The world was chaos.

Buildings crumbled around them. Blood stained the earth, mixing with the bodies scattered across broken streets, faces frozen in terror and despair. Above, the sky was a sickening mix of shades of red and black, swirling as if possessed by some evil force, and with every flash of crimson lightning, the ground trembled in response.

A woman ran, gasping for air. She was being pulled forward, her legs burning as she struggled to keep up. Her grip tightened around her child as his small body trembled, his little fingers tangled in her collar, whimpering softly. She barely had time to lift her gaze, but when she did, she saw him—a broad-shouldered figure slicing through the crowd ahead. Even in this nightmare, Damon was her anchor, pulling her through the chaos. She clung to his hand, her lifeline amid the horror.

A strange mist seemed to be coming from the horizon, swallowing up people as it swept through the panicked crowd. 

"Hold on!" Damon shouted over the howling wind, his voice barely reaching her through the storm.

They wove between fleeing figures, bodies pressing and colliding around them. The child whimpered softly against her neck, his tiny fingers clutching tighter. She held him closer, whispering, "It's okay, baby. Mommy and Daddy are here." 

Suddenly, figures rushed away from the mist and toward them—people lost in their fear, their eyes glazed with desperation. They collided with them and she stumbled, her grip on Damon's hand slipping, his warmth snapping away as someone surged between them. She twisted, desperation clawing at her as she reached out.

"No! Wait!" Her voice cracked as she reached out, watching in horror as he was swept away by the crowd.

He turned, eyes wide with panic. "Zara!" he yelled, his outstretched hand the last thing she saw before everything plunged into darkness.

*****

City B, February 1, 2028…

With a sharp gasp, Zara's eyes snapped open, her heart pounding as she took in the familiar walls of her bedroom. Sunlight streamed through the half-open curtains, casting a soft glow across the room.

The sounds of morning life drifted in from outside—distant laughter, a dog barking, a car door slamming. Her pulse remained erratic as the remnants of the dream clung to her, unsettling and too real.

"Another nightmare?" His voice was a low, calming murmur, and he studied her carefully, his thumb brushing softly along her cheekbone.

Zara managed a weak smile, her heart still racing. "Yes… the same one I've been having. Everything's red, and… we're running. It feels like we're trying to escape from something."

Damon's hand remained on her cheek, grounding her. "I told you, it's just stress,"  he said softly, pressing a reassuring kiss to her forehead. "You've been working so hard. The dreams are just your mind's way of working things out." But even as he said it, there was a flicker of concern in his eyes. "I'll admit, though, I'm getting a little worried about you."

"It just feels so real," she whispered, letting out a shaky breath. "There's something… off. Like these dreams are trying to tell me something."

"If that's the case, then I'm listening," he said, offering a soft smile as he pulled her closer. "Besides, you said they started after you started noticing strange things in your work, right?"

Zara nodded, her mind drifting back to the research she'd been doing before she'd gone on leave. "Just strange readings. Unusual atmospheric patterns, fluctuations in magnetic fields… I thought they were anomalies, but I've been seeing things that match up with the dreams. It's like something… big is about to happen."

Damon didn't scoff or dismiss her concerns but instead squeezed her hand. "Then let's keep preparing. I'll support you with anything you think we need. Supplies, food, whatever it takes. If it gives you peace of mind, then it's worth it."

A sudden rustle from the baby monitor interrupted them, showing Leo stirring in his crib. The tension softened from Damon's face as he kissed her temple. "Let's go see what our little troublemaker's up to."

Morning routines had a way of soothing Zara's frayed nerves. Damon, sleeves rolled up, was moving around the kitchen, pouring coffee and stacking pancakes while Leo, their three-year-old, squealed with laughter, trying to "help" but ending up stacking pancakes too high.

"Here you go love," Damon placed her plate of French toast in front of her. 

"Thank you," she smiled, watching Leo smear honey on the table. That would be a bitch to clean later, she thought absentmindedly. 

As she relaxed towards the end of breakfast, the news flickered on the television in the living room. Glancing at it from across the room, Zara's gaze sharpened as she caught sight of the headline.

"Strange, unseasonal storms have been recorded, and scientists are speculating about potential causes, including a recent anomaly involving a mysterious body that's entered Earth's orbit. This 'cosmic presence,' as some researchers call it, may be impacting atmospheric conditions and possibly releasing agents that could be altering the ecosystem…"

Videos of slowly reddening skies, strange curling mists descending from the mountains and other anomalies flashed across the screen. A chill trickled down Zara's spine. Could it be..?

"Hey," Damon called over, catching her watching the screen. He gave her a playful grin, trying to lighten the mood. "Looks like you were right all along. The apocalypse is happening, and we've got the top scientist here to figure it out."

Zara smiled, but her thoughts drifted back to her dream—the crimson skies, the feeling of being trapped. It gnawed at her, the unease rising again. "I just wish I knew what it meant," she murmured.

Damon leaned over, squeezing her shoulder. "Hey, we're fine," he said softly. "And even if the world does go sideways, we're prepared, remember?"

She met his gaze, hers softening. "I know. Thanks for... for putting up with my crazy."

He chuckled, brushing a kiss on her lips. "I'd take a little crazy over boring any day." Leo, oblivious to the tension between his parents, babbled happily, making a pancake "tower" with a mess of syrup.

Damon and Zara shared a look, laughing softly at their little syrup monster. 

After breakfast, they decided to walk to the park nearby, hoping the fresh air would settle the lingering tension.

Damon held her hand as they strolled down the street, Leo toddling beside them. The air was warm, the sun shining bright, and Zara found herself relaxing.

They passed a café where patrons whispered over their phones. "Did you see? Another blackout last night. And the storms—they're getting closer."

Zara's heartbeat quickened, her grip on Damon's hand tightening. He sensed her tension and squeezed back, offering her a reassuring smile. "It's just talk, Zara. Just rumours."

But then the wind shifted.

A strange, metallic scent filled the air, sharp and unnatural Zara's breath hitched, her spine stiffening as she looked up.

Thick clouds rolled in fast, transforming the once-bright sky into a deep, ominous red.

It was exactly like her dreams.

"Damon…" she whispered, fear creeping into her voice as she scooped up leo.

Damon's eyes darted to the sky, his face paling. "We need to get home. Now."

They turned, hurrying home as panic spread like wildfire in the park, the red sky drawing terrified stares, some pulling out their phones, others murmuring anxiously. Zara clutched Leo close, her heart hammering as they moved through the suddenly clustered road.

"Stay close!" Damon shouted over the noise, shielding her and Leo from the worst of the crowd as he kept them moving. The memories of her dream came rushing back, Damon's broad back, Leo's fingers clinging to her, the feeling of running from something terrible and unstoppable.

"Damon, it's just like the dream!" Her voice cracked, her hands tightening around Leo, who was whimpering in confusion.

"We'll make it back. I promise," he said, his eyes meeting hers, fierce and strangely grounding. Her heart eased a bit at the

They fought against the stampede, the crowd shoving past, disoriented and frantic. At one point, she tripped, almost falling, but Damon's strong arms caught her, pulling her close. "I've got you. Just hold on."

They were close to their house when the first crack of lightning split the sky. The bolt struck a nearby building, an explosion of fire and debris scattering into the street.

Zara screamed, instinctively ducking as Damon shielded her and Leo with his body.

Screams filled the air as people ran in all directions, bolts of lightning struck indiscriminately, ripping through concrete and metal alike.

The ground shook with each blast, the world around them disintegrating into chaos.

"We need to get inside!" Damon yelled, grabbing her hand, his voice strained with panic.

Tears pricked at her eyes as she fought to keep moving, her mind racing with fear and confusion.

Why was this happening? Why had she decided to leave the house? She stumbled, cradling Leo close, her breath ragged. They were out of time, out of options...

Finally, their house came into view. Relief surged through her, but just as they were about to cross the road, a violent blast ripped through the street, carving a deep trench between them and the house.

Smoke and dust filled the air, and she stumbled back, coughing as she tried to find her bearings.

"No!" Zara screamed, gripping Leo as Damon steadied her. There was no way to cross the trench. And the strange, silencing mist swept closer with terrifying speed. 

Damon looked at her, his eyes fiercely blazing. "Take Leo and go. Get to safety."

Her heart froze. "No! I'm not leaving without you!" Zara tried to argue, the ditch seemed a bit deep and she would need help getting down with Leo.

"Zara…I can lower you into the ditch with minimal damage, then I'll be right behind you." He tried to explain, looking back at the mist rushing towards them.

He didn't plan to abandon his family in this madness. 

"No! You can't fight mist!" She gestured helplessly to the mist, swallowing the world whole.

But before she could protest further, Damon hurried her toward the edge of the trench, his gaze softening as he looked at her and Leo.

"I love you both. More than anything. But you won't get another chance if you don't go now." His voice cracked, and she felt his grip loosen as she tipped over the edge of the ditch.

She wanted to scream, to pull him with her, but the mist was faster. It swirled around him, tendrils reaching, swallowing him up as his form began to fade.

"Damon!" Her voice was raw, desperate.

But the mist closed around him, and the world went silent.

The last thing she saw was the crimson sky, the ghostly mist overtaking everything in its path above, and then—

She was left with only darkness.