News

IS THE WORLD ENDING?

Breaking News Report by The City's Echo

Earthquakes Won't Stop! The Story Behind the Apocalypse

The Earth's wrath shows no signs of relenting. Devastating heartquakes of unprecedented magnitude continue to wreak havoc across the globe, leaving civilization on the brink of collapse.

"These heartquakes are no ordinary tremors. They surely are a direct consequence of the melting polar ice caps, which is a result of climate change. The magnitude of these events is escalating at an alarming rate. Entire cities have crumbled, and we predict even more chaos to come", expert Dr. S. Richter said to our reporters.

Air Unbreathable! Combustion Gas Engulfs Skies

As if heartquakes weren't enough, a sinister byproduct of these environmental convulsions has enveloped our skies – the dreaded combustion gas. Emanating from rampant fires, mainly caused by the dire state of our ozone layer, this toxic miasma has turned the air itself into a silent killer. VENTURING OUTDOORS WITHOUT ADVANCED GAS MASKS IS AN ACT OF RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT.

Bunkers: Humanity's Last Stand?

Amidst this apocalyptic landscape, an emergency plan has been set into motion by our Government. Selected survivors are now finding refuge in pre-existent underground bunkers, which have been readapted to be humanity's last stand against the Earth's fury. These subterranean sanctuaries are equipped with all the needed supplies, and currently are the safest place to be in a world otherwise uninhabitable.

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The criteria and means of selection are reserved and undisclosed. The Government is dedicated to maximizing survival rates. We appreciate your patience in these dire times.

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The room hung heavy with silence as Cove finished reading, his voice shaky, the weight of what he just shared sinking in like a stone.

An almost breathless quiet settled in, each boy lost in thoughts that seemed too big to hold. Finn, usually cool and collected, was visibly on the verge of tears. River squeezed his hand under the table, offering silent support, despite his own pain.

Nima broke the silence. "I really hope my parents are okay", he said with a composed calm, hiding his inner turmoil.

Sage, fidgeting with his sweater sleeve, had that look of disbelief shared by them all, his eyes wide like saucers.

Raven stared off somewhere distant.

Cove's voice wavered, the edge of panic creeping in. "I can't even get my head around this. It's just too much", he admitted, echoing what must've been on everyone's minds.

A few more heavyhearted seconds slipped by, the weight of the news hanging over them like a storm cloud. Then, Nima's voice cut through the silence once more. "One thing is for sure: we must stay calm. We need to do our best to survive and –"

"And then what? What's the point if there's nothing left out there? Are we supposed to hide down here forever?" Cove shouted, his voice quivered with fear and anger.

"No Cove, Nima is right", Sage stated as calmly as he could. "All we can do right now is help eachother and –"

"I DON'T WANT YOUR HELP!" Cove's voice reverberated through the room, his anger and pain radiating like a shockwave. Sage looked at Cove with sorrowful eyes. Cove's tears mixed with his frustration. "I just want things to be normal again! I want my ugly life back!" he shouted, his voice cracking, before storming off to the bedroom, his sobs echoing in his wake.

The room fell into a heavy silence once more.

Finn's voice finally broke the stillness. "I think we need a little time for ourselves", he said. "Everyone needs to stay alone for a bit and process everything. Are you with me?" Everyone agreed. Raven remained expressionless.

With that, Finn nodded politely, got up and moved down the corridor, finding a spot next to what had been previously mistaken for a fireplace.

River headed to the bathroom, his mind a whirlwind of emotions from the chaos of the night before and the shocking news he just learned. He settled by a sink, the fatigue tugging at his eyelids as he slipped into an uneasy doze.

Meanwhile, Sage sought refuge in the locker room. He snagged a seat and draped a towel over himself, using it as both a blanket and a shield, as if trying to ward off the world's weight.

Nima hesitated for a while, then he began to make his way toward the bookshelf.

Raven's voice cut through the air. "Need some help?" He moved closer to Nima.

"No thank you, Raven. Please leave me alone", Nima said firmly. He turned his back, feeling a pang of betrayal that he struggled to define. The incident between Raven and River, whatever it truly was, triggered an unfamiliar hurt.

Raven stood a few moments, observing Nima's frail figure, ready to intervene if needed. With cautious steps, Nima reached the bookshelf, retrieving "White Nights" once again. His eyes scanned the pages, seeking solace between the lines as he battled back the tears in his eyes.

"I'm crashing on the couch, twig. If you need help, wake me up." Raven's emotionless words lingered in the air. He found the couch and succumbed to sleep almost instantly, his facade masking the millions and millions of harrowing emotions he felt deep and sharp in his guts.