The clear sky of a calm summer night was always a great opportunity to gaze at the stars. The settlements that emerged from the rubble weren't much different from the cities of the old world, however the level of light pollution wasn't as bad, allowing anyone to watch the constellations from anywhere they want.
Sadly, the past few days didn't allow for such an activity. A veil had been cast on the entire planet, one that painted the sky an ominous shade of red. One couldn't bear looking at it during the day but the night was even worse. The moon looked especially terrifying, its timeless beauty taking on a dark, malevolent undertone.
Superstition ran rampant throughout the reign of the Calamities. Followed by migrating angels and a bloody sky, the tormented remnants of the human civilization took those as yet another sign. The end was approaching and nothing stoke the fires of that rumor more than the news of a descending god.
Time was short and called for drastic measures, not only from those in charge but those who oppose them as well. Each faction was on the move preparing for the world to come, but all they did was steer the resting chaos, slowly driving themselves toward the end they loathed so much.
Under the ethereal glow of the crimson moon, a single man walked down an empty street. His clothes were a mess and so was his hair, blood covered them both yet he had no wound from which it could've leaked. His steps were slow and he swayed from time to time, but he kept on walking, moving closer to the city that has yet to sleep.
The silence of the night was chased away by the blaring sirens of speeding police cars. The first among them just so happened to be the captain and he saw the man from a distance away. Sliding to a stop and almost causing the others to crash, the shocked captain jumped out of his vehicle and immediately rushed after the man.
"You there! Stop where you are!"
The captain, a middle aged man with a hanging belly and receding hairline, carefully approached the suspicious individual with a hand placed on his holstered gun. The station had just received several calls about a violent incident, one of which described some rather disturbing scenes.
The bloodied man in front of them was without a doubt related. He might've been an escaping survivor, but for some reason, every officer at the scene was convinced that he was the perpetrator. They quickly surrounded him with weapons drawn, each one preparing to shoot him full of bullets the instant he made a sudden move.
The man came to a stop. The captain continued shouting instructions at him however he didn't seem to pay them any mind and resumed walking at the same pace.
The whole scene crept the officers quite a bit and the crimson moon above them only made things worse. The surrounding darkness played with their minds, and despite the suspect's slow steps, the captain placed his finger on the trigger, having tricked himself into believing the bloodied man was running away. At that exact moment, someone placed his hand on his shoulder.
Thinking it was one of his subordinates trying to stop him, the captain came back to his senses. He was about to thank whoever they were for saving him from making a disastrous mistake, but when he turned around all he saw were the slender shoulders, a severed neck being the only thing between them.
With a bright smile, the blue haired idol brought a spoon to her mouth. On her lap sat a mostly empty bowl, and what little remained in it showed that the contents were no different from the one in Twenty Two's hands.
Citrus ice cream with sprinkled vanilla powder and chocolate sauce. The treat itself wasn't so strange, being a favorite of Eleven's and something she ate whenever her mood sank low. What took her Twenty Two by surprise was her fellow idol's expression and the look in her eyes.
Eleven seemed rather cheerful for someone who had just gone through a heartbreak. Seeing her smile should've alleviated her friend's worries, but for some reason it led to the opposite instead.
"Elly... are you okay?"
Twenty Two realized what a stupid question that was right after asking it.
"HM? What do you mean?" Eleven asked with the spoon still in her mouth.
"I-"
Before she could say another word, the phone in her pocket started ringing. The same went for Eleven's and the two took them out at the same time. "Let's go."
Forming her halo in an instant, the blue haired idol vanished from the hotel room.
"Elly wai-"
A faint thud drew Twenty Two's attention to the mostly empty bowl that just fell to the floor. Something about her friend's sudden departure felt unsettling, and the fact that she didn't take the time to finish the last spoonful of her treat only increased the idol's worries.
"Elly..."