It started when a couple of my classmates did not show up to school. Then half the class was missing.
"There must be a bug going around," we would say.
"But my friend doesn't reply to me!" someone else would then say.
Whatever was happening, it continued to claim all the people we walked by. Only a week later, I took the keys from the principal's office and locked up the school gates—since nobody went to school anymore.
That day I came home to tell my parents that school was closed indefinitely, only to be greeted by a lukewarm coffee cup on the table next to the morning paper. Dad must have left in a hurry. Mom was definitely still sleeping at this time, so with nothing to do I dropped my bag and shoes and jumped into bed. I listened until the usual sounds of cars driving by and birds chirping slowly began to fade away...
I opened my eyes to pitch blackness in the middle of the night. Without light, I thought for a second I had gone blind.
"What happened to the nightlight?" I pushed the button on my alarm clock for temporary light and breathed out in relief. Then I realized the clock read 10:01 AM. What?
"Why is it so dark in here?" I felt around for the lamp switch but it wouldn't turn on. Power outage?
The LED light turned off and I was in the darkness again. Immediately, I got up and felt around for my shoes. I knew the way around my room well enough to find the bottom drawer of my desk and grab a flashlight. When turned on, it emitted a dim orange light, lasting long enough for me to exit the room.
I made it to the stairs and, of course, it died.
I swore. "When you need it—!!" I threw it down in rage ('cause that's what I do) and I heard it thump down the steps and roll out onto the hard kitchen floor. Genius me, now I had to find it.
I sat down and safely edged my way downstairs. It was so dark, I couldn't see my hand when I waved it in front of me.
What happened to the moon? I thought, but then I remembered it was supposed to be morning.
I started forward when suddenly I collided with the wall. I yelled, and my voice was swallowed by the infinite darkness. For the first time, I realized the world had also gone completely silent.
"Mom? Dad?" my voice cracked. I was finally aware of the harsh truth, my body tightening with every step as I continued onwards.
My foot landed on a cylindrical object. I felt myself shaking as I picked up the flashlight.
"Calm down, you just need to change the batteries now," I murmured.
If I had remembered well, we kept batteries in one drawer dedicated for hardware and other supplies at the other end of the kitchen—easy enough. I moved quietly and cautiously. With no sounds, it almost felt offensive if I did make a noise.
I touched the wall and sighed in relief. I turned and made my way over to the drawers, opening the last one when my fingers brushed the handle. I set the flashlight on the counter and dug around the drawer, rummaging through screwdrivers and bags of pins and paper clips, but for some reason I couldn't find the battery pack. I kept digging because I was positive they had to be there, and thankfully my hand grasped the small box near the back.
Phew, now I just need to take out the old ones, I thought as I grabbed for the flashlight. But wait, where was it?
I skimmed my hands over the whole counter. The flashlight was gone. I felt through the drawer again in case it might have fallen in, but for some reason there was nothing in the drawer anymore.
I dropped to my knees. My surroundings seemed to be closing in on me; the darkness mocking me, laughing at me as it knew I couldn't escape. I suddenly had the urge to scream and run out the door, as if this had only been a bad dream.
Screw it, I don't need the light—I have to get out of here right now!
Moving back towards the way I came from, I made a left, down the hallway, knocking over a flower vase, and finally reached the front door. I burst through—into more blackness.
It took me a second to realize that my foot hadn't touched any solid ground when I stepped out. Only the feeling of my stomach dropping and air rushing past gave me the knowledge that I was falling. Falling, falling farther into a black abyss, not having a clue to even scream in fear of falling.
The only thought I had, assuring me I was still alive, was quite simply: Am I dead?
"There must be a bug going around," we would say.
"But my friend doesn't reply to me!" someone else would then say.
Whatever was happening, it continued to claim all the people we walked by. Only a week later, I took the keys from the principal's office and locked up the school gates—since nobody went to school anymore.
That day I came home to tell my parents that school was closed indefinitely, only to be greeted by a lukewarm coffee cup on the table next to the morning paper. Dad must have left in a hurry. Mom was definitely still sleeping at this time, so with nothing to do I dropped my bag and shoes and jumped into bed. I listened until the usual sounds of cars driving by and birds chirping slowly began to fade away...
I opened my eyes to pitch blackness in the middle of the night. Without light, I thought for a second I had gone blind.
"What happened to the nightlight?" I pushed the button on my alarm clock for temporary light and breathed out in relief. Then I realized the clock read 10:01 AM. What?
"Why is it so dark in here?" I felt around for the lamp switch but it wouldn't turn on. Power outage?
The LED light turned off and I was in the darkness again. Immediately, I got up and felt around for my shoes. I knew the way around my room well enough to find the bottom drawer of my desk and grab a flashlight. When turned on, it emitted a dim orange light, lasting long enough for me to exit the room.
I made it to the stairs and, of course, it died.
I swore. "When you need it—!!" I threw it down in rage ('cause that's what I do) and I heard it thump down the steps and roll out onto the hard kitchen floor. Genius me, now I had to find it.
I sat down and safely edged my way downstairs. It was so dark, I couldn't see my hand when I waved it in front of me.
What happened to the moon? I thought, but then I remembered it was supposed to be morning.
I started forward when suddenly I collided with the wall. I yelled, and my voice was swallowed by the infinite darkness. For the first time, I realized the world had also gone completely silent.
"Mom? Dad?" my voice cracked. I was finally aware of the harsh truth, my body tightening with every step as I continued onwards.
My foot landed on a cylindrical object. I felt myself shaking as I picked up the flashlight.
"Calm down, you just need to change the batteries now," I murmured.
If I had remembered well, we kept batteries in one drawer dedicated for hardware and other supplies at the other end of the kitchen—easy enough. I moved quietly and cautiously. With no sounds, it almost felt offensive if I did make a noise.
I touched the wall and sighed in relief. I turned and made my way over to the drawers, opening the last one when my fingers brushed the handle. I set the flashlight on the counter and dug around the drawer, rummaging through screwdrivers and bags of pins and paper clips, but for some reason I couldn't find the battery pack. I kept digging because I was positive they had to be there, and thankfully my hand grasped the small box near the back.
Phew, now I just need to take out the old ones, I thought as I grabbed for the flashlight. But wait, where was it?
I skimmed my hands over the whole counter. The flashlight was gone. I felt through the drawer again in case it might have fallen in, but for some reason there was nothing in the drawer anymore.
I dropped to my knees. My surroundings seemed to be closing in on me; the darkness mocking me, laughing at me as it knew I couldn't escape. I suddenly had the urge to scream and run out the door, as if this had only been a bad dream.
Screw it, I don't need the light—I have to get out of here right now!
Moving back towards the way I came from, I made a left, down the hallway, knocking over a flower vase, and finally reached the front door. I burst through—into more blackness.
It took me a second to realize that my foot hadn't touched any solid ground when I stepped out. Only the feeling of my stomach dropping and air rushing past gave me the knowledge that I was falling. Falling, falling farther into a black abyss, not having a clue to even scream in fear of falling.
The only thought I had, assuring me I was still alive, was quite simply: Am I dead?