The Seventh Angel

Chapter 1

Year 2760

It had been years since I first started noticing the signs-small at first, almost easy to dismiss.But now, they were impossible to ignore.The once-bustling maternity wards in hospitals had become eerily quiet. Couples who had once been overjoyed at the idea of starting families now spoke in hushed, worried tones, weighed down by disappointment and confusion and everytime I analyzed the data, I felt that same pit of dread growing deeper in my stomach.

In the beginning, I told myself it was just a statistical anomaly, a temporary slump.But as the months turned into years, the numbers only got worse.Every report, every study, every piece of research told the same alarming story: fewer and fewer pregnancies. Much fewer.

Now as I set at my cluttered desk,surrounded by stacks of research papers and half-written notes, I couldn't escape the reality.The decline wasn't slowing down-it was accelerating.My fingers hovered over the keyboard, unsure what to even search for next. My eyes felt heavy from the sleepless nights, and my mind was tangled mess of unanswered questions and dead ends.

Still, none of it made sense to me. How could so few women be able to conceive? I let out an exasperated sigh and rubbed my temples, trying to ease the tension.My glasses pressed uncomfortably between my green eyes, so I took them off and massaged the bridge of my nose.My honey colored hair, tied up in a messy ponytail, swayed slightly as I leaned back in my chair, trying to relax. But I couldn't.My mind refused to rest.

" Something is wrong" I wishpered. "If this continues, we'll be underpopulated. Extinct even..."My thoughts spiraled.What would the world even look like without people? I couldn't picture it-a world that had once been overrun with humanity, now desolating.The thought made me shudder.

Suddenly, my father's familiar voice broke through the quiet.

"Chloe, it's late, my child. Time for you to head home and get some rest," he said, his voice warm but firm, accompanied by a gentle smile.

"I'm fine, Father." I replied, though I wasn't sure I believed that myself. I had been at this for hours-days,maybe. "I was just looking for answers."

My father glanced at me, concern in his eyes. "You haven't found any, have you?"I shook my head."No...but I was thinking of going down to the lab.Maybe I could check the samples again and see if-"

"Don't worry about it!" he interruped before I could finish. I clenched my jaw.I hated when he cut me off like that, not allowing me to finish my thoughts. But I bit my tongue, trying to keep my irritation at bay.He sat down beside me."We've discovered the greatest cure in human history, Chloe.There's no need for you to burden yourself with these trivial matters." His tone was soothing, but it felt patronizing.

"All we need to do is inject people, search for younger generations, teach them the importance of healthy living, and that's it! We've done our part."
I felt my fists tighten. "Dad, I've been working on this for three years, and nothing is changing.Nothing!" My voice shook with frustration. "If we keep going like this,we'll be extinct within the next hundred years. Doesn't that worry you?"

His expression didn't change."So be it," he said, standing up. "Our story ends here.We'll go extinct like the dinosaurs, and life will go on. Other species will evolve and take our place." He spoke with such calm finality that it sent a chill down my spine.
My heart punded. How could he be so indifferent? So willing to accept this fate?
"I can find a cure!" I blurted out, my voice rising with desperation."I just need more time...more research..." My voice trailed off as I sank back into my chair, the weight of the task ahead overwhelming me.

My father walked around the table with calm supperiority,stopping in front of me.He bent down, placing his hands on the edge of the table, leaning in closer to me.His smile was soft, but something about it made me uneasy,intimidating.