"Jesus, god, please have mercy on me. Oh, God, Jesus!"
"May all beings find peace, even in this end. I release all fear and attachment. In this moment, I surrender to the Dharma, and may my passing bring no harm, but compassion and light."
"Allahu Akbar, forgive my sins and grant me mercy."
"Faster! Don't look back!" my father's voice commanded, urgency lacing every syllable as we sprinted through the chaotic streets, the cries and wails of despair echoing all around. The scent of smoke, ash, and blood permeated the air, stinging my nose and eyes as I struggled to keep pace with my father and mother because Hannah was slowing me down, tears streaming down her face as she sobbed hysterically.
"Hannah! Pull yourself together. You're strong, and I need you to be strong right now," my father barked, his grip on my hand never wavering, and she nodded, holding my hand even tighter.
Suddenly, a thunderous crash shook the ground, sending violent tremors through the air and causing us to stumble. Each subsequent quake grew more intense until the very earth beneath our feet was shaking uncontrollably. Buildings crumbled like fragile sandcastles, collapsing into piles of dust and rubble. The sky filled with a deafening cacophony of screeching metal and shattering glass, drowning out the panicked cries of the fleeing masses.
I glanced back, my heart pounding in my chest, and saw creatures of all shapes and sizes falling from a swirling portal. Some resembled fearsome dragons, others looked like grotesque wolves or monstrous birds. Giant spiders scuttled alongside massive serpents, creating a hellish menagerie that felt like the end of the world.
The city was in utter chaos, people fleeing in terror as the creatures ravaged the area, destroying everything in their path. The deafening screams blended with the roaring beasts, creating a haunting symphony of despair and destruction.
An ogre crashed down mere meters ahead of us, its enormous body smashing into the ground with a bone-jarring impact. Many people were crushed beneath its weight, their blood spraying everywhere, covering us in a gruesome shower.
"AAAAAAHHHHHH!!!"
"MOMMY!!!"
"HELP MEEEEE!!!
"MOMMY, DADDY, NO, PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME!"
-
Ishtar'ka grinned, relishing the destruction. "How wondrous!" he said, licking his lips, savoring the delicious taste of fear and death. His cold grey eyes were filled with madness and bloodlust as he watched his army of monsters rampaging through the city, killing everything in their path.
"Upper one." A sinister voice called out from the darkness.
"
Zar'kathar's head floated in mid-air, his glowing grey eyes filled with reverence and pride. "Indeed, upper one. It is my utmost honor to serve thee."
"How are the others?"
"They are occupied in laying waste to other 'countries', upper one. All proceeds as foreseen." Zar'kathar replied.
Ishtar'ka smirked, looking at the destruction taking place, "Excellent. Let us ensure that the blessing arrives not before its appointed time."
"Aye, upper one. May the forgotten to bestow their favor upon thee," Zar'kathar stated, and the darkness consumed him, his head disappearing from sight.
-
"Dad!" I shouted, pulling him away for the ogre. Blood and chips of bone clung to our hair, the ogre's massive body crushing the ground with an earth-shaking thud. I looked at the scene and felt my blood run cold, the carnage and destruction were almost too much to bear.
The ogre rose up, letting out a bone-chilling roar that shook the ground beneath us. It hefted a massive club, dripped with fresh blood swung it with terrifying force smashing through anyone in front of it.
The scene was nightmarish, causing Hannah's knees to go weak, and her whole body to shake in fear.
"FUCK! HANNAH GET UP!" I screamed, tugging her hand. "Come on, move!"
My mother looked at my sister, her face full of despair and pain, "JAGGER, GET YOUR SISTER OUT OF HERE!"
My father let go of my mother's hand and picked Hannah up. He looked at me, "JAGGER, GRAB YOUR MOTHER AND FOLLOW ME."
"Okay," I nod, taking my mother's hand, and she grabs onto me, pulling me along.
We weaved through the destroyed streets, dodging the ogre's deadly blows, and the bodies of the dead.
Without hesitation, my father bolted, running as fast as he could. I chased after him pulling my mother with me. I had never felt so terrified in my entire life.
*Crack! Splish!*
The sickening sound of the club connecting with human flesh and bones echoed through the chaos, a horrifying reminder of the destruction surrounding us.
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!" my mother cried, her voice breaking as tears streamed down her face. "GOD, PLEASE HELP US!"
Her desperate plea was swallowed by the chaos, a lone voice of anguish in a sea of terror. As we ran, the city's once-familiar streets became a nightmarish landscape, the air thick with smoke, blood, and the sounds of a world being torn apart.
My father pushed his way through the panicked crowd, their bodies battered, and their faces streaked with dirt and blood. Their eyes were wide with fear, reflecting the chaos that had overtaken the city.
"JAGGER! HERE! MRT!" my father bellowed over the deafening roar of destruction.
I nodded, my movements quick and precise despite the overwhelming chaos. My grip clutched my mother's hand tightly, to keep her close and safe. The noise was a cacophony of screams, crashes, and monstrous roars that seemed to shake the very air around us.
"HEY HELP ME!" A man grabbed my leg, and I fell hitting my head on the ground, the world spinning. "Mom!"
Mother almost fell by the sudden stop, she turned around, her face full of despair and agony, "JAGGER!" She shouted.
Without a thought, my mother kicked the man in the face relentlessly, "Let go, you asshole."
*STOMP!* *STOMP!* *STOMP!*
With every step, her shoe came down, again and again, stomping the man's skull, crushing it like a grape. The man's blood sprayed everywhere, covering her legs, and she didn't even care, her only focus was protecting her family.
My father rushed over, surveying the scene. His expression hardened, "COME ON, JAGGER, GET UP, NOW!"
I tried to stand, but the pain in my head was excruciating, "Yes." I shook my head and grabbed my mother's hand, ignoring the throbbing ache.
As we continued running, the sound of destruction was deafening. Another monster fell nearby—a bull-like creature stood on two feet. Its black fur was matted with filth and gore, and its sharp horns gleamed menacingly in the dim light. It lowered its head and charged toward the mass of terrified people, its hooves pounding the ground with each step, sending shockwaves through the streets.
We ran for our lives, the screams of the injured and dying echoing around them. "HURRY!" my father urged; his voice strained with urgency.
My mother's legs moved as fast as they could, her strides long and desperate. She ran with such speed it seemed she was flying pulling me along. We barreled into a mall, the once-grand entrance now a shattered ruin. Without slowing, we made a beeline for the underground level, where the MRT station was located.
Hundreds of people were rushing into the MRT station, a tide of humanity fueled by sheer terror. They leaped over gates and barriers, fighting and pushing their way inside. The air was thick with panic, and the ground above trembled with the monstrous footfalls that seemed to be drawing ever closer.
"GET OUT OF THE WAY!" a man shouted, shoving people aside in his frenzied attempt to reach the safety of the station.
"PLEASE, STOP!" a woman cried, tears streaming down her face as she was knocked to the ground, her voice lost in the turmoil.
We didn't hesitate, our only focus unyielding as we continued to run. The woman was trampled underfoot, her cries silenced by the relentless crush of the crowd. The scene was like a nightmare brought to life—people fought over scraps of food and precious supplies, while others tried desperately to aid the injured, all amidst the growing dread of the approaching monsters.
The MRT train platform was a sea of bodies, packed with people desperate for escape. My father shoved and pulled us to the center as my mother found a small space where we could squeeze in and sit down. We huddled together, the cold concrete beneath us a stark contrast to the heat of our fear.
-
*Chanting of prayers* *Whispers* *Sobbing* *Crying*
"Everything is going to be alright, honey. Just breathe... breath." Mother tried to reassure Hannah, stroking her hair and holding her close. Although her hands trembling, she tried to soothe her, but the fear in her eyes was unmistakable. She clenched her fists, knuckles white, and I could see the strain etched on her face.
"It's okay," my father whispered, wrapping his arms around my mother and squeezing tightly. "We will get through this. Trust me."
My mother gave a brave smile, clutching my father's hand as if it were a lifeline. She looked at my sister and me, her eyes filled with sorrow and love. She gently wiped the blood and dirt from my face, giving me a reassuring smile. "Be strong, Jagger."
I nodded, my heart racing. I took a deep breath, 'Come, Jagger, pull yourself together. Being the older son, you have to be strong, be the protector.'
*Boom*
A deafening sound echoed through the tunnels, and everyone fell silent. The tremors from above shook the entire MRT station, with dust and debris falling from the ceiling.
*BOOM**BOOM*
More thunderous crashes followed, accompanied by the agonized screams and cries of those above. My heart pounded in my chest, and I buried my face in my father's chest, clinging to him for dear life. The world seemed to be collapsing around us, the darkness pressing in, and all I could do was hold on and hope that we would survive this nightmare.
-
Hours passed, and the relentless noise of fighter jets, tanks, and bombs was all I could hear. Sleep eluded me, the cacophony of war keeping me awake despite my exhaustion. My body ached from the cramped, cold floor, and my mind was fogged with fatigue. The MRT station reeked of sweat, blood, fear, and death—a nauseating mix of emotions that permeated every breath I took.
The cries of the wounded and dying were unbearable, a constant reminder of the horror unfolding above. The ceaseless shaking and vibrations from the explosions made it impossible to find any semblance of peace. People around me prayed, wept, and screamed in anguish, their despair a heavyweight in the oppressive air.
"Ahh!" A man's voice suddenly echoed through the station, a sharp cry of alarm. "What is this?!"
He stood, his eyes wide and fixed on the ground in front of him. Panic and confusion etched his features as he stared, seemingly transfixed by something only he could see.
"Eh, what is wrong with you? Sit down and keep your voice down lah! You want the monsters to hear us and come in here ah?" Another man growled angrily, glaring at him. His eyes darted nervously around as if expecting the creatures to burst in at any moment.
"Wait… you don't see this?" The first man pointed to the ground with a trembling finger, his gaze darting around for any sign of confirmation. "You cannot see this blue screen in front of me meh?"
Whispers and murmurs rippled through the crowd, people craning their necks to see what he was talking about. Fear and curiosity mingled in the air, and the oppressive tension was momentarily broken by this unexpected declaration.
"What's wrong with this guy? Does he think this is some kind of game or what? And what the hell is he talking about—a blue screen?"
Everyone stared at the man in bewilderment and confusion, their eyes darting around the room as if expecting some hidden explanation to reveal itself.
"WHAT THE FUCK!" This time, a woman in her mid-forties voice pierced the air. She was pointing downward, her face a mask of shock. Her eyes were wide, her pupils dilated, and her mouth slightly agape. "He's right sia! Got a blue screen in front of me also. It's telling me I'm a hunter, and my class is a mage. What does that even mean meh?"
I was still lying against my father's chest, feeling the steady, reassuring rhythm of his heartbeat. Despite the chaos unfolding around us, he remained calm. His heartbeat was a metronome in the midst of madness. Slowly, I lifted my head and looked up at him, searching his face for any sign that he understood what was happening.
More people began to stir, rising from the floor with expressions ranging from confusion to astonishment. They pointed and stared at the empty air before them, reacting to something only they could see.
"WHAT IS THIS? I'M A KNIGHT!" a man exclaimed, his voice a mix of confusion and excitement. His eyes scanned the invisible display, disbelief etched on his features.
The crowd erupted into a cacophony of murmurs and whispers. Speculation and wonder buzzed through the air like an electric current. This strange and unexpected turn of events was a welcome distraction from the hell we were currently trapped in. For a moment, the fear and despair receded, replaced by curiosity and a strange, surreal hope.