Prologue
On the way back from school, Kael felt a chill in the air, an unease he couldn't explain. The skies were a dusky gray, and the silence around him was almost unnatural. As he approached his village, he noticed something unusual—scattered belongings and a broken window here and there. His heart pounded as he stepped up to his family's small, familiar home, only to find the door hanging open and the faint scent of something metallic in the air.
He froze at the entrance, his eyes adjusting to the dim light. The sight before him made his blood run cold. His home was in shambles, and monstrous creatures with thick, jagged fangs and gleaming eyes prowled through the wreckage. He spotted his mother and siblings, their bodies crumpled on the ground, motionless. A low, menacing growl echoed as one of the monsters turned its gaze towards him, blood dripping from its mouth.
Realizing what had happened, Kael felt a crushing wave of fear and disbelief. Instinct took over, and he stumbled back, forcing his legs to move even as his mind reeled from the horror. He bolted, running as fast as he could, but the monsters had already picked up his scent. Their footsteps thundered behind him, a terrible reminder that he was now their prey.