A/N: Here is my attempt at a Goku x OC fic. This will contain some darker themes and while Goku will be in character, for the most part, I will be playing around with some darker undertones in terms of his personality. Thanks for reading, let me know what you think! Enjoy/ Rated M just in case/ Also working on a new chapter of MAGNETISM!
DUSK
There had been strange happenings lately. At first, it was as subtle as a soft breeze simply caressing the towns and cities all over the world. Townsfolk and city slickers alike whispered here and there, spreading rumors of creatures that stayed hidden in the shadows. Some said they were nothing but propaganda, a hoax even, putting to shame and invalidating eye witnesses.
It was said the strange creatures were human-like beings that had fallen from the sky in strange, round, pods. Some folks preached the beings were here to save humanity, that this would be the beginning of a golden era. Though, for those who had seen the strange folk, it was certain their presence was dark and laced with a much more sinister intent.
Whispers of isolated events started in the rural countryside. Strange disappearances were soon followed by scenes of violence until the circumstances grew into a trend that spread to the outer reaches of all major city limits. It was as if a strange fog had settled over the world. Each day it seemed the news continued to grow darker as the events continued to nip the heels of society.
The twenty-second of February had marked the day everything changed. Sirens sounded within all cities. It was a sound no one ever wanted to hear, as it was the sound of panic. It was the sound of chaos. The long, moaning, howls, of sirens, drew one thing to everyone's attention; We were not alone. They were not here to save us.
It had been two months since all cities had frantically been closed off to the outside world. The mandatory order had caused outrage until the first attack on my city had occurred. I tapped my pen anxiously on my desk as the events flashed through my mind.
I could still hear the screams of terrified civilians as panic gripped the city. I still saw the broken bodies that had been carelessly strewn all over the roads. I still felt the near crippling anxiety from time to time, and above all else, I could still hear the deep growl like sounds and ominous cackles of the beings who'd descended from the sky and brought destruction to the planet I called home.
A deep shiver ran down the length of my spine and I quickly jumped up and away from my desk. I had to shake my thoughts somehow and it seemed the sudden movement brought me back to the present.
I wrapped my gray cardigan tighter around my body as I looked around my small, lonely, studio apartment. It was a mess. And though the lack of motivation was in part due to the trauma I'd experienced, the real reason was because if I picked up the pieces, I really would be faced with accepting the reality of the situation.
Most my family and friends had been victims that day. There was a part of me that felt like I didn't deserve to go on if they couldn't. As if I would be cleaning them away too, like putting a box of much-loved trinkets away in the attic.
The windows of my ground level studio were all boarded up, preventing daylight or prying eyes into my home. A deep sigh turned into a quiet sob as I numbly began to pick a few things up off the floor. I had to figure out a way to pull myself out of this head space. I was slowly going crazy from relative isolation. Something needed to change.
The thought of venturing outside had been crossed my mind for weeks now. I desperately needed to somehow get groceries and at least check on my neighbors. I had been hearing that even though the city was secure, the strange disappearances were still happening within the city walls.
It was a mystery. And whether it was fueled by facts or rumors, I wasn't sure. Either way, I didn't want to find out. A loud groan from my stomach made my decision for me. The need for food was simply too great and so it seemed I would be throwing caution to the wind to find something to eat.
Drying my tears I slipped on some shoes and bundled up as warmly as I could. While spring was on its way, the fog that covered the city made me feel like winter was going to be a permanent resident. I grimaced at the thought but pushed forward, anxiously making my way to the front door. I stared at the locks for a few minutes before nervously unlocking and opening the door.
The door creaked open, and what I saw before me was a sight for sore eyes. To my relief there at least some souls who seemed unaffected by circumstances. I watched two blue birds eagerly peck at the ground. Seeing nature gave a little more confidence than I had before as I slipped out of my apartment.
Tentative steps turned into bolder strides as I edged myself out onto One Hundred and Thirty-First Avenue and Lancewood Street. The neighborhood certainly felt abandoned as debris from both fallen houses and vehicles were everywhere. The scene before me reminded me of images I'd seen of tornado aftermath. Only little was standing and most looked liable to collapse at the slightest touch. Casting a glance back the way I'd come, I reminded myself how lucky I was.
After slinking through a few neighborhood alleyways, I was surprised that I made it to the store unharmed. I felt even greater surprise when my eyes met the sight of packaged food. While it wasn't fresh or wholesome by any means, it was something to eat and it almost felt too good to be true.
Filling my arms to the brim, I silently cursed myself for not thinking to bring a bag of some sort. And while I was currently the only person here that didn't mean this place would still be full the next time I returned. To think I would be the only scavenger out here would be foolish.
And so I cautiously made my way back home with an ever-growing sensation of being watched. I did my best to nullify my anxiety, but not knowing what time of day it was only caused my anxiety to worsen when I realized dusk was fast approaching.
Instinctively, I looked began to look at my surroundings and jumped a few times as the growing shadows began to play tricks on my mind. Was there someone out there? Someone?
Not wanting to find out I quickened my pace until I was almost running back to the only safe haven I knew. I was glad the entrance to my studio was somewhat tucked back under the stairs and around the corner, for the thought of being out of plain sight was comforting.
Skidding to as gracefully of a halt as I could manage I stopped just shy of my street corner, cautiously taking another good look around. The feeling of eyes on me was becoming overwhelming. And while I wasn't sure if it was just my paranoia, if my gut was right I didn't want whatever it was following me back home.
Though as I scanned the broken neighborhood, I still only saw fragments of houses and inanimate objects. No cats, no dog, no humans…
When my stomach gave another growl I forced myself to push the feeling aside. A lonely street lamp flickered to life signaling curfew. Swallowing nervously, I ducked into my studio apartment as fast and quietly as I could manage.
With both feet past the threshold, I turned around to close the door. Hands ready on the locks, I cast one final glance outside. I really wish I hadn't. There, at the end of the sidewalk on the other side of the street stood a tall figure whose features were concealed in shadows.
My heart skipped a few beats as involuntary tears immediately began to stream from my eyes. The feeling of terror of the unknown induced such anxiety that before I could even catch myself, I slammed the door as fast as I could, not caring about how far the sound might travel.
I jumped away from the door and instinctively found the darkest, most secure corner I could find in my tiny home. And there, in the dark, I waited tensely as I tried to reason that all I had seen was nothing more than a shadow. The longer I waited huddled in the corner, the more I began to believe that I was just losing it.
Uncurling from my near fetal position on the floor, I finally regained composure enough to reach for a bag of food hoping that perhaps eating a little something would help calm my body and mind. And just when I opened the bag and took my first bite of its contents, a loud, abrasive, crash, rattled my bones when something hit my front door with such a force I thought the door would burst open.
I fought the urge to scream, nearly choking on my food from how alarmingly loud the sound had been. With my heart pounding in my chest, I didn't know what to do when I saw the front door handle jiggle. There was nowhere I could go, nowhere else to hide!
Closing my eyes, I did my best to try to press myself closer to the wall in the hopes that I'd just become part of it. The idea of facing whatever was on the other side of my front door was simply out of the question, even though it seemed apparent that fate had finally caught up with me.
The final thought of being with those I loved again seemed my only solace. Tears streamed down my face as the front door to my modest home flew open, nearly coming off the hinges. That time, my hands flew over my mouth but not before I had let out a scream.
I couldn't control my breathing when I heard solid footsteps coming closer and closer to the spot where I had attempted to conceal myself. Burying my face into my cardigan, I sobbed as quietly as I could.
It didn't matter though, for whoever it was already knew full well that I was there, as the sound of footsteps stopped right before me. I refused to look up, cursing myself for trembling so hard. The few minutes of silence was nearly all I could take as I anxiously awaited the end.
However, it never came. And to my surprise, a gentle touch was enough to coax me to finally raise my tearful green eyes up to meet the stranger in the dark. Slowly, I allowed myself to look up from the floor to the huge arms that blocked my view of my front door and guided me to finally look into the gray orbs of the being that peered down at me. The rest of the details were lost as a fluttering of uneasiness flowed through me when the stranger's voice cut through the darkness.
"Sorry…" A soft yet masculine voice spoke out, " I didn't mean to frighten you… I easily forget my strength." He continued, hesitantly laugh at his own words.
The being stayed crouched over my small frame for a few more moments before he seemed to realized that perhaps a little bit of breathing room would be appreciated. Standing up, he took a few steps back before putting his hands on his hips and leaned his head to the left, all the while continuing to look at me and the room he found himself in.
Even in the dim lighting, I could tell he was tall and well muscled, though I was in for a surprise when the light was suddenly flipped on. I quickly shut my eyes to shield them from the abrasive yellow glow that enveloped the room, wondering how that had happened. The light switch was across the apartment by the kitchen sink and the best of my knowledge, I hadn't even seen the being move.
As I heard him tinker with my belongings and the sound of the fridge open, curiosity won out when I finally lifted my eyes once more to see who I was in company with. To say I was gobsmacked was beyond an understatement. As I looked up and down the miraculous form of the stranger who'd burst in on me, I felt slight panic, or maybe twisted relief, that even though there was certainly something alien about him, I might be ok with this handsome stranger being the last thing I ever see.
Beginning to feel faint at the odd turn of events, I took in the wild state of his jet black hair, as well as the bright, charming smile that beamed at me from my kitchen. I had just enough time to register the concerned expression that formed as my body gave out and stressed finally managed to catch up to me. It was too much. And as I fell into unconsciousness a small part of me wondered if fate had perhaps been kind after all?
A/N: Should I keep going? What did y'all think?