Chapter 2:

Alan’s footsteps felt heavier with each step, the world around him eerily still. The once-familiar landscape of his small town had transformed into something alien—a lifeless, empty shell that seemed to stretch forever. The sky above was a brilliant, cloudless blue, mocking him with its serene beauty, as if nature itself was unaware of the absence below.

He walked aimlessly, down streets and through parks that had once been filled with the sounds of people. He passed the playground where children used to shout and laugh, now silent. The swings swayed gently in the breeze, but no one was there to push them.

The nagging thought that he was truly alone clawed deeper into his mind. How could this have happened overnight? He tried to recall the events of the previous day, searching for any clues. Nothing stood out. There had been no sirens, no warnings, no indication that anything was wrong. He had gone to bed like always, expecting to wake up to another mundane day.

Now, the idea that it might be every day, forever, unsettled him.

As he wandered through the deserted streets, Alan’s phone buzzed in his pocket. A sudden rush of hope surged through him, a brief glimmer of normalcy. Maybe it was a message, a call—someone else!

He pulled the phone out, heart pounding. The screen blinked—just a low battery warning. Alan’s hand trembled as...