** Greetings and welcome new readers!

A quick message before the journey begins:

"..." - dialogue

'...' - thinking

*...* - ambience sounds

Now that that's out of the way I want to say

Thanks for showing interest and reading my story, it means the world to me. It's my first story so I sincerely hope you like it. Please give me feedback if you think I can improve anything as I am addicted to it!

Imma let you read now

Enjoy! 😉😄

Author

**

The sky. An endless blue ocean only interrupted by rogue isles of white puffy clouds spanning infinitely above our heads. This is the place where the manifestations of our ideals exist. We have strived for the sky. "Gabriel" We have managed to fly but never as free as the birds. " Gabriel! " We have created light but it didn't shine as bright as the stars. We..

" GABRIEL!" I jolted as the voice managed to drag me from my daydream. Behind me was a tall, bulky brunette with green eyes and an amused look on his face.

" Leave it to ya the be this airheaded! If ya space out like this ya might even run into a wall with yer eyes open!"

" I've travelled this road hundreds of times, there chance of that happening is zero " I responded while letting out a yawn.

" Says the guy that keeps stumbling every third step! " he let out a laught " Oi, we're going to be late for class, ain't ya worried? Ya know full well how the teacher treats students that are late "

" We are going to arrive 2 minutes late. The teacher himself arrives 3-4 minutes late on the first hour. And while he always lectures students he doesn't actually punish them. Worst case scenario we are gonna get off with a warning "

* Never expected the nerd to be so lax on the rules * he let out another a chuckle.

George had a domineering personality to match his phisique. He would often throw clever remarks at me with his friends but, despite his bully-like personality, he has never went farther than that. Alltough that might just be because he pretends I don't exist most of the time.

***

As I anticipated we reached the class before our teacher. From there on out the day proceeded in the usual monotone way. As i began to sink into my own thoughts I heard a couple fleeting disdainful remarks. This was normal. I wasn't popular and I grew numb to the fact. I let out another yawn and placed my head on the table to take a nap.

***

" Are you feeling ok Gabriel? "

This voice... Clara. I raised my head to meet her gaze. With the contrast between her bright blue eyes, pale skin and pitch-black hair she was easily one of the prettiest girls in class.

" I'm fine, just a bit sleepy, thank you... " I responded with a faint smile. She had a bright and positive character that inspired everyone around her, and I knew that instead of judging me she tried to understand me. That's why she was one of the few people I respected.

" Didn't drink your morning coffee? " she asked with a grin.

" I don't really drink coffee " I said while I instinctively turned my eyes towards the window.

" Well that would explain the sleepiness. " she let out a chuckle before asking me " Hei, Gabriel, you always seem to be looking at the clouds, why do you like them so much? "

" Well... I'm not exactly sure myself its just that sometimes... "

" Sometimes? " Clara asked, but her voice didn't reach me... it couldn't have.

My eyes were glued to the window, widened in shock of what I was witnessing.

It was the sky. The never ending sea of blue was suddenly gaining a crimson taint, the previously white clouds were turning into a dark, muddied gray while gathering together in a movement similar to a vortex.

A shout resounded trough the room as Clara finally realised what was happening. I could hear the rest of the class hurry to the windows.

" W-what is that? A s-shooting star? " she yelled.

It was than when I saw it - some sort of meteorite appeared from the vortex of clouds

and was approaching the ground rapidly. The ground shook when the asteroid crashed. The loudest bang I've heard followed. I wanted to pluck my ears but didn't have time to do so, as the shock wave that ensured blew me away.

I couldn't tear my eyes away from the sinister spectacle. The blackened vortex was hungrily devouring the reddish sky until it's last bits of meager light disappeared. Darkness befell me.. no... not just darkness... eerie silence all around me, not even a blade of grass could be heard.

'What's going on? Where am I?' I said as I could finally hear the sound of my rapid heart. I took a few steps fumbling around the darkness, desperately trying to discern any details past the veil of darkness... a futile attempt.

*plop* Suddenly a humid sound, as if someone stepped on a puddle broke the silence. Did I step on something?. I look down in order to confirm my surroundings only to realise that I couldn't even see my hands.

*plop* I...I didn't move this time...The sound is coming from somewhere behind me.

*plop* I could sware this sound was coming inches from me at this point. I wanted to turn towards it but my body screamed in protest. The fear took hold of me.

Than I felt it. A cold shiver ran through my spine as something was crawling up my leg. Released by a greater, primordial fear, I am finally able to move. I try to shake it of, I try to run but to no avail, whatever grabbed me won't let go. Another attempt to free myself and it's force makes me fall to the ground. A hand. It was a hand, and it was pulling me.

"LET ME GO!" I yelled as I was desperately trying to grab onto the ground and crawl away. As he pulled me closer and closer it's frozen breath made my hearth stop. I knew I was about to die.

Funny how courage sometimes comes from unexpected places. It was only by accepting death that I finally managed to turn around to face the beast. But even than, all I could see were his rows of sharpened white teeth that seemed to somehow devour darkness itself .

I opened my mouth, but instead of a yell, a chuckle:

" Dang, you sure keep your oral hygiene if nothing else, huh? Well, if I am gonna go, at least I'll go in style!"

With my fear replaced with some sort of bravery, I make my final move, I strike the damned thing.

But it wasn't my first that connected with the creature. A golden lightning bolt suddenly struck out from my hand impaling the creature right past its shining teeth into its brain. The monster shriveled letting out a deafening shriek before dropping forever silent.

" Huh? How are you dead ? And how am I alive? And what is this?"

The same hand that was clenched in a first a moment ago was now firmly gripping a short sword. 'It wasn't a lightning bolt that shot out of my hand, it was this sword' I finally realised.

After a god-sent moment of respite I get up and pull the sword out of the its head. It took a bit of struggling to get it out but as soon as I did I found myself shielding my eyes from its blinding light. When I managed to adjust to the light I finally layed out of my source of terror. Alltough his features were hard to distinguish due to his dark, almost fluid, skin, I could still determine that alltough he presented vaguely humanoid features they were highly deformed. His arms and legs were roughly about the same length, which would explain why it took him so long to drag me towards him, and perhaps the most disturbing of all was his, or perhaps his lack of, face. There was no nose, no eyes, no hair, only a mouth that stretched from one end to the other.

Shivering away from the unsightly creature I turn my attention towards my life saviour. Despite the fact that the sword was still glowing a brilliant yellow I could now see it whiteout burning my retina... I hope. The sword itself resembled a Roman gladius but with a more conventional European guard. But by far the most entrancing detail about the sword was it's the streaks of golden energy which seemed to be constantly flowing towards the its tip. On a closer inspection I realised that the flow did not originate from the guard as but instead originated from... me?

Whitout a warning a soaring pain took hold of my arm. I couldn't hold it in no longer, I started yelling:

"AAAAH" I jolted from my bed still gripping my arm. I looked frantically around me until I confirmed my surroundings. I was in my room. It was a dream. Thank god.

Letting out a relieved sigh I fall back in bed. The room was nothing impressive to say the least, it was a small room barely able to fit a coach, an ancient-looking bench and drawer, but right now I couldn't have been more happy to be here.

" Gabriel are you alright? " a familiar voice called out as gramps opened the door.

" I'm fine, just a nightmare. " I quickly responded. * Sorry, I woke you up... " I continued after realising how late it was.

" Don't worry kid, these days all I do is rest, I won't miss a couple minutes " he smirked " You on the other hand should get back to sleep. School is back in session tomorrow. "

" Mhm " I responded absent - minded, as my thoughts were already drifting back towards the dream.

Gramps must've sensed that there was something bothering me as he continued on a more serious note:

" You know, you don't have to go to school tomorrow... the world out there hasn't calmed down yet and you'd be safer here "

This took me by surprise a bit as I'd never have imagined gramps ever telling me NOT to go to school. As a former member of the army, specifically the military police at that, he was always strict about the rules, it was his nature. It just goes to show how much ' the fall ' has shaken him as well... Alltough it has already been a week and a half he's still worried about it.

" It's been more than a week already I can't stay here forever, if I wait any more I'll fall behind... besides, the police along with the army are still patrolling around in case anything happens " I try to assure him.

" That's exactly what worries me... " he mumbled, " Alas, you are right,we cannot cower in here forever. " he smiles " I've raised a good boy " he adds while petting me on the head.

" Please gramps, I am not Sparky... "

" Oh no you're not, Sparky is a very bad boy " gramps replied by letting of a chuckle.

"Woof!" Sparky barks, confused as to why he has been called.

" There you go, bad boy! What have I told you about barking at night! "

" whimper..." the dog immediately conceded, falling back to sleep.

Poor doggie... I woke you up as well, didn't I?Don't worry I'll give you a threat in the morning.

" That's more like it! Now, kiddo, you need to follow his example if you are to wake up in the morning, hurry back to sleep! Night-Night now " he said as he retreats in his room.

" Good night gramps... "

I've walked this road a thousand times. After so many trips I came to know this road like the back of my hand, yet this one trip made it seem so... different, as if I was walking a different path alltogether. The path itself remained untouched, but the usual hurried tension of the bustling street along with its neverending rows of cars dampened into an unerving silent atmosphere. Of the few people present many we're wearing black, mourning clothes. Alltough the shockwave didn't impact the infrastructure very much it did quite a number on the people that were blown back by it. I got away with just a few bruises, but others weren't so lucky... even amongst my classmates some had been hospitalised.

I look down and shake my head. ' It'll all be back to normal soon. ' I try to assure myself. I might have grown tired of this road before but now I downright hated it. I fasten the pace.

****

It didn't take long to reach the school. There were virtually no cars on roads so I just beelined trough the crosswalks.

The school always looked impressive. It was a former palace after all, the main building was four storyes tall, which dominated the area since it was mostly composed of small to medium sized houses, and was decorated by various ornaments, some of which were already starting to decay due to old age. Than there was the two meters long wall surrounding the facility interrupted only by an impressive gateway. Right now though, with the addition of a few armed soldiers stationed in front of the gate, the old palace could successfully pass as a castle fully maned for war. A daunting sight to behold.

" Your I'd, please " one of the soldiers said as I attempted to get past the door. " Good, now step inside and wait for inspection ".

I nod and head inside. An orderly cue was formed in the adjacent courtyard. At the end of the line two police officers seemed to be performing checks on the students belongings. As I step to take my place in the cue a hand rises from within the crowd.

" Gabriel, here! Saved you a spot! ".

Violet. I'd recognize that long curly purple hair and green eyes anywhere. She's what people should describe as a conspiracy theorist and... my classmate, one of the few ones that actually acknowledged my existance.

" Hey Violet! Thanks fo- " I couldn't finish my sentence as Violet pulled me closer and whispered.

" So, what do you think this is about? "

" What's about? "

" The armed guards, the convoys, the checks of course! Are you blind?! "

Now that she mentions it, she's right. This past week I started to take anything wierd as the norm so I didn't put much thought into it. The amount of security present was a bit odd even for these times.

" I don't know... maybe they're expecting some sort of attacks by the students... these times have been rough for everyone, you don't know how people are going to react, especially teenagers who don't know how to control their emotions ".

" Oh come on... you're no fun... " Violet said with a hint of exasperation on her face. Than she smirked triumfantly. " That still doesn't explain presence of the military. A couple cops could handle a bunch of enraged teenagers. "

I shrug my shoulders " Than what's your theory about all this? "

" Ok, so I want you to listen to me closely... " She leans a bit forward. " Aliens! "

" Aliens? " I asked as I was holding out a chuckle. My classmate outdid herself this time.

" Yes! The meteor that has crashed in the city must have carried some sort of virus or something like that and it invaded the mind of the authorities, and now they are trying to indoctrinate us too! ".

" Right... so you are saying that that all the police officers are mind controlled by the alliens? "

" Exactly! "

" And you are saying this... in front of said police officers? "

" What? " Violet said before she finally realised that we were now in front of the cue. In front of us the cops that heard most of the conversation were visibly struggling to hold their laugh and maintain professionalism.

After this little incident Violet turned red and didn't say anything for the rest of the way to the class. I felt bad for her but before I could mutter some sort of apology she said.

" I know you don't believe me, but at least... be careful, all right? "

A faint smile appeared on my face " Aye, you take care too ".

And without further delay, we entered the classroom.