The world was taken over years ago.

Millions of humans dead and the rest scattered. You're probably wondering what has killed off the human race, has taken us prisoner and had sent the rest in the run.

It's hard to explain in a few brief words, but it didn't happen in moment.

Humans harbored this planet for thousands of years, made civilization as it prospered. Eventually, they took too much. They tainted the land with their greed, poisoned the waters with their waste until the rivers ran black, and stole the most brilliant jewels until there was nothing but dirt. It wasn't long until Mother Nature intervened, creating monsters from the deepest parts of nightmares to take back her planet - making humans the most endangered species of them all.

[Eight years ago]

"Sketch! Sketch, wake up! I need you to wake up." My mothers' gentle, but panicked voice rang through my sleepy head.

I opened my eyes slowly, expecting to see daylight peak through the windows but darkness remained. My mother stood before me, stricken in a panic that washed across her beautiful features in waves. The moon delighted its cool light into my small room, focusing on my mothers hasty movements to fill my school bag with clothes.

"What time—?"

"Don't worry about that," she pulled off my comforter, "come on, you have to get dressed."

In a haze, I didn't question it and dressed into warmer, winter clothes she had set out for me. It was as if I was still sleeping, but remembered it much better than any dream.

My mom forced a smile as she slung the bag around my shoulders, tucking stray pieces of hair into my cozy hat. I rubbed tiredly at my eyes, wishing to be back in the warm blankets of my bed.

The coldness around me stifled suddenly, and only heat grew against my cheeks.

"What's going on?" I asked, but she didn't answer.

Her face contorted into a grimace, pressing the last memory of her into my hands. My bear was worn down over the years of having it, but I gripped it tight, somehow knowing I would need it.

She grabbed my hand and led me through our living room, keeping silent on our way but I could hear her sniffling. My brother Sam was already there, his eyes red and sunken - like he had been crying. I stifled, my brother never cried. My father had one heavy hand on his shoulder, his face reflecting my brothers like a mirror. They talked in hushed tones, but halted once my fathers eyes landed on me.

Sam and I were dressed the same, but my parents remained in their night clothes. Questions bubbled around my head, but with one look in my direction Sam stilled, and wiped his tears.

"Mommy and Daddy love you so much, baby. You and Sam need to leave now. We won't see each other for a little while, but always know that we love you." I nodded slowly at her words but I didn't know what she meant.

They hugged us in a bear crushing grip that seemed like it was gone in seconds, and the warmth of their arms had faded from my body. I wanted to stay, I didn't want to leave them.

My Dad smelled like honeysuckle and I couldn't help but bury my face deeper into his shirt, trying to remember everything about him. He kissed my head one last time, uttering three words that still haunt me to this day.

"Run like hell."

A shudder racked my body as they pushed us to the door.

"I love you, now you both must go. Now!" my Dads eyes glossed over, reflecting a red glare behind us.

Sammy grabbed my hand and ran. He tugged me out into the cold night towards the tall trees and whistling wind, never even glancing back. I looked back. Just for a moment to see my parents in a lovers embrace, holding onto each other for life.

"Sammy, what's going on?" I questioned, but he was too busy running away to hear. I looked around, trying to understand where we were and where we were going. My house kept getting smaller as we ran into the dark night. I wanted to ask what was going on, but screams filled the night behind us making Sam stop in his tracks. He looked back in the direction of our childhood home and frowned, looking to me with tears rushing his cheeks.

He didn't tell me that those were my parents' screams. That those were my parents being slaughtered, or worse, taken away. He looked so scared - I just wanted to hug him. Tell him everything would be okay, but I knew it wouldn't.

How could I tell someone that it was going to be okay when I didn't understand? Understand that the world was ending. Not in fire or ice, but in supernatural beings taking over the planet.

Sam grabbed my hand tighter and continued to run into the darkness, wiping his tears with his free hand. Voices of different accords rang behind us, making Sam freeze in our tracks. He quickly dashed behind a large rocky covering, hidden between vines and bugs.

"I can smell them, find them!" a deep voice spat, making me shiver.

"All I can smell is blood, its everywhere." another said.

I looked to Sam but he covered his mouth with a finger, letting me know to be quiet. His messy blond hair was scattered across his head but his eyes were vital - he was solely functioning on adrenaline. He looked so much older than twelve, he looked sixteen or maybe even seventeen. He had my mothers' beautiful blonde hair, and her crystal eyes.

"There's much blood over there." a third hissed. Then suddenly, with a slight breeze the voices disappeared.

Sam didn't waste any time and grabbed my free hand in his. We had taken off once again into the cold night, dancing with the trees that seemed to hum just a bit stronger now. I was so tired, but we couldn't stop now. I didn't know if we ever would. I just wanted to rest. Sam stopped to zip up my jacket but his fingers were trembling. He scanned the dark woods for danger using the little time to shove my bear into his bag.

A small beacon of hope called to us in the blistering night, illuminating a small cottage in it's wake. Sam tugged me along to the source of light until we were standing in front of it. Sam looked weary to even go up, but I detached myself and ran to the door as if it were drawing me in.

I knew this house.

The door swung open revealing a dainty older lady wrapped up in a warm house coat. Her blonde fading hair was cut short, white to the root. She smiled, her wrinkles fading when she reached for me. Her appearance always seemed to glitch in front of my eyes, shifting to old to young and then back again.

"Grandma!" I engulfed her in a hug that instantly warmed me to the bone. It was crazy, but it almost seemed as if her hugs were magical. Sam sauntered over to us dimly, an expression that told my grandma all that she needed to know.

"Come inside."

A thick aroma of spices and herbs alerted my senses, making me instantly feel as peace. My grandma slammed the door behind us, bolted it shut, and muttered something underneath her breath. She turned to Sam, expecting an answer for our sudden visit but he didn't have anything other than a soft sob.

"Are mom and dad coming back?" I asked but neither of them said anything. My brother gritted his teeth, looking pained by my question. I wanted to be able to make that pain go away.

He looked so scared, so lost, but I could't help him.

"Sketch, Mommy and Daddy...are going away for a while, and we might not see them again."

"Why?" I asked.

"Let's say they are fighting."

"Fighting?"

"For this world," I looked at him with such curiosity that I couldn't even comprehend. "but it's going to be okay."

Never seeing my parents again was not okay. No, it sounded more like my worst nightmare coming true. I didn't care if the world was ending because without them the world seemed far scarier. Far lonelier. I sobbed into my brother as he consoled me with honeyed words that I wasn't listening to.

I believed him even if it was a lie.

Our world was never going to be okay again.

05/20 GC