A man walked along the streets. Every step is almost certain. And backed with undeniable confidence.
He wasn't personally known by many. But the atmosphere he brought was contagious. He'd travel between settlements.
Offering all he could to those in need. Knowing that wealth wasn't exactly a problem for someone like him.
Especially in times like these. Where everything was in high demand.
Despite being in a world of uncertainty. He was one of the very few certain ones.
Which was obvious in the way he brought himself. The way he spoke. And his generosity.
No one really knew if he was...sane. But. Everyone that encountered him was always glad.
And those who took advantage of him. Were confused. Because this man was content.
And whenever he got robbed. He really only asked to be left alive each time.
Everywhere he went. He'd always leave people with a looming question. One that stuck even harder when he'd get robbed. Disappear.
And somehow be seen again with the same or more things giving away to those in need.
They'd always wonder...How is he so wealthy? And where does he keep getting it from?
But Alaric Quinn. Was born wealthy. And as an only child. He inherited generational wealth when his parents passed away during his early twenty's.
And by the time he was twenty-seven. He'd traveled to several countries. And lived the life most could only dream of.
But during his youthful years. He started following conspiracy theories.
Theories that encouraged listeners to believe that the world will die someday. And no one knows when. Or how it'd die.
But Alaric. Wasn't one to let his paranoia win. So he bought several and several production companies.
He invested in movements that were socially looked down on. He built underground bunkers and hired people to take care of them.
And by the time he was done 'preparing'. He was thirty-eight years old. Still green in his eyes. And at ease. And then. The news broke.
The planet was suffering from something unknown. Which was slowly decaying it from the inside-out.
And as tragic as it was. Alaric felt as if he'd won the lottery. And this was what led him to be the most smug, 'I told you so' person for the next couple of years.
Where he'd rant to his close friends and those he hired about how much he prepared.
And they all knew. He was too rich and paranoid to be lying. And they know that because this man pays thousands of dollars a month to a trained hunter just to shoot birds that flew over his property.
All because he believed they were made by the government to spy.
And over the years. The earth only decayed more. Plants became poisonous to eat. And animals too due to eating those plants. then preying on each other.
Alaric on the other hand. became a massive supplier to those in need.
All while keeping his personal stash or resources in masses. Where his friends and hired workers would get their share.
And as if things weren't hard enough for everyone else. Money lost its value. You either trade something of interest. Or there won't be a deal.
And from this harsh change in society over the years. Many died of starvation on top of the mysterious plague. While most of the population was surviving on rations.
But then they got a little bit of hope. Hearing that for several years. The world's top scientists. Engineers and Biophysicists, Planetary Geologists and much much more ambitious and successful people came together.
And have been studying the plague. And the decaying earth for years.
And to everyone's surprise. That hope was taken away as soon as they got it. Because only months after hearing about the good news. An announcement was made worldwide.
That all the scientists and biophysicists have given up on trying to save the planet. And had started a new project. Called 'The Arks Of The Universe'.
This was meant to make everyone hopeful. But the idea of portals. And space travel and all that nonsense caused widespread despair.
So much to the point that its been recorded that at least three point four percent of humans to date would commit suicide daily.
And as small as that number was. Alaric knew it was thousands. If not hundreds of thousands of humans. Who killed themselves daily. So he took it upon himself. To go out and help those in need.
He encouraged them to trust in those who were working on saving them.
Giving people food, water and clothes for free. All while lying to them about what he's 'heard' about the promised land Zarphon.
Alaric had connections. But that was limited to confidential information.
He knew that. And yet he still lied to people. All while also believing the lies he told.
Five years went by.
And Alaric traveled from country to country on his yacht. And soon. The news got to him.
That the Arks. Will be ready within the next month. And the locations where various Arks were stationed was announced worldwide.
Alaric was in on himself. He was convinced that the Arks would work.
But he packed a bag with all his favorite snacks and beverages. Hoping he'd have something to remember earth by.
The days flew by in a flash. And without a doubt. Alaric is there.
Mixed with the hundreds of thousands of humans who stood by the Ark of his region. All of them oblivious to the fact that these were untested.
But nonetheless. The countdown began. And the crowd chanted the numbers.
5.
4..
3!
2!!
1!!!
And then the Arks. Were activated. Dark portals with purple accents slowly formed within the frame of the Ark.
Laughter and excitement erupted in the crowd. Everyone felt hope. They felt safe.
But as it completed. It suddenly came in on itself. Disappearing for a brief moment.
Everyone who was chanting and rejoicing...stopped. Looking at it. Thinking it failed.
A moment of silence passed. And then an eerie sound exploded from the ark.
A small black circle appeared. Which seemed harmless at first.
but in only a second. It ate away everything around it as it grew. Humans were being dragged in with immense force.
And Alaric was no exception.
Several minutes of pure darkness passed. Where he felt. Nothing. He was thinking.
But he didn't feel his body. And suddenly.
His eyes snapped open. And the scenery around him was completely different from what he remembered.
He got up. Disoriented. But not confused as he looked around. Relishing in the new environment.
The wind blew against his pink Hawaiian shirt. And his confidence grew even more.
Pleased with the fact that the arks worked. But not too sure where everyone else is.
And from where he was. He could see dense smoke rising to the air from the south of where he stood.
"Nope!"
He said to himself. turned the other way and started walking. And he walked and walked and walked until he found a beautiful river.
And for the several days that passed. He survived by drinking the river's water. And the snacks he had in his bag. But soon.
Even those ran out. Which was when he tried what he thought would be the easiest thing to do.
Standing in the river. He'd try to catch fish with his bare hands.
But every time he held one. It wiggled away and...camouflaged?. This puzzled Alaric but he just figured he was seeing things from the creeping hunger.
So he created a spear with a stick and a pointy stone as its blade. Fish wasn't an option so he tried sneaking up on an unsuspecting deer. He realized it has strange, transparent horns.
But he was too hungry to care.
He lunged at it.
And thrust his spear through its neck.
But it ran off. A whistling sound traveling with it. And it's blood leaving a trail.
"Yes...dinner."
He said to himself. Sighing as he slowly made his way to an opening. Flopping down against a rock. Exhausted.
I'll need to go get that in a few...
trying to chase it will only make me waste whatever energy I've got left
He thought. Resting by the rock as he took in the night's sky.
About half an hour flew by. As he checked his watch.
But while looking down at it. He noticed something in his peripheral vision.
Something green flying from inside the forest. Fast and straight toward him.
What the-
He tried getting up but before he did. It crashed into him.
His eyes snapping open as he hugged himself tightly from the immense pain. His mouth watering as his voice strained.
And only after a few minutes of agony.
The world went black. And he felt a presence. Something he couldn't understand.
The pain eased slightly. As he desperately tried to see something. Anything at all.
But his eyes were met with glowing pearls in the darkness.
Which stared down into his soul.
And glowing patterns ascending upwards. The hair on his neck stood up.
He was scared. And suddenly. His eyes hazed. And it was gone.
His body went limp. And his head hit the rock behind him.
His eyes wide open. As he saw flashing images of a palace. Royalty. Wars. Faces he couldn't comprehend. Creatures with wings. And much more.
That's the third one I've found in five days.
Where are they coming from?
She thought to herself.