Genesis

Day 30

The man dressed in black stood atop the skyscraper. Beneath him was a collapsing, chaotic world. A world he swore he'd never see crumble as it had. But it'd fallen and it'd fallen hard. He swore he'd lived to see the fall of man.

And that was why he stood where he did today. He was dressed in black. The colors for a funeral. Not only was it his own funeral, but it was the funeral of life. He had realized days ago that the destruction of Earth would lead to the death of mankind. He'd never been one of those 'the end is nigh' types, but he knew they were right now. He'd had an ephiphany.

The Earth would be wiped of humanity. It must be similar to what had happened on Mars. You know, they'd found what they thought were signs of past life on the surface. Earth would certainly look like that soon, and a planet inhabited with people from some other galaxy would one day stumble upon Earth and Mars and see nothing but a barren wasteland.

Something threw itself at the door to the roof. It was one of two things : an undead creature or his daughter. He didn't want to see either, but he turned around, still on the ledge, and stared at the metal door as it flew open. Out came his daughter, dressed similarly to him; in all black. Black shorts and a black tank top and black boots. How silly of her. The air was already beginning to chill.

"Dad!" she called, moving forward. The man held up a hand and shook his head. His daughter sighed and pursed her lips, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "Don't do this dad, please," she said, quieter this time. The man smiled.

"It is fate, Meg. If you'd like you may join me. I could even hold your hand, if you need." Meg looked utterly repulsed. She shook her head violently and stepped forward. The man shook his hand in the air.

"No, dad. We can still make it. It doesn't have to be the end." Her blonde hair lifted in the wind. The man had always admired her hair. It was so much like her mother's.

"Oh, Meg," the man said, his smile widening, "it isn't the end now. It will be soon though, which is why we must leave before it's too late." He laughed. Meg looked ready to cry.

"No, dad. It won't be the end. Things will get better, you'll see." The sound of footsteps rushing up the stairs echoed through the stairwell. Meg turned her head, her eyes wide with fear. The man never let her have any weapons. He knew a day like this would come and that Meg would not want to join him. He knew he'd have to help her End along somehow.

"No, Meg. You are mistaken. It's time." The footsteps drew nearer and now Virals began to rush onto the room. The man looked into Meg's eyes as he allowed himself to fall over the edge of the building, arms outstretched as if flying, as the Virals swarmed around his daughter. She watched the whole time, too shocked to move as they began to tear her apart; her blue-green eyes wide and her mouth parted in surprise.

For a moment, the man felt he could fly. Then he slammed into the ground and it was his End.

Knots sat at the edge of the white bed, her remaining foot pressed against the ground firmly. Kipper was behind her, talking in a hushed voice to Tina, and Britney sat on the floor in front of her, playing with Barbies. Every few minutes, she'd glance up at Knots. At first, she'd simply stare. But then she'd smile at Knots, as if she were nervous, and look back at her toys.

Knots knew everyone was worried about her. She hadn't reacted much to the situation. She'd mostly brushed off any conversation having to do with TV. She'd gone to guard duty as if nothing had happened - ignoring the protests that she couldn't do much without her leg or that she should let herself cover from both her accident and TV's death. She didn't seek out Red when she was advised to. She barely muttered a sentence to him when she was in his presence. She wasn't angry at him. She just wanted things to return to the semi-normal it had been at.