Chapter 1 : What time it is?
Dragons covered the sky.
There were so many of them. Their wings moved across the buildings like a giant shadow, and every time one flew overhead, pieces of roof and broken glass came crashing down into the streets.
Then, without warning, they all opened their mouths.
Fire poured from the sky.
Cars caught fire almost immediately. Flames climbed up the sides of buildings, and people ran in every direction. The heat reached Dillon even from where he was, making it hard to breathe.
Smoke quickly covered the streets. Somewhere nearby, someone was screaming, but Dillon didn't stop to find out who.
There were monsters everywhere too.
They came running out of alleys and damaged shops, moving in groups. They had gray skin, hunched backs, and far too many teeth.
Dillon saw one of them grab a man and pull him into the crowd.
He looked away.
He couldn't think about that right now.
He had to get home.
His hands tightened around the steering wheel as he pushed the car faster. All he could think about was his wife and his daughter.
Home.
He had to get home.
Then he saw the road ahead.
It was completely blocked by overturned cars. Smoke poured from their engines, and monsters were climbing over the wreckage.
Dillon slammed on the brakes.
There was no way around them.
His heart was pounding so hard that his chest hurt. He gripped the steering wheel and took a shaky breath.
Then he pressed the accelerator.
The car crashed straight into the first monster.
It slammed onto the hood before rolling away. Another hit the side of the car, making the whole vehicle shake.
Dillon kept going.
He refused to look down.
His stomach turned, but he swallowed and kept his eyes on the road.
"Almost there," he whispered. "Almost there."
Something landed on the roof.
Claws scraped across the metal above him.
Dillon panicked and jerked the steering wheel. Whatever was on top slid off and disappeared behind him.
He didn't stop.
A few minutes later, he finally saw his house.
It was still standing.
Dillon pulled into the driveway, left the car running, and jumped out. He ran up the steps and threw open the front door.
"Honey!!Chacha!"
His wife was in the hallway with their daughter wrapped around her legs. Both of them looked terrified.
Dillon rushed over and pulled them into his arms.
For a moment, everything felt normal again.
"You guy's okay" he relieved.
His voice cracked.
He didn't believe himself, but he said it anyway.
Then the front door exploded inward.
Dillon spun around.
Monsters pushed through the broken doorway, snarling as more crowded in behind them.
"Go upstairs!" Dillon shouted. "Now!"
His wife grabbed Charlotte and ran.
Dillon looked around for something he could use as a weapon. The only thing nearby was an umbrella.
He grabbed it and swung.
The umbrella broke against the monster's face.
The monster didn't even seem bothered.
It made a strange, wet laugh.
Dillon didn't wait to see what happened next.
He ran upstairs.
He and his wife pushed themselves against the bedroom door while his daughter crouched in the corner with her hands over her ears.
Claws scratched at the other side.
The door shook.
For a few seconds, Dillon thought they might actually be safe.
Then the entire house shook.
Something huge had landed outside.
Everyone went quiet.
Dillon slowly looked toward the window.
A wyvern stood in the yard.
Its wings stretched across most of the sky, and its long neck slowly lowered toward the house.
Charlotte grabbed Dillon's shirt.
"papa..."
Dillon put an arm around her.
The wyvern looked directly at them.
Its mouth opened.
Fire filled the window.
Dillon grabbed his wife and daughter and pulled them against his chest. He turned his back toward the flames and screamed.
Then
Dillon woke up.
He sat upright on the sofa, breathing heavily.
For a few seconds, he had no idea where he was.
Then he looked around.
The living room.
The TV.
The couch.
Everything was normal.
There were no dragons.
No monsters.
No fire.
Dillon wiped the sweat from his face and took a long breath.
He checked his phone.
6:00 PM.
"Oh, no."
He hadn't made dinner.
Dillon stood up and looked around.
"Chacha?"
Nothing.
He checked the kitchen.
Empty.
The bathroom.
Empty.
He walked through the house, calling her name.
Still nothing.
A strange feeling started building in his stomach.
He checked the yard, the porch, and even looked underneath the car.
Nothing.
Finally, he went to Charlotte's bedroom.
She wasn't there either.
Dillon's heart started beating faster.
He hurried to the phone and called Cabrini.
"Honey," he said, trying to stay calm, "our kid is missing."
"Hm hm," Cabrini replied.
Dillon frowned.
"I woke up from a nap and called her, but she isn't answering."
"Hm hm."
"What do you mean, don't worry?"
"Hm hm."
Dillon took a breath.
"Should I check the cupboard?"
"Hm hm."
He paused.
"I mean... I guess. She does like sleeping in there."
Then he heard a noise from upstairs.
Kadush!
A cupboard door opening.
Dillon froze.
He hung up the phone and ran upstairs.
When he reached Charlotte's room, he found her standing in the doorway.
Her hair was messy, and she was still rubbing her eyes.
"PAPA!"
She ran straight toward him.
Dillon caught her and hugged her tightly.
"Papa was worried," he said.
"Hehe."
Charlotte didn't seem worried at all.
She pulled away and immediately reached for her backpack.
"Papa! Look!"
Dillon leaned closer.
Something inside the backpack moved.
"What is that?"
Charlotte opened the bag.
A fish suddenly jumped out.
Dillon screamed.
He somehow caught it with both hands.
He stared at the fish.
Then at Charlotte.
Then back at the fish.
"Where did you get this?"
"I caught it!" Charlotte said proudly.
Dillon stared at her.
"You caught a fish?"
"Yep!"
She bounced excitedly.
Dillon was still tired from his nightmare and the panic he'd just gone through. He didn't even have the energy to argue.
"Okay," he said with a laugh. "Sure you did."
He looked at the fish again.
There was just one problem.
It was still alive.
Dillon decided not to think about that.
"Papa, can we cook it for dinner?" Charlotte asked.
"Yeah, sure."
She grabbed his hand.
"I'm hungry."
Dillon looked toward the window. It was already getting dark.
"Come on, then. Let's go."
Charlotte jumped into his arms, still holding the fish.
Together, they headed downstairs to the kitchen.
