Sanctuary

My apartment was my sanctuary. I loved it's old nicotine stained walls. I loved hearing the neighbors through the walls. I loved my little window. The only glimpse of the city outside I get from within. The air was crisp that October night. The smell of take out filled the room. It sat still hot on the small coffee table, waiting for me to eat it. It was the perfect night and I wanted nothing more than to spend it under my electric blanket watching old movies. I had just found the perfect one. A scary one I used to watch with my father when I was younger. I fumbled around with the DVD player and got to the main menu. I was ready to watch this and be scared out of my skin. But darkness interrupted me. The power went out and the room went black. I felt my way to the window to see outside if anyone else was having the same problem. Sure enough, all of San Francisco was dark. People everywhere came out of their homes and filled the streets. I heard them speaking to each other. Some quiet. Others loud. Their attention turned to the bay, as did mine. A glowing blue light shone from beneath the surface. It appeared to be getting closer. I turned my attention for one moment only to be drawn back by screaming. Something was coming out of the bay. Some kind of monster. It stood above everything like some giant terrible lizard. It had a ghastly blue aura emanating from its back. It opened its mouth and let out a thunderous roar. The noise is indescribable. Almost like someone took a coarse leather glove and rubbed it along a cello. Its mouth began to glow as its back did. A blue stream shot forth striking the ground ahead and sending everything up in flames. By now everyone was running. The beast began to move. It moved in the direction of my home. My sanctuary. I, too, ran. I ran down the stairs illuminated only by the emergency lights. I ran out the door and pushed through the crowd to get as far away as my feet could take me which wasn't very far. I ran though. Ran and ran and ran. I was out of breath and slowing down. I came to a stop when I was a car with the keys still in the ignition. It seemed to be in okay shape. I got in and continued away. I tried not to hit anyone but it was hard. They filled the streets. Finally the monster turned and went another direction. Soon it was just a distant roar. The ground beneath had stopped trembling. I figured I would turn back and inspect the damage. Fire was all that was left of my home. My building was surprisingly in okay shape. I drove through and looked at the loss. People without homes. People without limbs. Children who lost their parents and likewise parents who lost their children. But something turned everyone's tears. Something caused everyone to look towards the sky. A brilliant light sparkled through the clouds. It almost looked like god himself was coming down to save us. God wasn't what flew down from those clouds. Some monstrosity peaked its head through. then a second head. Followed by a third. A golden dragon flew down screeching as it descended onto the city. Its heads spewing lightning that seemed to lift the gravity of everything they touched. It called out. The cry was met with another. The roar of the first monster. It came charging from the distance, shaking the earth beneath it. Shattering the ground with every step. The two clashed and began a tumble towards my location. I tried to run but wasn't fast enough. Before I knew it the building I once called home was on top of me. And here I am now. Back in my apartment. In my sanctuary. The oxygen is diminishing in here. I can't breathe too well now. Slowly I'm suffocating as those titans fight above me. I can hear them. I can feel their destruction. All I want now is oxygen. That's all I need now. Oxygen.