Rise In Revolution 『Seraph of the End』

1 / Apocalypse

It didn't matter how many times Adria shook her mother's body, there was no response. Likewise, her father had yet to rise from his place near the front door. It all happened so suddenly, and without warning; they dropped onto the hardwood floor as if shot with a pistol. All they did was enter the foyer, her father just returning home from work and her mother greeting him, and blood began to run down from their nostrils and mouths. It was frightening, even to them, and their agony further proved it. They dropped in unison, falling to the floor, the sound of their heavy bodies hitting the hardwood echoing throughout the house. Adria, having been standing on the staircase, had witnessed it all, and she was horrified.

"Mom!" she yelped, tears managing to escape from her eyes and trickle down her cheeks. Grasping her mother's shoulders firmly, she continued to shake her with an increasing amount of force, and the fact that nothing happened in return frightened her. There were footsteps behind her on the staircase, heavy and forceful, however she wouldn't allow anything to tear her attention away.

"That won't work". The footsteps grew louder as the person neared her. "They're already dead". Adria furrowed her eyebrows, gritting her teeth until they felt as though they'd shatter.

"You don't know that! There's still a chance!" she screamed. A firm hand was placed on her shoulder, signaling for her to place her gaze elsewhere. She did so, albeit hesitantly, and turned her head slightly. "How can you say something like that, Anthony?" she questioned, the tears increasing and falling down onto her knees in small droplets.

"I heard it on the radio. Anyone above the age of thirteen is dead now" Anthony said, his hazel eyes dimmed with the pain he refused to show. Adria clenched her fists, grappling the fabric of her dark blue skirt.

"Why? What did we ever do to deserve this?". Anthony leaned down to her level, placing a warm hand on her cheek and wiping the tears away.

"It's alright, there's no point in crying anymore. What's done is done" he said, giving a forced smile. It was painfully obvious he was as distraught as his sister, and yet he continued to act as the big brother he always was. He was Adria's hero, the one who was always there for her, and here he was again, rescuing her from this nightmare.

"But Anthony, aren't you fourteen?" she sniffled, a slight crack in her voice. "Does that mean you'll leave me too?". Anthony put a hand on her head, rubbing her soft brown hair.

"Nah, I'm fine. Nothing's happened yet, so nothing will. I promise". Adria let out another sniffle, rubbing her eyes. Together they stood up, neither of them daring to look to their side at the horror that had become of their parents. This was the fate of everyone, Adria realized, and in every household, shop, or simply every building, dead people laid across the floors. There was a sound, chill-inducing and frightening; that of footsteps, and the voices of people several years older than them on the street beyond their front door. Adria gasped, not knowing whether to be relieved or scared. Anthony took her by the hand, dragging her into the living room and towards the large window. They knelt on the cream-colored couch, Anthony pulling back the white curtain so they had a clear view of the street. He was tense, afraid almost, and held a tight grip on Adria's hand as he peered through the sliver of light he provided through the slightly opened curtain. Two figures, tall and sturdy, wearing long white capes draped over their shoulders in some form of uniform, walked casually down the street; suspicious, certainly, however not a cause for fright. Adria sighed in relief, tugging on Anthony's red t-shirt.

"It's okay, right? They seem nice" she whispered, however failed to receive her brother's attention. He stared out the window, a frown cutting deep into his face. The two figures stopped, their crimson gazes set upon a man who had succumbed to the deadly virus. He was strung across the sidewalk, blood forming a small puddle near his face, however one of the two men smirked.