Chapter 1.6: Skyfire

Roland, caught in the mesmerizing beauty of the sky, suddenly noticed an unusual sight. A bright, swift rocket slashed through the heavens, vanishing before he could grasp what he'd seen. Before he could articulate his shock, the sky filled with a torrent of similar projectiles, painting the sky as though daylight had returned in a fiery guise.

"Did you see that?"

he asked, his voice barely more than a whisper in the growing chaos. No one responded, their attention stolen by the explosive scene above. The party stumbled into a stunned silence, their gazes shifting between the sky and Roland, as if expecting him to explain the unfolding apocalypse.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, Roland tried to access information on his phone, but found no signal. Panic clawing at his throat, he grabbed Merlin's arm, yelling,

"Run! Find shelter!"

The party erupted into chaos, their joyous celebration devolving into a desperate scramble for safety. Matt and Lily joined Roland and Merlin, their faces pale with terror.

As they sprinted downhill, Roland's mind raced, trying to make sense of the terrifying spectacle overhead.

"Those things - they're missiles, aimed at something in space! We need to find cover, now!"

His breathless explanation heightened the group's fear, but spurred them to run faster.

Merlin's voice shook as she cried,

"Are we going to die?"

Tears flowed freely as Matt tried to reassure her, while Lily clung to Roland, her body trembling.

Their desperate dash seemed to stretch for an eternity before they reached the familiar glow of street lights and a small car park. Suddenly, their phones screamed a warning, the shrill alert sound amplifying the beating of Roland's frantic heart. He checked his message, the seconds dragging on as he read the government's emergency notification:

< <Severe Alert: Urgent Meteor Shower Warning< strong>

This is an emergency notification from the UK Government. An unprecedented meteor shower event is impacting several regions including the East Midlands, East of England, London, and the South East. This situation poses a significant and immediate danger to people and property in the affected areas.

Seek Shelter: Find the nearest underground station.

AVOID WINDOWS: Stay away from windows to avoid injury from shattered glass.

GET LOW: If outside with no shelter, lie flat in a ditch or low area.

HELP NEIGHBOURS: Quickly assist others who may need help to find shelter.

STAY TUNED: Keep your mobile device on for updates.

CALL 999 ONLY IF IN IMMEDIATE DANGER: Keep lines open for emergencies.

WAIT FOR ALL-CLEAR: Remain in shelter until the official all-clear is given.>>

The terrifying messages multiplied, news of a missile strike attempt to fragment the incoming meteor shower painting a grim picture. Roland's legs wobbled, the severity of the situation hitting him like a physical blow. But Matt's decisive voice cut through his daze, urging everyone to get into the car.

As they raced through the streets, a cacophony of alarms from countless phones reverberated, amplifying the panic that gripped the town. The once familiar streets were transformed into a nightmarish landscape, echoing with the ominous symphony of warning tones. Inside the car, a thick, stifling silence settled, each person ensnared in their own whirlpool of fear and anticipation. The vehicle's headlights cast elongated, flickering shadows on the buildings, creating a play of light and dark that mirrored the chaos unfolding above them.

Without warning, the silence was violently disrupted by a deafening crash, the ground shaking beneath them as a meteorite landed just a few meters away. The impact sent a shockwave through the car, causing it to swerve uncontrollably before colliding with the front of a building. The world outside the car windows became a blur, a frenzied mix of fire and debris.

Gasping for breath amidst the haze of dust and smoke, Matt's voice pierced through, desperate and commanding, "Everyone, out, NOW!" But before they could fully register his words, another massive object plummeted from the sky, striking the building adjacent to them with an explosive force that sent rubble flying across the street, blocking their path forward.

In the midst of the swirling debris and blinding dust, they stumbled out of the car, a primal instinct to survive guiding their actions. The world around them had transformed into a war zone, the sky raining fire and destruction upon them with relentless fury.

Coughing and staggering, they tried to navigate through the labyrinthine wreckage that was once their peaceful town. Roland could feel the heat of the flames and the weight of despair pressing down on them as they sought a way out, a haven amidst the apocalypse.

Every second was a fight against time, against the ferocious celestial storm that threatened to engulf them completely. With Merlin and Lily close by, Roland could feel the tangible fear emanating from them, their faces pale and eyes wide in horror.

As they pushed forward, a large section of a building's facade suddenly gave way, collapsing towards them with a roar that seemed to drown out even the din of the impacts. They froze, realizing too late that there was nowhere to run...

In the ensuing chaos, Roland's eyes desperately sought his companions amidst the smog and falling debris. When his gaze finally found them, a suffocating dread gripped him. Merlin, Lily, and Matt lay motionless amidst the wreckage, their bodies partially buried under fragments of the collapsed building. A kaleidoscope of memories flashed before him; laughter, friendship, and shared dreams now overshadowed by the grim reality unfolding before them.

Roland tumbled out of the crushing bricks, stumbled towards them, a strangled cry caught in his throat, tears carving clean streaks through the grime on his face. His legs felt like they were wading through a morass, each step heavier than the last. The world around him seemed to slow, yet the barrage from the sky did not relent, each impact a reminder of the relentless, uncaring force they were up against.

The darkness that had lurked at the periphery of his vision now encroached further, making the horrific scene before him blur and warp. It threatened to engulf him, to swallow him whole, but with every fiber of his being, he fought against it. With a gargantuan effort, he reached out, his hand trembling, towards the still forms of his sister and best friends, a silent plea echoing in his mind for them to just move, to show any sign of life.

Tears mingled with the dirt on Roland's face as he desperately tried to reach his friends and sister amidst the rubble, a futile attempt as his strength waned. The sky, once a symbol of infinite possibilities and dreams, now rained merciless, fiery death upon them. His once eager aspirations to traverse the universe felt like a cruel joke as the life he knew crumbled around him.

Amidst the smoke and ruin, he felt an anguishing wave of grief and loss wash over him, as the reality of the situation became agonizingly clear. Merlin, Lily, Matt - they lay unmoving, probably gone from this world. A deep, soul-crushing realization dawned on him, leaving him feeling grotesquely alone.

A torrent of memories rushed through him, precious moments of laughter, discovery, and dreams shared with his dear ones. Those dreams of cosmic adventures and discoveries seemed so distant now, torn away by the same universe they had admired from afar.

"Why this cruelty?"

As his life force seemed to ebb away, surrendering to the fiery apocalypse that consumed everything he held dear, 

"In my next life," 

"let me roam free among the stars, unburdened by the limitations of this world. Let me find a place where I can finally belong, where I can be... truly home."

A voice, ethereal and gentle, yet resonating with an immense power, reached into the deepest recesses of his fading consciousness.

"I'll grant you the wish..."