Unknown Location
Light.
That was the first thing I saw.
A single bulb hung above me.
I was inside a pod.
My body… was intact.
Whole.
Healed.
Impossible.
I pushed the lid open.
Cold air hit my skin.
The room was metal.
Endless silver walls stretched in every direction, glowing faintly like veins under skin.
I stepped out.
My clothes were white.
Not mine.
My hair fell forward—
Longer than I remembered.
I stared at it.
"…What?"
I touched it again.
Still there.
No answer came.
I walked.
The hallway stretched endlessly, silent except for a low mechanical hum.
Then—
BANG.
Something hit glass.
I turned.
A man was inside a chamber, staring directly at me.
Eyes wide.
He mouthed something rapidly.
I couldn't hear him.
I stepped closer.
Pressed my ear against the glass.
One word came through.
"Run."
I stepped back—
And hit something behind me.
Slowly.
I turned.
A goat-like creature towered above me.
Seven feet tall.
Its rectangular eyes locked onto mine.
Then it screamed.
I ran.
It chased.
Everything after that became noise.
I felt something grabbed me, I fought back
But it wa strong I couldn't see in the dark corridor but I was suddenly let go
As I fell to the floor.
Then—
A voice.
"You've got a strong arm, kiddo."
It soon came.to.light, I could finally see it
I froze.
The creature was talking.
That didn't make sense.
None of this did.
And then—
Pain exploded through my neck.
Electric.
Violent.
I collapsed instantly.
A collar.
Cold metal.
Locked around my throat.
"I wouldn't move if I were you, That was just to remind you that it won't be in your best interest if you run."
I looked up.
It was standing upright now.
Holding a remote.
"…What the hell is going on?
The creature tilted its head.
"it will all soon make sense.
Silence.
Then it smiled.
"We should keep moving. There is a lot you need to know.
And I realized—
Nothing about this world followed the rules I understood anymore.
.....m
The corridor stretched endlessly ahead.
Cold metal. Silent lights. A low mechanical hum that felt less like machinery and more like something breathing beneath the walls.
I walked.
Not because I wanted to.
Because I had no choice.
The goat-like creature stayed beside me, casually holding a small remote in one hand.
Like I was nothing more than a controlled experiment.
"You're quieter than I expected," it said.
I didn't answer.
"That's fine," it continued. "Most people stop talking after the collar activates the first time."
I glanced at the metal around my neck.
Cold.
Heavy.
Real.
"What is this place?" I asked again
The creature tilted its head slightly.
"Depends on perspective."
"That's not an answer."
"It is," it said calmly. "Just not one you like."
We kept walking.
Every step echoed too loudly.
Too clean.
Too controlled.
No dust.
No damage.
No life.
Just structure.
Like the entire place was built to ignore everything that had ever lived.
I bet you are probably confused and scared, but I assure you we mean you no harm.
He turned slightly to face me before moving forward.
"How much do you remember?" Dr. Raquel asked.
I frowned.
About what?.
About everything...
What was the last thing you remembered ?
"I was going home."
The words felt distant.
Like they belonged to someone else.
"I remember running."
A headache began forming behind my eyes.
"I remember holding someone's hand."
For some reason, saying that made my chest tighten.
"I think..."
Fragments flashed through my mind.
Blood.
Screams.
A bridge.
"I think it was my mom's."
Dr. Raquel went silent.
The look on his face immediately put me on edge.
"What?"
He didn't answer.
"What happened to her?"
Still nothing.
The silence was starting to irritate me.
"Hey."
My voice rose slightly.
"What happened to my mom?"
Dr. Raquel sighed.
"Devon..."
Something about the way he said my name made my stomach sink.
"I'm afraid there isn't an easy way to tell you this."
A cold feeling spread through my chest.
"What happened?"
Another pause.
Then:
"Your home now longer exists "
I stared at him.
"...What?"
"The planet designated 2134."
His voice remained calm.
"Also known as Earth."
My brain struggled to process the words.
"What do you mean Earth doesn't exist?"
"It was destroyed."
I laughed.
Not because it was funny.
Because the alternative was believing him.
"What kind of joke is that?"
"This isn't a joke."
"No."
I shook my head.
"No, that's impossible."
Billions of people.
Entire countries.
History.
Everything.
Gone?
"No."
I looked directly at him.
"What about my mom?"
Dr. Raquel closed his eyes briefly.
Then opened them again.
"I'm sorry, Devon."
The answer hit harder than the news about Earth.
Because for the first time, I understood what he was trying to tell me.
Not just that Earth was gone.
Not just that humanity was gone.
That she was gone too.
And I was alone.
I stayed quiet not muttering a word
Just walking shakily across the walls,
He looked at me with sympathy,
I'm guessing you need sometime to process all this,
I didn't answer just gave a weak nod,
As much as you are hurting right now.
Greater trials lie ahead,
Just as he spoke,
He took out a key card and placed it on a panel,
An automated voice answered.
Authentication confirmed Resident Doctor Raquel.
The door opened and two figures stood there
A man wearing a comical helmet and his eyes covered, he appeared to be in his mid 30s
And a boy with orange hair and two golden line streaks running from below his eyes,
His mouth covered as well.
The two figures nodded gently at the doctor
I believe this is where we part ways Devons.
Hopefully we don't meet again.
He handed the remote to the figure in front.
Them turned to leave ,
That was when I saw them,
A tall man with a conical metal helmet, with only his eyes covered wearing some sort of old medieval clothing, I couldn't really describe but he seemed to be in his mid 40s,
And just beside him was a boy with orange hair who had the same height of a 14yr old,
But his eyes were golden, not to mention two golden line streaks running dorm from below his eyes,
The man moved first, then broke the remote,
The collar falling immediately,
I touched my neck, to make sure it was really gone.
But I couldn't let down my guard just yet
"Aren't you afraid I would run?" I asked with caution
He barely looked at me
"You can try but you won't get very far."
I don't know if it was the way his voice sounded or the way the boy himself looked aloof,
They didn't seem like average people.
I wasn't going to push my luck, with people I just met.
The man soon started walking, as well as the orange haired boy,
I just stood there unsure what to do.
Till he spoke.
" You should hurry, or are you really thinking of running away?"
Even the boy looked at me with a cold look.
My mind kept racing back and forth,
The thought of running did cross my mind
But something told me.
Resisting them,might be the same as accepting death