Everyone
End of the World (?)
You run, moving as fast as your legs can carry you. As you move through the collapsing world, the patchwork scenery becomes more and more cluttered. Trees begin to anchor themselves in the air, steel scatters like ash in the wind, and the sky steadily becomes one with the ocean. Nature and man-made constructs collide into elaborate and complex bodies while architecture from across the globe rises in the background. But just as soon as all these things appear before you, they crumble and break off from the world- devoured by the encroaching void below.
The cries of thousands can be heard all around you. From the stampeding motion of their feet, to their pleas for help, and the inevitable 'liquefaction' of their flesh and bones. In every direction there are people running for their lives. To your left... To your right... Out in front and behind... With all of you seemingly heading in the same direction, it's hard to see anything through the sea of bodies. But even within the constant blur of motion, there is no mistaking the distinctive red 'haze' that slips into your vision with each and every passing second.
A crimson tide skillfully maneuvers itself through the cracks in the movement. With as little as a single touch, another body falls... Followed by another... And then another... Very little is offered in the way of resistance. Not to say that the hunted don't attempt to fight back, but that all methods of retaliation are rendered useless. Every so often you will catch a glimpse of some haphazard hero rushing to the aid of their neighbor. To some degree, they find success in their actions; however, it always ends the same. Whether one's life ends immediately or is extended just a few seconds, both hero and victim always fall prey to the predator. There's no fighting it. It's a mass culling of sheep and no one is safe. Men, women, even children... All are nothing but 'food' for this indiscriminate killer and it won't stop until all has been consumed.
The fact that you have even made it this far is a blessing. While you're confident in your ability to stand above the average man, you know all too well that luck is playing a factor here.
The further you run and the thinner the herd grows, the more individuals with extraordinary abilities start to stand out. Flames scorch the earth, the air freezes space, and fierce winds tear up the earth. With the enemy pursuing you defying all reason, those around you start fighting back with strange phenomena of their own. To this end, the bloodthirsty 'muck' is pushed back. Even halted in some cases. However, despite these efforts, its advance is no less relentless. Like stones in a river, these attacks do little to impede the threat and- ultimately- even these efforts are rendered useless. A dozen more fall. And thirty more shortly follow...
Not wanting to share the same fate, you decide it's best to just focus all your efforts on moving forward. Taking this 'thing' head-on is both a deathwish and a waste of energy. So, for now, you can only cut brush past what gets in your way and hope for the best. Even if it means steeling your heart.
So you run...
You run and you run... Then you run some more...
The sound of footsteps accompanying your own steadily decrease in volume. It wouldn't be long before your steps are the only one to reach your ears. Naturally, you didn't have to think hard about what this meant... You can no longer hear anyone's voice and the path ahead has been clear for some time now...
"Please, hurry..."
The woman's voice echoes once again in the back of your head. Painfully repeating the same words she has all this time. Guiding you to your destination.
You alone approach a clearing within the chaos. A leveled-land devoid of the nonsensical mess littering this world. In its place, images of various places weave through the air upon screens of light. A child's room, a family home, a church chapel... Dozens of images which seem to share no relation to each other, yet evoke a feeling of safety, fill the air. For a moment, you feel as though you can finally rest. Like you can finally take a moment to collect yourself... However it isn't long before you realize this is the place you've been running to this whole time. A place that leads to nowhere...
You can feel an unseen gaze all over your body. With nowhere else to go, you realize that this is the end of the road. The path behind you has already fallen into nothingness and the presence of that red 'beast' is slowly drawing closer. You're already more than aware of how a confrontation with that will end, but you find yourself moving into a ready stance all the same.
The shadows converge all around and form up shapeless, black mounds. In mere seconds, you find yourself face-to-face with dozens of them on every side. More than you can possibly handle...
"Please... If you could even spare the tiniest shred of kindness...Help us."
Once again, the voice of the woman echoes in your head. But... this time... You feel as though she is remarkably close. Almost as if she were standing right next to you.
"Assist us... and I shall do everything within my power to assist you."
As the woman speaks directly into your mind, the shadows start to close in. Unsure of how to respond to this new threat, you instinctively take a step back. But... When you do, something catches your ear. A single step that seems to mimic your own. No... It's more than that.
Glancing over your shoulder, you soon realize that you are no longer alone here. You aren't sure of how or when it happened, but there are nine others- just like you- staring down this threat. You're all confused. Baffled even. But it's far from the strangest thing that has happened so far. Regardless, there is no need for words between any of you.
Be it luck or skill, all of you made it here for a reason.
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Originally Posted by Someone
