The night sky peeled like scorched paper, layer after layer crumbling away. Corpses littered streets more thickly than billboards, while broadcasts repeated on loop: "Remain calm. The situation is under control." Everyone knew it was just a broken tape jammed in a recorder.
Ethan and Carl hid inside an abandoned office tower. The walls flaked like bones gnawed by vultures. Wind howled through shattered windows.
"You think when we die, we'll go straight into the nightmare world? Save us the customs line," Carl muttered casually, as if commenting on the weather.
Ethan didn't answer. He stared at his palm. Black nightmare veins writhed like worms, growing deeper, hotter. He knew his control wouldn't last.
"Don't act tough." Carl fished out a rancid chocolate bar, broke it in half, shoved one piece into Ethan's hand. "You've never eaten anything worse. Remember the taste. So when you turn monster, you won't forget me."
Ethan took it, hand trembling, but didn't eat. "Carl… I might not last much longer."
"No kidding," Carl scoffed. "You've been a ticking bomb since I met you. Back then you only blew up exams. Now you're blowing up the world."
Ethan laughed, ragged and pained. He knew Carl was covering. That bright look in his eyes—the gambler's last blaze before ruin.
"Listen." Carl leaned close, voice low, almost like gossiping. "If you lose control, I'll end it. Better me than the Bureau or the rebels. At least I won't ship you off for some freak experiment."
Ethan stiffened. "You're serious?"
"Dead serious." Carl winked. "Brother's oath. If you become the 'end-of-the-world button,' I'll be the one to press it. Romantic, huh?"
"Romantic my ass." Ethan crushed the chocolate in his fist.
Carl sighed, patted his shoulder. "Relax. Didn't say I want to kill you. I said—I'll stick with you till the end. Even if it means hell together."
A grin flickered. "Hell suits us anyway. No rent there."
Something sour burned Ethan's chest. He remembered all the nights Carl cursed missions—yet was always first at his side. Even now, as the world unraveled, Carl hadn't taken a single step back.
"If it comes to that," Ethan whispered, "don't hesitate."
Carl blinked, then burst out laughing. "So you want me to kill you? Perfect. We're square."
They locked eyes—and both laughed. Their laughter echoed through the empty office, mingling with distant screams, eerie and desolate.
Then—boom. A building collapsed far away. Fire lit the sky, hell opening early. Broadcasts still droned: "Remain calm. Situation under control."
Carl shrugged at the blaze. "See? The world lost control before you did. Fair enough."
Ethan finally shoved the crushed chocolate into his mouth. Bitter as poison. But the taste grounded him, proof he wasn't all monster yet.
The wind carried blood and ash through shattered windows. They sat side by side, prisoners awaiting judgment.
Carl suddenly raised his hand like a toast. "To betrayal, to destruction, to the unluckiest brothers alive."
Ethan hesitated, then raised his empty hand. "To the oath."
They clinked air. A sharp crack echoed.
Maybe the world. Maybe their hearts.