Synopsis

Asound,deepandunearthly,crackedacrossthesky—liketheworlditselfhadbeenstruckwithasledgehammer.Thestarsflickered,thenvanishedbehindcreepingwavesofashandvioletlight.Afracturespreadacrosstheheavens,jaggedandviolent.Andfromthatwoundinthesky...theyfell.Shapes.Twisted.Wrong.Crawling,jerking—nolongerhuman.Butinsideasecludedestatetuckedbehindelectronicgatesandmanicuredhedges,theworldstillslept.Ryanstirredbeneaththesheets,tangledinwarmth.JaneBlackwoodlaybesidehim,herbreathcalmandeven.Forafleetingmoment,theillusionheld.Then—Bang!Bang!Bang!“Ryan!”Maggi’svoice,sharpwithpanic.Asecondslam,louder.“Openthedoor!Now!”Ryangroaned,stillhalf-dreaming.“Whatthehell’sgoingon…”Heslidoutofbed,eyesheavy,limbsslow.Whenheopenedthedoor,Eleanornearlycollapsedintohim.Herhandswerestreakedwithblood,hereyeswild.“They’rehere,”shewhispered.“Theskycrackedopen.Somethingcamethrough.Peoplearechanging.Dying.Tearingeachotherapart—Ryan,thisisn’tadream.Thisisreal.It’shappening.”Heturned,pulsehammering.“Getdressed.We’releaving.”Outside,theworldhadended.Andthedeadhadbeguntorise.Hereachedforhisclothes,yankingonashirt.Butjustashesteppedtowardthehallway.Theceilingofthehouseholdcollapsesontheirbodiesandtheydiedinstantlybutthependantgiventohimbyhismotherstartedflickeringandnextsecond,IntheworldunlikeEarth,Ryaninstantlyopenseyeswithagaspandwhenheseeshimselfinthemirror.Hegotreincarnatedinanotherworld.Disclaimer:Thisisaworkoffiction.Names,characters,places,events,andincidentsaretheproductsoftheauthor’simaginationorareusedfictitiously.Anyresemblancetoactualpersons,livingordead,oractualeventsispurelycoincidental.Thankyou!.