Your once tight-knit neighborhood had fallen into shambles before you could blink. Hollow Grove, now silent and barren.

What happened? You could have sworn you were just about to take a nap…but then…you woke up again. And your parents weren’t responding to you. They seemed like shells of their former selves, like robots.

[~<3~]

Just as you were about to think over the situation, the front door of your house was broken open. Large men in strange uniform-like robes, examining your parents and your house. Weaseling past them, you managed to make it to your bedroom while they were checking your mom.

Scrambling to gather your things into a backpack, you unlocked your bedroom window and jumped out, just before hearing one of the men speak.

(Man:) “Where’s the kid? I know he said it’d work better on those with fully developed minds, but it still should have processed correctly…mm. We should come back.”

With that, you knew it would no longer be safe to return home. Whoever these men were, they could hurt you. They could turn you into whatever had happened to your parents.

[~<3~]

Leaving the home behind and running in the alleyways behind your house, you pause when you see a backpack-wearing figure in front of you. A neighbor that lives a few houses down from you. He was your age and went to your school, but the two of you rarely spoke.

Hunter had his head turned towards you, and took a step closer to you warily. His brown dog, Penny, was practically glued to his leg.

“..whuh- you’re..”