1 Beginning Of The End

It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon, the bright warm sunlight rained down. Many people were in their backyards around grills and enjoying their days off. Many kids were sliding down their slides and having fun, the sound of their laughter and playful cheer filled the area. The smell of hamburger and chlorine from swimming pools polluted the air. 

John was in his backyard standing by the grill. He threw a steak on the rack. The juices sizzled after hitting the hot metal. A few of his close friends chose to go over and enjoy the day there, and brought some beers and steaks as hospitality.

"Hey John, when are you gonna get your porch fixed? I think I almost put my ass through the steps." His friend Greag asked as he walked down the wooden surface toward the others.

John shot his gaze over to him, and shook his head with a slight smile, and a roll of his eyes. He poked the meat and turned the steaks over to even out the burn. The other guests were laughing at the tantalizing remark.

John poked his spatula into the browned meat, observed its consistency and announced. "Steaks are ready, but lets make sure our highness goes first." 

John stepped back and bowed to Greag sarcastically. His other two friends Sean and Bryan glanced over to Greag, to watch the annoyance grow on his face, and began laughing. 

Greag continued and walked over to John, and reached in past to grab for a chunk of the meat, bumping his side into Johns.

Sean, stood up, walked over behind Greag and waited for him to go on. Only for her patience to grow short with him and before Greag realized it, she was pushing him out of the line and shouted. "Holy shit man, move out of my way. I'm hungry you pain in the ass." 

Greag and John looked at one another and back to Sean. With no hesitation, they laughed at her. Watching her hazel eyes shoot over to them with a glare. Her gaze had them furious with laughter as they perceived her annoyance as humor. 

In that time, Bryan snuck in past Sean, ripped away a chunk from the grate and spoke out. "You two are such assholes. No wonder why she's so timid around women."

Her attention redirected from them to Bryan and blurted out. "You're timid, not me," followed by mumbling under her breath, and her face turning a shade of brownish red. Bryan's right eyebrow raised at the comment, and he answered back in a mocking tone. "So I guess we're back to second grade again?"

Greag and John burst out with laughter again, directing it at Sean's misfortune. Suddenly, as they were all still in a fit of laughter, the ground began to frantically shake. When the tremor subsided, they each gained their balance and looked around for what was occurring. Seconds later the small tremors would come and go, each time more powerful than the last.

Suddenly a hum like high-pitched noise, emanating from the distance, came in with a massive wave of vibration.

Seans' voice pierced out over the endless sound. "Where's that coming from, what the hell is that?"

As she finished her statement, they heard a loud explosion occurring from a distance. Its deafening octave had their ears ringing. The wind began to pick up, whistling as it passed around cars and houses.

Sam came running out from the house, terrified and shouted. "What's going on?" Her voice barely noticeable over the noise.

Jets and helicopters suddenly went soaring overhead, shaking the surrounding buildings. Military transport trucks rolled passed with soldiers loaded in the back of them. Police vehicles cruised by, with their sirens blaring. Their loud speakers shouting out for people to stay calm and remain indoors. 

John boasted out to everyone, "Get inside the house,"

He ran over the concrete patio, grabbed a hold of Sam's hand and pulled her behind him, while en route toward his backdoor. The random quakes continued to stir, accompanied by the sounds of several explosions and gunfire, that seemed to be approaching.

Suddenly, the sound of a massive explosion rang in. Everyone tried yelling and screaming over the noise, but no one could be understood.

Within seconds, the sky turned shades darker until blackened. The ground began to rumble and quake. The air pressure started rising, and forced everyone to cup their ears. It was just too much for them to bear. One by one they all collapsed and fainted.

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