The evening promised to be very pleasant. Alise cleaned up her room and put extra mattresses and blankets in the living room where everyone would sleep. Alise's parents were as helpful as ever - mum made snacks and dad provided an old projector so they could watch a film.
Emma was the first to arrive, as usual with a rucksack larger than necessary.
- I've got crisps, pyjamas, headphones and... a big frog mascot," she announced, pulling a teddy bear out of her rucksack.
- Really? A frog? - Sophie asked amusedly, arriving a moment later. - I thought we were at the stage of horror films, not teddy bears.
- This frog has survived more than all of us put together," Emma replied proudly.
Soon Max, Grace and Lucas arrived. Max brought a pizza as if he were the hero of the evening.
- I come in peace and with cheese," he laughed, handing the pizza to Alise and bowing theatrically.
- And I have chocolate cake," Grace added, surprising everyone. - I may be a nerd, but I'm not heartless.
- A cake from Grace? Okay, this is getting serious," Lucas said, sitting down comfortably on the floor and grabbing a slice of pizza.
Soon everyone was sitting in the living room. Dimmed lights, soft blankets, cups of cocoa and a film playing from the projector created a cosy atmosphere.
- Okay, I have to say it," Max began halfway through the film, "I have a strange feeling that something is going on in town lately. My internet has been acting like someone is deliberately turning it off, and the TV has been turning itself on and off.
- Me too," said Sophie. - Mum says the appliances in the house have been working worse lately.
- Maybe it's the end of the world? - Emma threw in with the drama. - Or aliens?
- Or magnetic interference affecting the appliances," Grace interjected. - Have you read about that? It happens, but rarely.
- Or maybe it's the start of something bigger? - Alise added quietly. She looked out the window, where the sky was unnaturally dark, even though there was no storm in the forecast.
For a moment there was silence, broken only by the sounds of the film.
- But seriously," Lucas said, "it's good to be together again. It's been a long time since we sat together like this, no school, no stress... just us.
- Well, that's true," Alise nodded. - I'm glad you're here.
Emma threw a pillow at Max, who immediately returned the favour, and after a while the whole living room turned into a battleground of pillows and laughter.
By the time the excitement died down, everyone was under the covers. The film ended, the conversations became quieter and more dreamy, and eventually everyone fell asleep.
The morning was lazy and calm. Soft light streamed through the living room windows, illuminating the scattered blankets, empty cocoa cups and tattered pillows.
Alise stretched and looked at her watch.
- Nine o'clock. It's still early for us," she muttered, yawning.
Max was already at the table, munching on leftover pizza.
- Breakfast of champions," he announced with a smile, pointing to the box. - Anyone want some cold cheese out of the carton?
- Oh, blee," Sophie croaked. - Even I have my limits.
Emma rose from the blanket, dishevelled but satisfied.
- I dreamt that we were flying... all of us. And not in a plane, but just like that... by ourselves. Maybe it's a sign?
- Maybe a sign that you should eat less chocolate before bed," Grace chuckled and sat down next to her.
Lucas looked out of the window.
- Hey... do you see that sky? It's kind of... strangely grey. Like it's about to pour, but there are no clouds.
Alise walked over to the window, her eyebrows furrowed.
- Indeed. It is somehow... unnatural.
At that moment, everything trembled.
Softly, for a second, but enough to make everyone freeze.
- Is it...? - Max began, but he had no time to finish.
The floor shook again, this time more violently. The cups fell from the table with a crash, the panes of glass in the windows shook, and a shelf in the corner of the room toppled over.
- EARTHQUAKE! - Sophie screamed, catching herself on the couch.
- That's impossible! There are no earthquakes this strong in this part of the country! - shouted Grace, ducking under the table.
Alise fell to her knees and clung to the chair. Her heart pounded like a hammer.
- What is happening? - she cried, looking at Emma, who was as pale as a sheet of paper.
The shaking lasted a few seconds, but it felt like an eternity. Everything rumbled and shook. For a moment, the world was chaos.
Everyone stood or knelt in silence, breathing heavily.
Emma was the first to break the silence:
- Tell me if this is really happening...
Alise looked at her and then at the things scattered around the room - As you can see, yes," she said quietly.
At the same moment, the whole area fell into an unnatural silence. No birds, no sounds of the city, as if the world had forgotten for a moment that it should sound.
Lucas moved closer to the window.
- Okay... this is seriously wrong.
They all moved closer and looked up.
The sky was slowly changing colour. It went from light grey to deep purple. But it was not the usual colour of a sunset - it was something... alien. The purple seemed to pulsate, as if it were alive. As if the sky itself was beginning to breathe.
- I feel like I'm in a dream," Sophie whispered.
- Or a nightmare," Emma added, squeezing Alise's hand.
Max, who usually made silly jokes, was silent this time.
- Something's coming," Alise said, frightened.