Haven

It’s July 23rd, Julia’s birthday. “Julia get up.” Her mother commands as she sweeps the dust off the floor. They live in an apartment in New York, New York now in ruins from the serpents, which the world now calls laviathins, or aliens in short term. They wrecked the city and no one has any idea how to stop them, with intense and loud noises, the world hasn’t been the same since they arrived. New York has fallen, the military and economics have crashed so no one can buy or sell anything, and the military has become defenseless towards the leviathan. “I can’t…” Julia says. Still thinking about her encounter yesterday- not that she would dare tell her mother about it.

‘What was his name..’ Julia thinks back to the time she nearly died, wishing she didn’t romanticize a life or death situation but it was special to her now and he was the reason. His name, unknown, but what she did know is that he saved her life yesterday- with no reason or motive. The world had become cold and everything was based on survival, nearly half of the population had died off once the leviathan came to earth, so there wasn’t much saving and even less chivalry, but he was different: without a doubt.

There she was, walking through New York going to the weekly supply of food the government and volunteers give to people who are still alive in the city: and without mentioning it, also wealthy because though money wasn’t a big currency anymore, the government still had it’s need for financing considering most countries relied on their economics. Julia happened to come from a wealthy family, with her father a military officer, who hasn’t been home for a year- being MIA, and her mother a businaswomen prior to 2030. There Julia was, with a phone with 7,000 cash usd inside of it- ready to get the weekly supply when a huge leviathan came up from the ground, it’s tongue latched around her leg. Screaming she tried stomping it away- but it started to pull her farther into the ground, then he came. Shots were fired from a unknown location and the tongue fell to the ground and there was a squeal and the leviathan left. “You’re lucky that was just a baby, next time be more careful.” He said as his dark brown eyes pierced through hers’. “Uhhh…” is all Julia could mutter and he turned and walked away. Shell shocked, she collapsed to the floor. The monster that killed her father, yet again tries to kill another person in her family, her! She looks back and the man is gone. “What was that…” she mutters under her breath, holding onto her locket.

And that was the first time she ever saw a leviathan in person.. Though she nearly died she couldn’t help herself from being excited for the next weekly supply run.

It was her 21st birthday, with no real plans, not that she could make any if she wanted too. She lied on her bed, wondering if she’d ever see that man again. She finally got up from her more comfortable than usual bed and went to put on a fake smile with her family and make it seem like life is still normal, for the day at least. “Okay I’m up” she said, with a smile. Her mom, being more agitated than usual and cleaning to keep busy “why haven’t you gotten up yet??” She said, insisting on an answer. “I needed some time to get up…” she lied. “We’ll I hate to tell you this but…. It’s time for you to get up and get another food run.. they changed it to monthly and it starts today.” “Oh my goddd! Seriously why today.” Julia said in a grunt, knowing it was actually a good thing but not daring to tell her mother why. “Julai, I’m sorry about this, I would go but I have to watch your younger brother.” Her mom said. “It’s really fine.” Julia said, than she proceeded to get her stuff and left.

Julia had a lot of adrenaline because of the mix of excitement to see the unknown man and also fear of death now that she saw a leviathan first hand. “Where is he…” she said. Knowing deep down in her heart she would see him. Why was he there? Why would he just appear randomly and leave just to save her. It had to something he saw in her.

She was half way to the food run and that’s when he suddenly appeared, not as chilavrus this time. Julia was walking down an alley way and that’s when I hand grabbed her shoulder and pinned her to a wall. “Why are you out again?!” He shouted. Baffled she didn’t know what to say. Yet again, his piercing black eyes staring into hers but without safety this time, with pure aggregation. “W-what do you mean..?” She said. “You nearly died yesterday…. Why would you come back again, the next day? You don’t understand what this is! ” He shouted, pointing at her heart shaped locket. Yet again shocked…. Hoping he wasn’t just following her because of the locket. “What do you mean? It’s my grandmas locket… if that’s why you’re following me you can’t have this. It was the last thing my grandma gave me before she die—” she got cut off by a tongue creeping out from the wall. The wall suddenly concaves, and before she knew a leviathan was directly on top of her, salivating on her face and gripping on her neck- gripping on the locket. As the leviathan unlatches it’s jaw about to swallow her whole the unknown man punches the leviathan and it instantly obliterates. Ashes of the leviathan fall to the ground. Julia became even more afraid, not of the leviathan but of the unknown man. She gets up and tries to run but he grasps her and pins her to the wall. “I’m not trying to hurt you Julia.” He says. “You’re crazy! How do you know my name? What was that? Who are you?!” She yells- knowing she’ll have PTSD from this, trying to get passed his grip. He softens up and loosens his grip. “I’m here to protect….” He stops mid sentence. He looks at the locket, than looks back in Julia’s eyes. “…You.”

“Excuse me?” She questions, why would he mention the locket. Why was this happening to her, why was she being chased down my leviathans. But most importantly, who is this man.

To be continued.