The Renegade Prince

The rain was pounding on the glass of Jack's office window. He enjoyed the sound of the rain, it was preferable to the constant chatter from his colleague Sarah.

The days had been getting shorter recently, with the Sun only being visible for 5 hours a day. This had led to Jack feeling somber. It had also been raining for the whole last month, with places close to the shores succumbing to large-scale floods.

"My husband thinks it is down to global warming, we are polluting the atmosphere to much!" Sarah continued with her torrent of idle chatter, "I just hope those religious creeps will stop shouting about it being the end of the world!"

Jack gazed out of the window and let Sarah unload. The weather and darkness had lead to religious cults springing up everywhere, declaring it was the coming of the end.

"I just want the rain to stop!" Sarah continued. "My Husband is taking me away on holiday, and it's raining there as well!!"

Jack put his head back into work mode, he had to complete his project brief before his Director Peter was on his back. Since the darkness and rain came, consumers spent less time shopping in store, and more online. Jack's company was trying to capitalise on this and change their business strategy to match.

.....

After several hours of working on his brief and listening to Sarah's chatter, he was almost there. He was confident Peter would sign off on his Project to capitalise on the current trends.

Jack printed his documents and headed to Peters office.

'I need to move to a desk far away from Sarah' Jack thought.

*BANG*

There was an almighty crash as lightning hit the building, making the walls shake. Jack dropped his documents on the floor.

"What was that?' shouted Peter from his office!

"Lightning hit the roof" replied a disgruntled Jack.

Peter left his office and helped Jack gather his paperwork.

"This weather is getting ridiculous now! I heard there was earthquakes on the southern continent today, it was that bad it has split cities down the centre." he exclaimed, "The death count is unimaginable."

"Your turning into Sarah!" replied Jack.

Peter laughed, "I'd rather be Sarah than have your grumpy face."

Jack smiled, he grabbed his documents and headed into Peters office.

"Ok Peter, if you open page 1, you'll see that if we push our stock into the online...." Jack started to explain his strategy.

...

Jack packed his work rucksack, placing his laptop and remaining lunch away. He put on his Waterproof jacket as he left the building and headed into the darkness.

The rain was heavy, and each step into it was like walking into your shower.

He reached his car and turned the engine on. He loved his car, and spent most of his savings on getting this top spec model.

Whilst he drove home he saw many people gathered in groups on corners, holding signs declaring the end of the world.

.....

He parked his car in the apartment block garage and took the lift up to his home on the 12th floor.

His room was like a show home, with white clean surfaces everywhere.

Jack headed to the living room and turned on the TV. His routine was to watch the news for 15minutes, before having his evening meal and then either going to the gym on the 20th floor, or gaming with his few friends.

"The number of deaths in today's earthquakes is in the millions, another tragic day, in what has been the most tragic year in recorded history." The Newsreader started, "People on the western continent in countries off Salino, Gerland and Frizaly have been advised to leave the country with the impending eruption of the Salino Mountain range that centres them."

Jack listened to the news whilst boiling some water for his noodles.

"The rising of end of the world cults has lead to world leaders stating a national emergency. President Rosa Catalina has declared 'Those who are doing unlawful activities in the name of religion, must cease now before they are punished by international Law'."

"Yeah, because that's going to stop them?" exclaimed Jack to the TV.

"Also a warning to our home country, tonight we expect a meteor shower in the north, followed by more extreme thunder and lightning."

"F#@$" thought Jack.

He made his noodles and turned his game console on.

3 friends online.

Soon after signing in, a party invite from "WhiteFairyQueen" arrived.

"Hey Fairy, how are you doing?" Jack asked

"Great," she replied, "How did it go with Peter today?"

"I think he's going for the proposal, he's going to add some humanitarian aid to the launch, to keep us in the positive light" replied Jack.

"He's a smart man, you can learn a lot from him." replied Fairy, "Be careful tonight with the impending meteor shower, with everything going on, I just want you to be safe!"

"Thanks Sis, should we play something then?"

.....

It was 1 o'clock when the meteors hit.

It was still raining heavy as usual, but the thunder and lightning was replaced with the sound of fireworks wooshing past, followed by a boom.

It started quiet in the distance, but overtime it got louder as it got closer.

*BANG* *BANG*

The apartment shook.

*BANG**BANG*

The glass windows shattered.

Jack rolled under his bed for safety, he started to understand what the religious fanatics meant. Was this the end of the world?

*CRASH*

Jack looked out from under the bed, a small flaming rock had flown through the remains of his window and hit his wardrobe. The wardrobe started to burn at the bottom.

"Sh#$" exclaimed Jack.

He jumped out from the bed and ran towards the wardrobe. Rain was blowing through the window and soaking him as he reached the wardrobe.

Jack stamped continuously on the small fire to put it out.

Drenched with rain and exhausted from stamping, Jack sat on the floor and was grateful to be alive.

The meteors continued in the distance, getting quieter as they moved further away.

Jack looked at the small rock. The rock was small and a dark grey. It emitted a gentle humming noise.

Jack listened, and felt himself relaxing. He lost his anxious feelings and crawled towards the rock.

The rock suddenly stopped humming. It wobbled and a crack appeared on it's side.

Suddenly a red beam of light emerged from the crack and shot towards Jack.