CHAPTER 70: A WORLD IN FLAMES

Ten minutes later, the hearts of the residents of Fortress Four started to lighten. Aside for the small ones, big meteorites had hit the bubble and didn’t tear through the shield or flatten the buildings.

There was no crack in the shield, it was holding steady. From the look of things, they were safe.

Major Elio was the first person to make a sound. "Alive, Woohoo!" He jubilated. "Girl bubble works, we are safe."

Others were coming to a similar realization and slowly, they started to unfreeze and breathe easier. Their eyes still remained on the sky because it was not over.

What they did not know was that they had easier than some other parts of the country. In some places, entire towns had been wiped out by fires and building had been demolished. The mist was already rising, adding to the danger.

Sunshine finally managed to get Castiel to stop crying. "Look baby, we are safe." She pointed out to the sky, "It’s just falling stars, nothing more."

Castiel climbed off her and bravely took a few steps closer to the window. Earl and Ariel followed him, their eyes on the sky.

"I was not completely sold on the abilities of the bubble, and I cannot believe that it worked." Hades whispered with unrestrained delight.

Joy slammed into Sunshine like a tidal wave knocking her out cold. She leaped on Hades and threw her arms around him. He did not understand what this meant, nobody but her did.

They would not have to move in the harsh winter; they would not have to live in homes with holes in the roof and broken walls. They would be safe from acid rain, maybe even the burning sun, when the time came. If the shield could stop meteors, maybe it could even stop mutant monsters.

As long as the Fortress stood, they could protect their food, their children and their lives.

They had a chance, not just to survive but thrive.

"Thank you." Hades whispered to her.

Sunshine brought an end to the hug and laughed. "The same to you, Hades Quinn. Thank you for trusting me and helping me build all this. But we should save the thank you’s until this rain comes to an end."

The residents of the Fort were already celebrating. Cheers didn’t erupt, not yet but they were close. People were already hugging and crying tears of relief.

"President Sunshine saved our lives." A woman screamed.

The loud popping of the bubbles was like delightful music to the ears of the residents. One woman even thought that it sounded like corn popping.

A soldier thought that it was such a shame that he did not have a beer close by. This was almost like a movie, and they were watching it in a movie theater.

His thought seemed to be a shared one as a man brought champagne and cups, inviting everyone to drink.

"Watchtower to ground, hold off on the celebrations. It is not over until it truly is over. Tell Enzo to take back the champagne." Commander Grayson communicated with the soldiers on the ground.

The commander wanted to scream and celebrate as well but he was holding off. He had never been more confused in his entire life than he was now. He was wondering how the shield was working. It was just some kiddish balloons attached together by pink glue or something.

All the soldiers had been doubting its abilities. How wrong they had been!

"Well, I’ll be damned, this Sunshine Quinn is full of surprises. Pink bubbles!!" He grinned, not at himself but the sheer absurdity of the situation.

The meteors began to slow on the side of Westbrook soon, but they could all see them falling from the red skies, landing in the city and all over the country.

***

It was hell outside Fortress four.

What had started out as a moment to watch the sky in awe had turned into death. When the meteor shower started and the sky turned red, people had gathered on rooftops, phones raised marveling at the surprising meteor shower which had not been predicted by authorities.

Even though they were aware of the revelation made by Prophet Salem, they made no effort to hide from it. It was too beautiful a sight to miss.

It was not until the meteors started to fall--fast and furious, flaming like fire torches in the sky that panic set in. The first had struck a school building which happened to be empty. The second tore the living room of a house, igniting the sofas and carpet like birthday candles. Then, they just fell, many--uncountable. The sky wept fire and the city screamed.

The city of Babel, once bubbling with laughter, became a war zone of crumbling glass and sirens. People run, but they did not know where to run to. Some hid beneath their beds but the vengeful like meteors found them.

It was not just Babel city, but it happened everywhere, all around the world, the earth was on fire.

Fifi Quinn had just made entry into a luxury car store when it all started. She jumped into the car that she was meant to test drive and quickly drove out, hoping to escape and find safety somewhere. She found herself stuck behind many cars, filled with hopeful drivers looking to escape.

They were stuck, flaming debris at the front could not allow them to move further. In the opposite lane, a bus driver swerved to escape power lines that were dancing like angry snakes.

The bus crushed into Fifi’s car, nearly sending her to death. Fifi climbed out of the window to escape. Passengers on the bus also climbed out of windows or found the nearest exit.

One of the passengers was a teenage boy and he was livestreaming the apocalypse. A very large meteorite collapsed on the city and crushed him. After his death, his phone overheated and exploded.

The White house was not safe either, the hills behind it had been leveled and half of it was gone.

But amid all the destruction and chaos, President Finch and his mistress Marina clung to each other like lifelines. Wherever he went, he was taking her.

"Sir we have to go now." Liam Johnson, head of the secret service motioned for him to hasten up, there was no use in him watching the country go up in flames, as long as the president was alive, they would build the country once again. They had managed to get some of the most important figures in the country in the bunker already.

President Finch knew the protocol and he also knew that Marina would not be allowed to go with him. The bunker was for important people in the country, and she was just a secretary.

"I am not going anywhere without Marina." He told Liam.

"Sir, your family is already waiting." Liam barked.

The marines and secret service agents and others that were there to secure his safety cursed loudly or in silence. Another big meteorite hit the ground outside, setting the once gold-trimmed presidential gardens on fire.

And still President Finch would not change his mind. If Marina was not allowed in the bunker, he would burn with the White house!