Prologue: The Collapse
"I cast off the shield, and I shrugged my shoulders so that the billions fell off me down into the ash." - Unknown
"C'mon, hurry up..." Traffic was a complete deadlock. The last colony ships were soon to take off, and Eric was stuck in a figurative parking lot. It had only been a few weeks since Earth first lost contact with the outer colonies. One by one, they became unresponsive. The Warminds sensed something fast approaching, a darkness that killed everything in its path. Humans and Exos alike started to pile into colony ships, hoping to make it past this unbeatable force.
Now, thousands were gathered outside the Baikonur Cosmodrome, hoping to get into one of the last ships. Eric's friends had escaped a few days before, but there was not enough space for him. So he was stuck here, waiting in this god-forsaken line.
An explosion shocked him out of his stupor. He saw thick, black smoke, like that of a gasoline fire, rising above the walls of the Cosmodrome. Next came the screaming. But instead of originating from the direction of the fire, it sounded as if it was behind him. It was an anguished, blood-curdling sound; the scream of one who is about to die.
"What the..." Eric muttered, glancing over his shoulder, just in time to see hundreds of civilians, streaming past the cars in the direction of the walls. The screams were accompanied by shrieking, like that of a dying animal. Twisted shapes started to rush over the hill behind him. Purple bolts of energy streaked through the crowds, while mortar-like bolts rained down from above.
"Jesus Christ, what the hell are those!?" Eric screamed as he struggled to get out of his car. The screams escalated as those twisted, skeletal creatures fell upon those who were slowest. But hundreds more advanced. He ran like he had never ran before, dodging between cars. More tortured forms clambered up the edges of the cliffs beside him, taking down refugees, one by one. Eric slid behind a truck, out of breath. He saw cars being tossed aside by floating figures, who seemed to be commanding the hordes.
The truck Eric was hiding behind was thrown away suddenly. He turned, met with one of the insect-like shapes. He stood still, hoping to God it could not see him. He almost could have sworn the thing smiled at him, before he was lifted off the ground by an iron grip on his shoulder. He struggled, trying to free himself from the unyielding hold, before a jagged, dark sword emerged from his stomach. Eric was roughly flung off of the blade, landing in the slushy snow by the side of the road. The last thing he saw was green fire, painted across the sky, before everything turned black.
A/N:
I am new to writing so I'm sorry if my skills are very subpar. Feel free to add feedback or suggestions!