When everything had started they were both young, Charlie and Kleoff. They were in their car with their parents, their mother was a housewife and their dad was a cop.

  They were going on an out of town trip to celebrate his dad's promotion. Charlie was around fourteen then and Kleoff, his younger brother was around eight.

  The engine hummed as they moved through the empty road. It was late at night but neither of the kids really did mind. The sky was filled with stars almost as if watching them.

  Charlie enjoyed times like this; they usually don't go out that much because their dad was busy. He understands it though, he knew that he do his job to protect innocent people and he loved his dad for it.

  He always told him that he admires him but dad would always reply by saying that having a job like he does wasn’t that straight forward. Sometimes he would have to make difficult decisions that he wasn’t proud of.

  This of course confused Charlie, he didn't understand what his father meant by that, he was too young to do so.

  Eventually he did, and much sooner that he would have liked.

  He yawned as he stared at the stars, he should be asleep by know. he looked beside his younger brother who was fast asleep at the back seat. Their mother was in the passenger seat, talking about something with their dad.

  He wanted to sleep but he was too excited to do so, their parents hadn't told them where they were going and he was eager to be awake when they arrived.

  The road practically looked the same to young Charlie, there wasn't any traffic and most of the time there were only grassy plains and trees. Not many buildings or other cars. He thought that they might be going hiking, or maybe at a beach. He really wasn’t sure which one but either way would be fun he decided.

  The car moved at a constant speed, fast due to the empty road but not too fast that it might be dangerous. Suddenly their dad stopped the car and parked it by the side of the road, saying that he would have to pee. That left the mother and the two boys in the car.

  While still at the back seat admiring the night sky, Charlie saw something unusual. Something almost special, a wishing star making its way towards the earth.

  What Charlie found more amazing was that it was green. He immediately told her mom about it, her mom was equally surprised.

  She urged the boy to get out of the car to see it more clearly and they did, the mother took out her phone to take a video of the spectacular phenomenon.

  A single wishing star turned two, then three until it almost finally painted the entire night sky green.

  Charlie wished his brother could watch it, he wanted to wake him up but his mom told him he should let his younger brother rest and that she would show the video to Kleoff when he woke up.

  Charlie’s dad joined them, getting out of the tall bushed he joins his wife and son to admire the once in a lifetime view.

  Suddenly, leaves rustled and the ground shook as a strong gust of wind blew past them.

  Nothing happened at first, then Charlie noticed his father clutching his chest, his mother went on to check for him but her mother experienced the same thing.

  Both of his parents had fallen into their knees, Charlie was watching, frozen in place as something he couldn't understand was happening in front of him.

  He heard a crack, like something fragile had broken. The body of his parents changed, muscle seemed to tear and grow, each one expanding and as it did their skin changed. It turned pale and crusted grey crawling through their entire body.

  Nails grew into claws and green spikes protruded all over their bodies.

  Charlie was shaking in fear as he took a step back, no longer sure of what it was in front of him.

  He heard a crack again as the creature’s in front of him noticed his existence. The one that was supposed to be her mother turned its head slowly, revealing a green spike coming straight from its forehead, its eyes green eyes stared at him for a moment before growling at him. That’s when the creature who used to be his dad turned around as well, his face was slightly deformed, as if half of his face had melted.

  Charlie noticed it also had green eyes.

  Before neither of the creatures could even attack him he ran into the car, the creatures were watching him and neither seemed to be in a rush. Being overwhelmed by fear Charlie fumbled and was not able to open that back seat, he tried the passenger seat and it opened. That’s when he heard the rapid footsteps that were coming behind him. He tried to not look back as he opened the door and closed it behind him.

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  When he did he saw both of the creatures ram themselves into the car which made it shake and almost flip it over. The creatures hit the car, tackled it but it somehow managed to survive.

  Kleoff awoke in the confusion, he looked at the creatures outside and took his brother. The younger brother cried and covered his ear, he hoped that it was a dream, that it wasn’t real.

  Charlie hoped too, but he knew that it wasn't the case. The car was their father, he remembered him bragging that it was bullet proof and that it was very durable.

  However the rate of which the creatures outside attacked made it seem like that wasn't the case at all. The car wouldn't last any longer, even the young Charlie knew that. He wanted to have someone tell him what to do, he was confused.

  He was scared.

  His hand was shaking, he thought of trying to drive the car, but the constant attack of the creatures made him unable to move in fear.

  Suddenly the boy heard a sharp crack, at the glass the sharp claws of one of the creatures managed to pierce the bullet proof glass.

  The boy knew he had to do something, he could no longer wait.

  He pulled a compartment at the car and took a pistol from it, it was a revolver that his dad had. It wasn’t the standard gun for their duty but his dad told him it had some sort of vibe in it.

  His hand was shaking as he gripped its handle, he raised and aimed it at the creature. His aim sways sideways not being used to the weight of the weapon.

  He didn’t fire, his finger was on its trigger but he didn't dare pull it. The creature pulled its claws and took almost the entire glass with it. The monster growled as it tried to enter through the small gap, Kleoff was crying by the back of the car.

  There were so many things that were happening, Charlie closed his eyes and fired the gun. A wave of pain went past his arms as he felt the recoil of the gun.

  The boy then opened one of his eyes and saw the creature had been hit right through its skull.

  The other one, the one that once was his mother, stared outside the car, tilting its head and finally deciding to move away from the boy and the car.

  Charlie sighed, he tried to push the dead creature away from the car’s window when it suddenly flinched.

  He moved away from it, afraid that it was still alive. After some time that it hadn't moved he finally managed to push the creature outside the car.

  Kleoff removed the cover of his ears and opened his eyes He looked at his older brother with teary eyes, visibly confused about what was happening.

  “W-where’s mom and dad?” the young boy asked, his voice quivering.

  Charlie didn’t know how to answer, what was he supposed to say?

  That he killed their dad? That the creature beside the car was their dad and that he shot him?

  He was confused, he didn’t know where to go, he wanted to assure his little brother that everything would be alright, but he couldn’t even convince himself.

  His hands were still visibly shaking from the weight of the gun.

  He killed his own father Charlie thought hopelessly.

  The man he admired growing up, but he didn’t have a choice. He and Kleoff were in danger and that creature didn't feel like their dad at all, He thought trying to ease the guilt on his shoulder.

  After a long time of staring at the pistol, He threw it to the passenger seat and noticed a tear dripping from the side of his face. He wiped it and covered his eyes, afraid that Kleoff might notice.

  He had to be strong, he thought to himself as he checked around the car to see if their dad had left his keys and he did.

  Charlie was too young to drive, or even to learn how to but he didn’t have a choice, he had a feeling that had to leave and find a safer place.

  Not realizing that there was barely any safe place then.

  He awkwardly inserted the key into the car and pressed start. He tightly gripped the steering wheel with his slightly bloodied hand and pressed the gas.

  …

  At the Cabin, still sitting at his chair behind the table Charlie stared at his hand, only that now it wasn’t bloodied but had the same patch of grey skin that his father had. He couldn’t remember when he first saw it but ever since Adam saw it the patch continued to grow larger, not fast but rather consistent.

  He stared at it as if waiting for something unavoidable, something he could not escape.

  Suddenly the door swung opened, revealing Kleoff behind it. Surprised, Charlie hid his hand under the table before he finally spoke.

  “Would it hurt to knock?”

  Kleoff shrugged before replying.

  “They were looking for you”

  “I’ll follow you, give a few minutes”

  Kleoff nodded and closed the door behind him.

  Charlie took one last look at his hand before covering it up with his gloves. He took his hat at the table and wore it as he left the cabin.

  Adam, Kate and Althea were rounded in front of a massive fire pit with the rest of the residents near one side of the village’s walls. Some of them apparently knew them already from the brother’s story, despite this most of them still give them weary glances. Adam assumed it was because they told them about the favor they asked for from the brothers. Truth was, if he had a choice he would never have made their way here. The fact that both Charlie and Kleoff decided to help were already risking their safety and probably the village’s as well.

  What could Adam even do? Trying to get to the island with only three of them alone would be impossible and even with the brothers their chances of being able to reclaim the island with its residents remain slim, but it’s their only shot.

  After some time, Adam heard foots steps approaching their direction, He realized that it was Kleoff with Charlie closely following him from behind.

  Kleoff sat beside Adam and Charlie stood beside them, tipping his hat to the group.

  “So, when do we leave?” Charlie asked.

  “The sooner the better based on what they told us they probably took some damages as well and striking back immediately would be best” Kleoff suggested.

  “But charging recklessly would not work, by now there probably was a huge number of greys all over the island not to mention the massive winged grey, If I were to guess that was still alive.” Kate pointed out.

  Just as she finished her statement Adam heard something hitting the wall beside them, making him stand swiftly.

  He looked around and it was the same for Kate and Althea. The only ones that did not seem as flustered by the sudden noise were the brothers and the residents.

  Suddenly the thumping grew stronger.

  Until a figure revealed itself crawling at the top of the wall. Grey skin and greens spike all over its body.

  Hunched and awfully deformed body almost as if its joints failed to align properly. The monster twisted its head and

  revealed its green eyes as it screeched at what it thought was its prey.