Dawn arrived slowly afterward above San Diego while pale silver light crawled weakly through ruined clouds and exhausted wind carried ash endlessly across silent broken streets beneath the dying crimson symbol fading gradually from the heavens.
The city looked wounded now.
Burned police cars.
Shattered storefronts afterward beneath abandoned intersections and terrified silence replacing the usual restless heartbeat of downtown life.
People no longer walked confidently anymore afterward.
They hurried.
Locked doors quickly.
Avoided eye contact beneath growing paranoia and endless viral footage spreading violently across every screen and news station in America.
The girl with glowing red eyes.
The monster at Blackwood Hall.
The bleeding sky afterward beneath fear and conspiracy and human panic swallowing San Diego whole.
