Chereads / Chronicles of Nox / Chapter 4 - Lockdown

Chapter 4 - Lockdown

The sun had barely risen over the capital city, casting a golden glow over the stately building that housed the Representatives of Solaria. But the usual calm and serenity of the morning was replaced by a sense of urgency. Inside, the chamber was already packed with lawmakers, their faces grave and worried. The air was thick with tension as they gathered for an emergency meeting, called in response to the catastrophic event that had shaken the nation.

The reps spoke in hushed tones, their voices laced with concern and fear. Others sat in stony silence, their faces set in determined lines. At precisely 8:00 a.m., the Speaker of the House, the Head of House, a stern-looking man, called the meeting to order. His voice was firm and resolute, but beneath it lay a hint of worry.

"Representatives of Solaria, the incident of last night was something that took us by surprise, and this has left the citizens shaken. We can't just sit here and do nothing, which is why I called for this meeting."

As he spoke, a murmur of agreement rippled through the chamber. The representatives knew that time was of the essence, and they were ready to put aside their differences to face the challenge ahead.

The Head of House, still fresh from his election victory, sat with a determined look on his face. He knew that this was a moment of truth, a test of his mettle and his commitment to serving his nation, and he was ready to give his all.

The Speaker continued, his voice steady and authoritative, "So, from now on, I'll pass my verdict: there shall be a lockdown all around the nation as we embark to find the cause of it all. This means war, and that's why I have invited the Grand Marshal of the Solaria Military Force."

The Grand Marshal, a towering figure with a stern expression, swung the double doors of the assembly hall open as he made his way in.

His uniform was adorned with medals and badges, a testament to his years of service and bravery. As he moved across the room, his presence seemed to fill the room, his aura choking the air from the lungs of those around him. His eyes burned with an intensity that made even the most seasoned representatives quiver.

"I'm grand marshal John carter and I greet the reps of solaria," he growled, his voice like thunder in the silence. "I have been briefed on the situation, and I must say, it is grave. But we will not hesitate to defend our nation and our people. We will mobilize our forces immediately and work tirelessly to uncover the source of this threat. After now, protection will be provided for each rep present here as we can't risk losing a head at this crucial moment"

As he spoke, his aura flared, an energy swirling around him like a maelstrom. The representatives felt it like a physical force, pressing down upon them, making it hard to breathe. They nodded in agreement, their faces pale and sweaty, their eyes fixed on the Marshal with a mix of fear and awe.

The Speaker continued, his voice still as composed as before clearly not put under the same pressure as the rest of the reps, "John, I want updates hourly from your men and We must be prepared for any eventuality."

As the meeting adjourned, the representatives quickly dispersed, each one accompanied by one armed personnel. The Grand Marshal and his team set to work, wasting no time, they were able to lockdown solaria.

Outside, the city was already feeling the effects of the lockdown. Streets were empty, and businesses were shuttered.

_______

A week had passed since the lockdown took place and as night fell over Solaria, the city was bathed in an eerie silence. The lockdown had taken effect, and the streets were empty, save for the occasional patrol of armed personnel. The businesses were shuttered, their neon signs dark and still. But despite the tension, a sense of serenity settled over the nation.

The moon hung low in the sky, casting a silver glow over the city. The stars twinkled like diamonds against the dark canvas of the night sky. The air was crisp and cool, filled with the scent of blooming flowers and fresh cut grass.

In the midst of this peaceful scene, the Grand Marshal stood on the rooftop of the central command center, his mind wandering far in thoughts. "It's been a whole week and nothing, not a single disappearance, something just doesn't feel right."

********

At the gates of Solaria, the main entry point into the nation, were heavily guarded by military men, their rifles at the ready. The lockdown had been in effect for days, restricting entry into the nation. Suddenly, a figure emerged from the darkness, far out in front of the gate. At first, he was just a tiny black dot on the horizon, but as he walked closer, his long black coat billowing behind him, the soldiers could see him more clearly.

His eyes glowed with an otherworldly red light, piercing through the night air like embers from a fire. His face was deathly pale, his skin stretched taut over his skull. He moved with a slow, deliberate pace, his long legs striding purposefully towards the gate. The soldiers watched him approach with a mix of fascination and fear, their grip on their rifles tightening.

"Halt!" one of the soldiers barked, his voice firm and commanding. "Go back! You can't enter the city!"

But the figure didn't respond. He just kept walking, his eyes fixed on the gate, his pace steady and unstoppable. The soldiers' warnings turned to threats, their guns cocked and pointed at the mysterious figure. But he didn't flinch. He didn't even acknowledge their presence.

As he drew closer, the soldiers could see that his coat was tattered and worn, his clothes threadbare and old. But despite his ragged appearance, there was something unsettling about him, something that made the soldiers' skin crawl.

"I'll shoot if you don't stop!" the soldier yelled, his voice echoing off the walls.

But the figure just kept coming, his red eyes fixed on the gate, his pace steady and relentless. And then, just as the soldiers were about to fire, he vanished into thin air.

The soldier spun around as he sensed a presence behind him, his rifle pointed at the figure, but he was too late. The figure had already moved, With a swipe of his hand, the strike fast and neat, he severed the head of the soldier in one fell swoop from his torso.

The rest of the guards were caught off guard and before they could react, the figure had Vanished once more.

Picking them one after the other, his speed was unmatched and In less than a minute, he was back to where to where he started his onslaught from, the front of the gates.

Leaving behind corpses of the guards, all with fist sized gaping in their chests, his long coat billowed behind him as he strode in through the gates with a devilish grin on his face.

"Humans, they pop too easily, ohh how I'm so going to enjoy this."

A huge alarm went off across the whole city and a large announcement, "Intruder alert, I repeat, intruder alert. There have been a breach from Area 51" was broadcasted round the whole nation logs and clear for everyone to hear.