To the end of the World.

"It's strange" , said Nox, "I didn't imagine the end of the world to be like that".

"What now?" replied Octave, "When did you imagine the world's end?"

"When I was little. I always dreamed about that, not you?"

The young man frowned. "I dreamed about glorious adventures and animals. What's with you? Were all your dreams this strange?"

The lady brought her knees to her chest lazily. "Those weren't strange dreams, just... dreams about the end of all. Maybe I was an anxious child. Nonetheless, today, my dreams seem to have become a reality."

"Didn't you say that the end of the world back in your dreams didn't resemble what is happening now?"

She rolled her eyes. "Is it really the time to be picky on words?"

"Always, nothing can prevent me from being accurate."

"What a strange motto."

Without another word, the young man came to sit next to his comrade. In front of them, red sand and brown dust were flying everywhere in sight. Mountains were collapsing, becoming canyons. In the distance, titanic machines were brought face to face with each other. Iron giants without mercy nor sense of what was wrong or right. The atmosphere was tense. Their din echoed, drowning the sounds of nature.

Nox closed her eyes, only comforted by her comrade's presence. "Say, Octave... Do you think the others are safe?"

" I don't know... Can anyone be safe when the world is about to end?"

She reopened her eyes and looked at him. "Do you really think that the world is about to end?"

"Isn't it what you said to me earlier?"

"Well, Maybe I was wrong."

He chuckled nervously. "It's a bit late to be wrong now. Don't you think?" Staring at the menacing gears, he continued, "Maybe we'll die, or maybe the war will not be enough to kill people like us. Either way, there will be a before, and there will be an after. Our world will die today."

She sighed. "I didn't imagine the world's end to be like that."

"You already said that."

She ignored him, "In my dreams, the world came to an end because it had changed too much. People were not thinking in the same way as before, and life evolved too fast. So there was an interruption, a fracture. Impossible to dodge but, with the fracture, that wasn't the end of all. After the end, there was the beginning, a new beginning. Could there be a new beginning after this end?"

He wiped his eyes, "If there is life, there is hope."

"Well... I hope you're right."

In silence, they observed what was taking place between the collapsing mountains.

"Look, Nox, their lights are flashing."

Both of them stood up in a hurry. In the distance, blue and green lights, similar to sapphire and emerald, were flashing. The iron giants were facing each other. Even at this distance, they seemed titanic. An army of iron blue. An army of iron green. Nox moved closer to the motorcycle and started up the engine. Octave stood there, nervous, but without any will to move.

She approached him again and calmly tapped his shoulder. "We should get moving."

"I want to see it. Are you not curious? What does the war look like? It is said that a rain of fire and lights will bombard the ground. Nothing but dust, sand, and screeching sounds will be seen or heard even after the rain. And, when it stops, the iron giants will disappear, and with them landscapes, and cities. People. Everything."

"You take the risk of dying."

"Do I want to survive the gigantic carnage that's about to happen?"

"Don't die yet, there are people waiting for you."

He smiled faintly, "We don't know if they are still alive. We are not sure if we will survive the impact, the rain of fire. Is it worth resisting?"

She gently but firmly nodded, "It is. Come with me. The world's end isn't worth the watch but our hope is. She is waiting for you, Octave."

He hesitated, captivated by the flashing lights. They were getting faster and faster. Shrilling sounds echoed in the canyons. He grunted and, reluctantly, hopped on the motorcycle.

"Damn, I would not fight if that weren't for you and her".

She smiled, "I know."

The motorcycle sped up, kicking up dust in its path. Its engine was roaring. In the background, rays of light started to rain.