When The World Ended, I Stole Tomorrow

Chapter 2: Fractured Reality

The death toll just went to three thousand. We need help at the north perimeter right now.

The reporter on the television in the lawyer's office was screaming. The TV was showing footage of the Eastbridge Tunnel. There was a lot of smoke coming out of the collapsed concrete. It was filling up the morning sky. The emergency lights were flashing. It was not helping.

Ronan Steele was staring at the screen. His face did not show any emotion. Under the table, he was digging his fingernails into his palms so hard that it was hurting. He did this. He chose the lottery numbers over the tunnel collapse file. That changed everything. Those three thousand people are dead because he needed money to save humanity.

Sign here, Mr. Steele, and the trust will be yours.

The lawyer pushed a stack of papers across the desk. He did not even notice the news on the TV behind him. He just wanted the forty-five-million-dollar lottery ticket that was on the table.

Ronan did not wait. He picked up the pen. Signed his name. He could not let himself feel guilty. The end of the world does not care about what's right or wrong. The people who are waiting to destroy Earth do not care either. If he has to live with the memory of three thousand people to build a safe place, then he will do it.

I want the money in my accounts by noon, Ronan said. His voice was very calm. I want to buy the Blackwood Silo by one o'clock. If the owner says no, offer him double the price. I want it today.

The lawyer looked surprised. Mr. Steele, it takes days or weeks to buy a property. We have to check the environment and -

Just do it, Ronan said. He stood up. Pay the people who check the environment. Pay the fines. I do not care. If I do not own the Blackwood Silo by one o'clock, I will find another lawyer.

He did not wait for the lawyer to answer. Ronan walked out of the office and into the hot city streets. The air felt strange. It was a hot summer morning to everyone else. Ronan could taste something weird in the air. It was like metal. The countdown was getting faster.

His phone was ringing in his pocket.

Ronan took it out. The name on the screen was Julian.

Julian was his friend. He was also the person who locked Ronan out of the place to be killed by monsters.

Ronan stared at the phone. He felt a pain in his shoulder. It was where the monster hurt him in life. He took a breath and answered.

Hey, where are you? Julian asked. His voice was casual. Clara called me. She said you canceled the wedding and walked out. Tell me this is a joke.

It is not a joke, Ronan said. His voice was dead. We are done.

Are you crazy? Julian asked. He sounded angry. You love her. What is wrong with you? I am coming to your office. We will talk about this.

Do not come, Ronan said. He was staring at the traffic. I am not there. Julian?

Yes?

Do not call this number again. We are not friends anymore.

There was a silence at the end of the line. Ronan? What is wrong? Did I do something?

You locked the door Ronan said. The words just came out.

What door? Julian asked. He sounded confused. Ronan, seriously, you are scaring me. Let me help you.

Ronan hung up the phone. He took out the SIM card. Broke it. He threw it into a storm drain.

It hurt him a lot. He had to stop being friends with Julian. In the life they fought together. Ronan knew the truth. Julian would not be loyal when it mattered. Ronan could not trust him. He was alone now.

By two o'clock, Ronan had the money. He was standing at the edge of the city. He was looking at an old fence.

The Blackwood Silo was behind the fence. It was a missile facility. It was buried in a mountain. Ronan had found it two years after the apocalypse in his life. It was perfect. Someone else owned it then.

This time Ronan owned it before anyone else knew it was valuable.

He cut the lock on the gate. Walked in. The air inside was old and stale. It smelled like dirt and old concrete.

He turned on a flashlight. Looked around. The place was big. It had three levels and its own air system. There was a spring for water. Ronan could make it a safe place in sixty days.

Then he saw something that made him stop.

The dust on the floor was disturbed.

Ronan stopped breathing. He took out a knife. Moved forward quietly. This place had been closed for forty years. No one was supposed to be

There were footprints in the dust.

They were not human.

The footprints were big. They had three claw marks at the front. The concrete under the prints was burned. It was like the creature was on fire.

This was impossible. The monsters were not supposed to be here yet.

Ronan followed the footprints. They led to a steel door.

There was a purple symbol on the door. It was glowing. Ronan had seen it before. It was the mark of the Chrono Covenant.

Someone was already here.

The steel door started shaking. Something was pounding on it from the inside.

Boom.

The walls were shaking. Dust was falling from the ceiling.

Boom.

The door was bending outward. Whatever was inside wanted to get out. It knew Ronan was there.