The Orion Project (Rewrite) (indefinite hiatus)

Chapter 2

The morning dew had just set in as Devon woke up, his sister curled up in her own bed next to his. The sky had been covered in a blanket of gray, giving the sun no chance to peak through to warm their home.

    The sound of knocking pulled Devon's attention from his window to the doorway of his room, his father leaning against the doorframe.

"Morning kiddo, wake your sister up. Breakfast will be ready shortly."

"Okay dad." Devon yawned.

He groggily climbed out of his bed, shaking his sister awake. A groan of annoyance was all he got before he pulled the covers back.

"Get up sis, dad said breakfast is almost ready." He said.

"Nnnnn, fiiiinnne."

      Classes had resumed as normal when they sat down in their seats. Their instructors giving their lessons, handing out assignments, and answering questions from the children who needed the help.

      The twins always stuck together, never leaving each other's side. Through classes Devon would help his sister, and in turn, Rose would help her brother. The two making up for each other's weaknesses.

      Things were always like that for the two of them. Their friends would come and talk to them and call them the 'dynamic duo'. As they were, usually, the top of their classes. Rose was outgoing and ecstatic while Devon was more strategic and reserved. They had their moments to shine and prove themselves through some of the challenges of their little school.

       Devon dominated the chess club at his young age, taking to the game as quickly as a sprinter on a track. Rose would go on to destroy the competition in every physical event for her age, claiming the trophy for the fastest kid in her grade.

        Once the final bell rang out for curfew, Devon and Rose quickly hurried along home in time for dinner, eating and talking to their parents about their day, excitedly sharing their stories about their experiences and what they did.

"Goodnight my children." Their mother said as she tucked them for the night.

"Goodnight mom."

"Sleep tight kiddos, don't let the bedbugs bite. Hehe." Their father said as he closed the door to their room.

"Night dad."

Devon flipped the lamp off in their room, rolling over and curling up underneath the covers with Rose following suit and quickly drifting off to sleep.

Atop the walls protecting their little town, guards lit fires along the walls, keeping a watchful eye on the surrounding forest. Many of them clutching their rifles tightly against their chests, praying to the goddess that nothing would harm their home.

    Serenity was one of many towns stretched out from the walls of the Capital of Atrium. The security from the military was scarce and hardly noticed so far away, forcing the people of the towns to create their own militias or rely on the Tribunus or even hire mercenaries to keep their towns safe from the horrors on the outside.

Cronos is a cruel and horrifying planet, unrelentingly throwing monsters and disasters at humanity, forcing them to create safe havens along specific routes to keep the supply chain flowing safely and efficiently.

A guard took off his helmet, wiping the sweat off his brow, leaning against the side of the wall, looking out at the darkness with an exasperated sigh. His rifle leaned against his leg, sweating from the humidity, slowing sliding down to the floor.

The sound of wood groaning and cracking snatched his attention, his eyes scanning the forest for any sign of movement as he raised his rifle. He quickly put his helmet back on and slapped the left side, starting up his H.U.D. Looking through his scope, the thermal energy readings display blinking before going out.

"Damnit." He muttered.

"What's going on?" A guard next to him asked.

"My thermal sights just died."

"That's why you charge them before your shift."

"I did, somethin's jammin' it somehow."

"What? Here, let me check mine."

        As he raised his rifle, a large, clawed like hand gripped the side of the wall. Before the two could react, the beast vaulted on top of them, sinking its claws into their bodies. It began ripping them apart with its mouth, swallowing parts of them whole, until only a pool of blood remained. It raised its head, the light of the nearby fire lighting its hide, its beady red eye glowing in the light.

       The roar that bellowed out from its throat was akin to that of nails on a chalkboard. The beast calling for its brood, alerting them of the feast that laid before them. As it's call died down, the remaining guards rushed to that part of the wall, firing upon it.

The rounds pierced its dull green hide, struggling to tear into its flesh. Four more of the beasts clawed up the wall, making short work of the guards unfortunate enough to be caught in their claws. Their cries were quickly silenced as more climbed over the walls and the town's alarm blaring out the warning.

The two children quickly woke up to the noise, looking out the window to try to catch a glimpse of the beasts. Their father burst through the door holding his sword at his side.

"Grab your packs, we're leaving."

"Where are we going to go Dad?" Sara asked.

"We're going to the south, to your mother's sister's place. But we need to move, now!"