Standing atop an 80-story building, holding his trusty old broom, Qin Feng was sweeping the ever-so-dirty floors. He didn't know the reason why his new boss had wanted him to clear the rooftop; it didn't fit his job description, nor was it something he had taken 10 years to study.
Yeah, it's a problem. Qin Feng has a master's in Biology. He loved life and everything about it, but after the E.N.D. arrived, he was demoted to just being a cleaning lady.
The E.N.D. refers to the sudden tear in the fabric of space and time. Its arrival was something heretics and theorists foretold. Not that anyone would listen. It was such an absurd idea, both selfish and illogical, but it did happen, just not in the way they assumed.
The Government warned the public of an oncoming earthquake, much larger and more powerful than the ones recorded in history. They called it "The Big One," a funny name, but that's just how scientists are. They're very bad at naming. Even Qin Feng isn't spared - His octopi were called calamari and Takoyaki.
Local government officials set up thousands of red alarm bells all over the cities. These bells will ring when The Big One comes near, making sure everyone will be safe and able to hide before it hits.
When the alarm rang, Qin Feng was watching a video game tournament in the city arena. He was one of the overseers for the tournament, and as a biologist, no one would think he would be interested in these kinds of things, but he is still young and was raised by these video games.
The alarm was sudden and ultimately caused panic.
The arena was plunged into chaos, and Qin Feng, with his scrawny scientist body, had difficulty navigating towards the exit. The pushing and shoving made him dizzy. The tight crowd made him feel nauseous and claustrophobic. It reminds one of that horrible incident in Korea. But the difference here is that they aren't in an alley, but a big arena.
"Stop Pushing, we still have time!" Qin Feng managed to yell. "Everyone! Please fall in line! The first alarm is just a warning!"
Qin Feng felt a knock to his chest. Someone had unknowingly elbowed him. He grunted, but otherwise he was fine.
The person who elbowed him approached to apologize. "Sorry, sir, I couldn't see the crowd." The person held onto his arm and helped pull him out. "I think it's impossible for everyone to fall in line. Let's just leave."
Then, the two managed to exit.
As an overseer, Qin Feng had to calm the public. He felt some tightness in his chest, but whether it was from being squeezed, elbowed, or plain stress, he didn't have time to guess. He walked to the front, where everyone could see him. He clapped his hands to get everyone's attention. "Everyone! Please be calm, our LGUs have prepared everything!" He looked around to see if everyone has heard him, then added. "Please fall in line so we can evacuate to the designated areas before the earthquake hits." He nodded, seeing everyone listening. "If possible, can you make sure if the people you came with have left the arena and are safely with you?"
Seeing everyone looking around for their friends and family, and no one missing, Qin Feng finally let out a breath of relief, but the pain in his chest was still there.
Besides him, the other overseers had taken their responsibilities and had done the same as Qin Feng. So everyone understands what to do.
They have the medical staff ready for further problems. Rescues all had their nerves tensed and ready to respond.
They were now standing in the open. The cemented ground with no roof or anything above it was the safest location in case of earthquakes, and the arena was more than 50 meters away.
Although there were still no earthquakes, everyone felt the ground moving. Some had passed out from the stress of it all, and others were almost crying. One child who didn't know what was going on held onto her mother for comfort.
It was just an earthquake; they have that every year, but everyone felt this one was the sign of an impending doom, ready to swallow their lives whole.
The dread was real, and everyone felt it.
Qin Feng felt his back grow cold, and his sweat added to the chills. He was only 27 and barely had the ability for leadership. If you must know, scientists like him are typically introverted, but when push comes to shove, they were responsible… the price is that he was now close to breaking down.
'Disasters are normal, humans are resilient,' Qin Feng told himself. 'Everything and everyone will be fine.'
When the second alarm rang, everyone had somewhat calmed down. The second alarm was to say that the earthquake is very near.
But as everyone knows, earthquakes are sudden, and even before the ringing stops, the ground is already shaking.
"Everyone! Duck, Cover, and Hold!" Qin Feng shouted. Even if he didn't yell, everyone knows what to do.
The whole crowd cried, holding their heads, squatting on the concrete floor.
The ground was loud, the world beneath them shook.
But what was supposed to be a massive shock wave ended abruptly.
Then they heard a tear in the sky.
Like the sound of cloth being pulled apart.
Everyone looked where the sound came from, and a vertical cut in the sky was visible. On the other side of the cut was pure darkness, darker than Vantablack, darker than Black 4.0 (You are not allowed to look at the void if you are Anish Kapoor, You are not allowed to look at the void on behalf of Anish Kapoor. By looking at the void, you certify that you are not Anish Kapoor, you are not associated with Anish Kapoor, and you are not planning to describe the void later to Anish Kapoor or an associate of Anish Kapoor)
The ground was calm as if the earthquake had never existed. It was, indeed, too calm for the so-called "The Big One."
Everything froze for a moment. Just a moment.
Then the tear screeched.
The sound of metal grinding together mixed with an inhuman screech and a deep growl. It sounds like a high-pitched scream, yet it also felt beautiful. A grotesque amalgamation of sounds so inhuman that it sent shivers down one's spine. As moments went by, the sound became more disgusting. The churning of stomach acid as it digests food, the sound of a whale's echo as it looks for its mate, and the murmurs of the ocean as ice breaks off from its hold.
These were the closest descriptions Qin Feng thought of, but the true sound was impossible to put into words.
All in all, it was just horrible, but also horribly beautiful.
No one spoke. They stared at the tear as if mesmerized. All eyes glowed in anticipation, yet their hearts reached the lowest of lows. Like the feeling of being swallowed whole. Calming but also dangerous.
Then a single eye destroyed the continuity of darkness within the tear. A pyramidical entity floated out of the tear and stared at the mass of individuals. Its singular eye scanned the public, yet its body stayed suspended in the air. As it scans, the buzzing of electrical circuits and murmurs of cogs and wheels could be heard. Truly mechanical, but what was it exactly?
After about 10 minutes, when the public had calmed down, the pyramid made a medium-pitched buzz. The buzz was divided into long and short buzzing, and for those familiar with codes, would know what this mechanical pyramid had said.
"Scan..Complete,.. All.. Units.. Go." The person who had elbowed Qin Feng murmured, loud enough for the closest person to him to hear, but not loud enough for Qin Feng. And yet he understood it. As if that code word was meant for him to hear.
Qin Feng felt his heart fall, his chest tighten, and his back grow cold. He squatted down to calm his heart, but the swirling of emotions took over. He heaved and coughed, wanting to vomit, but nothing came out. His eyes dart from left to right, up and down, and all around. He didn't know the source of this sudden fear, but his body would not lie to him.
These things were after him.
Creatures of all forms burst out of the tear, all with only one eye.
Pink demonic creatures with massive wings yet tiny horns, human in shape, but monster in conglomeration. One massive eye surrounds its head.
More pyramidical entities with a single eye, yellowed and deteriorating.
Giant human-like creatures, bigger and taller than buildings, with a single eye.
Black ball of swirling dust and debris.
A flying ball with wings.
All carrying a signature one eye.
What are these creatures, and what does their appearance in this world mean?
Qin Feng didn't know why, but he knew these things were after him.