Adam woke up a little later than usual. He changed his clothes, fixed his hair, and went outside the building. However, when he did, he noticed something strange.

  No one was outside.

  Usually, people within the island wake up early to start their respective chores. But weirdly enough, Adam couldn't see anyone.

  Confused, Adam started searching for anyone. He went to the plantation and then the barn. But to his disappointment, there wasn't anyone there. The animals, of course, were still there, but someone was supposed to be assigned to feed them every morning.

  Where would they go? He asked himself.

  The island felt like a ghost town. No sound, no people.

  He felt something bad had happened and quickly returned to the building. He went straight to his room, pulled his drawer, and took his pistol. He clicked it, letting its mag slide and catching it with his other hand.

  After ensuring that he had a full round, he took two more magazines from the lower drawer and placed them in the pockets of his jacket.

  He slid the pistol into his pants and headed out of his room.

  He wondered what happened. The people wouldn't leave the island; in fact, they can't without turning to greys. He also considered he might be overthinking it and that they just went somewhere still within the island, but even that was unlikely. They wouldn’t all stay in a single place for no reason.

  He headed first to Kate’s room, fearing that she as well had disappeared.

  He knocked rapidly on the door, calling Kate’s name.

  Behind the door, he heard a click and saw Kate open the door with messed up hair. Adam assumed that she also had just woken up. He explained about the disappearance of the people around the island without entering the room.

  “Are you sure you didn't just miss a spot? They couldn't have left the island,” asked Kate, scratching her head.

  “Missed a spot? I'm not looking for keys, the entire island’s population is gone.”

  “Check the rooms, I'll change clothes.”

  Adam nodded as he closed the door. He went on and knocked on every single room, but there was no one aside from Kiel and Althea, who were just as confused as Adam was.

  “Even my mother? She was missing? What about her room?” Althea sounded worried.

  Adam couldn't blame her; he was too.

  “Yes, I checked almost everywhere,” Adam replied.

  “Where could they have gone?” the boy asked.

  “I don't know.”

  As Adam answered, Kate appeared in the hallway, her rifle slung to her shoulder.

  “What do we do now?” Kate asked.

  “Find them,” Adam answered.

  The four of them left the building. They decided to split up to speed up the search.

  After almost thirty minutes, they returned in front of the building. Despite their efforts, none of them was able to find anyone. Not even a single person, as if every resident just disappeared.

  They sat by the wooden chairs in despair. Kate suggested they search for them at the shore.

  Adam wanted to disagree; that would be an unlikely location to find them. They would never risk leaving the island, but having no further idea where to search for them, he agreed.

  They all walked towards the island’s gate.

  Just as they did, Adam heard quiet footsteps behind him. He swiftly turned around and was surprised to see the captain behind them.

  “Richard? What happened?” he asked.

  “The boy— just bring the boy,” the captain said in a dry voice.

  “What do you mean?” Kate interrupted.

  Suddenly, shadows started to move. Kate looked around, tightening her grip on the rifle.

  Greys, Adam thought.

  They had been surrounded. Adam’s confusion only grew more. How could those monsters plan such an attack? That wasn't possible unless—

  His train of thought was interrupted by a figure appearing behind the captain.

  A tall, lean, and muscular man with a familiar face. However, the man looked different than the last time they saw him.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  The grey patch of skin on his face was now larger, covering almost half of it, with a small protruding green horn at his forehead.

  His clothes were ragged, yet he seemed more authoritative than before.

  “Nolan,” Adam whispered.

  “The captain was right. I only need the boy,” Nolan said in a deep voice.

  “Where are they?” asked Althea.

  “If you're asking about the residents, they are fine—for now. That could change if you didn't give me the boy.”

  “What happened to Beth wasn’t his fault,” Kate declared, still anxious about the creatures surrounding them. They hadn’t revealed themselves, but they made sure to let their presence be known.

  “You don’t know anything, none of you do—” Nolan paused as he stepped forward.

  “The first time I saw you, I knew that boy was different. You just felt— wrong.”

  Kiel was shaking. He held Kate’s arm as he took a step back. Althea was behind them, her hand at the boy’s shoulder.

  Kate raised her rifle, aiming it directly at Nolan’s head.

  “Don’t move, I'll shoot,” she warned.

  “Of course you would. You already did, but without me, no one would stop them from attacking you all at once. Are you sure you could handle them all?”

  As if waiting for their cue, the greys appeared, some behind the trees, some behind the gate. All had various shapes and sizes, all having grey skin and green eyes.

  A massive gust of wind went past the group as one of the winged greys perched by the wooden wall.

  “That— are you the one who changed the horde’s path? And why do they obey you?” asked Adam, his hands now on his pistol.

  “I would have said that’s none of your business, but I'll humor you for now. No, I didn’t change the horde’s path. As for how I control those monsters, that’s easy. It's just the same with humans.”

  “What do you mean?” Althea asked.

  “Power. They yield to anyone powerful enough. Humans are like that, aren't they?”

  Adam shivered at the way Nolan referred to humans as if he weren’t one.

  “You show them power, and they will do whatever you want, either out of respect— or fear.” Nolan took a step closer.

  “Now the boy. Hand him over.”

  “You know we can’t do that,” Adam spoke, his pistol now raised.

  “Then I would have no choice,” Nolan spoke as he looked at the greys surrounding the group.

  “But— you said you wouldn't harm anyone else if you get the boy,” the captain pleaded.

  “Do I look like I have a boy? Also, that was up to them.”

  A sudden movement passed the corner of Adam’s eye. A grey was approaching them from their side.

  Adam had to turn around and aim his pistol at the creature to stop it.

  “Just give me the boy and I will leave,” suggested Nolan.

  Kiel's grip around Kate’s arm grew tighter.

  Nolan produced a sigh.

  “Fine. Do it.”

  The moment Nolan spoke the words, the creatures stirred. The one at Adam's side dashed straight at him. He immediately fired a shot before it could reach him. The bullet flew straight at the monster’s head as it fell to the ground.

  Meanwhile, Kate’s attention was directed at the winged grey just above them.

  Nolan seemed to notice it and used the opportunity to attack.

  He closed the distance in almost the blink of an eye. Before Kate could even aim her rifle, Nolan already held it at its nozzle, redirecting the shots.

  He then kicked Kate in the stomach sending her reeling backwards as he used his free arm to pull the boy to his side.

  Althea, however, was also holding the boy’s other arm. After Nolan noticed it, he stepped towards Althea, gripping her neck until she finally let go of Kiel. He threw the girl aside and took a step back while pulling the boy to his side.

  As he did, the massive figure of the winged grey departed, its wings generating gusts of wind with each of its flaps.

  The group stepped back to not be crushed by the massive creature. Even the other greys kept their distance, only observing from afar.

  Adam tried to think.

  So much was happening, he wasn't sure what to do first.

  Nolan had taken Kiel, Kate and Althea to the ground. Greys were all over the island, not to mention the massive one from the horde, and the rest of the island’s residents were probably in danger.

  He didn’t have time for the residents.

  Kate and Althea were at his side, both injured but they should be fine for now.

  The winged grey was yet to attack.

  He decided he would deal with Nolan first.

  Adam raised his pistol and fired two shots in Nolan’s direction. The first one missed, but fortunately the second one hit Nolan in the shoulder.

  To no one’s surprise, the wound seemed too insignificant for Nolan to even notice.

  He simply let go of the boy and approached Adam with a few steps.

  Adam was a few steps away when he continued firing, but Nolan started to weave towards him. Swiftly, Nolan approached him and before Adam could fire another shot he was already too close. He grabbed Adam’s hand that held the firearm and squeezed it.

  Adam had to let go of the gun. He screamed as his bone cracked like crumbled paper, his muscles starting to tear apart.

  Pain seared through his body, draining all his strength.

  He tried to move, to fight back, but his vision was fading and his eyes grew heavy. He wanted the pain to disappear but he couldn’t do so, Kiel was in danger He thought with what strength he had left.

  Nolan pulled him closer by holding his neck.

  “Trust me, I'm doing you a favor.”

  Nolan said in almost a whisper.

  He let go of Adam, his body falling to the ground.

  At that point, Adam’s eyes were blurred from pain. He felt that at any moment he would pass out.

  He saw Nolan approach the boy, who was slumped to the ground, crying and unable to do anything.

  Nolan then reached for his pockets, taking out a familiar shard of green crystal.

  “You remember this?” he asked Adam.

  It was the same crystal he plucked out of one of the meteorites from the red zone.

  “I have a theory,” he spoke as he fiddled with the crystal with one hand and stopped the boy from struggling with the other.

  “You always thought you were immune, but I think you were only resistant. That too much contact to whatever this is that hell sent to earth can still affect you.”

  Suddenly, he stopped fiddling with the crystal.

  “What if we put that to the test?”

  Nolan used his other hand to grab the boy’s face, forcing him to open one of his eyes.

  Kiel struggled, of course, but he can't seem to produce enough strength to resist Nolan.

  Adam too, didn't have the strength. What he had left might not even be enough to stay awake.

  Just as Nolan was about to force the crystal into the boy’s eye, a gunshot fired, missing only a few inches off Nolan’s head.

  It was Kate, using her rifle. Adam assumed he wasn't able to shoot properly, worrying she might hit Kiel.

  Nolan clicked his tongue and signaled the winged grey.

  As he did, the grey turned his attention towards Kate. It used its massive wings to yank the rifle out of her hand. Then it charged forward, using its weight to pin Kate to the ground with its feet.

  After ensuring that he would no longer be interrupted, Nolan redirected his focus to Kiel.

  “Isn't it ironic? It's similar to how Beth died.”

  As he said these words, a shiver ran down the boy’s spine.

  No

  No

  No

  The boy thought helplessly.

  Adam felt time slow down and yet he still could do nothing but watch.

  Nolan proceeded to puncture the boy’s eye with the crystal. Blood poured as he did. The entire island echoed with the boy’s scream, and as Nolan pulled out his bloodied hand from the boy’s head—

  Nolan slowly shook his head and stared at Adam, with both of his eyes now turned green.