The Rapture

The rain lashes against my face, a cold reminder of the storm raging within me. As I flee through the empty streets of Veritas, wearing my satin white graduation gown after my Hipporactic oath ceremony – a ghostly shroud in the predawn light – clinging to my skin. The crimson honors sash drags behind me, a defiant streak against the drab cityscape.

My parents, their faces etched with disappointment, echo in my mind. They expected me to climb the ladder of success, to use my medical degree to secure a life of comfort and prestige. But my heart yearns for more than just serving the wealthy elite. I crave a deeper purpose, a chance to heal the forgotten souls of Veritas, regardless of their social standing.

A flash of lightning illuminates a shadowy alley, beckoning me toward the city's hidden depths. Hesitation tugs at me, but my resolve solidifies. This is my home, my battlefield. I will not be confined to the gilded cages of the privileged few.

Tears mingle with the rain as I run, fueled by the sting of my parents' disapproval. But my escape is cut short by a sudden impact, sending me sprawling onto the slick cobblestones. A dark figure towers over me, his face twisted in a snarl.

"Get off me!" he hisses, shoving me aside. I scramble to my feet, apologies tumbling from my lips. His eyes, piercing and blue, lock onto mine for a fleeting moment, a strange sensation tingling through me.

"Whatever," he mutters, his voice dripping with disdain. Then, without warning, he raises a gun. The deafening roar of the gunshot shatters the silence, a cruel punctuation to my despair.

As I collapse, the world spins around me, colors blurring into a grotesque kaleidoscope. For an instant, I hover above my broken body, watching as crimson blood stains the cobblestones, a gruesome testament to my defiance.

My gaze lifts towards a distant light, a beacon of hope in the encroaching darkness. But as I reach for it, a chilling dread fills me. The light shifts, transforming from a pure white to a haunting, blood red. A voice, not spoken but felt deep within my soul, whispers a single word: "Soon."

Then, darkness engulfs me, swallowing me whole.