Surviving Armageddon

2. Hell On Earth: Part 2

(IN THE PAST)

[The Hallway At Area51]

The demon's wings unfurled with a chilling sound, casting long shadows across the dimly lit hallway. Its eyes glowed a menacing crimson as it advanced, claws scraping against the metallic floor. The soldier's grip tightened on their weapons, adrenaline pulsing through their veins.

"Stay focused, hold your ground!" the commander barked, trying to rally the troops.

The demon lunged, a blur of razor-sharp claws and horns. The soldiers reacted, gunfire echoing in the confined space. Bullets ricocheted off the demon's toughened hide, causing it to roar in fury. It swiped its massive clawed hand, sending soldiers crashing into walls. The blood spewed out of their bodies like water from a water balloon.

"Keep firing! Aim for its vulnerable spots!" yelled one soldier, trying to maintain composure amidst chaos.

As the skirmish intensified, the demon's ferocity became evident. With each swing, it effortlessly swatted aside soldiers like rag dolls. Blood mixed with the  smell of gunpowder as the demon's claws found their marks, tearing through uniforms and flesh.

"Fall back! We can't take this thing head-on!" another soldier shouted, panic edging into their voice.

Amidst the chaos, the soldiers scrambled to regroup, seeking cover behind overturned equipment. The demon, wounded but relentless, paced forward, its ominous presence filling the hallway. The wounds healed as fast as it got them.

"Stay together, don't lose hope," the commander's voice strained, trying to rally his dwindling squad.

The demon, sensing victory, let out a bone-chilling screech, its eyes fixed on the remaining soldiers. It prepared for another assault, wings poised for a deadly strike, as the soldiers braced themselves for the inevitable clash.

One soldier saw his death as the demon drew close. He got on his knees and began to pray. His body was warm from the adrenaline pulsing yet he was shivering. Not from the cold but from fear. He began to weep as he stared at the necklace at hand. His daughter and wife are smiling from the photo. Offering him some form of comfort as death approaches.

The demon, towering over the soldier as it passes by, halts briefly, its gaze fixated on the soldier who knelt in prayer. It emits a low, guttural rumble, a mix of confusion and curiosity evident in its piercing eyes. With an air of malevolence, it hisses in a distorted voice, "Your feeble prayers won't save you from the inevitable. Tremble before the might of darkness; your futile hopes will wither like dust in the wind."

The demon walked passed the soldier who was left kneeling behind. Tearing up and smiling thinking he was spared. He began to utter, "Thank you lord, once more you've sa-". The necklace he was holding slowly fell from his hand. Blood spraying from from where his head once was like a fountain. The demon stabbed the body with its bladed tail. It suspended the body above its head and let the blood drip on it. Like a shower the body drained all its red water. The soldier's head left lying on the floor next to his necklace. He died while smiling unaware he was separated from his body.

"I bathe with the blood of the weak so I may grow stronger", said the demon as it threw the body against the wall breaking it even further. The remaining soldiers fell into despair. Relinquishing their weapons as they fell to their knees. They accepted their impending death.

The demon, with a voice resonating like distant thunder, proclaimed:

"Ah, feeble inhabitants of this earthly realm, your fragility is but a symphony to our ears, an ode to your inevitable downfall. You scurry about in your mortal coil, blind to the imminent eclipse of your dominion. Behold the feebleness of your kind, a fleeting existence ripe for our dominion. Diablo's will courses through my being, an emissary of darkness, heralding the dawn of your undoing. Your feeble resistance is but a candle flickering in the tempest, futile against the tempestuous tides of our might. Bow before the supremacy of the infernal reign, for this world is now our canvas, painted in the hues of eternal night." said the demon as it finished off the remainder of the soldiers mercilessly.

A video footage of their entire massacre got leaked to the media and it circulated the entire globe in a matter of days. More cases of demonization were reported all around the world. Different kinds of these demons in the millions came to inhabit the earth using humans as their hosts.

The onset of demonization heralded an unprecedented catastrophe that swiftly plunged the world into an abyss of terror and destruction. Initially perceived as a localized anomaly, reports of individuals transforming into demonic entities spread like wildfire across continents, leaving devastation in their wake.

Governments, initially in denial or struggling to grasp the severity of the situation, attempted containment strategies. Quarantine zones were established, scientific teams raced against time for a cure, and military forces were mobilized to contain the spread. However, the rapidity of transformation and the sheer ferocity of the demonic beings thwarted these efforts.

The collapse of societies was severe. Infrastructure, the lifeline of civilizations, buckled under relentless demonic assaults. Power grids failed, communication networks crumbled, and essential services ceased functioning, plunging urban centers into darkness and disarray. The breakdown of transportation systems disrupted supply chains, leading to scarcity and mass panic.

As fear and uncertainty swept through the populace, societal stability fractured. Trust disintegrated, replaced by suspicion and paranoia. Factions emerged, each with its own ideology on how to confront or exploit the demonic phenomenon. Some groups sought refuge in fortified strongholds, attempting to resist the onslaught. Others, mesmerized by the dark allure of demonic power, turned to harnessing it for their own gain, further sowing discord and chaos.

Governments struggled to maintain control amidst the escalating crisis. Leadership faltered as key figures fell victim to demonization or lost legitimacy in the eyes of a terrified population. Political systems collapsed because of external threats, and the sheer magnitude of the demonic onslaught.

The shattered remnants of societies sought survival by any means necessary. Factions formed, some fortified and heavily guarded, while others ventured into remote and desolate regions, attempting to evade the relentless demonic terror. Basic human values eroded in the face of a struggle for survival in a world where the demonic chaos seemed insurmountable.

Ultimately, the once vibrant  human civilization lay in ruins, covered in darkness and despair. The fall of governments, the collapse of societal structures, and the overwhelming terror of demonization reshaped the world into a dangerous landscape where the fight for survival overshadowed all else.

(CURRENT DAY)

[Noah And Norah's Car]

The car that had been running for miles finally came to a halt. It had run out of gas.

With a sigh in disappointment, "This is some bad luck. There's no fuel stations in range and of all places why did we have to get stuck here?" said Noah as he leaned back against drivers seat.

"She's definitely gonna be pissed but I gotta wake her up. Not my fault the fuel ran out. It's not like driving slower was gonna save it", said Noah as he started to tap her shoulder to wake her.

As if in the midst of battle Norah quickly positioned her body, rapidly reaching for the 'Glock 19' that was in the compartment.

"Where is it?! Where", shouted Norah who was on edge as she was looking around for an enemy that wasn't there.

"Relax Sis- there's nothing here yet. At least for now", said Noah to calm down her nerves.

"Damnit Noah I said not to wake me up", said Norah seemingly annoyed.

"I know - I know but we have a problem", replied Noah.

"What's the matter?", She asked.

"We're out of gas... Looks like we gotta walk the rest of the way", said Noah as he started to pack his belongings in a military rucksack. He packed some snacks and canned food. A shotgun along with its ammunition. He also had a 'Machete' strapped to his waist.

"Just when I thought this day couldn't get any worse", said Norah as she began to pack her stuff as well.

"We almost got killed by 'Heathens' yesterday to get this ride and now we gotta leave it just like that. Life has never been kind to us sister. At least you got me right Sis?", said Noah with a happy expression.

With an obviously sarcastic tone," Yay -I have you so everything will be alright" said Norah.

"Still rude I see. Don't forget your little toy", said Noah as he exited the car.

"Don't call my sword a toy- dumbass", said Norah as she slammed the door.

Noah took out his 'GPS Monitor' and began inspecting their location on its map.

"Where are we exactly?", Asked Norah.

"Ohh yeah- about that...", said Noah.

"Are you gonna tell me or what?", Said Norah.

"Yeah Sis this time we could really die...I'm serious, this time we could really be in for a whole lot of trouble. See those tall buildings there ", said Noah as he pointed towards a cluster of skyscrapers that are partly destroyed.

"Yeah- what's with them?", Asked Norah.

"That's the Central Business District - The City Of Johannesburg ", said Noah.