Following the destruction of Raiah’s family home, she and the others had no choice but to leave. Pouring rain came down from the heavens soaking them in the process. They quickly ran through the ran as Velle noticed the foreclosed home on the corner. She kicked at the door until it gave way, allowing them to enter. They rushed into the building, although structurally similar to Raiah’s family home, a thick cloud of dust filled the entire building covering everything in a dense layer of dust. Velle coughed as she entered, and the others followed in after her. She pulled out her phone and used the flashlight to navigate through the building. The living room couch had minor scratches and abrasions, the house held a slight musty odor. “It's not ideal, but we can stay here for now,” Velle says. Only one bedroom had a bed remaining, while the other rooms were empty. Dante searched the bathroom and found towels in a cabinet, tossing one to each of the others, before wrapping one around his neck. “They don’t smell the best, but they’re probably clean. Unless the previous owner was an animal that puts dirty towels in storage.” He takes a seat on the couch before lying down on it. “You two can share the bed.” He says with a wave of his hand. “Wow. Such a gentleman.” She says as she walks over and tousles his hair. Raiah quietly floated over to the bedroom as she dried herself. “Quit it! Go check on Raiah.” He whispers. “As much flack as I give her, I’ve never seen her this down.” “The last time she was like this… Was when her father died.” She whispered, wandering over to a closet and searching for a spare blanket, that she threw onto Dante. “Don’t catch a cold now.” “I’m not stupid.” He wraps his body in the blanket and sighs. “Night, Vee.” “Night, Dan.” Velle walks into the bedroom, where Raiah is waiting. She could just make out Raiah’s shape in the darkness, as she sat with the towel over her head. She sits beside her rubbing her hand along her back. “It’s gonna be okay, Rai,” Velle whispers. “It… It was just the one place where I felt the closest to my dad. The one place where I could truly be myself without fear or worry of being judged for liking this or that.” Raiah spoke, her voice wavering the entire time. “Now it's gone. The place I grew up, and made so many memories in, it’s gone.” “You went through a lot in middle school and high school. Boys bully you because you want to play games and things with them and girls bully you because you would get so much attention from the boys. When I think back on it… That’s how we first met.” Velle states as everything fades to black. Light begins to emerge from a thing sliver that widened into a bright light. The sky was gray and snow had covered the ground. Raiah was standing in the hallway dressed in a winter coat, gloves, and hat. The bitter chill of the wind picked at her skin, the tears rolling down her cheeks nearly freezing, as she stared down at her twin screen console, broken in half. “Go play house or something! Battleboys is for BOYS!” The boy shouted. Raiah knelt in the snow scooping up her TS in her hands as she sobbed. A girl who had been watching nearby walks over to the buy pointing and jeering at Raiah, and grabs him by the coat. She pushes him, causing him to fall in the snow. “Since you broke her game thingy, let's have you play a game.” She grinned. Ten minutes later both she and Raiah were in the principal's office. The principal sighed, looking at Velle. “So because he broke her game, you shoveled snow into his pants until he started crying from the cold?” The principal repeats. “Yup!” She says happily. The principal shakes his head and after a verbal lashing, he sends them on their way. By the time they got out of the office, school was already over and most students had gone home. “Ugh… I don't even think my dad ever yelled at me that hard…” She groans. “T-thank you,” Raiah mutters. “Don’t mention it. Those types are all talk, you have to learn to stand up for yourself.” Velle says while slapping her on the back. Raiah nearly falls over but manages to catch herself. “I’m not good at dealing with people…” She mutters. “Hmmm…. Then why don’t we make a deal? I help you with bullies, and you help me with studying!” She suggests. “I-I don’t know…” Raiah nearly whispers, clutching her chest while slightly hunched over. “You don’t deserve to get bullied for the things you like, right? Just like I don’t deserve to fail because I’m bad at studying!” Velle declares. Raiah lets out a bit of a chuckle. “W-what kind of analogy is that?” Raiah questions. “It sounded better in my head!” She exclaims. “A-alright. I’ll help you study.” Raiah agrees. “Awesome! I’m not gonna fail math this year.” Velle extends her hand out to Raiah with a wide grin. “I’m Velle!” Raiah reaches her hand out and smiles as they shake in their agreement. The sun broke through the clouds on the snow-covered fields filling the area with a bright light. The light began to engulf everything as the pair disappeared within. The white of the towel covering her head was all she could see as she listened to Velle reminiscing about their first meeting. “That house was like my sanctuary. Where I could be completely free from the harsh judgments of others. It was the one place where I felt the closest to my dad.” Raiah sniffles. “I know.” She pulls Raiah in close and raises the towel so she can peer into her eyes. “But you don’t need to hide who you are in fear of being judged. People can feel however they want about you, but that shouldn’t influence you. I know what you went through back when we were in school, and kids can be absolute jerks. But don’t let that dim the unimaginably bright girl that I know.” Velle smiles. “Make no mistake, Rai, your father’s spirit wasn’t just a part of the house. It dwells within you, for every thing he taught you, you’re connection with him is all the stronger. You are the one he’s a part of.” Raiah wraps her arms around Velle and begins to sob silently. “So it’s okay for me to be who I am without fear?” Raiah questions. “That’s right. Anyone who tells you otherwise doesn’t know you enough to matter.” She replies. “Thank you, Vee.” She says. “Don’t mention it. We should get to bed, we’ve got a lot to do tomorrow after all.” Velle suggests. “You’re right.” Raiah agrees. The two of them lay down under the blanket on the bed and have to squeeze together to fit, due to the small size of the mattress. The craziness of the day had already taken its toll on all of them allowing them to fall asleep quickly. And thus, the first day of the new world had come to an end. However, at the center of a decaying star, eight humanoid beings had been floating within the mass of corrupted energy, their gaze fixated on the earth in the distance. Distorted by shadows, their bodies retained their general shapes. “The time for the climax is almost upon us.” The being said in a weighty voice. “I say we start it now, I can’t contain my curiosity! Will they devour or be devoured... ” A feminine voice spoke. “All you ever talk about is eating. Humankind is much stronger and tenacious than you think.” A shorter being spoke. “Then they can be tenacious while destroying each other.” Another cut-in. “Either way, now that they’ve had some time to adjust, it’s time to introduce the conflict in this arc. Begin demon time.” As the declaration is made, a shadow passes over the earth. On the streets of Old York, bags of garbage begin to morph and transform into a humanoid shape, coalescing into a large body. Their bodies are distorted, claws and fangs stretching out in different directions. Limbs of unequal size and varying body colors. Torn trash bags and their heads covered their bodies had uneven horns and one eye resting on their foreheads. They march through the streets of Old York ripping out signs and street lights to use as makeshift clubs. Searching for any signs of life, a demon walked over to a human cowering in the corner scooped them up in a quick swipe of their hand, and quickly shoveled them into their mouth as the person screamed. A path of fire was left in their wake as the sound of booming footsteps filled the streets and screams erupted into the night sky.