Audra hadn't even taken her first steps before the BOOM became a regular, daily exercise. An activity that every family dreaded. Today, the door burst open, as it always did, its hinges not even resisting the impact of the invading force.

Screams filled the hallways of the Known, some of the Alliance had taken yet another child. This time only one door down from Audra and her mother's trembling body. They may be next, tomorrow, or the next, or the next. It made no difference.

They were slaves to the illusion of time; the aching loneliness of the thing sent chills down Audra's spine every time she was able to think past the hollow screams every night of orphaned children, childless mothers, and broken families.

Some just cried, some stopped showing all signs of life. They became hollow human beings; they almost ceased to exist. They stopped being fed.

All Audra knew was that it wasn't good. Once you left the Known, you never, ever, came back.

End of Intro