Michael's POV

It's the year 4098. The earth isn't as green as it was in history books and paintings. No one is quite sure what happened, but exactly 2,082 years ago, the world turned for the worst.

Pollution went out of control, the economy dropped and the world went into its second depression. Except this time, there's no getting out of this one. Everyone wants the earth green again, but no one wants to do anything about it.

I've dreamt of the green earth. I wish nothing more but to see it. Just once.

Oh, there's another major change. Humans are no longer alone. From what I hear, about 1,800 years ago, a space ship hovered over New York, the city I'm in now. It gave no attempts to communicate with us. They just sent down there mutants.

They stole from us and occupied most of the homes. I live in a upside dumpster in a ditch. I was chased out of my home by mutants.

Those lowlifes aren't what I'm worried about. There's a mutant in my area that is very evil. I've never seen him, personally. I only heard stories about him. His name is Shadow, Shadow the Hedgehog.

He has super speed and super strength. He's 6 feet tall and has black and red hair. It's spiky. He sounds...sexy. But scary. He'll probably kill me.

I'm sitting on top of my home. It rained a few hours ago and the ditch is still a bit flooded. Probably ankle deep. As I sit alone, I start to feel this sense of dread and danger. I look up and freeze. At the top of the ditch, looking down at me are two mutants. They both have mustaches. One is dressed in blue overalls with a red shirt and a red hat with a M on it. The other is dressed in darker blue overalls with a green shirt and a green hat with a L on it. They're smiling evily. I know they're gonna try and take something of mine.

I slowly and carefully reach for my pocket knife in my pocket. I sharpen it for moments like this. I've never killed anyone, only cut.

I show them the knife and stand up. They don't seem fazed by it. They smirk and one of them pulls out a machete! Oh shit...

My eyes widen from fear. They laugh and charge their way down into the ditch. I jump off the dumpster, landing in the ankle deep water. I begin to run away from them. They're fast. They look slow, but damn they're fast.

I frantically climb out of the ditch and make my way to the highschool. It's the only place mutants aren't allowed to attack. It's the one thing everyone could agree on. Despite everything that happened to our world, the school system is still intact.

I turn down a street and see the school. I just have to make it there. Then I'll be safe.

I run as fast as I can, but I hear them gaining on me. My heart is racing. I'm not gonna make it. I feel something grab my ankle and pull. I hit the ground hard and roll. I feel something pierce my stomach. I stop on my back.

M and L are smirking. My stomach is killing me. I look down and gasp. My own knife is impaled in my stomach. It hurts like hell. This is where I die! I've survived for 19 years and this is where I die.

There's so much blood on my hands and stomach. I'm starting to feel lightheaded. My vision begins to blur. M and L are standing over me. M has the machete in the air, ready to swing at me.

I close my eyes and wait for the impact....

But it never came. Instead, I hear them screaming and running away. I open my eyes as someone picks me up. I groan in pain. My vision is blurry. They shush me and begin to walk somewhere. I ask,

"Where are you taking me?"

They don't answer. Whoever it is is very warm, like they're wearing a fur jacket. They have a nice firm grip on me. I can feel their muscles. I ask again,

"Where are you taking me?"

He says, in a voice that sends chills down my back,

"Someplace safe. "

I don't ask anymore questions. His voice frightens me. The more I try to focus my vision, the weaker I feel. Soon, the blood lost makes me pass out.

Shadow's POV

I saw Mario and Luigi chasing some teenager. He looked so frighten. The fear in his eyes made me feel bad, so I decided to interfere.

The teen stabbed his own self. I shake my head. As I carry him to my home, I notice his gentle features. He's very handsome.

I shake my head again and focus on where I'm going.

Once I make it home, I stay in a mansion I stole from some couple, I take the teen to Dr. Wily. He's been my personal doctor since I was born. He's my only friend.

I know Dr. Wily will be able to fix this kid.

I walk into Dr. Wily's office and set the teen on the operating table. Dr. Wily looks at the teen and shakes his head.

"I will not operate on him! He's a filthy human! "

I clench my jaw and say, "I don't care what he is! He's losing blood and I want him to survive! We have the technology to save him, so, " I grab Dr. Wily by his collar and pull him close, "save him! "

He nods, fear in his eyes. I leave the room and go to my room. I don't like causing fear, but it's my only way to survive and the only way they listen to me. I sit down in my comfy chair and sigh. I hope the kid is ok.