Chapter 1: Wake up call

City lights sprinkled like glitter along the walls as people mingled and strolled along the cobblestone sidewalks, equipped with shopping bags from at least every store on the street or eating according to their diet consisting of Starbucks' pumpkin spice lattes. Cars zoomed by effortlessly, their tremendous speeds blowing wind in people's faces. The lush parks in the area were beautiful, with their gigantic trees which made you feel more in tune to nature.

Despite this, the city was not the ideal living condition for David. Even living in the more suburban part of the city wasn't the life he had hoped for. Still, he called his cramped old apartment room his home. It wasn't amazing, but it was enough to accommodate him and his snarky, mischievous 12-year-old son, Max, who he had adopted 2 years ago due to his abusive parents. At first, the thought of living with the happiest man in the world seemed too dreadful to bear, but Max had adapted to his new home, a home where people cared about him.

It was like any ordinary weekend for Max. He confined himself in his small room, fiddling with the buttons on hs PS4 controller when David had unexpectedly barged into the room, his typical ear-to-ear grin spread across his face.

Max paused his game and turned his attention to the towering redhead standing beside him.

"Pack some stuff, because we're going camping!" David chirped.

He couldn't help but giggle at Max groaning at the word 'camping'.

Nonetheless, they set off on their trip whether they liked it or not, but none of them were prepared to experience what hell had in store when they returned.

*THE REAL STORY BEGINS*

They trudged through the muddy pathway as it rained harder, (( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)) their umbrella shielding them from the waterfall pouring down on them. Their footsteps and the rain were the only noise filling in the silence. Not a single passerby, nor a speeding car. David didn't mind the silence, but Max was genuinely disturbed. Every step felt like a new eye was stalking them. All the life in the city had vanished, frozen in time. It was a ghost town.

He finally gathered the courage to speak. "Where the fuck is everybody?"

David responded with an uneasy "Language, and I don't know." Max's stomach was tied up in knots. Something must've happened when they went camping. David watched as Max shoved his hands into the tiny pockets of his hoodie, attempting to hide how distressed he was, but David knew. After living with Max for 2 years, he could read him like a book. He ruffled his black, curly hair and gave him a small smile, contrary to his usual large grins. One that comforted him.

They neared the next turn as they encountered a brunette lady, standing as still as a statue in the middle of the pathway, a sickening smile on her face. David noticed that she was wearing nothing but white, though it was soaking wet (( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)) from the rain. They locked eyes, and she suddenly animated to life before their very eyes. Grin never leaving, she ran to them as she analysed them, head to toe. Her ominous behavior caused David to back away from her, taking Max with him.

"Sorry ma'am-"

"You must be David and Max." The lady abruptly interrupted him.

They were taken aback. Had they known this lady? School perhaps?

"Everyone in the city has been looking for you, by request of Prophet Daniel!" She exclaimed.

The two boys' hair stood on end upon hearing that name. Shivers were sent down their spine. Was it… That Daniel? The insane cultist who tried to kill them twice? David chickled nervously as he backed even further away.

"He would be very pleased to see you. Why don't you come with me?" She took steps forward, each time David mirroring her move backwards.

"I-I got- uhh.. places to-to go, a-an"

Without warning, the brunette lunged for his wrist, holding it with an iron grip. David squealed, along with Max's surprised shouts and attempted to break the grip.

"There's no need to be scared!" She "reassured" him, that menacing smile never once left her face.

"L-Let go of me!"

"Don't you want to feel safe too?"

That was all it took. Max conjured up as much strength as he could muster and sent an almighty kick to her shins. She winced and loosened her grip on David's wrist. He yanked his wrist out of her hand and scooped up Max and ran as fast as his legs could go, never looking back and occasionally nearly slipping on the wet slippery ground. He paused to catch his breath in front of his apartment lobby and scanned his surroundings. No one was around. It was deserted, not a single person in the lobby, not even workers or janitors. He and Max bolted up the stairs to their room, practically tripping on their own feet as he fumbled for his keys and shakily unlocked the door, slamming and re-locking the door as they tried to process what had just happened. David's breath was shaky and he was constantly gasping for air, fresh tears spilling out onto his face. He gulped to try and rid the huge lump in his throat.

What happened next was unexpected.

David snapped back into his surroundings to see the strong hold of Max hugging him tightly, silently stroking his back with his hand. He was slightly shaking as well. He hugged back, cradling him and holding him close. It reminded him of how much he loved Max with all of his heart. How much he would do anything to protect him.

The feeling just couldn't shake off though. He now knew what disaster the city has been plunged into.

That Daniel was behind this… The one who has not only tried to kill and poison his kids once, but tried a SECOND time to kill Max was back at it again…

…and this time, he's out to hunt them both down.

ALRIGHT YALL THIS IS MY FIRST FANFIC so excuse my terrible writing skills :')

Uhh yeah this took 7 hours to write because I am such a slow writer like holy shit you don't even know

Hopefully I'll be able to get the second chapter out soon

You can also find this story on wattpad under story/164270617-cultpocalypse

So yeet

Bye

13/10/18