Woof! Woof!
Logan rolled on his straw-filled mattress, staring into the brown eyes of a Border Collie. He had convinced his mother to get him a puppy because it would be beneficial for herding sheep on their farm. At just four months old, the puppy was still in the early stages of training. His new responsibilities filled Logan with pride and anxiety.
A groan escaped his lips as he recalled his mother's stern warning: one more indoor accident from the puppy, and she would find it a new home. The puppy, affectionately named Adora—a playful nod to her adorable nature—barked excitedly, her tail wagging with uncontainable enthusiasm.
Logan swung his legs over the side of the bed, reaching for the leash, his cell phone, and his inhaler from the end table. Hastily, he tucked the items into the pockets of his oversized grey sweat pants.
With the leash clipped securely onto Adora's vibrant red collar, he grasped his cellphone in his left hand, using its light to navigate the dimly lit hallway. The soft glow illuminated the path ahead as he made his way towards the front door.
Slipping on his sneakers, which were drying on the mat by the entrance, he carefully closed the door behind him, trying to avoid waking his mother with the creaking hinges.
The brisk air caused him to shake like the trees' branches, as the wind tousled his blonde hair. Sixty feet away were the sheep baaing inside their pen.
Logan hoped Adora would be quick about her business, as he was eager to get back to the warmth of the house.
Adora tugged eagerly at the leash; her favourite destination was the grand oak tree. Logan stifled a yawn, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he followed her enthusiastic pace. Adora spotted a brown rabbit emerging from the holly bushes. She bolted forward, and the leash slipped from Logan's drowsy grip. The rabbit darted toward the forest, with Adora in hot pursuit.
Logan called out for Adora, his voice echoing as he sprinted after her, but he quickly realized he was losing the race. He stopped, bent over with his hands resting on his knees, and took a moment to catch his breath, using his inhaler to ease the tightness in his chest.
"Adora!" he shouted again, his voice filled with urgency as he continued to search for her, repeating her name in hopes of coaxing her back.
After searching for what felt like an eternity, Logan heard the sound of barking deeper in the forest. He found Adora rolling joyfully in the dirt, getting her black and white fur thoroughly dirty.
"Silly dog," he chuckled, crouched to grab Adora's leash. He glanced at his cellphone to check the time, noting how the solar-powered lights of Dynasty Tower illuminated the dark, bluish sky with a soft glow.
Whoosh. Wings whirred. He recorded a video with his cell phone at the Dynasty Tower.
A grey aircraft, resembling a strategic bomber with six powerful turbo engines, soared through the sky, capturing Logan's attention with its imposing presence.
The aircraft's belly hatch swung open with mechanical precision, releasing a bomb that plummeted toward the ground like a falling star, striking the tower's navy-blue metal tile roof with a thunderous impact that shook the earth beneath Logan's feet.
The shockwave from the explosion hit Logan like a physical force, causing his eardrums to throb painfully as an eruption of flames burst forth—a chaotic blend of vivid reds and deep oranges that illuminated the night sky.
The flames leapt and twisted with demonic hunger, consuming everything in their path, reducing solid structures to mere ash and twisted metal, while Logan felt a lump form in his throat, his Adam's apple bobbing nervously as he struggled to comprehend the scale of the destruction unfolding before him.
The acrid stench of burning debris filled his nostrils, a foul odour that reminded him of the putrid scent of a garbage can, making him recoil involuntarily as he fought to breathe through the noxious fumes. The intensity of the fire was overwhelming, as if it could rival the depths of hell itself.
Tears streamed down his light-skinned cheeks, a testament to the horror unfolding before him, as a towering mushroom cloud ascended into the night sky, reaching heights of five thousand feet and blotting out the stars.
The explosion sent blue bricks hurtling in all directions, shattering upon impact with the ground, while the sound of tinkling glass echoed around him as windows shattered, sending shards spiralling through the air.
The grass was blanketed in black debris, thick and heavy, resembling a layer of volcanic ash that had fallen in the aftermath of the explosion. Logan blinked rapidly, disoriented, and stumbled backward, his mind racing to process the apocalyptic scene.
Adora cowered behind Logan, her tail drooping low, mirroring the anxiety that gripped them both. The acrid taste of charred ash filled Logan's mouth, causing his lips to quiver involuntarily, a bitter reminder of the destruction that had just unfolded before his eyes.
The once-majestic Dynasty Tower, soaring at a height of six hundred meters, now lay in ruins, reduced to a mere pile of smoking rubble, a stark contrast to its former glory.
Overwhelmed by the sight before him, he stopped recording and quickly dialled 911, his heart racing as he struggled to maintain composure. The weight of the situation pressed heavily on him, causing his hands to tremble as he raised his cell phone to his ear.
"911, what's your emergency?"
Struggling to articulate his thoughts, Logan stammered, "Dy-Dyn-Dynasty T-To-Tower B-Bombed."
The woman shrieked, "What? Is this a prank?"
"No. Send emergency services right away."
"Alright, emergency service is on its way."
He hung up his cell phone and sighed in relief. With the sleeve of his blue sweater, he wiped the sweat off his forehead. His right hand was clammy as he gripped the leash. The heat from the nearby fire intensified.
Recognizing that remaining in the vicinity was increasingly perilous, Logan decided to return home. He pivoted on his heel, Adora trotting closely beside him, both of them casting long shadows in the hellish orange glow that now dominated the horizon.