What was that story again? My mother used to tell me a lot when I was a kid. Ah yes, the end of the world. How did she describe it again, give me a second.

Aha, here we go. In my mother's words:

Humanity had just reached its Golden Age through the sacrifice of millions of lives and the crystallization of years of knowledge put together. She said life was just beginning for humanity.

Of course, life was just beginning but at the same time, it was also the end of it all.

Unknown to humans, in their search and struggle for the 'Perfect World', the 'Perfect Life', they crossed a line they shouldn't have. Many believed that it was a result of Mother Nature's anger, many said it was because the gods were not pleased with humans, giving different ideas as to why it happened but it did not matter what they said because, Judgement Day was here.

There was always a belief that a world existed above ours. A world much larger and more beautiful than ours. A world in the sky, a utopia. Some said they were just myths, some shrugged them off as stupid ideologies, but no one could deny it anymore, on the day the Pillars of the Earth collapsed, and the Arch World descended upon us all.

Humanity, no, the earth fell into ruin on this fateful day, and all we had struggled to gather over the long years, was destroyed in the blink of an eye.

A world much larger than ours? Yes, it was. A world more beautiful than ours? Yes, it was, and in thousands of ways in fact. A utopia? Hell would be the weakest of words to describe what we experienced, no, what we are still experiencing. The Arch World was in no way a utopia.

Humanity has picked itself back up to an extent but there are changes. We needed a way to resist the horrors of the Arch World, and it turns out there was a silver lining to the fall of humanity.

But I couldn't care any less about all that bullshit. Why would I?

As they rose again, they slowly divided into sectors, separating the rich from the poor, and fortunately for me, I was born in one of the lowest sectors- Sector 1128.

"Ah…it's almost lunchtime. I should get dad's food ready."

Many people would say life in the lower sectors was the worst, but for me, it wasn't that bad. In fact, it was the best. I couldn't understand the drive behind so many people wanting to be rich or at least be able to stand with the rich ones and I never cared because, after sixteen years of living, I still loved my life. As I said, life in the lower sectors wasn't that bad, especially when you had a loving family by your side.

I had a nuclear family of five. It was just me, my parents, and two younger siblings, twin girls. Both of my parents worked hard to keep my family going and I did my best to support them. My father worked as a heavy lifter in a small company that dealt with the support of human life after the fall. Every day just like today I would bring him lunch like the good son that I am.

As I made my way through the streets I got some occasional greetings from a lot of people, adults and kids alike. When I said family, I didn't mean just my parents and siblings. Out here, a lot of people looked out for each other, and I considered that as family.

I loved seeing them, but I couldn't help but notice that sometimes, some people would give me sad looks, looks of pity. Most times I felt they were just having personal problems, other times it would fill my head with different ideas, and I would worry, but who was I to pry into other people's businesses simply because they liked me?

After walking through alleyways and turning through a lot of muddy streets, I finally got to my father's workplace in a little less than half an hour. Once again it was time to relish the looks on the faces of my father's colleagues. Of course, I was the only child who deemed it right to bring his father lunch during work. My nose grew long and my face was smug as I could literally smell the jealousy in the air. I remembered the days when I used to bring him meals and they would all look at me with surprise on their faces, now it was admiration.

When I got there, I met my dad working at the same spot he worked at every day. I had no idea what he was doing there but he suddenly turned around and faced me with a smile. That smile dispelled all other thoughts from my head, and he was all I could see.

"Hey, son."

"Hey, dad."

My life was somewhat normal, and I had everything I wanted. I was happy.

My father turned the fullness of his body to me and spoke:

"You're here again today. You know you don't have to do this"

"Don't say that dad, this is the least I could."

"Well in that case set it on the table by the entrance, I'll pick it up there."

"Ok." Before I left my father to continue his work, I asked one last question. "Dad? What time are you coming home today?"

"Same time as usual."

It was just what I expected him to say. Once again, I loved my family, but sometimes I couldn't help but feel that something was wrong somewhere. I pondered on it sometimes, but I couldn't find anything wrong, so what made me feel that way, I had no idea.

"Bye, dad."

With a smile I walked away from my father and back at the entrance of the site, I placed the little sack on the table and left in a hurry. Today my mother was going to be back from her job as a nanny in one of the higher sectors, so I needed to get home quickly and fix her something to eat, at least that was what I thought I would.

I'll say it again. My life was somewhat normal…

…Until I met this guy.