~There is always a depressing time in each century. The 21st century thus far has seemed promising. But in the year 2020, a very successful scientific discovery went wrong.~

The company of Thema had finally equipped space shuttles with the equipment to repair our ozone layer. There had been numerous attempts by various companies to save our planet. For the hole had somehow grown, despite our efforts of preventage. Thema was a newer, more confident company with their ambitions in mind. The U.S. government decided on letting them become an official member of the Scientific World Saviors Program(SWSP). Their ideas gave hope to the world and their propaganda even more so.

Thema sent 10 people on two shuttles up into the atmosphere. Me and my friend, Divin (da-vin), were two of those 10. A chemical called Nuro-Acid was to be released to seal the hole. Everyone was buzzing with excitement at how it would change our future generations' disastrous fate. My shuttel was the first to arrive at the deformity. As we were coming close to our time of the acids' release, the crew celebrated with a toast to world safety.

Divin was the one to open the containment area to set free the Nuro-Acid. He was most excited. As the other shuttle arrived, a countdown began. Finally, we reached "1" and the acid was released. As we watched the black liquids decent, we cheered. It spread itself over the area of the hole.

But when we thought it was done spreading, it continued. And it began to emnate a faint black glow. As we floated in our shuttles and watched idly, the shuttles' lights began to grow black. A small, gray mist surrounded us and I could feel my body burning. People around myself were screeching in pain.

Our shuttle started dashing back down to Earth and, momentarily, the fog lifted. Everyone looked at eachother in horror. Each of us had pale white skin and black hair. I noticed-when a few of them were talking-fangs. There were only 7 of us visible. Lina was crouching over her husband, Cullen, on the floor. He was gasping for air as black, bird-like wings pertruded from his back.

Everyone paniced, but I stayed calm and examined the room to figure out who was missing. It was Divin. I became horrified and started searching for him. I discovered him in one of the sleeping cabins on a bed. I reached him as he screamed in agony. His body learched upward in an arch. I hugged his body and pushed it against the bed. Black fur began to replace his skin and gray, bat-like wings flew out from underneath him. His last words were: "We can't tell anyone...."



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



We went back to Earth as if nothing happened and claimed that the experiment was a success. Among ourselves, we became the survivors. For the other shuttle had somehow got lost in space. Me and Divin eventually moved in together in an apartment. And the others moved in around us. We all quit our Thema positions and held a low profile.

What we became were just a group of shape-shifting, dark creatures. And what the world became....well.....What the world knows is darkness. The sky is forever black and the weather is always cold and wet. Animals have succumbed to the darkness and become demonic. People have had to live in succlusion and mask the darkness with the theory of a permanent lunar eclipse. Somehow the human race has remained for over a year now.

My kind-called the Black Acidics (B.A.) -has adapted well. For we have become stronger and more immune. The B.A.s can also transform to match our environment. Our diet now only consists of blood. Through our mutation, our genetic and physical make-up had changed. Thus causing the growth of wings, fangs, and a thirst for blood. We don't consider ourselves vampires, though. We extend our species through biting and sparing those bitten.

This time of century had come to be known as A.D. or the Age of Darkness. We're not sure how to fix this problem...Then again, WE don't see it as a problem, but only as the beginning of a new life.