Vanished

“Ajay! Stop trying to pack everything! We won’t reach the safe house in time if you keep looking for things to carry with us!”

“Medicine, passports, money, okay Pursula I think that’s all we need for now. I’ll lock the doors but I doubt there’ll be anything to return to after this apocalypse is over. Quick, let’s get on the motorbike, we’ve not a second to spare.”

After barely getting on the bike, ten seconds had passed since they were frantically finishing packing and a sudden whoosh of wind blasted in their faces as they heard the screams of a billion people sucked into oblivion. Gridlocked in a street empty of humans, they could only hope they would not be next to go.

Panic was also ensuing in Shanghai, as Ming and Dan waited patiently for the next train to arrive, hopefully to carry them west to the safety of rural China. As ten seconds approached from the time Ajay and Pursula were left behind, the hi-speed commuter train lost control and pummeled into the side of the skyscraper, causing it to rain down concrete and mortar on the people below. Looking left and right, Ming and Dan suddenly realized everyone was gone, vanished as smoke wisps away. Dan’s four-year-old son began to whimper, scared of the silence echoing in the station and in most of Shanghai as well. An eerie silence signalling that those who were left, were indeed all alone.

Peter watched the news on the television in Washington, with his family sitting around in a tight circle. His oldest, sixteen-year-old Grayson was trying to keep his little brother from panicking and crying.

“It appears billions of people have disappeared from the face of the earth, in a matter of twenty seconds! Chaos is spreading worldwide and—”

As the thirty second mark reached its toll, the television blacked out, and all-around Peter’s family the sounds of car and fire alarms were blaring into the night. With more than half the population of the world disappeared, those that were left hurried to do what they could before they too would be taken. China, India and the Americas had been wiped out, and all that was left was Europe and Africa. As the forty second mark neared its approach, politicians and the homeless alike pondered the fate they would face when they too would disappear. Some gorged themselves on food, while others stole what they could in vain. Couples kissed one last time, and children cried for their parents.

Woosh!

Europe became a desolate forest, with empty streets, burning buildings and sunk vessels. As the drainage pumps shut down in the Lowlands, the sea reclaimed its ownership over much of the Netherlands and Belgium. Explosions rocketed Russia as pipelines burst and natural gas and petroleum ignited in fireballs. The bright cities of Paris, London and Berlin blacked out, plunging those that were left into utter darkness and loneliness.

Amari hugged his wife and brother tightly in Nairobi, Kenya, realizing that they too would be next to be taken after listening to the radio broadcast before it went silent. Everyone stared at the clock on the wall as the seconds hand moved painfully towards the fifty second mark.

Five, four, three, two, one…

A bright gush of light swirled around the night sky, sucked into the upper reaches of space, leaving behind Amari and his family.

As the time approached the sixty second mark, there would be almost none left to witness the event. Amari squeezed his wife’s hand tightly, closing his eyes and hoping for a better future.

Closing his eyes, Peter prayed intently, trusting his faith to save himself and his family.

Ming and Dan lit their final strand of incense, looking up at the stars in the night sky.

Ajay and Pursula shared one last kiss, both closing their eyes and hoping for a future together once this was all over.

Skadoosh!

A silence reigned over the world, its cities haunted by darkness and a void of noise. The sounds of weddings and celebration all but vanished. The cries of children muted and unheard. All there was, was silence, and even silence itself was engulfed into nothingness.

The End