SkyZone: Chapter 1: The Glowing Sky! (Patreon)

In the boundless expanse of space, far removed from stars and planets, beyond the shimmering galaxies and above the tumultuous multiverses, a profound conflict unfolded. Here, the very personifications of abstract concepts engaged in an epic struggle, igniting colossal explosions within the cosmic void.

The clash of crimson and azure hues produced titanic waves of energy, unleashing forces capable of rending planets asunder.

Amidst these cataclysmic displays of power, the outlines of two enigmatic figures began to materialize. Their forms seemed to waver, as if uncertain of their own existence within this maelstrom of cosmic turmoil. The radiance of the clashes danced and flickered across their indistinct shapes, leaving an aura of mystery and anticipation in their wake.

Lost in thought, 16-year-old Braden Baum ambled down the street, the weight of his backpack a familiar presence on his shoulders. The afternoon sun cast long shadows, signaling the end of another school day. With a sense of detachment, he meandered forward until a fleeting impulse made him pause.

As if guided by an unseen force, his gaze drifted upwards towards the expanse of blue sky. His eyes, a mirror to a mind wrestling with thoughts beyond his years, held a distant, almost vacant look. His raven-black hair danced in the gentle embrace of the warm wind, a subtle reminder of the ever-shifting nature of existence.

In that suspended moment, the cadence of the city around him seemed to fade, replaced by a solitary connection to the boundless sky above. The chatter of his classmates, the hurried footsteps of pedestrians, all were muted as Braden’s consciousness reached for something intangible, a sensation tugging at the edges of his awareness.

“Huh?” Braden’s voice broke the silence as he blinked, his gaze abruptly shifting from the distant sky to his surroundings. The very ground beneath his feet quivered, a sensation that jolted him from his reverie. A low rumble emanated from the earth, and an otherworldly energy seemed to permeate the very air.

His eyes widened as the sky itself underwent a surreal transformation. It shimmered with an invisible force, creating a rippling effect that parted the clouds like an unseen hand sweeping them aside. The sky took on a hue that was neither the familiar blue nor the fiery red from the setting sun that would soon disappear behind the horizon. Instead, it pulsed with an iridescent radiance that defied explanation.

“What the hell!” Braden’s exclamation echoed through the now-ominous stillness. The tremors intensified, nearly toppling him to his knees as the ground buckled beneath the force of the disturbance. He braced himself against a nearby lamppost, struggling to maintain his balance as the very fabric of his reality seemed to shift.

The tremors gradually subsided, leaving Braden panting and disoriented. He steadied himself, his heart racing as he looked around, half-expecting the world to have changed in some unimaginable way during those tumultuous moments. However, apart from the slightly disheveled pedestrians and the ruffled leaves of the trees, the street appeared much the same.

“What was that?” Braden’s voice quivered slightly, his gaze still pinned to the sky as if seeking answers from the enigmatic expanse above.

“Braden!” The urgency in the voice drew his attention, and he swiftly turned around to see a young woman sprinting towards him. Her attire exuded an effortless elegance, with a flowing skirt and a blouse that caught the breeze. Her long blond hair, adorned with a daring strip of pink dye, billowed behind her as she closed the distance between them.

“Amelia!” The name escaped his lips as recognition flickered across his face. Amelia, his friend since childhood, had an uncanny ability to appear at the most unexpected moments.

She skidded to a stop in front of him, her blue eyes wide with a mix of concern and excitement. “Did you feel that? The ground shaking, the sky…changing?” Her words tumbled out in a rush, mirroring the whirlwind of emotions that had been stirred within her.

Braden’s nod was all the confirmation she needed.

“It was hard to miss,” Braden admitted, his gaze returning once more to the shifting sky. “But something is telling me that this isn’t over.” His voice carried a mix of unease and determination as he tried to make sense of the inexplicable events unfolding around them.

His expression grew more serious, his focus intensifying as he sensed a strange resonance deep within him. A low hum thrummed through his bones, and an odd prickling sensation crawled beneath his skin, making him break out in a cold sweat. He knew, instinctively, that whatever was happening was far from ordinary.

“Something’s coming!” His words were laced with urgency as he bolted towards Amelia, his heart pounding in his chest. “Get down!” he yelled, his protective instincts kicking in as a sense of impending danger surged through him.

And then, with a deafening roar, it happened. “Boom!” The sky exploded in a dazzling burst of pink, red, and blue energy, an awe-inspiring yet terrifying display of power. The shockwave rippled outward, painting the heavens with brilliant hues as if the very fabric of reality was being rewritten.

The world itself seemed to tremble in response. The ground shook violently, splitting open in jagged fissures that snaked through the neighborhood. Houses and buildings quivered, as if the very foundations of existence were being tested. Braden’s grip on Amelia tightened, his heart racing as he shielded her instinctively from the chaos erupting around them.

Soon, as if the chaos had been a fleeting storm, the sky regained its usual appearance, the ground settled, and a semblance of normalcy returned. Dust and smoke hung in the air, a testament to the upheaval that had just unfolded. The streets, once solid and steady, now bore the scars of the seismic event that had occurred.

Braden pushed himself up from the ground, his hand reaching out to help Amelia to her feet. She accepted his assistance, brushing dirt and debris from her clothes with a mix of annoyance and bewilderment.

“Are you okay?” Braden’s concern was evident in his voice as he checked on his friend.

“I’ve been better,” Amelia replied, her irritation clear. “What the hell was that?” she demanded, her frustration echoing the questions that raced through both of their minds.

“I… I don’t know, but…” Braden’s voice trailed off as he lapsed into deep thought. His brows furrowed as if struggling to piece together fragments of a puzzle that defied conventional understanding.

“But what?” Amelia’s impatience was palpable.

“It’s nothing,” Braden dismissed with a shake of his head, as if unwilling to voice his thoughts. Yet, the intensity of his gaze suggested otherwise. “It’s just that in that strange light, I thought I saw…”

Amelia leaned in, her curiosity piqued. “What?”

“I thought I saw two shadows,” Braden admitted, his words laced with uncertainty.

“Shadows? Shadows of what?” Amelia pressed, her blue eyes searching his face for answers.

“Shadows of people,” Braden clarified, his hand scratching his head in a gesture of perplexity.

“Two people?” Amelia’s brow furrowed in confusion. “Braden, what are you talking about?”

“I’m not sure,” Braden admitted, his voice tinged with a mixture of wonder and trepidation.

“Just forget it,” Braden uttered abruptly, his voice laced with unease, as he quickened his pace and moved on. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, concern for his family at the forefront of his consciousness. He fervently hoped that they were safe amidst the recent upheavals.

“Braden, wait up!” Amelia’s urgent call chased after him as she followed closely behind. She struggled to keep up, her breath slightly labored as she matched his hurried pace. “Why are you walking so fast?” she managed to ask between breaths.

“I need to get home,” Braden responded, his eyes focused on the path ahead. His footsteps carried him through their familiar neighborhood, where houses and apartment buildings lined the streets. “I still have a bad feeling,” he admitted, his tone weighted with a mixture of anxiety and determination.

“Braden, I think you might be overreacting,” Amelia offered in an attempt to provide comfort, her voice softening with concern.

Their conversation was abruptly interrupted as the ground once again began to shake beneath them, a renewed earthquake sending ripples of anxiety through their bodies.

“Oh, not again,” Amelia exclaimed with a hint of worry, her gaze darting around the shifting environment.

Braden and Amelia came to a halt, their eyes widening as a colossal shadow suddenly cast itself over them. The air seemed to grow heavy, and an ominous sensation hung in the atmosphere.

Their gazes shifted upward in unison, and their eyes were met with a sight that filled them with a chilling mixture of shock and fear.

Braden shuddered. “What the hell!”