Icarius got up suddenly, the bright sunlight pouring through the window. Still half asleep, he got out of bed and went to open the curtains. But what he saw made his heart sink.
Tokyo was destroyed. The city he knew was now a smoking ruin. The streets, buildings, and everything else were gone, turned to rubble by bombings. Smoke was rising from what used to be homes and shops. Icarius couldn't believe his eyes. "This… this can't be real," he whispered, his voice shaking.
As he stood there, frozen in shock, he heard frantic noises behind him. Turning around, he saw Boris hurriedly packing a bag, his face serious and tense. "What's going on?" Icarius asked, fear creeping into his voice.
Boris didn't stop packing. "There's no time to explain. Just grab what you need—the important stuff. We have to leave now."
Icarius, still stunned by what he saw outside, didn't argue. His hands trembled as he packed his backpack with his phone, some clothes, and a few personal items. His mind was racing, trying to understand what was happening. "Why is this happening? Why are we leaving?"
Boris didn't wait. He grabbed Icarius's arm and pulled him toward the door. "Come on, we need to get to the airport. I made plans two weeks ago—just in case."
They ran out of the house into the chaos of the streets. Everything was in ruins. The air was thick with smoke, and the smell of burning buildings was everywhere. People were running, crying, and screaming, their faces full of fear and panic. Icarius looked around, feeling a deep sense of dread. It was like the world had fallen apart.
"How did it come to this?" he thought, his mind spinning. Just days ago, he felt safe, thinking nothing could happen in Tokyo. But now, that feeling was gone. Nowhere was safe.
As they made their way through the debris-filled streets, Icarius's fear grew stronger. Everything around him looked like a nightmare. It felt like his whole world was crumbling—not just the city, but everything he knew.
When they finally reached the airport, it was chaotic but still functioning. People were everywhere, desperate to leave. Icarius and Boris pushed through the crowd until they got on a plane heading to the United States.
As the plane got ready to take off, Icarius sat in his seat, staring blankly ahead. His mind was full of questions, but there was no time to ask them. "Why didn't Boris tell me this was coming? Why are we running? And why the United States?"
Boris, sitting next to him, seemed to know what Icarius was thinking. He sighed and turned to him, speaking softly. "I know you're confused. There's a lot I haven't told you—about who I am, and why we're leaving. But for now, all you need to know is that this is the only way to keep you safe. I'll explain everything once we're out of danger."
Icarius nodded slowly, still trying to process everything. "But why didn't you tell me sooner?" he asked quietly.
Boris looked away, his expression sad. "Because I didn't want it to come to this. I wanted to protect you from the truth for as long as I could. But now… there's no avoiding it. We'll talk when we're safe."
As the plane lifted off, leaving the destroyed city behind, Icarius felt a mix of relief and worry. He didn't know what would happen next or how he would deal with it all. But one thing was certain: life would never be the same again.
As the plane flew through the clouds, Boris turned to Icarius, his expression serious. "There's something I need to tell you," he began, his voice low. "I haven't been completely honest with you about who I am."
Icarius glanced at him, confused. "What do you mean?"
Boris took a deep breath. "I used to be a Russian spy," he confessed, watching Icarius's reaction. "Back in Russia, I witnessed things—horrible things. Nuclear experiments are the kind that make you lose faith in humanity. After seeing all that, I knew I couldn't stay. I had to get out, and I had to keep you safe. That's why I fled Russia and brought you with me."
Icarius's eyes widened in shock. "You… you were a spy? And you never told me?"
Boris nodded, his gaze steady. "I didn't want to burden you with that knowledge. But I've been preparing for something like this for a long time. That's why I booked this flight to the US. I believed it was the safest place we could go. I spent years gathering intel, and I knew this war was coming."
Icarius swallowed hard, trying to process everything. "And the attack on Tokyo? You knew that was going to happen?"
"Not exactly," Boris admitted. "But I knew something big was coming. The attack was designed to be as chaotic as possible. The goal was to lure as many people to the city as possible before detonating the nuclear bomb. Tokyo was the target of a message to change the course of history. The peace you thought you were living in was a lie, Icarius. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you from that."
Icarius looked down, his mind racing. "I always thought… I thought the world was safe, predictable. But now I see that anything can happen, anytime."
Boris placed a hand on his shoulder. "I understand how you feel. I wanted to believe in that safety too. But the truth is, the world is unpredictable, and we have to be ready for anything."
When they finally arrived in the United States, Boris's expression turned grim as they stepped off the plane. "Let's hope this place is as safe as I thought," he murmured. "But we'll need to stay on our toes. Things might not be as simple as we hoped."
Icarius nodded, feeling the weight of his new reality. The world he knew was gone, and now he would have to face whatever came next.