Ash rained like snow.
Jaden breath hitched as he crouched behind the crumbling remains of a bus stop, the twisted metal groaning above him. Smoke painted the air thick with the scent of burning rubber and melted steel. The world had ended no, it had glitched in less than a day, and the sky hadn't stopped screaming since.
Something massive cracked overhead.
He looked up just in time to see the clouds part in a spiral of golden light. A figure plummeted from the heavens like a meteor, wings outstretched, body glowing. The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the air, toppling a nearby streetlamp.
Jaden scrambled to his feet. "What the hell"
A cough rose from the crater.
And then, slowly, the figure stood. Golden white feathers shimmered in the haze as the angel dusted off his dark hoodie. Despite the divine entrance, his hair was tousled like he'd just rolled out of bed. His halo? Crooked. His hoodie? Had a cartoon cat face and the words "I bring chaos and snacks" printed across the chest.
The angel raised two fingers in a peace sign. "Sup."
Jaden stared. "Are you seriously making a meme entrance?"
The angel gave him a lopsided grin. "Life's short. Apocalypse makes it shorter. May as well go viral on the way out."
Jaden opened his mouth to say something, anything but a monstrous howl ripped through the air behind them. The shadows to the east twisted unnaturally, resembling into something vaguely humanoid with far too many limbs.
"...What is that?" Jaden whispered.
"Problem," the angel replied cheerfully. "And also our cue to leave."
He grabbed Jaden's wrist and pulled him into a sprint without waiting for consent.
They ran. Broken glass cracked beneath their boots. Street signs buzzed and flickered, caught mid-glitch between "Main Street" and "404 NOT FOUND." The monster followed, its shrieks cutting through the ruined skyline.
Jaden gasped, "Who are you?!"
"Silas," the angel answered, dragging him down an alley. "Former heavenly bureaucrat, current sponsor of cute mortals, sometimes sleep-deprived disaster. And you are?"
"Jaden!!!!!"
"Nice to meet you, Jaden! Try not to die. I have plans for you."
A wall crumbled ahead. Silas yanked him sideways into the hollowed-out husk of a convenience store. Shelves lay shattered, and a vending machine sparked near the door. They ducked behind the counter.
The monster paused outside, sniffing the air. Jaden held his breath, heart hammering like it wanted out of his chest.
Silas leaned in. "You good?"
"I'm shaking. What do you think?"
"I think you're doing great. Very protagonist vibes. If this were a movie, this would be your trauma montage."
Jaden groaned and slid down the wall. "You're the worst angel I've ever seen."
Silas beamed. "Thank you."
Outside, the creature shrieked and tore away into the fog. Silence fell.
After a long moment, Jaden whispered, "...Is it gone?"
"For now." Silas sat beside him, stretching out his legs with a dramatic sigh. "Fun first day, huh?"
Jaden gave him a look. "This isn't a game."
Silas turned serious. Just for a second. "No. But you'll survive it. With help."
The lights above them flickered. Jaden noticed that Silas's hoodie had tiny claw marks near the hem, and some of his feathers were scorched at the tips.
"You're hurt."
"I'm always hurt. Occupational hazard."
"You said... you have plans for me?"
Silas smiled again, softer this time. "You're sponsored now, Jaden. My responsibility. Which means I get to keep you alive... and occasionally annoy the hell out of you."
Jaden blinked. "Sponsored?"
A translucent screen blinked into existence in front of him.
> [SYSTEM LINK ESTABLISHED]
Welcome, Jaden. You have been Sponsored by: Silas – Tier 2 Celestial
Blessing Acquired: Angel's Grace (Dormant)
Objective: Survive. Grow. Choose.
He stared at it. "I didn't agree to anything."
"Too late," Silas said brightly. "You made eye contact. That's legally binding in post-apocalyptic divine law."
"Seriously?!"
"Joking! Mostly. But hey you're cute when you're angry."
Jaden flushed. "Why me?"
The angel tilted his head, eyes thoughtful. "Because you didn't give up. Even when the world cracked open and monsters poured out, you ran toward someone else's scream. You didn't hesitate."
"That was instinct. Not bravery."
"Same thing, really."
A long silence passed.
"Is everyone else gone?" Jaden asked quietly.
Silas's wings drooped a little. "A lot are gone. Some... changed. This world's rules are rewriting themselves faster than mortals can adapt."
"You could've picked someone stronger."
Silas looked at him, eyes glowing faintly gold. "Strength isn't always about power. It's about choosing to keep moving, even when you're terrified. And you? You've got that."
Jaden felt his throat tighten. "You don't even know me."
Silas smiled again, slower this time. "Not yet."
A crash above startled them both just a bird, flapping past the cracked ceiling.
They sat together under the dim light of a flickering emergency lamp. Jaden hugged his knees. Silas pulled his wings in, warming the space between them.
"Hey," Silas said gently. "It's okay to fall apart. Just not all at once, yeah?"
Jaden didn't answer. He just closed his eyes for a moment.
After a while, Silas added, "Wanna hear a cat meme?"
Jaden cracked one eye open. "Seriously?"
Silas nodded. "What do you call a cat in the apocalypse?"
"I don't—"
"A meowtal survivor."
"…God help me."
"That's my department."