1 Alex Mikado

Three kids lay on the soft grass watching the setting sun.

"Isn't it beautiful?" Zoe, the girl among them, asked. She used her hand to brush some strands of pink hair falling over her face.

"Yeah, sis. I wonder what the outside world would look like," Dalux said with a sigh. His dark hair flowed along the gentle wind.

"What about you, Alex? What do you think?" Zoe asked.

"Hmgg..." Alex grunted, his gaze fixed on the sky. After spending some time lying in the soft grass and lost in their thoughts dalux suddenly sprang up.

"It's time for us to head home. We don't wanna get Mother worried," Dalux said, getting off the ground.

"Go on," Alex said, "I'll stay here a bit longer."

"Take care, Alex," Zoe said as she followed Dalux.

Alex lay for some minutes, listening to the chirping birds. "The outside world, huh? I wonder when we would be able to venture outside," he said with a longing look. Lost in his thoughts, he finally decided to head back home.

Getting off the ground, he walked through the trees, navigating his way home.

Centuries ago, the world lived peacefully until one day. The once-blue sky was covered in a dark mist. Emerging from those mists were large spaceships filled with aliens.

That day marked the invasion of the world, Earth. The humans fought bravely, trying to defend their home, but the aliens were too strong. Their advanced technologies were too much for the humans to handle. These humanoid-like aliens had not only advanced technologies but also used strange powers.

Each clan finally accepted defeat, surrendering to them.

A wall was built by their ancestors protecting the remnants from the aliens. The last few humans or so they thought now lived within the wall for years peacefully.

****

"Dinner is ready," Lory said, setting the table. A few minutes later, the family sat around the table. Dinner went peacefully with everyone occupied with their thoughts.

Alex was the first to stand up. He thanked his parents before leaving for his room.

"He's getting worse these days," Zoe said immediately he was out of reach.

"Let your brother be, Zoe. He just needs some time. You know he was very close to Zack."

"He thinks it's because of him he was caught and that's slowly eating him away," Zoe said with tears streaming down her cheeks.

"He... he never caused anything," Dalux said. "As a matter of fact, he tried protecting him more than all of us, yet he still blames himself."

"He's just angry at us, I believe with time, he will be back to his normal self," their father said, his once captivating emerald eyes now faded.

****

Alex had gone up the roof of the house. Lying down, he gazed at the bright moon. The night sky was lit up by the stars. He usually goes up when he needs to be alone.

He stretched out his hand towards the moon, clenching it tightly. He slowly dropped it on his chest, tears slowly tricking down his face.

"I'm sorry, it's all my fault," he whispered. "I let them get hold of you. I couldn't do anything, I was so powerless," he said sobbing. His eyes slowly closed as he went into slumber.

The sun's rays woke him up, and he rubbed his eyes, shielding them from the sun.

Another day had come, and he quickly headed down for the day's activities.

A few hours later, the trio was coming back from the forest with wood on their back. They were preparing for the winter and had fetched enough wood that would last them. Walking side by side and finally seeing the streets, a great explosion occurred. The western side of the wall was destroyed with debris flying over.

Buildings were destroyed as beasts flocked through the hole. Leading them was a beast with crimson eyes. Its red fur was covered in spikes. It ran through its large body, destroying nearby buildings.

The beasts ran amok, killing every human in sight. The once peaceful city was in chaos as people ran trying to save their lives. Their eyes caught the site of human figures entering through the hole. Their tattered clothes and bloodied bodies aligned with their stumbling steps. Their eyes are void of consciousness.

"Mum!Dad!" Zoe screamed as she tried running through the dense trees. "No! Can't you see what's happening down there," Dalux said, stopping her from going.

"Staying here is the best choice till things calm down," Dalux said. Alex stood fixated on the bloody scene. His fist clenched so tight his nails had pierced into his palms. Blood slowly trickled down, staining the grasses.

"He knew Dalux was right. What could they do? They were just kid, after all." Tears found its way down his cheek as he fought back, trying to control his emotions.

"Mum, Dad. I'm sorry." He said as he sat heavily on the ground. His gaze never left the city below.

"We are not safe here. Let's head deeper into the forest." Dalux said.

"That's risky. What if the beasts eventually enter the forest." Alex asked with a weak voice, looking up at him.

"That's a chance we have to take." Dalux stood up, heading towards Zoe, who was crying in the corner.

"C'mon, let's go." He beckoned, lifting her off the ground. They hadn't gotten far when they heard the rustling of leaves.

The ground shook at each footstep they heard. "Run!" Dalux shouted, grabbing zoe hand. They ran through, falling over tree roots and getting back on their feet.

"Shit! Is this how my life ends?" Alex thought as tears once again gathered at the corner of his eyes. He increased his speed amidst his shaking legs, but instead, the footsteps got closer each minute.

"Alex! Take hold of Zoe, I'll draw it away," Dalux shouted his gaze etched in determination. "No way! I won't let you do that," Alex screamed as they ran.

"Take care of her," he said as he pushed Zoe towards his direction. He made a U-turn heading towards the beast.

"No!" Zoe screamed, but Alex held her firmly, pulling her along. The tears finally broke through as he ran, holding onto Zoe. He knew going back would only let his sacrifice be in vain and also didn't want Zoe to face such terror.

Gradually, the sound of the beast's step resided.

"Arghhh!" The scream of a human in pain filled the forest. The sound coming from the opposite side of their direction.

They couldn't hold back the tears as they ran as fast as they could. They came out from a row of trees appearing right at the stream.

"Dalux," Zoe muttered weakly, her eyes bloodshot and swollen from tears. Alex stood beside the lake, staring at his reflection. Strands of his white hair, danced over his face.

"Let's rest here," he said, his deadpan face resting on his sister's. "We are safe here for now," he said as he collapsed on the ground, his legs too weak to hold him up.

Zoe sat by the edge of the lake. Tears never ceased to stop, as her sobbing filled the surroundings.

Alex, seeing this, couldn't help but sigh helplessly. He wasn't good at consoling others. 'What about the city? Was everyone killed?' Alex couldn't help but think. They had entered deep into the forest and were quite far away from the city. He also felt pain as he sat quietly his mind was jumbled.

Soon it was nighttime. Alex had been awake all through watching Zoe sleep. "Hey, wake up. I'm going to check the area to see if it's safe, Alex said, gently shaking her.

"Don't leave me," she mumbled, clinging to his arms.

"Don't worry, I'll be back just now." He said, patting her head softly.

He dashed through the forest, heading back to the last route they separated with Dalux. He soon arrived at the area, and looking at the scene he couldn't help but throw up.

"Why did you leave us?" he heard voices echoing in his head.

"Why did you leave us!" The voice was apparent this time, causing him to stumble. Looking down, his hands were stained in blood. Beside him was a mangled corpse of a human.

"Dalux," he said with a gasp. The dead being before him was his twin, Dalux. "You left us to die," the corpse said as he pushed his mangled body towards Alex.

"No, no, no!!" Alex screamed as he pushed himself backwards. He felt a hand on his shoulders, with something dripping on his face.

Looking up, he saw another face he recognised amidst its mangled state. The grip tightened as blood dripped all over his face.

"Help me, help me!!" This time around, it was Zack, his older brother, who was taken by the military. "No, no... noooo!"He screamed as he fell to the ground, slowly pushing himself away from the figure. Then, from his back, his parents, their disfigured and bloody hands, held onto him.

"Arghhhhh!!" Alex screamed, jolting up from his bed. His body was soaked in sweat.

"Ohh, mum...dad...Dalux....Zack." He sobbed. "I'm so sorry, I was too weak to do anything... Too weak," the tears continued to flow down his cheeks.

He had been haunted by the same nightmare after that incident.

He looked down the bonker to find his sister sleeping peacefully.

"She's still asleep," he muttered amidst sniffling. He came down carefully and walked towards the window. He rests his hand on the sill, placing his head on his hands. The sun had just begun to rise.

'Today is the last day I'll be staying here,' he thought. 'Finally, I can join the military and avenge the death of my family.' Stretching his hand forth he then clenched it tightly.