The storm raged outside the cave where the three friends lay unconscious. Enemies gathered, but could not enter. They were kept at bay by a mysterious force. They could not enter the tunnel. Lightning flashed, thunder roared, and the torrential rain pummeled the dark landscape.
Some time in the middle of the night, an explosion rocked the island. Almost as if it were a cue, the storm subsided, the dark creatures retreated and silence fell over the dark land. Not a sound could be heard, save for the wind blowing over the empty city.
Inside the cave, three friends lay unconscious, oblivious to the world around them. Between them lay what once was a cube, but now had opened like a blooming flower of machinery, exposing a softly glowing red light within.
Somewhere else entirely, a planet orbits its sun, its rotation matching its orbit, always keeping the same face toward the sun. The planet lays still, the only motion from the waves of its wide sea, or the movement of clouds through its atmosphere. The planet is not dead, merely waiting, for it will not be still for much longer.
Back on Earth, near a mountain range, a young girl sleeps on the floor of her room, another mechanical flower glowing open beside her. She’s been through a lot in the past couple days, but she remains ignorant of the challenges she is yet to face.
Simultaneously, the cubes begin to shine with bright red light and the children disappear.
The Game begins.