The Day the World Stopped

It was dark, and difficult to see, but the previous days were spent in gloomier walls, and my eyes quickly adjusted. The narrow tunnel-like path widened up into a larger space, but I barely paid it any attention as I spun to the side, gripped the wall, and anxiously poked my head out to watch, a bird swiftly joining me on my head.

We couldn't see the outside, and could only watch the dark path, praying that no splotch of green on four legs or two would round the corner into our sight, as the siren-howl got closer and closer before coming to a stop.

It felt as though I could hear the aliens breathing as the clicks and lower notes of debate replaced that piercing war cry. It got quiet for a beat, before rushing down the tunnel a wave of blue light, the sensor from before, tried to seek us out and alert its masters to our presence under the rubble. But it never got far.

The wave bounced around the steel walls of our haven, directing it outwards and away from us and the room. We watched in heart stopping anxiety, waiting to see what fortune had in store for us. 

It seemed we would live.

The blue light bounced away from us for the final time, no more racing down to replace its eager search. I listened as the alien made some muttering groans and heard the quiet padding of footsteps slowly dissipate into the wind, leaving us with a comforting, wonderful silence.

Slowly I exhaled and slid against the wall to the floor, dropping my hands into my lap and tilting my head up. The stars that saved us were hidden down here, their secrets to be unlocked only under an open sky. I did however see a little Robin, eyes tinged with the slightest touch of purple, peering back at me.

"That was close, too close." I spoke with a slight laugh from the relief, the bird nodded and chirped a response. I felt tempted to break into a full laugh, but the value of that peaceful silence and the sombreness of how close we were to death, made me make do with just a slight smile.

That was the first step. It was rocky and stupid and hurried and one wrong move away from failure, but most first steps were like that. We'd made it out alive, and learned some things on top of that. The aliens, at least the ones around here, are working out of that ship, are capable of turning from beast into being, and it seems like it's some sort of reward.

But most importantly, we learned about Liam, and how they might be treating alive humans. I doubt killing a single one warrants a prize like elevation, so my best bet is that he's alive. That thought made me clench my fist in determination. I was sure he'd be helpful, I felt it in my bones even stronger and clearer than I had before.

With that thought my eyes turned from the ceiling to what lay around us.

It seemed like a basement study, with no windows or indication of being above ground, with the exception of how we'd entered.

 Looking to my side I saw the remains of a giant telescope that seemed to have fitted in the hole me and Rain had just tumbled down. It was strange to me that we'd used the gap for a telescope as a makeshift entrance, and sad that such a beautiful thing would no longer be able to complete its purpose, but far more had been strange and lost in this apocalypse, so I moved on easily enough.

But at least it told me what this room's previous occupation was, an observatory. How it ended up here and in this state I did not know, but the rest of it confirmed my theory.

The left side of the room contained a myriad of different equipment, binoculars, lenses, mounts and a few smaller telescopes, and some electrical equipment I couldn't figure out. Alongside some stranger things, some herbs and bottles unlabeled but organized, firmly standing in their designated spot on the shelf. Joining them was what looked to be a still and an old fashioned pestle and mortar.

The other wall was predominantly a bookcase, with half filled and messy shelves that spoke of their use, and a collapsed section that must have been where the original entrance was. Finally at the other end of the room, was a wide desk, stationary and scraps of paper and books strewn across it, mixed and cluttered. The original owner must have been in quite the rush.

That was where Rain was sitting staring down at the words written on some forgotten note in the middle of the page. 'There is no doubt, they all agree, the end is nigh'.

I looked down onto those words, and a chill ran through me. Could they have known? Was the previous owner of this observatory aware of the invaders and the apocalypse that rode their coattails? 

Rain turned around and looked at me with concern in his eyes, his worry was evident as well. I reassured him, "If this event was known, that just means humanity was more prepared than we thought and that we'll put up a better thought."

I could see in his eyes, a questioning tone, and the hopelessness that resided underneath. I bit my lip and tried not to think of it, but the unspoken question lingered heavy in the air. Why weren't we told? They wouldn't be dead if we'd known, if we'd been allowed to prepare! Why is it that our family, friends, all we'd ever known are dead in a ditch, and these people knew?!

I slammed my fist into the bookshelf, to let out that burning question from my mind and move on, to continuing the search for answers and, *thud* softly a book fell out. My seething mind calmed, and I looked at it. Bending down slowly I picked it up. Occultatar Astris was written across its front. I spoke the title aloud.

Like a shock wave of the unknown, words, symbols, concepts unknown and unknowable, pulsed through my mind approaching a part of my soul and being that I never before knew I had, the reflexes of consciousness. It felt like sacrilegious power, unworthy for mortal beings. I remembered what the cat had said. We were elevated, we were more than mortals now. Such truth could belong to me.

I revelled in it, but nothing lasts forever, it pushed past my mind where I held full control and disappeared to that part not fully in my hands. I felt lost but stable, inches from insanity, but that line was no longer tempted. I collapsed to the ground, eyes dilated, and breathing heavy.

 I think I found what my new consciousness was for. I need to talk to a cat.