chapter 1: wars and chaos
Adira's home was as a sanctuary amidst the chaos that plagued the world. Nestled in a quiet neighborhood, the soft rustling of leaves and the gentle sound of a stream babbling nearby provided a moment of calm in the middle of a loud city. Inside the cozy living room, soft sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow on Adira as she sat, lost in thought.
the soothing drama she had been watching was suddenly interrupted by an urgent news bulletin. In big bold letters, the headline scrolled across the bottom of the screen:
— "President has been assassinated" - Public is in panic
The news anchor's face appeared on screen, her brow furrowed with worry. "We interrupt your regular programming to bring you disturbing updates on the crisis gripping our nations." she began.
Behind her were images that made Adira's blood run cold. The images depicted City skylines around almost the world were immersed in plumes of smoke and fire. Hospital morgues overflowed with body bags as coroners struggled to keep up.
One image showed the iconic White House engulfed in flames before cutting to ambulance crews reporting to casualties in other tourist locations around the world — the US Capitol, 10 Downing Street in London, the Elysee Palace in Paris, the Kremlin in Moscow, and Beijing's Forbidden City.
The images depicted rioters smashing store windows and fighting police in the streets of major cities and how some government officials fled to take cover in nuclear bunkers under government buildings. Image by image, TV seemed to show the dissolution of every carefully constructed facet society.
A data screen listed the countries where presidents, prime ministers, and other top officials had either died or abruptly resigned with no explanation. Various political leaders from numerous countries encouraged the public to remain calm, but their panic was clear.
"With our government in disarray and lawlessness spreading nationwide, officials are warning this may be the beginning of a full collapse of organized society as we know it. All citizens are strongly advised to shelter in place..." she informed, voice shaky and hands trembling.
Adira's eyes widened as she absorbed the magnitude of the situation. The once stable world now teetered on the edge of an abyss. "..The hell is going on?" She said, her heart beating in her throat.
With a heavy sigh, Adira turned off the television, and the silence that filled the room was suffocating. her thoughts drifted to her father.
Batur Nile, A respected and influential figure within their community, he had always strived to keep their small corner of the world safe. Adira's heart ached at the thought of the danger he might face in these tumultuous times.,
..Where was he anyway?
Screams from outside her window attracted Adira's attention. The once peaceful streets were filled with people's screams and tainted by the bloodstains on the windows and walls. The slow runners were on the ground, dark pools of blood drenching their clothes. Blared in a useless atempt to assert law and order.
her eyes widened as she saw the sight and instantly ducked down, trying to take a deep breaths to steady her emotions. her sanity struggled to cling to the last fragment of hope, desperately trying to hold back the tide of craziness threatening to overwhelm her. Then, gunshots started drowning out the screams.
