FROM DUSK TILL DAWN : series 1

CHAPTER-1 THE FINAL EXODUS

Dusk Till Dawn* 

The crimson skies of Mars burned with toxic winds, a silent testament to centuries of neglect. Where once gleaming towers reached for the stars, now only ruins remained, cloaked in ash and despair. The air was unbreathable, the oceans long evaporated. Mannu stood in the cavernous halls of the Exodus Citadel, her hand resting on her swollen belly. She was among the last of her kind, the final hope of a dying planet. 

The Council had made its decision. Earth, a distant and fertile planet untouched by civilization, was to be their refuge. The fleet of capsules stood ready, their engines humming with borrowed time. Mannu boarded one of the final ships, her heart heavy with both hope and dread. As the countdown began, she whispered a silent prayer for her unborn child. 

The launch was chaotic—a crescendo of roaring engines and panicked voices as Mars disappeared beneath them. The journey through the void of space was brief but violent. As Earth's vibrant blue and green surface filled the viewports, something went horribly wrong. The capsule's descent became a catastrophic fall, and when it struck Earth, the impact reverberated across the planet. 

The crash sent a plume of fire and ash into the skies, marking the end of one era and the beginning of another. The dinosaurs, rulers of this untamed world, perished in the aftermath. In the shattered remains of the capsule, Mannu stirred, the sole survivor of her people's desperate escape. 

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Mannu crawled from the wreckage, her body battered and bruised. Her breaths came in ragged gasps as she took in the alien landscape around her. The jungle stretched endlessly, vibrant and alive, unlike anything she had ever seen. Towering trees with leaves like emeralds, rivers glistening under the sun, and creatures both majestic and terrifying roamed freely. 

She clutched her stomach, the life within her offering a fragile reassurance. "You're still here," she murmured, her voice trembling. "We'll survive. We have to." 

The remnants of the capsule were a graveyard for the others who had perished. Mannu salvaged what she could: nutrient packs, a glowing data sphere containing the history of her people, and a shard of metal sharp enough to serve as a weapon. She moved cautiously, every step a battle against the pain in her body and the weight of the unknown. 

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As night fell, the jungle transformed. The cacophony of life grew silent, replaced by an ominous stillness. Mannu found shelter beneath a rocky overhang and activated the data sphere. A flickering hologram of her late husband appeared, his voice steady but filled with sorrow. 

"Mannu," he said, "if you're seeing this, it means I didn't make it. But you're strong—you always were. Our child is the bridge between what we were and what we can become. Protect them, no matter what. They are our future." 

Tears streamed down Mannu's face as the message ended. She held the sphere tightly, her resolve hardening. "I won't let you down," she whispered. 

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The peace of the night was shattered by a guttural roar. Mannu's instincts flared as she spotted glowing eyes in the darkness. A predator, massive and primal, emerged from the shadows, its movements deliberate and deadly. Mannu gripped her metal shard tightly, her body trembling with fear but ready to fight. 

The beast lunged, its scaled body a blur of raw power. Mannu dodged, the effort sending a sharp pain through her ribs. She swung the shard wildly, grazing the creature's flank. It roared in fury, its amber eyes locking onto her as it circled for another attack. 

Suddenly, a deep, commanding bellow echoed through the jungle. Another creature emerged, even larger, its presence radiating dominance. The predator hesitated before retreating, cowed by the newcomer. The massive beast—her unlikely savior—stared at her with an intelligence that sent a shiver down her spine. Then, just as suddenly as it had appeared, it turned and lumbered back into the shadows. 

Mannu collapsed to the ground, her breath coming in short, uneven gasps. "This world doesn't want us here," she muttered, her voice laced with defiance. "But I'm not leaving." 

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Days turned to weeks as Mannu adapted to Earth's harsh environment. She learned to forage for food, fashion crude tools from the wreckage, and navigate the jungle's perils. Her child became her anchor, their faint movements within her a constant reminder of her purpose. 

But Earth was not without its mysteries. Strange carvings on rocks hinted at an ancient presence, as though she was not the first outsider to arrive. The jungle seemed alive in ways she couldn't fully comprehend, its rhythms and patterns shifting as if responding to her presence. 

One day, as Mannu rested by a river, she felt an intense warmth emanating from her stomach. Her child's movements were stronger than ever, almost purposeful. She placed a hand over her belly, a sense of awe washing over her. "You're special," she whispered. "I don't know how, but you are." 

The realization struck her with both hope and fear. Her child wasn't just the last of Mars; they were something new, a bridge between worlds. Earth had already begun to shape them, and in turn, they would shape Earth. 

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Mannu's journey was far from over. Each step she took was a testament to her resilience, a battle against the odds stacked against her. As she carved out a fragile existence in this unforgiving world, she carried the weight of her people's mistakes and the hope of a new beginning. 

From the dying sands of Mars to the lush jungles of Earth, Mannu's story was one of survival, redemption, and the dawn of humanity. For in the ashes of extinction lay the seeds of a new era, and in the heart of one woman burned the will to see it through.