[b]Chapter 1- Collapse[/b] "..I need a cup of tea." He said, exhausted from the school day. Skylar Red Wilson was an English teacher at Lincoln Park high school in Chicago, Illinois. "What time is it?.." He asked under his breath. "1:17.. ah, crap. Another hour left'a this shit?.." The day was dragging like luggage being handled by a toddler. "Alright." The end of the school day had arrived. Skylar hopped into his car and turned on the radio. [b][i][CCcccKkkrrrrssshhh][/i][/b] "-ooked on a feelin'! I'm high on believin' that you're in love with me! I'm hooked on a feelin'!" [b][i][Ccckkkkrrgg][/i][/b] "-aking news. Reported sightings of alien vessels are entering Earth's atmosphere." [b][i][Zrrrsssscck][/i][/b] "In other news, the Traveler seems to be acting hostile to the invading aircrafts. Could it possibly our only way of pushing these enemies back?" [b][i][Kkzzsshhh][/i][/b] "-nd the heavens are falling. There is no shelter from this." All the noise from the outside world had seized and Skylar had come to terms with what was happening. It was only a matter of time until something had followed the Traveler here. Silence was the only thing he could hear; not the panicking pedestrians, the colliding traffic or the explosions in the distance. Skylar knew he had to get out of the city. He had to try to get out alive. He rushed back to his apartment to retrieve anything he might need on his escape from the city. After searching his residence and realizing nothing could help him, he decided it was time to depart. Upon leaving, he noticed a family being confronted by the Fallen, the invading alien race. They'd coaxed the parents into the parking lot, while their child was cowering in what was left of the apartment. The smoldering cars toppled over by the chaos of, what was happening everywhere on Earth, set the stage for the parents' inevitable failure. They hadn't the weapons to defend themselves against a foe like this. After the Fallen Dregs had been firing at them, distracting them from the real danger, a Fallen Captain had flanked them. Impaling them both from behind, the child's parents fell in defeat. Pulling himself from the tragedy he'd just witnessed, Skylar knew he had to save the girl. He couldn't leave her to die in a crumbling city. Rushing over to her, he pleaded, "C'mon! You'll be safe. Just come with me. I won't let [i]anything[/i] happen to you." He swept away, with her in his arms, and took off down the street. Hearing more explosions, Skylar looked above, seeing other ships arriving. These air-crafts were different, though. They were fighting back, firing at the Fallen. Dumbfounded, he continued watching in awe. There was barely any sunlight shed on the city; the skies shrouded and obscured by the ashes of toppling architecture and conflicting spaceships. Then suddenly, [b][i]BOOM[/i][/b] ..Everything was silent. All Skylar could see- was darkness.