384,400 kilometers from the earth's crust
High above the Earth, in the black expanse, an anomalous entity had taken root on the surface of the Moon. This peculiar growth, resembling a gnarled and withered tree. But it was far from the idyllic tree we find on Earth, rather a harbinger of an impending catastrophe.
NASA and some other prestigious space organisations, first detected the structure extending its sinewy branches from the lunar surface towards our planet. The sheer audacity of the phenomenon baffled and terrified the world. What could possibly give birth to a tree on the barren, lifeless Moon? How would something so seemingly impossible become a reality?
The tree was no ordinary spectacle. Its massive roots, like serpentine veins, burrowed deep into the lunar soil, extracting energy from a source no one could comprehend. Its trunk was gnarled and twisted, resembling an ancient sentinel standing guard over the celestial void. Its branches, thin and skeletal, extended in multiple directions, casting eerie shadows on the lunar landscape.
NASA, ESA, and a consortium of other space organizations immediately sprang into action, for they recognised the potential threat this lunar tree posed to Earth. A flurry of rockets and spacecraft were dispatched, carrying teams of astronauts, scientists, and weapons experts from various fields. Their mission was simple: stop 'The tree' before it could reach earth.
As their spacecrafts landed on the the Moon's surface, the lunar tree loomed before them, its branches almost within striking distance of Earth. The team wasted no time and deployed cutting-edge technology in a desperate attempt to halt the lunar tree's advance. They fired lasers, unleashed explosives, and even tried to freeze the tree, but it seemed invulnerable to their efforts.
The lunar tree absorbed the energy from their attacks, growing even more rapidly. It was as if it drew power not only from the Moon's resources but from the very fabric of the cosmos itself. In the spa of a single night, it had become an unstoppable force.
As dawn approached on Earth, the world watched in horror as 'The tree' broke free from the Moon's surface. With astonishing speed , it hurtled toward Earth, casting a shadow over the planet. Panic gripped humanity as they realized that their attempts to thwart the lunar menace had failed.
In the blink of an eye, the colossal branches of the lunar tree descended upon London, causing the ground to tremble beneath its weight. In the span of a single night, the vibrant city was reduced to rubble. The lunar tree had become an unstoppable juggernaut as smaller branches spread across the land, leaving destruction in its wake.
It kept spreading, vines and roots devouring the land, spreading like an anchor of some sort. London took the the entire force of it, but the damage spread throughout the entire East and south-east of England.
Devionte got out of bed, his half closed eyes were met with an eerie, red glow that seemed to permeate the curtains of the bedroom. Groggily, he sat up and rubbed his eyes, trying to make sense of the strange illumination.
With a growing sense of foreboding, he stumbled out of bed and made his way to the window. He pulled the curtains aside and gasped in astonishment. Outside, the world had completely trasansformed.
For one, it was still a bit too dark outside for 9am, and the sun was nowhere to be found, Instead of the familiar view of neighbouring condos and the city skyline, Devionte found himself staring at a forent of bizarre structures. The looked to be made of some sort of black wood, that had red veins pulsating through them. They semed to have grown out of the floor and spread out like a very complicated root system.
Intrigued and somewhat unnerved, Devionte quickly put on his robe and decided to investigate these strange phenomena up close. As he stepped outside his condo, he was greeted by an eerie silence that hung in the air, broken only by faint rustling of the mysterious structures.
He approached one of the smaller root structures with caution. It stood right in front of his building, It was entwined in the concrete steps. Devionte reached out tentatively, trying to pry a few of the thinner roots from the ground. To his surprise, they were impossibly tough, as if made of some otherwordly material. He tugged and pulled, but the roots remained unyielding.
Frusteration and curiosity mounting, Devionte retreated into his condo and returned witha shovel, a hammer, even a small saw. He attacked the roots with everythinh he had, but it was as if he were trying to cut through stone with a butter knife. He couldn't even dent it.
Devionte's mind raced with questions. What were these strange structures? Where had they come from, and why were they here? It was as though nature itself had rebelled against the laws of reality, creating something entirely alien.
As he continued his futile efforts, he noticed that others in his condo building had also emerged from their homes, drawn by the same otherworldly spectacle. Conversations buzzed with disbelief and speculation, but no one had any answers.
Devionte retreated to his apartment and decided to turn on the TV, but there was no signal. The TV was static, nothing playing only noise.
When he was about to leave, a broadcast came on, an emergency message from the government.
"Citizens of London this is a message from the UN and British government. We are facing an unprecedented situation, and we need your full cooperation and vigilance. Strange structures have appeared in various locations across the city, and we are actively investigating their origins and purpose,"
The official paused a moment, as if collecting their thoughts before continuing.
"These objects are unlike anything we have encountered before. Initial attempts to interact with or remove them have proven unsuccessful. They appear to be indestructible, and their presence is causingn widespread disruption to our daily lives."
The gravity of the situation weighed heavily in the air, and the official's voice quivered slightly as they continued.
"We understand that you have questions and concerns. We urge you to remain calm and stay indoors for your safety. Do not attempt to approach or tamper with these objects. We have deployed teams of experts and scientists to assess the situation and provide us with answers as soon as possible."
The officials tone grew more resolute as they issued a warning:
"In the meantime, we ask for your cooperating in maintainig order. Avoid panic-buying and hoarding supplies. Emergency services are operational and will respond to urgent needs. Stay informed through official channels, and be prepared to follow instructions from local authorities."
The message concluded with a plea for unity:
"We are facing an unprecedented challenge, but we are confident that together, as a community, we can overcome this mystery. We will keep you updated as we learn more. Stay strong, stay connected, and above all, stay safe."
The screen went back to static, leaving Devionte with a sense of unease and uncertainty as he grippled with the strange objects and the profound changes they had brought to the world.
Devionte sat there, thinking about the roots and how they were familiar, then his eyes suddenly fell on his grandfather's journal. He got up walked over, and picked up the journal. He opened to where his granddad made a reference to a strange tree thing he saw on his expedition on the moon, and all of a sudden his granddad didn't seem so crazy anymore. The tree in the journal greatly resembled the one that was all over the place outside.
He decided to continue reading the journal on;
"I awoke with a start, my vision blurry and my head pounding. I attempted to sit up, but my body felt heavy, as if gravity had increased tenfold. The room around me seemed to be sterile and was unfamiliar, filled with the hum of medical equipment. I started to panic as I tried to recall how he had ended up here.
"Easy there," a soothing voice said. "You're safe now."
I turned my head to see Carver in the adjacent bed, groggily awakening. Oou surroundings slowly came into focus—a hospital room on Earth.
"What happened?" I croaked, with my throat dry and scratchy.
Carver struggled to sit up, wincing in discomfort. "I...I don't remember. The moon, the treelike structure, those creatures...everything's a blur."
As we exchanged bewildered glances, a doctor and a military officer entered the room. The doctor wore a concerned expression, while the officer maintained an air of stern authority.
"Welcome back, gentlemen," the doctor said. "You've been through quite an ordeal."
Carver and I exchanged puzzled glances once more. "Ordeal? What happened?" I asked, his voice trembling.
The military officer spoke with measured precision. "You were on a classified lunar mission, but contact was lost with your team. We assumed the worst. Then, suddenly, you both reappeared on Earth, unconscious and in your current condition."
My mind raced, trying to piece together the fragmented memories of the lunar mission. "The treelike structure, the creatures...and then, darkness."
The doctor nodded sympathetically. "We're still trying to understand what happened. You've been in a medical-induced coma for some time. Your vitals were stable, but we couldn't wake you until now."
Carver frowned. "But what about the mission? Did we recover the missing data module?"
The military officer exchanged a knowing look with the doctor before responding. "I'm afraid we have no record of any missing data module or a mission to the moon."
Carver and I exchanged incredulous glances, our memories shrouded in confusion and uncertainty. We had embarked on a covert lunar mission, encountered enigmatic creatures, and witnessed a treelike structure,