Beyond Wonderland: An Anomaly's Guide into the Future

June 13, 2030.

Amidst a courtyard, the radio ran with a popular channel.

"Jim, let's talk about it. World War 3, right here in our own backyard. What is the likelihood of that happening?"

"Well, Amanda, you are really putting me on the spot here. I would have to say it is very certain, an almost perfect one hundred percent. I mean, we have had threats exchanged between nations during the last annual global conference. Just yesterday, we saw an internal conflict in Forlan escalate due to foreign involvement from the United States. Increasingly, a growing number of similar situations are seeing a steady upward trend. However—"

"-However, perhaps, we should not concern ourselves with a potential war likely to erupt in a few years. Let's shift our focus to what's happening in the present moment!"

"Are you referring to the anomalies, Jim?"

"Calling them anomalies seems like an understatement. I mean, think about it—the sudden snowfall in Africa. The cold wave in Las Vegas, of all places. The unexplained volcanic eruption on Krakatoa. And just two days ago, the mysterious disappearance of the Midnight airplane. Do you see a pattern emerging, Amanda?"

A hesitant voice came out of the radio. "T-The apocalypse?"

Suddenly, the volume of the radio lessened.

A gruff voice sounded, "For goddamn sake, bound it tight. Father doesn't like it when they squirm. It's not damn hard to remember."

It belonged to a black-haired man with a dark robe cast over himself. Despite bearing youthful qualities, his face seemed encased in ice as he threw an emotionless glance at Raven.

The man's name was Jarius, and he was Raven's elder brother.

"Y-Yes, brother."

At Jarius' side, a rather young boy trembled as he looked at Jarius. He walked up to Raven and checked the ropes that tied him to the only tree in the courtyard.

Looking at the bulging purple marks that had appeared all over Raven's face as a result of resisting, the boy's gaze softened.

Jarius scoffed, "Hmph, what are you staring at? Hurry up!"

Fear gripped the boy, and his heart throbbed. He instantly fastened the ropes on Raven. Occasionally, he missed a few loops, but he did just enough to restrict Raven's minute movements.

"R-Rae, I'm sorry. I-I'm so sorry," the boy stuttered in whispers and walked over to Jarius. 

"..."

Raven frowned. He tried breaking free, but there was nothing he could do. He was like a bird in a cage. No, he was worse than that– a fish on a chopping block. Nothing he could do to reverse his situation. He could only wait till his fate took a turn for the worse.

Raven stared into the eyes of the young boy. He let out a sigh and ceased his struggle. 'He's terrified. I shouldn't put him in more trouble. He's not the crazy one here. Jarius sure gets off bullying him.'

He knew Enoch didn't want to do this. Out of all his siblings, Enoch was his favourite, after all, their ages were mere minutes apart. He was timid, shy, and funny at times. There was no way he would take delight in murder!

'If not for "him", none of us would be in this position!' Raven gritted his teeth as a silhouette appeared in his mind.

Rushed footsteps abruptly interrupted. A stout middle-aged man walked into the courtyard. As soon as he noticed Raven, the man walked over to the tree with a composed smile on his face. He stretched his hands and caressed Raven's face.

Raven shivered at the touch of the cold fingertips. They felt like the bony hands of death, gripping his baring soul.

"Are you ready?" The man reached into his clothes and brought out a stone knife.

The knife's edge flashed with an eerie glow as it was exposed to the moonlight. Raven narrowed his eyes at the object. 'The same knife he used to kill the others…?'

Raven's eyes trembled with terror as he gazed at the knife. He realized the inevitability that was cast upon him. Throughout history, a blade always sought one outcome only.

'Today is the day I die. I always thought my death would at least mean something. To think I would die like that. Ahh, the irony.'

The night chill suddenly rushed into his blood, and the wind whistled into his ear like the whispers of a demon. Raven's breath came out in a short gasp. Fear had taken over, paralyzing him down to the bones.

Just how did it get to this point?

A few years ago, his family had gone bankrupt after enjoying decades of wealth in the modern world. His father travelled all around the globe for a solution. 

'When he came back, he was different. Mad. Unhinged. He began spouting nonsense about the apocalypse and whatnot. I thought it was just a phase. After all, our family has never been normal, but this was something that made lunatics pale in comparison… he killed mother and sister…and now I'm next!'

What nonsense? Who would believe that?

Raven had once tried to escape, but Jarius caught and brought him back.

"Father, wake up," Raven whispered in pain. It was his last chance to try something. "This is not real. The ritual will not work."

The man revealed with an eerie calmness, not one of madness, "It will, son. I traced our roots and found the sacred ceremonies. Do you know that this ritual has been performed many times? Throughout history? It protected our family for centuries. And it will do the same today."

The man caressed his son's face and said, "I can only hope you forgive me when this is all over."

When Raven looked into his father's eyes, he instantly knew that his father was gone, deep into the abyss. Those were not the eyes of a father. Those were the eyes of a deranged psychopath.

What father kills his own son in cold blood?

Even his touch felt foreign. This wasn't the touch of the man who always brought smiles to his face when he was younger.

Still, Raven begged, "Father, please, you cannot possibly think this is going to—"

Suddenly, the blade plunged into his stomach–no hesitation. Raven gasped in sheer agony as a wave of pain overwhelmed him in an instant.

He looked down, watching as his blood spilled to the ground.

'Is this it?' Raven thought.

"Goodbye, Rae," his father said as he slowly backed away, letting his son wallow in solitude.

He watched as his brothers followed suit, leaving only him in the surroundings.

Alone, he cried silently, tears streaming down his face without a sound. He didn't know anything about dark rituals, but this part of the ritual was definitely the most painful phase. The wait before eventual death.

Minutes passed as the sky got darker.

"I don't want to die," Raven murmured to the silent wind.

Growing up, he often dreamt of seeing all corners of the world. It was a sad fate…all his life spent in the god-forsaken mansion in the name of family—the same family that now drove a blade into him.

"I don't want to die."

He desired to experience all manners of emotions. The thrills of adventures. The adrenaline rush of games. The intense lust of a first night. And maybe the warmth of a friend. He wondered how that felt.

Minutes passed, and Raven's tears dried on his face. His fear had long run away, and all that was left was an unsettling calmness.

He waited for death.

As life slowly left him, the surroundings grew colder, as if welcoming him to the afterlife, and his skin grew paler.

A strange sound reached his pale ears. The rustles of bushes echoed behind him consistently.

"W-Who i-is there?" Raven struggled to speak, his mouth stained with blood.

There was a strange scent in the air. A foul smell that tugged at his nose. It wasn't the stench of death that originated from his body. No, it was…

It felt like terror!

*Kekekeke*

A sinister presence latched onto his arm. When Raven looked down, his face turned pale almost instantly. Mysterious red roots appeared from the darkness, growing all over his body.

Then it hit him! Excruciating pain tearing through his body, followed by a searing agony in his neck.

"Ahhh!" he screamed in shock but was soon silenced as he felt himself pierced from all sides.

The rope tore apart free due to the sinister influence. But Raven was far gone now. He stumbled to the ground, devoid of life.

.

.

.

.

But the world would not wait for him.