The morning air at the construction site was thick with dust and the sharp smell of cigarettes. Carter Hayes stood near a battered folding table, a clipboard in one hand and a half-burnt cigarette in the other. He was short, round, and wore his beard like a badge of authority. His shirt strained against his belly, and the name tag pinned to it read: CARTER HAYES.
Once, Carter had been the kind of man who wore thousand-dollar suits and ordered people around from a corner office. Now, he managed this half-ruined construction site, surrounded by men he thought were beneath him. He scowled, muttering under his breath as he clicked on the old, crackling microphone.
"Alright, listen up, you lot," Carter barked, his voice echoing off the broken concrete walls. "Roll call, 17th May, 2032. Don't make me repeat myself."
He scanned the crowd with a look of pure disgust. In his mind, every single one of them was a waste of space.
"Eli Stern," he called out, barely glancing at the list.
"Here," came a shaky voice. An old man with tired eyes raised his hand. His back was bent, but there was something stubborn in his posture.
Carter sneered, tossing a work token at him. "Here ya go, Mr... whatever."
"It's Dr. Stern," Eli replied, the words slipping out before he could stop himself. Old habits die hard.
Carter's face twisted in anger.
"What'd you say? You got somethin' smart to add, old man?"
Eli shrank back, holding up his hands. "So-sorry, sir. Didn't mean nothin' by it."
Carter's face twisted in anger, he stood up, and yanked Eli by the shoulders
"You wanna lose this job, huh? You think you're better than us? You wanna go hungry? 'Cause I can make sure you never work again, you hear me?"
Eli's voice trembled. "No, no, sir. I really need this job. My wi-wife, she's-"
He nearly dropped to his knees, clutching Carter's sleeve. "Please, sir. I need this."
The other workers shifted uncomfortably. Some looked away, ashamed. Others whispered angrily among themselves.
"Man, Carter's a real piece of work," someone muttered.
Carter puffed out his chest, enjoying the power. "Yeah, yeah, go on. Don't waste my time." He shoved a token into Eli's hand and waved him away.
He checked the list again. "Rajiv Sharma!"
A stocky Indian man stepped forward. He looked tough, muscles showing under his faded shirt, but his eyes were tired. He was pushing fifty, but still stood tall.
"Finish that pillar today. One hour. No excuses," Carter snapped, glaring.
"Yes, sir," Rajiv said, swallowing his anger. He forced a smile, but his jaw clenched.
"Go on, then."
"Arin Sharma!"
A younger man with a wild beard and long hair shuffled forward.
He'd grown thin, almost gaunt, like he hadn't eaten properly in weeks. His eyes burned with quiet fury.
"Get your old man to work faster, or we've got problems," Carter said, shoving a token at him.
"Yes, Carter-sir," Arin replied, his voice flat. The hatred in his eyes was clear, but Carter just grinned, loving every second.
"Move it," Carter said, waving his hand.
The workers worked their way toward the ruined building. Around them, the world looked broken-piles of rubble, twisted metal, and shattered glass. Above, the sky was a strange blue, streaked with the shadows of massive celestial bodies. Planets, or something like them, hung in the daylight sky, impossible and terrifying.
Arin climbed the cracked stairs, cursing under his breath.
"Damn it all... how'd we end up like this?"
Two Years Earlier: 14th May, 2030
The world had been normal once. Or at least, Arin thought so.
"What the hell is that?" Arin whispered, his hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white.
All around him, people stopped in their tracks. Some stared up, frozen. Others screamed, running for their cars or dashing into buildings. The air was filled with the sound of sirens, shouts, and prayers.
"God, please, save us," someone sobbed nearby.
Arin's heart hammered in his chest. He fumbled for his phone, but there was no signal. The radio blared emergency alerts, a robotic voice repeating, "Seek shelter. Remain calm. This is not a drill."
Then he remembered. "Dad!"
He spun the car around, tires screeching. He had to get to his father.
He was about to floor it when he heard a familiar voice.
"Arin! Wait!"
He stuck his head out the window and saw his father, Rajiv, running toward him, dragging a battered suitcase.
"Dad! Over here!"
Rajiv reached the car, breathless. "We gotta go, son. Now!"
Arin looked up, fear in his eyes. "Dad... what's happening?"
Rajiv squeezed his shoulder. "I don't know, Son."
"Let's get home, quick!" Arin swallowed a lump in his throat.
Arin hit the gas as if his life depended on it. The car screeched around the corner into their apartment's parking lot, tires squealing. Rajiv braced himself, eyes wide as Arin barely slowed down, the car almost skidding into a parked scooter.
"Careful, Arin! You wanna get us killed before the sky does?" Rajiv shouted, half-joking, half-serious.
"Sorry, Dad, I'm just-" Arin's words caught in his throat. He slammed the car into park, jumped out, and grabbed Rajiv's bag without waiting.
They sprinted for the elevator, Arin jabbing the button like it owed him money. The doors finally slid open, and both piled in, panting. The elevator creaked and groaned as it climbed, the lights flickering.
As soon as the doors opened to their floor, Arin bolted. He fumbled with the keys, hands shaking, and finally got the apartment door open.
He barely had time to step inside before Maya crashed into him, arms flung around his neck. She was sobbing and talking so fast her words tumbled over each other, barely making sense.
"Arin, oh my god, where were you, the phone's dead, the network's not working, I thought- I thought- the sky, did you see it, I couldn't reach you, I-"
"Hey, hey, Maya, it's okay. I'm here." Arin wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight. "I'm here, alright? I'm not going anywhere."
Maya buried her face in his chest, still shaking. "I was so scared, Arin. Everything's going crazy out there. I thought I lost you."
Rajiv stepped in, closing the door behind him. He looked at his son and daughter-in-law, his fear hidden behind a tired smile. "We're together now. That's what matters."
Maya wiped her eyes, sniffling. "Sorry, I just… I didn't know what to do. The news is all messed up, nothing's working, and-"
Arin squeezed her hand, his voice soft. "We'll figure it out. We always do. I am here, Okay?"
Maya nodded, trying to hold her tears.