Two hours before the world would descend into chaos, the scene was vastly different. Inside a bustling basketball stadium, a sea of voices filled the air as fans of Broten University's basketball team cheered with fervor. It was the final moments of a tense game, and only five seconds remained on the clock.
In that crucial instant, amidst the clamor and the roar of the crowd, a single name resonated above all others: "Andrew! Andrew! Andrew!"
Andrew was the heart and soul of the Broten University team, their ace player. Born with albinism, he possessed an ethereal beauty that set him apart from his teammates. His shoulder-length pure white hair framed his face, and his lashes and eyebrows were equally as white, contrasting sharply with his striking sea blue eyes.
As the seconds ticked away, Andrew stood at the center of the court, a figure of determination and grace. The ball left his fingertips in a perfect arc, soaring through the air and finding its mark with breathtaking precision. The buzzer sounded, and the stadium erupted in jubilation as Broten University secured a thrilling victory.
But little did Andrew or the fans know that their lives were about to change in ways they could never have imagined. The cheers of the stadium would soon give way to the screams of a world in turmoil, and Andrew's journey was only just beginning.
With the victory secured, Andrew's teammates urged him to join in the celebration, but he declined with a polite smile. "I appreciate it, but I promised my parents I'd help them at home," he explained.
One of his teammates nodded, recalling the recent move. "Right, you guys moved to that new place a couple of weeks ago, didn't you?"
Andrew gathered his belongings, the victory still fresh in his mind. He made his way to the parking lot, heading for his car, ready to return home and fulfill his promise to his parents.
But just as he was about to start the engine, the world around him abruptly shifted. Everything was bathed in a sinister crimson hue, and an otherworldly shattering voice echoed through the air, sending a chill down his spine. It was a sound unlike anything he had ever heard before, a harbinger of something unimaginable.
In that eerie moment, Andrew's life took a sharp and unexpected turn, as the world outside the basketball stadium descended into chaos, and he found himself at the epicenter of a new and perilous chapter.
Fear and anxiety gripped Andrew's heart as he raced through the crimson-tinted streets, the shattering voice still ringing in his ears. Several close calls with car crashes served as a stark reminder of the turmoil that had descended upon the world.
The once familiar neighborhood he called home was now an eerie tableau of chaos and confusion. The air was thick with the cacophony of screams of pain and laughter of pleasures, an unsettling juxtaposition that sent shivers down his spine.
As Andrew's car screeched to a halt in front of his house, his worst fears were confirmed. The door and the front yard lay in ruins, shattered as if by a force of unimaginable power.
Panic surged through him as he rushed into the remnants of his home, calling out for his family. The scene that greeted him inside was one of devastation and inexplicable horror.
As Andrew burst into his living room, his heart sank at the sight before him. A grotesque, two-meter-tall demon with crimson skin and an ugly visage stood in the midst of his home. But what filled him with a mix of dread and anger were the two figures lying on the floor, his parents, their faces streaked with tears and bodies battered.
The demon revelled in its sadistic "art," its laughter a cruel symphony to their suffering. But when it laid eyes on Andrew, their son, the creature's demeanor shifted.
Andrew's emotions were a turbulent storm within him—fear, anxiety, sadness, and, above all, an overwhelming anger. Without conscious thought, his body moved on its own, and his hand found a baseball bat near the door.
With a rush of adrenaline, he dashed toward the demon, his determination eclipsing his fear. The demon, initially amused by this seemingly insignificant human, never expected the ferocity and determination behind Andrew's attack.
With swift precision, Andrew dodged the demon's claw-like hands and swung the baseball bat with all his might. The resounding impact sent the demon flying backward, crashing into the room's shattered remnants.
The demon's laughter turned to pained roars, and it struggled to regain its footing. In this moment of unexpected courage and defiance, Andrew had become a beacon of hope in a world overrun by chaos and malevolence.
Andrew rushed to his parents' side, his heart aching at the sight of their injuries. He pulled them into a gentle, desperate embrace, tears welling in his eyes as he said, "Everything will be okay. Just stay still, and I'll call for help. You're going to be fine."
His voice quivered with emotion, for he knew deep down that their injuries were severe, and time was not on their side. His mother, her hand trembling and smeared with blood, touched his cheek lovingly. Her voice cracked as she asked a question that brought tears streaming down Andrew's face.
"Did you win your game, Andrew?" she whispered through her tears. "Forgive us for not being there to cheer you."
Andrew's heart ached as he hugged his mother even more tightly, his own tears mingling with hers. He turned his gaze to his father, who lay breathing heavily, bearing the brunt of injuries that seemed to suggest he had tried to protect his wife.
In that heartbreaking moment, the world outside faded into insignificance. Andrew's priority was clear—to do everything in his power to ensure his parents' survival and protect them from the horrors that now plagued their world.
Andrew's father's voice was faint, but his words were clear. "Son, quickly, get out of here. That thing... will come back in no time."
But Andrew couldn't bear to leave his injured parents alone. He approached his father and gently reassured him, "It's okay, Dad. I won't leave you. We'll face this together."
With determination in his eyes, Andrew moved swiftly to the kitchen. He grabbed the sharpest knife he could find, his hands trembling with a mixture of fear and resolve. As he returned to the living room, he saw the demon standing there, its malevolent presence looming.
The demon, recovering from the earlier blow, sneered at Andrew's defiance. But Andrew knew he had to protect his family at all costs. With the knife gripped tightly in his hand, he faced the creature, ready to make a stand against the nightmarish forces that had invaded his world.
Andrew faced the demon with a fierce determination, the sharp knife gripped tightly in his trembling hand. The creature sneered and lunged at him, its claws slashing through the air. In the brutal confrontation that followed, Andrew fought with every ounce of strength he could muster.