Fallen Halos

During a long and friendly debate I had with my friends over mankind's obsession with angels and religious & non-religious scriptures depicting them as saviors, I got deeply involved in the discussion on what if angels are not what we expect them to be? And this story that I wrote came to me as an afterthought to that debate.

• Fantasy

								
In the heart of California lies a bustling port city, once a beacon of hope for countless species, including humans, now a sprawling metropolis known as Los Angeles. Amid its vibrant streets and rich history, there resides a man named Muhammed Bahadra. Unassuming and unremarkable at first glance, Muhammed traverses the city's perilous alleys, evading the lurking dangers of muggers, gangs, and opportunistic kidnappers. Having called this city home for thirteen years, Muhammed has become intimately familiar with its dual nature—its glamourous facade versus its gritty underbelly. 
His routine, once stable as a Chipotle drive-through server, has been disrupted by the ruthless tide of corporate innovation. A new concept from Burger King swept through, relegating Chipotle to obscurity and leaving Muhammed unemployed. Frustrated and disillusioned with Los Angeles, Muhammed retreats to his sanctuary at Linear Apartments, room A9 in Unit 2920. 
On a night like any other, Muhammed finds solace in mindlessly scrolling through Instagram, lamenting the loss of his job and the uncertainty of his future. His thoughts drift to his friend Rocco, whose culinary exploits now grace social media feeds. As midnight nears, a startling dream jolts Muhammed awake—a cacophony of notifications rousing him from a restless slumber. The stark reality sets in with a voicemail bearing tragic news: Rocco, his steadfast friend, has fallen victim to senseless violence just outside Muhammed's apartment complex. 
Overwhelmed by grief and disbelief, Muhammed's anguish spills over into destructive frenzy. He ravages his belongings, venting his sorrow through shattered glass and broken possessions. Amidst the chaos, a surreal phenomenon interrupts Muhammed's torment— an otherworldly spectacle unfolding outside his shattered window. 
Radiant wings and an ethereal glow descend upon the city, accompanied by a commanding voice proclaiming divine purpose. Muhammed, along with the incredulous onlookers, witnesses the arrival of beings claiming to be angels, sent to safeguard the city against all threats. Skepticism mingles with awe as phones levitate and vanish, their captivated owners stunned into silence. 
Despite the fantastical display, Muhammed retreats to his room, dismissing the surreal encounter as fatigue-induced hallucinations. His room inexplicably restored to order, he resigns himself to sleep, convinced it was all a vivid dream. 
Morning breaks on a world that seems unchanged, except for Muhammed's persistent unease. The previous night's events linger like a spectral echo, haunting him as he navigates the city's indifferent streets. Repeated job rejections compound his frustration, each failed attempt chipping away at his already fragile resolve. 
A chance encounter at a local Taco Bell introduces Muhammed to a transformed Lamar, a former gang member seeking redemption through honest work. Their brief exchange leaves Muhammed unsettled, as if reality itself is beginning to fray at the edges. 
Disturbed by his growing sense of isolation, Muhammed's desperation intensifies, culminating in a surreal confrontation where he realizes no one acknowledges his presence. Confusion mounts as the very fabric of reality seems to warp around him—a crack in the pavement revealing a mysterious temple-like structure beneath, beckoning with ancient symbols and cryptic warnings. 
Within the temple's depths, Muhammed unlocks a chilling revelation: an ominous prophecy foretelling the arrival of sentient beings and the impending peril they bring. The lines between dreams and reality blur, confirming Rocco's tragic fate and the ominous portent of the angels' arrival. 
Fearing the angels' true intentions, Muhammed confronts them as they hover over the city, demanding answers. His suspicions grow as one of the angels, devoid of its halo, abruptly attacks him, inflicting inexplicable pain and rendering him unconscious. 
Awakening as if from a nightmare, Muhammed finds himself back in his apartment, shaken but determined to escape the encroaching darkness. He resolves to leave Los Angeles, but his path out of the city is obstructed by a supernatural force—his car disintegrating upon departure, leaving him unscathed but trapped. 
Facing the angels once more, Muhammed witnesses their descent into malevolence, their once-benevolent visages marred by missing halos and tattered wings. Their wrath unleashed, they lay waste to the city, impervious to humanity's futile resistance. Los Angeles crumbles before their unfathomable power, leaving nothing but desolation in their wake. 
As the dust settles, Muhammed's last moments are marked by a chilling realization—his city, and possibly the world, has fallen prey to beings beyond comprehension. The angels' true nature remains an enigma, their origin and purpose lost to the ruins of a once-great metropolis. 
In the aftermath, theories abound about the angels—were they illusions, government experiments, or divine messengers? Muhammed's story, like so many others, ends in uncertainty, leaving only haunting echoes of a city consumed by angelic chaos and human folly. 
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