The Apocalypse

chapter 1

It was a late evening in the summer. The sun was about to set and the world was painted in red and gold. The day had been hot and chaotic, and so Kate couldn't think of any better way to celebrate the last of her psychology exams than to sit with her girlfriend Kiyomi in the park and watch the sunset.
From this day on a new part of her life was about to begin, she thought and her heart beat faster with anticipation. Oh poor Kate, how right she was about that. Unfortunately, not in a good way.
"Well, how do you feel?" Kiyomi asked.
"What do you mean," Kate laughed, "no more exams, no more senseless studying, no horrible professors anymore - it's fucking great! I love it already!"
Kiyomi laughed too.
"Cheers to that," she smiled.
"I got something for you," Kate said and pulled out a little package.
"Wait, you got something for me? How does that make sense?" Kiyomi laughed. "I should give you a present if anything."
"Don't try to sell yourself for less than you're worth," Kate replied. "You've been so supportive to me all this time. Without you I wouldn't be anywhere near the point I am today. You deserve this, and more."
"Flattery," Kiyomi grinned but opened the little box. Inside was a beautiful silver ring with a little snail house embedded in it.
"Is this supposed to be an engagement ring?" she joked joyfully. "It's beautiful."
Kiyomi admired the ring in her palm for a moment before putting it on her finger.  Then she pulled Kate in for a kiss.
"So, cheers to both of us, I guess?"
The two of them toasted and moved closer together to cuddle as they watched the last sunset of their lifes - at least the last one worth watching. The world seemed to burn, as if the sun knew what would come next and tried it's best for a grand and memorable exit.

They had spent almost two hours watching the stars when Kate let out her first jawn. She'd been on hot coals the whole day and only now allowed herself to fully relax, in the arms of her friend.
Suddenly she noticed in the corner of her eye something that seemed like a shooting star. And then another. And another.
Wait.
When she realised it was the actual stars that went out there were already less than half of them left.
"Kiyomi, do you see this?" Kate was alarmed.
"Umm, yeah? And I really don't know what to say..."
Kates tiredness was already long gone, but her state of mind changed to complete alertness as even the moon just went out like candle. She stood up and pulled Kiyomi to her feet as well.
"Let's get outta here," she said. "This is becoming a little bit too creepy for my taste."
She pulled out her phone to light the way, but the display remained dark.
"Shit, i forgot to charge my phone. Can you ...?"
"Mine's dead too. Wonder why though, I'm pretty sure it had around 40% charge left half an hour ago..."
"That's your old fart of a phone, I don't even understand how you still put up with this," Kate teased her. But she quickly got serious again.
"Then let's take a lighter to light our way," she proposed.
The fire flickered and didn't shine very brightly, but it was enough for the young women to safely make their way back to the entrance of the park where Kiyomis car was standing.
"What the hell is happening right now?" Kiyomi exclaimed. "Even the streetlights?!"
"Not only those," Kate added, "but there are no lights in the windows of the buildings as well. Creepy shit. Let's get into the car, quickly."
Of course the car did not work. The two of them decided to wait inside while waiting for something to happen. Kate was able to make out people outside from time to time. But as if everybody felt it wasn't wise to be outside in the open this night, the streets quickly emptied completely.
Then someone with a strong flashlight appeared at the end of the street. Kate couldn't see any details about the person, the cone of light was basically the only thing visible at all.
"How does their flashlight work though?" Kiyomi asked curiously. "Nothing else that's based on electricity seems to work."
Suddenly the light beam shaked, swung around and then flew onto the ground and slithered a few meters wide while wildly turning in circles before coming to a halt.
"What the fuck? That scared me! Why would they do that?"
But Kate got no answer. In fact, Kiyomi could have given one, but she was too shocked of what she had seen for the brink of a second inside the beam that she didn't even hear what Kate said. Sonething she wanted to forget as quickly as possible.