Chapter 1 - The Monsters Go Marchin’

My mother used to tell me stories about the old world, a time when there were hundreds, thousands, and even millions of people. We've been whittled down to a few thousands, but even then I couldn't be so sure. After that day, we had been forced into hiding. People separated into groups and not many kept in touch over the past years. Radios became obsolete, and phones are nonexistent. It has been 9 years since The Day, as I like to call it and many people are bent on forgetting anything and everything that happened.

My name is Aadhini. My last name is irrelevant. Because of the fact that I’m the only ‘Aadhini’ for a good distance.

On The Day, Monsters appeared out of nowhere. Dropping into the biggest cities, and then moving into places with the most people. The human population was decimated. Gone with the wind, as some would say. When they set their eyes on you, you’re a goner. These Monsters can shapeshift into your deepest fear. They look into your eyes, and then they know it all. Every fear and threat that you have ever felt, is theirs to control. They love to kill their victims slowly. They toy with minds, then carefully rip their bodies apart. Arms go flying, blood is drained, and leave only a pure, white skeleton behind.

Nothing can stop them.

I, myself, had only been 6 years old at the time, so I didn't really remember those last 24 hours on the surface of the Earth. You read it right, we, the magnificent and illustrious homo sapiens, live underground.

In giant metal canisters.

aMAZinG. I'm kidding. There is NOTHING, I repeat, NOTHING amazing about living in a can waiting in fear for something to attack. It used to be a pretty good place, but after a couple of the adults went out and never came back, welllllll, its not exactly rainbows and marshmallow clouds. It's worse, period. More like a dreary river and waiting in line for a branded coffee.

You remember those adults from before? Well, my mom was one of those people. She was awesome and amazing and was rainbows and marshmallow clouds. I still remember what she told me the day she left to the Surface. She had said, "Aadhi, my little dot, I’m going to go outside and make the world a better place for your future. I’ll be back before you know it.” That was 2 years, 4 months, and 12 days ago.

She never came back.

I wonder what a marshmallow tastes like.

Where’s my dad, you ask? My dad died protecting me and my mom. I don’t exactly remember him, but I remember warm hugs, a scratchy beard, and adventures. I remember that he made stories of different worlds. My mom told me that he laughed at every joke, even if the joke was terrible.

I miss them. My parents. Wonderful folks they were.