"What the hell happened?"
Aaron's voice was low, almost a growl, as his eyes swept across the ruined cityscape. The once-bustling Blue Star was nowhere to be found. Towering skyscrapers lay in heaps of broken steel and stone, streets cracked open like shattered glass, and flames burned unchecked. Ash clouded the sky, choking out the light, and through it all, twisted monsters prowled freely. Their grotesque bodies moved in frenzied hunger, feasting on the carcasses of beasts and men alike. Not a single human could be seen.
Michael stepped through the rift behind Aaron, his eyes widening in disbelief. "Things just got a little complicated," he muttered, the horror reflected in his voice.
Aaron's expression hardened instantly. His instincts screamed that time was bleeding away, that if even one survivor remained, hesitation meant death. His tone turned sharp, commanding, the air itself vibrating under the weight of his authority.
