It was 3 a.m., and most of the world lay in slumber, wrapped in the silence of the dead of night. In the city, only a few were still awake—nurses and night-shift workers trudging through their rounds, college students pulling all-nighters, gamers too engrossed in their screens to notice anything beyond their virtual battles.
But in an instant, the world shifted.
The bright full moon that had been lighting up the sky vanished, leaving nothing but an eerie darkness in its place. Seconds later, a strange, thick red fog tinged with streaks of purple began to drift across the landscape, creeping through city streets, curling around silent houses, and spilling over open fields. It spread slowly but relentlessly, its ominous hue staining the earth.
Suddenly, a loud voice thundered in Alvin's mind, jolting him out of a deep sleep.
"Alvin Bencio! Wake up!" It was the familiar, commanding tone of the World Will, and its urgency left no room for hesitation. "Get up now—the situation has become dire. Earth's evolution has advanced by two months."
Alvin's eyes flew open, his heart hammering as he struggled to make sense of what was happening. "Evolution? Now?" he muttered, barely able to believe what he was hearing. He could feel the wrongness in the air, the heavy, almost suffocating tension outside the manor.
With a groan, Alvin threw off the covers and staggered to his feet, rubbing his temples as he gathered his focus. "Couldn't the world have waited until sunrise to start falling apart?" he grumbled, trying to shake off the last remnants of sleep.
Without wasting another second, he raised his hands and summoned two small, glowing magic circles. "Barrier charm—double strength," he muttered, channeling his energy into the protection spell. The magic circles pulsed before expanding, covering every corner of the manor with a shimmering, protective layer, ensuring that none of the strange fog would seep inside.
Once the barrier was up, Alvin hurried down the hall to the children's room. He pushed open the door and scanned the room, his gaze moving over each small bed. The kids were all asleep, their breathing soft and steady. None of them seemed affected by the eerie fog lurking outside, and Alvin felt a pang of relief settle over him. "Good, they're safe."
He backed out of the room quietly, making his way down the hall to check on Jax and Luis. Both of their doors were slightly ajar, and Alvin peeked in to find them fast asleep, each completely oblivious to the chaos beginning outside. Jax's light snores echoed softly in the quiet, while Luis lay sprawled across his bed, one arm dangling off the side. Alvin couldn't help but shake his head with a slight smirk. "At least they sleep well in times of crisis."
Satisfied that everyone in the manor was secure for the moment, Alvin pulled out his phone and scrolled through his contacts. His thumb hovered over Xavier's name before he hit "call."
It rang only once before Xavier picked up, his voice tense and breathless. "Alvin?"
Alvin could hear the unease in Xavier's tone, which only heightened his own nerves. "Xavier, the fog—have you seen it?"
"Yes," Xavier replied, his voice a low growl. "It's everywhere. The whole city is covered in it. I'm not even sure what this stuff is, but it's blocking out all light. Even the moon."
"It's part of the evolution," Alvin explained, his tone grim. "The Earth has become dangerous."
There was a pause on the other end of the line, then Xavier spoke, his voice even more urgent. "I'll come pick you up. Just stay where you are—I'll be there by sunrise."
Alvin hesitated, glancing out the window at the swirling red mist that lay beyond the safety of his barriers. "Xavier, listen to me." His voice was firm but calm. "Don't come here."
There was silence for a moment before Xavier replied, his voice laced with desperation. "Alvin, I can't just sit here. I need to be with you."
Alvin softened slightly, feeling a pang of regret for having to turn him down. "I get that. But you need to stay with your family, Xavier. They're going to need you."
"But—" Xavier began, his voice thick with frustration.
"No, listen," Alvin interrupted. "If something happens to you, who's going to keep them safe? Your father's out, and your mother isn't back yet. You're the only one there who can protect them."
Xavier's silence on the other end was almost tangible, a mixture of resentment and reluctant understanding. "But what about you?" he finally asked, his voice quieter now. "How am I supposed to just leave you alone, with all of this happening?"
Alvin managed a small smile, even though he knew Xavier couldn't see it. "I'm not alone, Xavier. The kids are with me, and so are Jax and Luis."
He paused, his voice softening. "I promise, I'll be fine."
Xavier let out a heavy sigh, clearly torn between his instinct to protect Alvin and his duty to his family. "Fine," he muttered finally, though the frustration in his voice was clear. "But you call me the moment anything happens. And if it gets bad, I'm coming, whether you want me to or not."
Alvin chuckled softly, a hint of affection slipping into his tone. "Of course you are. But for now, focus on what's in front of you. Protecting your family comes first."
There was a long pause, and then Xavier's voice came through, rough and full of emotion. "Alvin… be safe. And know that I… I—"
Alvin's heart skipped a beat, but he cut Xavier off, not ready to let the moment get too serious. "Save it, Loid. We're not saying anything dramatic over the phone at 3 a.m. Just keep your head down and call me when things are under control."
Xavier let out a small laugh, though it was tinged with tension. "Fine, fine. But don't think for a second that I'm letting you off the hook when this is over."
"Wouldn't dream of it," Alvin replied, feeling a strange comfort in the banter, even amidst the chaos. "Now go. I'll talk to you soon."
They hung up, and Alvin was left staring at his phone, a mixture of relief and unease settling in his chest. He trusted Xavier to keep his family safe, but the accelerated timeline of Earth's evolution was a complication he hadn't anticipated.
With a sigh, Alvin pocketed his phone and moved through the halls of the mansion once more, checking and double-checking that the barriers were holding strong.
The rest of the night was tense, but quiet. The kids remained asleep, their innocent faces untroubled by the impending chaos outside. Alvin made another round through the mansion, reinforcing the protective spells and making sure that every door and window was sealed tightly.
When he reached Jax and Luis's rooms again, he paused. The two of them were still fast asleep, completely unaware of the danger that had encircled them. Alvin lingered for a moment, watching them with a soft sigh. They were new to this world of magic and apocalyptic threats, and while Alvin knew he could protect them, a part of him worried about how they would handle the days to come.
Finally, he returned to his own room, but sleep didn't come easily. He lay awake, staring at the ceiling, listening to the faint sounds of the night outside. The red fog lingered just beyond his barriers, an ominous reminder of the evolution that was now in motion.
In his mind, he could still hear Xavier's voice, the hint of vulnerability that had slipped through during their conversation.
--
Xavier's phone buzzed, and he glanced down to see his father's name flashing on the screen.
"Xavier." His father's tone was uncharacteristically tense, the worry clear in his voice. "I need you to go get Natasha. She's not home, and she's not answering any calls."
Xavier frowned, worry already knotting in his stomach. "What? Where is she?" he asked, grabbing his car keys from the table in one swift motion.
His father sighed heavily. "We don't know. She said she was staying at a friend's house tonight, but we tried her there and…" He trailed off, frustration evident in his silence.
Without another word, Xavier dashed to the garage and climbed into his car, dialing Natasha's number again and again as he drove. Each ring made his tension grow until it was almost suffocating, but the call kept going to voicemail. He couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something was very wrong.
After a frantic drive, Xavier arrived at Natasha's friend's house and hurried up to the door, knocking quickly. Her friend opened the door, her expression one of slight surprise.
"Xavier? Is everything okay?"
"Have you seen Natasha? My father said she was staying here tonight, but she's not answering her phone."
The friend hesitated, worry flickering across her face. "She was here earlier, but she left a couple of hours ago. She… she said she was going to meet her ex-boyfriend. She thought they needed to talk things over."
Xavier's jaw clenched as a flash of anger and frustration shot through him. Of all the foolish things Natasha could have done... "Thanks. I'll find her." He turned away, not wanting his anger to show too much.
Back in the car, he called Daniel, who picked up on the second ring, his voice filled with concern.
"Xavier? What's going on?"
"Natasha went to her ex's place," Xavier said through gritted teeth. "Five hours away."
There was a tense silence before Daniel spoke, his own frustration evident. "Unbelievable. What should we do now? We're hours from home, and our parents are in the car with me."
Xavier clenched the steering wheel, feeling the anger building up in his chest. "I'll go get her myself. She's not thinking straight, and it's too dangerous for her to be out there alone. I'll bring her back."
Daniel sighed heavily. "Please do. And be careful. Call me if anything comes up."
Xavier hung up and pressed down on the accelerator, his focus solely on getting to Natasha as quickly as possible. His frustration simmered, not only at his sister's reckless actions but also at the fact that she was willing to go back to the very person who'd broken her heart.
"She just had to do it tonight," he muttered, his grip on the wheel tightening.