movement.
The walls themselves seemed to shift and change, as if they were alive and responding to the presence of the group.
Chronos noticed that although the people around him could not have been older than ten years of age, there was a peculiar lack of fear in the air.
While there was uncertainty and caution, like the Ibeji twins, what shone brighter was the confidence in their step and determination in their eyes.
Soon the hallway opened up into a massive, expansive main hall unlike anything Chronos had ever seen.
Muffled gasps of awe echoed amidst the uncertain footsteps of the group.
Scanning his surroundings, Chronos noticed 155 other kids standing below a luxurious stage in the main hall, its sleek, metallic surface gleaming in the ambient light.
Seven elders sat behind a panel on top of the stage, their presence commanding respect and admiration.
Before Chronos could continue investigating, a familiar smile from on top of the stage caught his eye…
It was…
Grandmama ??!