4 hours before the shockwave
Alexandra awoke with a start, her body sore and her mind groggy. It took her a moment to realize she had fallen asleep on the couch, the soft cushions having offered little support for a restful night. The room was dim, the only light coming from the streetlamp outside her window casting long shadows across the walls.
She sat up slowly, feeling the stiffness in her muscles from the awkward sleeping position. A small groan escaped her lips as she stretched, trying to work out the kinks in her back and neck. The events of the previous day came flooding back to her- the long hours at the cafe, the quiet evening at home, and the exhaustion that had finally caught up with her.
Realizing she had slept her work clothes, she peeled them off, leaving them in a pile on the floor. Her body ached for a hot shower, the thought of the steaming water soothing her sore muscles almost too tempting to resist. She padded barefoot to the bathroom, her movements slow and deliberate.
Turning on the shower, she waited for the water to heat up, the bathroom quickly filling with steam. As she stepped under the hot spray, she let out a sigh of relief, feeling the tension in her muscles begin to melt away. The water cascading over her, a gentle massage that eased the soreness and washed away the remnants of the day.
After a long, luxurious shower, Alexandra stepped out, wrapping herself in a fluffy towel. The bathroom was warm and humid, the mirror fogged with condensation. She brushed her teeth, the minty freshness a welcome change, and then moved to her bedroom to get dressed.
She pulled on a comfortable pair of pajamas, the soft fabric a comforting embrace against her skin. The act of getting dressed, of taking care of herself, was a small ritual that grounded her, bringing a sense of normalcy to her day.
As she finished getting ready, she glanced at the clock, noting the time it was still early, but she felt a strange sense of unease, a restlessness that she couldn't shake, she tried to push it aside, telling herself it was just the exhaustion from the day before.
But deep down, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to change, that the world was holding its breath, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
With classes not starting for a while, Alexandra took the opportunity to relax, sinking into the couch with her phone in hand. She scrolled through her messages, responding to a few texts from friends, and then moved on to social media, the familiar scroll of posts and pictures a comforting routine.
The world outside her window was slowly coming to life, the early morning light casting a golden glow over the city.
After a while, she set her phone aside and got up, feeling the pull of hunger. Her body was still recovering from the previous day's exhaustion, and the thought of making a full breakfast seemed daunting. She padded into the kitchen, her bare feet cold against the tiled floor.
Opening the cupboard, she pulled out a box of Cocoa Puffs cereal, the colorful box a cheerful presence in her otherwise plain kitchen.
She grabbed a bowl and a carton of milk, setting them on the counter. As she poured herself a generous serving of cereal, she filled kettle with water and set it on the stove, the familiar routine of making herself coffee a small comfort.
While the kettle heated, she prepared her coffee, the rich aroma filling the kitchen and mingling with the scent of the cereal. She added a splash of milk to her coffee, stirring it slowly as she waited for it cool.
With breakfast and coffee in hand, she moved to the small table near the window, the spot she often chose to watch the world outside. The city was waking up, people leaving their homes and heading to work, the streets beginning to fill with the usual morning rush.
Alexandra sipped her coffee, feeling the warmth spread through her body, and watched as the world came to life. It was a rare day off for her, a chance to catch her breath and enjoy a moment of peace. She savored the quiet, the simple pleasure of having nothing to do and nowhere to be.
As she ate, she felt a sense of contentment, the unease from earlier in the morning having faded into the background. The world outside her window was bustling, but inside her small apartment, time seemed to slow down, offering her a brief respite from the chaos of her life.
Alexandra soon got up, carrying her dishes to sink and leaving them to soak. She took a moment to stretch, feeling the last remnants of stiffness from sleeping on the couch. The day was hers to enjoy, and she looked forward to spending it with her friends.
Heading to her room, she changed into a simple t-shirt and shorts, the perfect outfit for a casual day out. She slipped on her sneakers, the familiar comfort of the worn in shoes a reassuring presence. With her hair left down, she grabbed her bag from where she had left it by the door and headed out of her apartment.
The morning air was crisp and refreshing, a welcome change from the stuffiness of her apartment. She walked at a leisurely pace, enjoying the feeling of the sun on her skin and the gentle breeze that rustled the leafs of the trees lining the street. Her destination was the park, a favorite spot for her and her friends to gather and hang out.
As she approached the park, she spotted the familiar outlines of Noah and Jason. Noah was sitting on a bench, his attention focused on his phone, while Jason was leaning against a nearby tree, his hands in his pockets. Alexandra felt a small flutter in her chest, knowing that both of them had a crush on her. It was a fact she had become aware of over time, through subtle glances and the way they both went out of their way to spend time with her.
"Hey Noah," she called out, waving as she approached. "Hey Jason."
Noah looked up, a grin spreading across his face. "Hey Alex! I was wondering when you'd show up."
"Sorry, I took my time," she replied sitting down beside him. "I needed a little extra sleep."
"Understandable," Noah said, nodding. "You had a long day yesterday."
Jason pushed off the tree, joining them with a smile. "Hey Alex. You look like you could use some coffee."
"Actually, I already had some," she said laughing. "But I wouldn't say no to more."
Before Alexandra could say anything else, she heard her name being called. She turned to see Sarah walking towards them, her arms filled with bags of snacks and drinks.
"Looks like the party's starting," Noah joked, standing up to greet Sarah.
"Hey Sarah," Alexandra said, smiling as her friend joined them.
"Hey Sarah," Jason said, helping Sarah set the bags down on the bench. "You came bearing gifts."
"Thanks," Alexandra said, peaking into one of the bags. "You didn't have to do that."
"Of course I did," Sarah said, laughing. "It's not a hangout without snacks."
As they settled onto the grass, the park was filled with the sound of their laughter and conversation. The morning was perfect, the sun shining brightly and the air filled with the scent of fresh grass and blooming flowers.
But then, the wind suddenly picked up, rustling the leafs with a ferocity that made them all pause. A strange sound, like a low rumble, filled the air, growing louder by the second. They all looked to the north, their eyes widening in horror as they saw a massive sonic wave barreling towards them.
"Run!" Jason shouted, jumping to his feet and reaching for Alexandra.
Noah was right behind him, his eyes filled with panic. "Get down, now!"
But they weren't fast enough. The wave hit them with a force that knocked them off their feet, the world around them dissolving into chaos. Alexandra felt a searing pain course through her body, her vision blurring as she struggled to comprehend what was happening.
As the wave passed, she lay on the ground, her friends sprawled around her. Her body felt like it was on fire, a strange energy coursing through her veins. She looked down at her hands, watching in shock as her body began to change. She shrank down, standing at about 4'6, her hair turning white and shortening. A pair of white fox ears sprouted from the top of her head, followed by a bushy white tail, leaving her with a new form she never anticipated.
Eventually, as the searing pain began to subside, Alex was left weak and utterly exhausted. His body trembled with the effort, but he slowly tried to sit up, his mind racing with confusion and fear. The world around him was a blur of chaos and destruction, the once familiar park now unrecognizable.
As he pushed himself into a sitting position, his heart pounded in his chest, each beat echoing in his ears. He looked around, his eyes widening in shock and panic as he saw the state of his friends. They, too had changed, each of them bearing different animal traits. Noah, with his panther ears and tail, lay sprawled on the ground, his eyes fluttering open as he groaned in pain. Jason, now with cheetah ears and a tail, was struggling to sit up, his movements sluggish and dazed. Sarah, her mouse ears and tail twitching, was curled up in a ball, her small frame shaking with fear.
But it wasn't just his friends who had changed. Alex's own body felt foreign to him. He had shrunken down, now standing at about 4'6", his once familiar form replaced by a new, smaller frame. His hair had turned white and shortened, and a pair of white fox ears sprouted from the top of his head, followed by a bushy white tail. At first, he was too overwhelmed by the changes to fully comprehend what had happened, focusing instead on the immediate shock of his altered appearance.
"Guys... what happened to us?" Alex asked, his voice trembling as he took in the sight of his friends and himself. He ran his hands over his new ears, feeling the soft fur beneath his fingers, and his tail twitched involuntarily.
Noah's panther ears twitched as he sat up, his eyes widening in shock as he took in his own new form. "I... I have ears and a tail," he said, his voice filled disbelief. He reached up, his fingers brushing against the sleek black fur of his ears, and his tail moved with a life of its own.
Jason managed to sit up, his cheetah ears flattened against his head as he stared at his own hands in shock. "I... I have these too," he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. He touched his cheetah ears, feeling the soft fur, and his tail flicked nervously.
Sarah uncurled herself, her mouse ears twitching as she looked down as her own body. "I... I have a tail," she said, her voice trembling. She reached back, her fingers brushing against the small, delicate mouse tail that appeared.
As they began to process the immediate changes, it took them a moment to realize the full extent of what happened. Alex's transformation was more than just physical; it was a complete change in his identity. Slowly the realization began to dawn on them.
"Wait... Alex, you're... you're a boy now," Noah said, his voice filled with awe and disbelief.
Jason's eyes widened as he finally understood. "You were a girl before... and now you're a boy," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Sarah's mouth opened in shock, her mouse ears twitching as she tried to comprehend the transformation. "You... you turned into a boy," she said, her voice trembling.
Alex took a deep breath, his mind racing as he tried to process the changes himself. "I... I guess I did," his voice shaking. " I don't know how, but... yeah, I'm a boy now."
The others nodded, their expressions a mix of shock and acceptance. Despite the chaos around them, they knew they had to come to terms with the new reality they were facing. They were all weaker, their bodies still adjusting to the transformations they had undergone. They leaned on each other for support, their movements slow and deliberate.
"We need to get out of here," Jason said, his voice filled with urgency. "We need to find a safe place."
"My apartment is the closest," Alex said, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's not much, but it's shelter."
The others nodded, knowing they needed to find a place to rest and recover. They had no idea if Alex's small apartment was still standing, but it was their best hope for now. Together, they began to make their way through the destruction, their bodies weak and exhausted from the transformation they had gone through.
As they moved, they clung to each other, drawing strength from their shared bond. The world changed, and so had they. But in that moment, they realized that they were together, and that was what mattered most.
Alex and his friends stumbled down the chaotic streets, each step an exhausting effort as they tried to reach his apartment. The world around them was a mess of destruction, buildings crumbled, cars overturned, and the air was thick with dust and the cries of the people. They passed by others who had been caught in the disaster, some still human, others now bearing animal traits like themselves, all of them in a state of panic and confusion.
"Guys, we need to keep moving," Alex urged, his voice strained. He was leaning heavily on Noah, who had one of Alex's arms slung over his shoulder. Jason was on the other side, helping support Alex as well. Sarah walked beside them, her eyes wide with fear.
"I know, I know," Noah replied, his voice just as tired. "Just a little further, Alex. We're almost there."
Jason nodded, trying to sound reassuring. "Your place is the closest. We just need to get there and we can figure out what to do next."
Sarah glanced around nervously, her voice trembling as she spoke. "I just hope we can find a safe place soon. I don't like being out in the open like this."
As they continued, they heard a blood curling screech behind them. They turned to see a massive, floating black phantom like entity attacking a group of people in the distance. It was like a living shadow, its form shifting and undulating, and it seemed to be sucking the energy or soul from its victims. Their screams echoed through the air, sending shivers down their spines.
"Come on, we can't stop," Alex said, his voice filled with urgency. "We need to get inside."
Finally, they reached Alex's apartment building. The door was still intact, and they hurried inside, the relative quiet of the building a stark contrast to the chaos outside. They leaned against the walls, trying to catch their breath.
"Is everyone okay?" Alex asked, looking at each of his friends. They all nodded though their exhaustion was evident.
"Your place is just up stairs, right?" Jason asked, glancing at the staircase.
"Yeah, just a little further," Alex replied, pushing himself off the wall. "Let's go."
They made their way up the stairs, each step an effort. As they reached Alex's door, they paused, their hearts pounding with a mix of fear and hope. Alex fumbled with his keys, his hands shaking, before finally unlocking the door.
Inside, the apartment was mostly untouched, except for the windows that had been blown in from the shockwave. Glass lay scattered on the floor, and some of Alex's belongings had been blown around, as if a small tornado had torn through the place. But the structure of the apartment was intact, providing a semblance of safety amidst the chaos.
"Alright, first things first," Noah said, looking around. "We need to barricade the door and the windows. We don't know if there are more of those... things out there."
"Good idea," Jason agreed, nodding. "We should use whatever we can to block them off."
Sarah began picking up some of the larger pieces of furniture, her voice filled with determination. "I'll help. We need to make sure we're safe."
As they work together, they talked about what they had seen and what they needed to do next.
"Do you think there are more of those phantoms out there?" Sarah asked, her voice quieter now. "I mean, that thing we saw... it was terrifying."
"I don't know," Alex admitted, his voice heavy. "But we can't take any chances. We need to stay inside and figure out our next move."
Noah nodded, his expression serious. "We should also try to find out more about what's happening. Maybe there's something on the news or online."
Jason pulled out his phone, trying to get a signal. "I'll see if I can find anything. We need to know what we're dealing with."
As they secured the apartment using broken furniture to board up the windows, their conversation turned to speculation and worry. But they knew they had to stay focused and work together if they were going to survive.
Jason and Noah quickly discovered that their phones had no signal. "No service," Jason muttered, frustration creeping into his voice. "The power lines and cell towers must have been knocked down by the shockwave."
Noah nodded, his expression grim. "We're cut off from the outside world, at least for now."
As they continue to work on barricading the windows, Sarah joined in, helping to move furniture and secure the makeshift barriers. "We need to make sure this place is as safe as possible," she said, her voice filled with determination.
Alex, meanwhile, was struggling to keep up. The exhaustion from his transformation was catching up to him, and the physical exertion of boarding up the windows was taking its toll. His body felt heavy, each movement an effort, and his head was beginning to swim.
Finally, as they finished securing the last window, Alex's exhaustion overwhelmed him. His knees buckled, and he collapsed, his hands flying out to cling onto Noah, who was closest to him. "Noah..." he gasped, his voice barely above a whisper.
Noah caught him, his eyes widening in concern. "Alex, hey, are you okay?" He asked, helping him to the floor.
Jason rushed over, his expression filled with worry, but his feelings for Alex had shifted from romantic to a deep, platonic love. "What's wrong?" He asked, kneeling beside his friend.
"I... I don't know," Alex managed, his voice weak. "I feel... dizzy."
Noah placed a hand on Alex's forehead, his brows furrowing. "He's burning up. I think he has a fever."
Jason frowned, looking at Alex with concern. "It's probably from overworking himself, he's been through a lot."
Sarah nodded, her expression thoughtful. "We need to get him to rest. He needs to recover."
Noah's heart ached with worry. He had always felt a strong attraction to Alex, and seeing him in such a vulnerable state only intensified his feelings. He was gentle as he helped Alex to the couch, his voice soft and soothing. "Just rest, Alex. We've got this."
Alex nodded, his eyes fluttering closed as he gave in to exhaustion. His body felt like it was on fire, but he was too tired to do anything about it.
Jason grabbed a blanket, draping it over Alex. "We should let him sleep. He needs it."
Sarah sat down beside Alex, her hand resting on his arm. "We'll keep watch. You just rest."
Noah didn't want to leave Alex's side. He sat down on the floor next to the couch, his hand resting on Alex's shoulder. "I'll stay with him," he said, his voice filled with determination.
Jason nodded, understanding Noah's need to stay close. "We'll take turns keeping watch," he said, looking at Sarah.
Sarah smiled, grateful for the support. "Thanks, Jason. We'll make sure he's okay."
As Alex slept, his friends kept a close eye on him, their worry mixed with a sense of determination. They knew they had to be there for each other, to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
Alex lay on the couch, lost in a deep, feverish sleep, his body occasionally twitching as he shifted restlessly. Noah sat on the floor beside him, his presence a constant vigil. As Alex moved, he unconsciously leaned into Noah, seeking warmth and comfort.
Without thinking, Noah adjusted his position, pulling Alex closer, his arms wrapping around him in a protective embrace. His panther ears twitched slightly, the movement subtle, as if responding to an unseen signal.
His focus was singular— Alex needed to rest, to recover, and he would ensure nothing disturbed him. The others in the room faded into the background as Noah's attention remained fixed on Alex, his senses attuned to every small movement, every change in breathing. His tail lay still, but every now and then, the tip would flick, betraying a hint of the tension he held within.
In the kitchen, Jason and Sarah were discussing their next steps. "We need supplies," Jason said, his voice low but urgent. His cheetah ears flicked forward, the flattened slightly against his head, a sign of his growing concern. "We can't just sit here and wait."
Sarah nodded, her expression thoughtful. Her mouse ears twitched nervously, the tiny movements quick and restless. "We should check the other apartments. People have probably left, and we might find what we need."
Noah's ears twitched at the conversation, but his focus didn't waver from Alex. He felt a growing sense of unease at the thought of leaving him, even for a short while. "I'll stay with Alex," he said, his voice firm, leaving no room for argument.
Jason and Sarah exchanged a glance, sensing the change in Noah's demeanor but attributing it to concern for Alex's well-being. His panther ears remained alert, swiveling slightly to catch any sound, while his tail lay still, a contrast to the tension in his body.
"Okay," Jason said, nodding. "We'll be quick. We need to find food, water, anything we can use."
As they prepared to leave, Sarah placed a few bottles of water on the table next to the couch. "We'll be back soon, Alex," she said softly, though she knew he couldn't hear her. Her mouse ears twitched again, a quick, nervous movement.
Noah's grip on Alex tightened slightly, a subconscious act of protection. His ears swiveled, catching the sound of Jason and Sarah's movements as they headed for the door. His tail remained still, but the tension in his body was palpable.
———
Sarah and Jason stepped out into the hallway, the silence of the apartment building pressing in on them. The air was thick with dust, and distant sounds of chaos from the outside were a constant reminder of the world they had left behind.
"Stay close," Jason said, his voice barely above a whisper. His cheetah ears flicked forward, alert to any sound. His tail swayed slightly, a sign of his nervousness.
Sarah nodded, her mouse ears twitching as she scanned the hallway. "I will. Let's check the closest apartments first."
They moved quietly, their footsteps muffled by the carpeted floor. The first apartment they came to was unlocked. Inside, the air was stale, and the furniture was covered in a thin layer of dust. They moved quickly, opening cabinets and drawers, gathering what they could find.
"Here's some canned food," Sarah said, holding up a few cans. Her mouse ears twitched with excitement, and her tail flicked slightly.
"Good," Jason replied, his cheetah ears swiveling as he listened for any sign of movement. "Grab whatever you can. We need to be quick."
They continued their search, moving from apartment to apartment. Each one was a small treasure trove of supplies— canned food, bottled water, blankets, and other essentials. But with each find, the tension in their bodies grew. The world outside was a constant threat, and they knew they couldn't stay out too long.
As they gathered supplies, Jason's cheetah ears remained alert, swiveling at every sound. His tail swayed with his movements, a reflection of his growing unease. Sarah's mouse ears twitched nervously, her tail flicking in response to her fear.
"We should head back," Jason said, his voice filled with urgency. "We've got enough for now."
Sarah nodded, her mouse ears twitching in agreement. "Let's go."
They made their way back to Alex's apartment, their arms laden with supplies. The weight of their findings was a small comfort, but they knew it was only a temporary solution. The world had changed, and they had to adapt quickly if they were going to survive.