The alarm's deafening wail echoed across the outskirts, shattering the fragile calm and plunging the area into utter chaos. Kaden woke up Lila quickly, as she woke up, panic settled on her face instantly, driving away the sleepiness from her face.
"Don't worry, it's going to be alright". Kaden assured her as snatched the small bundle of belongings he kept for emergencies—a tattered blanket and a half-empty bottle of water—and grabbed Lila's trembling hand. But even he didn't believe his words.
The air was alive with panic. Families screamed, scrambled, and stumbled over each other, clutching loved ones as if sheer desperation could save them from the approaching horror.
Through the speakers scattered around the outskirts, a monotone voice blared over the chaos:
"Attention! A level one portal has opened. Repeat, a level one portal has opened. All residents are advised to evacuate immediately."
Kaden's heart pounded as he tightened his grip on Lila. His mind churned with memories of five years ago, of a time when these monstrous portals first tore his life apart. He could still see the battered, lifeless bodies of his parents, their blood pooling beneath them, their home reduced to ashes.
The beings that comes out from those portals are terror, terrible beasts that seems to come from the very base of hell. They made this already cruel world more cruel.
The beasts had taken his family then, but he swore to himself they would not take Lila. Not this time.
"Stay close to me," he said firmly, his voice barely audible over the cries and chaos around them.
People surged toward the city, a distant glimmer of hope where military protection awaited. Safety. That's what they all thought, but reaching it would be a test of endurance and sheer will.
As Kaden and Lila ran with the crowd, the sky above crackled with unnatural energy. A swirling, ominous light opened like a wound in the heavens, and the portal stabilized. It wasn't as large as the one from five years ago, but Kaden knew that size didn't matter. Even the smallest portal could unleash devastation.
From the portal's gaping maw emerged grotesque creatures, their jagged limbs slicing the air as their glowing eyes scanned for prey. Shadowy beasts, their forms twisted and unnatural, descended upon the outskirts. The air filled with the sounds of ripping flesh, guttural growls, and the desperate screams of the dying.
Kaden didn't have the luxury of panic. He glanced at Lila, whose tiny legs were struggling to keep up. Without hesitation, he hoisted her onto his back. Her tear-streaked face buried itself in his shoulder as her small arms wrapped around his neck.
"Lila, hold on!" he shouted, weaving through the chaotic crowd.
He looked back—once, just once—and saw the beasts closing in. Their gnarled claws ripped through homes, their heavy steps crushed the fragile structures of the outskirts, and their howls drowned out the pleas for mercy.
Kaden pushed himself harder, his thin legs straining with every step. He shoved people out of his way, guilt and desperation warring within him. He couldn't care about anyone else. Not now. Not when Lila's life depended on him.
Finally, the city gates came into view, but Kaden's hope was short-lived. A massive crowd had already gathered, bottlenecked at the entrance. People screamed and clawed at each other, desperate to get through.
Behind him, the beasts showed no mercy. They tore through the outskirts, leaving nothing but destruction in their wake. The once-bustling slum was now a nightmare of mangled bodies and burning rubble. The stench of blood and smoke filled the air, mixing with the gut-wrenching cries of those left behind.
"Move!" Kaden shouted, trying to push his way forward, finally due to his small frame, he was able to squeeze through the front. A small smile of relief made way to his face.
That's when he saw it. Surrounding the city was a shimmering blue ripple in the air—a barrier. He reached out, but the moment his fingers touched it, the surface rippled and repelled him.
"No..." Fear and anger surged through him as the realization struck. "They locked us out."
The city's elite had activated the barrier, sealing themselves in and abandoning the outskirts to their fate. Kaden's hands balled into fists as rage bubbled in his chest. "Those bastards set up a barrier. They locked us out to die!"
Around him, the panic grew. People at the front of the crowd began pounding on the barrier, their fists and makeshift weapons sending ripples through the blue field. Desperation turned to madness as they shouted and screamed, hoping to break through.
Kaden's gaze flicked back to the outskirts. The beasts were relentless, their grotesque forms tearing apart everything in their path. Fires consumed the slums, casting an eerie glow over the massacre. The air was thick with the acrid smell of smoke and the metallic tang of blood.
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Back at the governor's mansion within the city, luxury and excess reigned. The governor—a fat, chubby man with glistening skin and a permanent sneer—lounged in his lavish quarters. A plate of grapes rested on his swollen belly as two scantily clad women giggled and draped themselves over him.
The soft knock on his door made him scowl. "What is it now?" he snapped, annoyed at the interruption.
"Enter."
The door opened, and a soldier stepped in, his boots clicking against the marble floor. He stole a quick glance at the two women who didn't even bother to put on some clothes to cover themselves. He quickly avert his eyes to the ground.
"Sir," the soldier said, "those bastards have reached the barrier. They're attacking it, trying to find a way in."
The governor sneered, his expression twisting with disgust. "Those pests. Can't they stay and fight the beasts instead of running to seek safety here?, those cowards." He popped another grape into his mouth and waved dismissively. "Get rid of them. I don't care what means you use"
The soldier's lips curled into a sinister grin. "Yes, sir."
He turned to leave but couldn't resist stealing one last glance at one of the women. She caught his eye and sent him a playful wink, making him stumble slightly before hastily exiting.
Behind the closed door, the room erupted into laughter and moans. The governor leaned back, his chubby fingers trailing over the women as he laughed, indifferent to the genocide he had just ordered.
__________________________
Outside the city, the chaos continued. Kaden stood trapped between the unyielding barrier and the merciless beasts, surrounded by screams, destruction, and the overwhelming stench of death.
Answer to the last riddle: "Clock".
Riddle of the Day: "I'm a five-letter word that becomes shorter when you add two letters to me. What am I?"