Seven people stood, watching the scene of horror before them. Darkness. Destruction. But more than the devastation around, they were staring at each other. Each had made mistakes like human mistakes but they were no ordinary humans.
They were clad in black, faces and clothes smeared with dirt and blood with some their own, some others'. No one else was in sight, or at least alive; the ground was littered with countless dead bodies.
The world around them had shattered. Governments were scrambling to understand what had happened. And yet, these seven stood frozen, waiting for a miracle. No one dared break the silence. They all knew exactly what had occurred, and only one among them carried the full knowledge. They were broken beyond measure, beyond anything even they thought possible.
Suddenly, rain began to fall. Harsh, cold, painful on open wounds but they barely flinched. If after everything this could still hurt, let it.
"We should move. Forces will be here any second," Chinue finally said, breaking the silence. They all knew where they had to go.
"Home," someone whispered.
They nodded to each other, gripping their pendants as if to check they were still there. Then, without another word, they slipped into the nearby forest.
Far away, military forces began to arrive. Tanks rolled to the edge of the scene, soldiers in heavy armor stepping cautiously into the light. Their commander called headquarters, trying to assess the unprecedented chaos.
Across the globe are USA, Pakistan, Africa, South Korea, and England ,militaries scrambled. Agents went dark. Even the underworld was in turmoil. Years of carefully laid plans had unraveled in an instant. No one could understand how small, broken pieces had shattered the entire world.
They tried to investigate, but every place they reached was filled with death. Records burned. Connections severed. Chaos reigned.
A bell rang.
"Roger, sir," came a voice.
"Anything different?"
"Nothing, sir."
Six months in, and still nothing but destruction and silence. They had no time to question why; there were thousands of dead to bury, systems to rebuild, and secrets to protect from the world. They returned to what they called "normal."
Home.
But even home had always felt strange. No matter where they went, they were outsiders. Here, at last, they belonged. The lost children had returned to their sanctuary—a lush garden surrounding a magnificent castle.
Inside, a meal awaited. Everyone sat quietly, awaiting the arrival of the old man they had been waiting for. When he entered and took the first bite, everyone began to eat. Then, he spoke:
"You all have made it back. It warms my heart to see you. You are my little ones. Forgive this old man for the trouble I caused. I was old, flawed, and I hurt the ones I loved most."
Silent tears filled the room. They wanted to speak but could not.
As the old man rose to leave, Annaya spoke: "We will never forgive you but you are all we have "