When the Bombs fell

Prologue

"Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds." - Julius Robert Oppenheimer

It has been ten years since the bombs fell. A decade etched with the scars of a world that once thrived, now a haunting testament to the folly of mankind's ambitions. I survived. And as I navigate this desolate expanse, I carry with me the weight of witnessing the world's undoing.

It all began with the undeniable truth: the United States, the once-mighty guardian, was faltering, its strength eroding day by day. In 2022, Russia's audacious advance into Ukraine was the first crack in the veneer of global stability, exposing the vulnerability of the reigning superpower and heralding the impending chaos.

But the true symphony of destruction crescendoed in 2024 when a coalition of nations-Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Iran, and Jordan -thrust the world into the Last World War, when they invaded the state of Israel. Fueled by their grievances and ambitions, they birthed a conflict that engulfed the planet. And amidst this pandemonium, the unforgiving horror of nuclear warfare stained the earth, leaving scars deeper than the eye can perceive.

In the shroud of post-war whispers and fragmented truths, a haunting mystery lingers, a puzzle with missing pieces that may never find their place in history. The question that resonates through the desolation: who cast the first stone in this global conflict. Endless speculation clings to the whispers of blame, striving to unveil the elusive truth. Some claim it was the Israelis, fighting for survival, while others accuse the Iranians seeking vindication. But amidst the ruins, the truth remains a ghost that haunts our shattered reality.

Jerusalem, Tehran, Mecca-once bastions of faith and culture-now lie in desolate silence, consumed by the unyielding flames of nuclear annihilation. In this desolation, morality dissolved, lost in the clash of ideologies.

The horror began with a sinister turn in the Middle East-a region that became the epicenter of devastation. The world held its breath, an entire year passing in agonizing silence. Then, that fateful day arrived when the sky lit up with the searing glow of nuclear infernos.

Some claim it was the Americans who pushed the button, seeking retribution or protection. Others accuse China, pointing fingers at their ambitions and power plays. But amidst the chaos, the truth remained elusive, a ghost lost in the ashes of a world engulfed in flames.

As the devastating winds of war swept through the Middle East, some foresaw the impending cataclysm. In a desperate bid for survival, people from all corners of the world fled the cities, seeking refuge in the unforgiving yet protective embrace of the wilderness.

In those final weeks before the imminent horror unfolded, my father, a beacon of wisdom and protection, made a decisive choice. He led our family away from the familiar streets of Amsterdam, steering us deep into the heart of the wilderness. Leaving behind the comforts of our city and the known world, we embarked on a journey to seek safety far from the impending chaos.

Driving tirelessly, our family pressed on, venturing as far as the roads would take us. With each mile, the distance from the impending devastation grew, and the hope for a chance at survival took root.

My father's courage and determination guided our family to the threshold of sanctuary in the wilderness, where caves offered a refuge amidst nature's rugged beauty. It was his decisive action and unyielding resolve that led our family away from the imminent catastrophe, carving a path to safety in the wild expanses, far removed from the impending destruction that awaited the cities left behind.

In the aftermath of the world-shattering catastrophe, the landscape of humanity was forever altered. No longer were there delineated borders, no governments, nor nations. The fabric of civilization had been shredded, leaving only scattered remnants of what once was.

The survivors, scattered and few, emerged from the ashes of the old world. With no structured societies or governing bodies to uphold, they navigated a world stripped bare of its former complexities. The vestiges of power, once centralized in governments and nations, had crumbled along with the ruins of cities and civilizations.

The absence of governments and nations left an eerie vacuum, yet within this void, a new narrative of human resilience and unity began to unfurl-a narrative woven by the survivors.