Night Owls

Jerry glanced down at the photograph in his hand, then back up again at the woman sitting alone at the back of the cafe.

Her hair was short and dark brown but her face was soft with youth. He could just make out the scar that ran diagonally across her right cheek. She stared straight ahead, as if unaware of Jerry’s presence. He had hoped to find her here today

All at once a blinding light coursed through the space. Jerry and the woman froze. And then a creature appeared, seemingly from the air itself.

The being was enormous; larger than anything they’d ever encountered in this place. A massive red glow surrounded the being as it stared into them. “This world has been made anew. In its stead we will rebuild our empire. We will make this place a paradise.