In the Aftermath

Prologue

Prologue: In the Aftermath

There are no ends to a circle. 

Life is a cycle and it would always find a way.

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 "We have no choice," he said. "Those fricking extremists are pointing their nukes towards us! What the hell do you think we could do?" Alvin shouted through his phone. His gray hair glistened with sweat as his worst nightmare started playing out in front of his fatigued eyes.

 For the hundredth time, Alvin fingered through the report he had received from one of his spies in the Middle East not a couple of hours ago. It read five words: "Too late. Threat is Imminent." Though he did not like to admit it, Alvin had been expecting this day to come.

 He waited for the reply from the person in the other line. The bastard he was talking to was one of the advisors of the President and he was speaking on "his behalf."

 It had been way too long since the military returned to the oil-rich deserts of the Middle East. Though the previous president was finally able to recall the troops years ago from the initial invasion, they had to be redeployed right away again as the demands for the precious oil spiked higher than ever and the supply dipped its lowest.

 Expectedly, this action did not acquire positive reactions from the locals.

 "I assure you," the bastard finally answered. "The president is considering every option we have to salvage this situation for everyone's benefit."

 "No! You are watching for your own ass as always," Alvin answered, outraged. "How is pointing a nuke right back at them going to benefit anyone? Pull out the troops before this situation turn for the worse!"

 There was a short pause that followed.

 Then,

 "I have had it with you!" the president's advisor yelled through the line. "We are not pulling out of this campaign even if it was the last thing we'd ever do! Now, if you would excuse me, sir, I am needed for a meeting with the other advisors."

 Click. The line went dead.

 Alvin's fury combined with his shock froze him in place, unable to move. This was it. The perfect circumstances have been met; a fact that theorists said had as much chance of happening as pigs flying. Well, they're flying alright.

 The army official replaced the phone back to its receiver only to lift it once again in hopes to contact a different entity. Alvin dialed the familiar number of his residence and listened to the soft tone, signaling that the phone on the other end was ringing.

 Alvin had difficulty trying to keep the phone by his ear, his hands trembling with fear. The air seemed to have gotten colder around him but he sweat buckets anyway.

 He could say he tried his best. He could say that they had no choice. He could say a lot of things but he knew they would not matter.

 All he thought of right now was hearing the voices of his family. At least one last time before all hell broke loose. Tears fell from his face after realizing all that was about to happen. All that he was about to lose.

He realized the world had finally reached its inevitable end.