Date**June 16, 2009
Location:Planet Earth, Seoul, South Korea**
Time: Morning.7.38am
The morning should have been bright and clear, but the sky was shrouded in darkness. Rahul, a man in his early thirties with a neatly trimmed mustache and dark, wavy hair, woke up early as usual. He wore a simple white t-shirt and blue jeans, his movements deliberate and efficient. He walked over to his friend's room and gently shook Jae Hyun awake.
"Jae, wake up. It's morning,We have a Case to work with." Rahul said softly but firmly.
Jae Hyun, a tall and lean Korean man in his late twenties with short black hair, groaned and rubbed his eyes. "Why does it feel like night?" he mumbled, reluctantly sitting up.
Rahul glanced at the window, where darkness still reigned. "I don't know, but we should get ready. We have a lot to do today."
They both moved about the apartment, cleaning up and preparing for the day. The apartment was modest but cozy, with minimal furnishings—a small dining table, a couple of chairs, and a worn-out couch facing a modest television set. The walls were adorned with pictures of their families and a few scenic landscapes.
After tidying up, they stepped out of the building for their morning walk. The streets of Seoul were eerily quiet, with only a few early risers going about their business. The usual hustle and bustle seemed subdued under the ominous sky.
As they walked, Rahul couldn't shake off the unsettling feeling. He looked up at the sky, expecting to see clouds but instead froze in place. "Jae,you seeing this!,Hey look at this!" Rahul exclaimed, his voice tinged with panic.
"What is it?" Jae Hyun asked, turning his head and then stopping abruptly. "Oh my God…"
The sky above them displayed an entire landscape of another planet. It was like looking at a satellite image of an alien world, mind-bending in its clarity and detail. Rolling hills, towering spires, and vast bodies of water stretched across the heavens.
"This can't be real," Jae Hyun whispered, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"But it is. Look at it!" Rahul insisted, shaking Jae Hyun's shoulder to make sure he was seeing the same thing.
From their perspective, it was as if the planet Cigarette was now hanging right next to Earth, an impossible sight that defied all logic.
"We need to get back to the apartment," Jae Hyun said urgently, pulling Rahul along.
They rushed back, their hearts pounding with a mix of panic and thrill. As they burst through the door, Rahul grabbed the remote and turned on the television. The screen flickered to life, immediately showing breaking news.
Rahul and Jae Hyun were shocked but not too much as they saw the television news. The anchor continued, "Breaking news: At 21:00 last night, the planet suddenly appeared next to Earth. Researchers at NASA are trying their best to uncover and find out if this is truly the world's end."
Rahul sat down heavily on the couch, his eyes glued to the screen. "This is insane," he muttered. "How does a planet just appear out of nowhere?"
Jae Hyun paced the room, his mind racing. "I don't know, but we need to stay calm. There has to be an explanation. Maybe it's some kind of optical illusion or... I don't know, something else."
The television showed clips of people around the world reacting to the sight. Some were praying, others crying, and some even celebrating what they saw as a divine sign. Scientists were shown in labs, frantically working on their computers, analyzing the data.
The anchor's voice cut through the footage, "Authorities are urging everyone to remain calm and stay indoors. NASA is working around the clock to gather information about this new celestial body and its implications for Earth."
Rahul turned to Jae Hyun, "We Should we call our families?"
Jae Hyun nodded, "Yes, we should. Let's make sure they're okay and tell them to stay inside."
They both picked up their phones, dialing their families. Rahul's hands shook slightly as he heard the familiar voice of his sister on the other end.
"Rahul? Did you see the News the planet how's that possible What's happening?" she questioned and asked, her voice filled with worry.
"Everything will be fine," Rahul reassured her, trying to sound calm. "Just stay inside and keep an eye on the news. We're safe here."
Jae Hyun was speaking quickly to his parents, giving them the same advice. After ensuring their families were safe, they turned their attention back to the news.
The anchor continued, "We have just received a statement from the President, addressing the nation about this unprecedented event."
The screen switched to a live feed of the President standing at a podium. Behind him, flags waved gently, and a somber expression covered his face.
"My fellow citizens," he began, "we are facing an event unlike any we have ever seen. A new planet has appeared next to ours, and we are working with the world's top scientists to understand what this means for humanity. I assure you, we will do everything in our power to keep you informed and safe. Please, stay calm and stay together. We will get through this."
Rahul and Jae Hyun exchanged a glance, a mixture of fear and determination in their eyes. "We are gonna die," Jae Hyun said quietly.
Rahul nodded but then realized the negative thought of Jae Hyun. "Yes, we ar-...what? No. We are not going to die. We are going to survive."
Jae Hyun replied, "Haven't you seen movies? Each time an apocalypse happens, everyone dies."
After a while, both sat down on the floor, lost in their thoughts. Jae Hyun broke the silence, "Old man, you were the kindest old man I know. It was a good while it lasted."
Rahul looked at Jae Hyun, a bit annoyed and cringing. "Stop talking like it's the last day on Earth. Forget it. I am going to go and bring us something to eat. What do you want for breakfast?" Rahul tried to lighten the mood.
Jae Hyun managed a small smile, "Whatever you make, old man. Just nothing too fancy. My nerves can't handle it."
Rahul stood up, shaking his head. "Alright, something simple then. I'll whip up some eggs and toast. Maybe some tea too."
As Rahul was about to cook, he searched the kitchen refrigerator for eggs but found they were out. "Jae Hyun, we're out of eggs. I'm going out to get some. I'll be right back."
Jae Hyun nodded, "Alright, old man. Be careful."
Rahul grabbed his keys and headed downstairs, the dark sky of the other planet looming above him. He started his scooter and made his way to the market. Meanwhile, Jae Hyun noticed Rahul's wallet left on the counter. "Old man forgot his wallet," he murmured to himself.
With a sigh, Jae Hyun grabbed the wallet, went downstairs to his car, and started the engine. "Can't let him wander around without money," he thought as he drove to the market.
The streets were eerily quiet, with people either glued to their televisions or peering up at the sky, trying to make sense of the planetary phenomenon. As Jae Hyun drove, he couldn't shake the feeling of unease. The sight of Cigarette hanging above them was a constant reminder that their world had changed in an instant.
Rahul arrived at the market, parking his scooter and hurrying inside. The usual hustle and bustle were muted, with customers whispering and casting nervous glances outside. Rahul quickly found the eggs and made his way to the checkout.
As he waited in line, he felt a tap on his shoulder. Turning around, he saw Jae Hyun holding out his wallet. "You forgot this," Jae Hyun said with a small smile.
Rahul chuckled, relieved. "Thanks, Jae. I guess I was a bit too distracted."
They paid for the eggs and stepped outside, the strange sky above them once again capturing their attention. "Let's get back home," Rahul said, mounting his scooter.
As Rahul mounted his scooter, ready to leave, Jae Hyun was about to start the car when he noticed a strange glow in the alleyway behind his vehicle. The market was unusually quiet for the early morning, with the usual hustle and bustle replaced by hushed whispers and nervous glances towards the sky. The parking lot was dimly lit, with a few cars scattered around, their owners likely inside the market, equally bewildered by the new celestial neighbor.
Jae Hyun used his rearview mirror to get a better look and saw shards of glass floating and shimmering in the alleyway next to the parking lot. The alleyway itself was narrow and shadowy, littered with cardboard boxes and discarded crates from the market's deliveries, the faint glow of a streetlamp casting long shadows on the walls.
Jae Hyun got out of his car, his eyes fixed on the bizarre scene. Rahul, noticing his friend's hesitation, called out, "Jae, what's going on? Why do you look so puzzled?"
Jae Hyun pointed towards the alleyway, "Rahul, look over there. Do you see that?"
Rahul turned his head and squinted, trying to make out what Jae Hyun was pointing at. "What are you talking about?" he asked, walking closer to Jae Hyun.
"Look," Jae Hyun insisted, his voice tinged with unease. "In the alleyway. There's something... glowing. Shards of glass or something, just floating in the air."
Rahul finally saw it and his eyes widened. "What the hell...?" he muttered, stepping closer to get a better look.
The alleyway was narrow and dark, but the floating shards emitted an otherworldly glow, casting an eerie light on the walls. The shards seemed to pulse and shift, almost as if they were alive, reflecting the light in a mesmerizing pattern.
"Should we... check it out?" Jae Hyun asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Rahul hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, let's see what's going on. But be careful. This doesn't look natural."
Together, they cautiously approached the alleyway, the glow growing brighter with each step. The usual noises of the market—vendors calling out prices, the hum of conversations—faded into the background as the two men focused on the mysterious phenomenon before them.
"Stay close," Rahul said, his voice steady but low. "We don't know what this is."
As Rahul and Jae Hyun stood transfixed by the floating glass shards, the shimmering fragments began to move with an eerie synchronicity. Slowly, they arranged themselves into a perfect circular formation, each shard connecting seamlessly with the next.
The alleyway, usually a forgotten and grimy passage between buildings, now felt like the threshold to another world. The market's ambient noise faded further into the background, replaced by the strange, melodic hum emanating from the circle.
Weird numerical symbols started to appear within the circle, glowing with an ethereal light. The air around them seemed to crack, a series of tiny fractures spreading out from the formation, as if reality itself was being stretched and torn. Within the circle, the space darkened, forming a liquid-like surface that rippled as though it were made of water.
The dark mirror of water reflected nothing of the alleyway or the two men standing before it. Instead, it seemed to pull in all the light around it, creating a stark contrast against the glowing symbols and shards. The surface of the mirror undulated gently, beckoning and ominous.
The circular formation pulsed with an intense energy, the symbols within it glowing brighter with each beat. The shards, now part of this otherworldly construct, refracted the light in dazzling patterns that danced across the walls of the alleyway. The air was thick with anticipation, as if something monumental was about to transpire.
And then, the entire structure began to emit a low, resonant hum that seemed to vibrate through the very bones of anyone nearby. It was a sound that spoke of ancient power, of forgotten secrets, and of forces beyond human comprehension.
The dark mirror of water continued to ripple, its surface a gateway to the unknown, promising revelations and dangers in equal measure.