Messengers of Mankind

Unexpected Encounter (7)

Dream's eyelids eventually gave in to the taunting of sunlight, so daringly spilled over the broken windowsill and into the room in all its glory. Dust had collected slightly on his worn green jacket, and was displaced with a slight brush of his gloved hand. Laying on a small pile of cushioned rubble, he stared up at the precariously standing pillars and beams.

He took a while to get his bearings and his senses working properly, most of it still inert from the deep slumber.

They were in an abandoned city. From the worn-down signs and advertising boards, they were somewhere in Northern Canada. It came as somewhat of a shock to Dream - Had they really traveled that far? Judging from his clouded memories, they had last been in the States. How time flies.

Nestled comfortably in the makeshift bed, Dream let his thoughts wonder. Most of it went to reminiscing the times before the apocalypse - of which he couldn't even remember that well. Vaguely he saw his sister's bright, laughing face appear in his memories like a ray of sunlight through his corrupted insides, temporarily warming his body with fondness as he recalled the small things he used to do with her. Flying kites, playing tag on the fields, baking pastries and ultimately failing... It was a carefree and happy time.

Of course the monsters had to fuck that up.

Quite frankly, Dream never knew how or why he was selected. Enlisting for war against a race humankind barely knew about was no laughing matter - yet humans were foolishly ignorant and swore to eviscerate and drive out every single last one of these strange and hostile creatures. Like all other soldiers, he was determined to bring home victory and freedom once again to Earth, and continue on with his life filled with joy and love accompanied by his family and friends.

How very naive were his thoughts.

Casualties resulted up to millions upon the first battle. Thousands more were gravely injured, and just as many people were missing in action. Over just a time period of a week, nearly ten percent of Earth's entire population were wiped out. Cities were reduced to nothing but ashes and rubble, architectures completely eradicated to shreds. Places that were once lively are deathly quiet, paired only with the harsh realities of war. These uninvited visitors of Earth trampled and toyed with the fragile race that was mankind, slowly smothering them with a blanket of despair.

The Government became desperate. Spies were sent on suicide missions to obtain every single thread of information they could get their hands on, no matter how insignificant. With the spiking need for spies and undercover operatives, a government - operated agency was formed. Although incomplete and short on funding, it was a tight-knit community and had exceeded far beyond what the government had expected.

The Espionage Agency was where Dream met his first acquaintance as a result of war.

His name was Phil, codenamed Philza. Dual director for the government's Flight Unit and the Espionage Agency, the blond man was a well respected and known figure. Dream had first met him when he was forcefully transferred to the Flight Unit as a result of inefficiency of ground soldiers. Each side being a novice pilot and an important leader, one would think strangely of Director Philza's interaction with Dream. Although, their first encounter wasn't all that awkward. The second the Director's eyes found themselves land on Dream during an inspection, his kind features had morphed into an approving smile, beckoning the inexperienced novice pilot over alone and initiating a small chat with the young man. Dream has potential, Philza had stated. He could see it through his bright green eyes.

Dream vaguely remembers Philza's soft blue irises, the rim adorned with a strange and extremely unique violet ring. It was because of his expertise, Philza had told him when he'd asked curiously. There was a history of this kind of condition after prolonged exposure to the radiation these creatures omitted, and that it wasn't that uncommon amongst experienced fighter pilots. There was nobody alive to prove his words - and knowing no better, Dream blindly trusted his words.