Rose's eyes fluttered open to the soft morning light. A cozy warmth filled her room, and she stretched lazily under her quilt, letting out a little sigh of contentment. She could hear the quiet murmur of her parents' voices downstairs and the soft clinking of spoons against a bowl. The smell of cinnamon toast, her favorite, wafted up from the kitchen, pulling her out of bed like a warm hug.
With a sleepy smile, she hopped down and padded over to the mirror. A 7-year-old girl with long, tangled purplish-dark hair stared back. Her bright brown eyes, still heavy with sleep, were a perfect match for her dad's, and the smattering of freckles across her cheeks and nose were just like her mom's. She offered a happy, crooked grin—a gap where her front tooth used to be—and gave her reflection a little wave.
She raced downstairs and into the dining room, where her parents were sitting at the table, their smiles as warm as the morning sun. Her mom, Emily, looked up with a knowing smile, her hair tied back in a messy but perfect ponytail. Her dad, Jack, was already buttering a piece of toast for her, his messy brown hair falling into his eyes as he looked up.
"Rise and shine, sleepyhead," Emily said, her voice like a happy song. She slid a bowl of Rose's favorite cereal across the table.
Jack winked at her. "Hurry and get dressed, kiddo. You don't want to miss your bus on your first day of school."
Rose took a big bite of her cereal, savoring the crunch. "I'll be super fast, I promise!" she said with her mouth full, then quickly ran off, her laughter echoing behind her.
A little while later, Rose stood outside her school, the new backpack feeling light on her shoulders. Her parents stood on either side of her, a comforting presence. The school building, with its big red door, didn't look scary at all. It looked like a castle waiting for her to explore.
"Okay, kiddo, have a great day," Jack said, wrapping her in a big, comforting hug. "We'll be right here to pick you up. I'll even bring your favorite cookies."
"You're the best!" Rose whispered, squeezing him tight. She looked at her mom, who gave her a gentle kiss on the forehead.
"Go on now," Emily said softly, her eyes full of love. "Make some friends and have an adventure."
Rose took a deep breath, grinned, and bravely walked toward the big red door, ready for the wonderful day ahead.
Rose stepped into her new classroom at Evergreen Elementary, a bright and cheerful space filled with colorful drawings and a warm, inviting hum of chatter. Her teacher, Mrs. Gable, a kind woman with silver hair, greeted her with a wide smile. "Rose, darling! We are so happy to have you join us this year," she said, wrapping Rose in a gentle hug. Before she could even get to her desk, a chorus of voices called out her name.
"Rose! Over here!" her best friend, Lia, waved from a desk near the window. Lia had a head of bouncy red curls and a mischievous glint in her green eyes. She was the only person who could match Rose's energy. As Rose walked to her seat, students from every corner of the room called out to her, excited to have their friend back.
The day flew by in a blur of laughter and learning. As the final bell rang, the classroom filled with a chaotic rush to the door. Just then, a handsome boy from the next class, Yuta, walked in. The girls in the room instantly went quiet. Yuta had dark, soft hair that fell over his eyes and a friendly smile. Rose just smiled a little, looking down at her desk.
Lia leaned over and whispered to Rose, "He's so dreamy! I bet he's going to ask you to be his girlfriend."
Rose just smiled and looked away, a warm blush on her cheeks.
Across the room, a boy named Kevin muttered loud enough for a few people to hear, "He's just showing off. He's not that cool," before he quickly slipped out of the classroom.
Yuta walked right past everyone and stopped at Rose's desk. "Hey, Rose," he said. "Would you want to walk home with me today?"
Lia started jumping up and down, "Yes! Yes! A thousand times yes!" The whole class erupted into a frenzy of excited chatter, everyone screaming that they would make the perfect couple. Rose slowly nodded, her blush deepening, and whispered, "Yes."
They walked out of the classroom and into the late afternoon sun, the golden light making Yuta's hair look like it was spun from gold. As they walked down the sidewalk, an invisible crowd followed behind, with Lia and their classmates sneaking from behind a tree to a bush, whispering excitedly and occasionally giggling.
Yuta looked at Rose, his cheeks turning a light shade of pink. "Rose," he said, his voice a little shaky. "I have something to tell you."
Rose's heart fluttered in her chest, and she looked down at her feet, her own face turning as red as a cherry.
Behind them, Lia and the others were practically holding their breath. "He's gonna say it," Lia whispered, a huge grin on her face.
Yuta took a deep breath. "Rose, will you be my girlfriend?"
Rose's hand flew to her face, covering her hot cheeks as she looked away, too shy to meet his gaze.
From the bushes behind them, a loud, collective shout erupted. "HE SAID IT!"
Rose slowly lowered her hand, her eyes meeting Yuta's. He was smiling at her, a beautiful, sincere smile that made her heart melt. She leaned in, her voice a soft whisper. "No, I wouldn't mind being..."
Before she could finish her sentence, a horrific sound pierced the air. A dark, shadowy figure in a red suit and a crimson hat appeared out of nowhere. A swift, brutal strike, and Yuta's head was sent flying, detaching completely from his body. His neck was a gruesome fountain of crimson, spraying blood everywhere, a sickening mist of red in the golden sunlight. The body staggered for a moment before collapsing in a heap.
"W-what?" Rose whispered, her voice a fragile wisp of air. Her mind couldn't comprehend what she was seeing. Her perfect, romantic moment had shattered into a scene from a nightmare. The creature, now crouched over Yuta's body, looked up at her, a slow, predatory smile spreading across its pale face. It began to devour the body with sickening, crunching sounds.
Rose's classmates screamed and scattered, their joyful whispers turning into terrified shrieks. But Lia ran to Rose, grabbing her arm. "Rose! Rose, let's run! We have to go, now!" Lia's face was a mask of sheer terror, her eyes wide with shock.
As Lia tried to pull Rose away, the creature turned its head. With a casual, almost bored flick of its wrist, it grabbed Lia by the hair. There was a sickening, snap as Lia's neck broke, her head twisting at an unnatural angle. Her body dropped to the ground, a limp puppet, as the creature tossed her head away like a discarded toy. The head landed with a sickening thump just a few feet from Rose, a final look of horror frozen on her face. Rose was left standing there, completely alone, her mouth agape in silent, gut-wrenching shock.
Rose didn't run. She stumbled backward, her legs tangled, her mind screaming. The creature in the red suit, now covered in blood, was casually chewing on a piece of Yuta's body, its jaws working with a gruesome, wet sound. Lia's body lay still on the ground, her head thrown several feet away. The sight of her best friend's lifeless eyes staring into nothing finally broke Rose from her stupor. A guttural scream ripped from her throat, and she turned and ran.
She ran down the sidewalk, her backpack bouncing painfully against her back. The cheerful, sun-drenched street she had walked just moments ago had become a scene of unimaginable horror. As she reached the main street, she saw them: shimmering, portal-like gates, like cracks in the air, were opening everywhere. Creatures with multiple limbs, razor-sharp claws, and jaws filled with teeth poured out of them. They moved with a terrifying speed, tearing into people, devouring them. A man, who had been watering his lawn, was ripped apart in seconds. A couple holding hands screamed as one of the beasts snapped them in half. The air filled with the sounds of shrieks, the wet tearing of flesh, and the monstrous roars of the creatures. It was a massacre.
Rose didn't stop to think, didn't look back. She ran straight for her home, her heart pounding in her ears, the sounds of the apocalypse chasing her. The front door was a welcome sight, and she fumbled with the knob, her hands shaking so hard she could barely turn it. She burst inside, slamming the door shut and leaning against it, gasping for air.
"Mom? Dad?" she called out, her voice a terrified whisper.
A thick, metallic smell filled the air. She followed the scent to the living room, and her world shattered for a final, horrific time. Her parents lay on the ground in a grotesque tableau of red and mangled flesh. Her father's body was a hollowed-out mess, his insides gone, his chest cavity a cave of bone and blood. Her mother's body was even worse, her face a mangled, unrecognizable pulp. A flood of crimson blood had pooled around them, soaking into the rug, and a few of the smaller creatures were still feasting on their remains, their heads buried deep in the bodies.
Rose's scream was a silent one this time, her mouth open, but no sound coming out. She could only stare, her eyes wide, her soul leaving her body. The love, the warmth, the perfect life she had known was gone. All that remained was silence and the sight of her parents' devoured corpses.
14 years later....
Rose stood in an underground room, in her new Squad 0 Guardian suit—a black suit with a short black skirt and a white shirt underneath, offset by a pink jacket draped over her shoulders with "Guardian" written across the back. Her hands were clasped in her lap, her expression grim.
Infront of her stood two young men, one stood tall, with striking red and white hair that seemed to glow. He wore a simple black t-shirt with a skull design, black pants, and a red jersey with the number "SQUAD 0" emblazoned on the back.
The other had massive black wings protruding from his back, his presence seemed to darken the air, absorbing light and casting a long, malevolent shadow.