The world is one big never ending cycle of monotony, at least that's how Aeden saw it. He had graduated college a year ago but his life had come to a stand still. All the plans he had to land a decent job and begin to build a career to help build an easy life all came crashing down around him around the time of his graduation.
The world was hit with a new disease that plagued the world bringing everything to a halt. Because of this new plight and all the regulations that came with it, he wasn't able to land a job with some big company and squeak out an easy living. He searched and searched but no one was willing to hire him. He soon found himself running out of money for rent and any other necessary fees. So, he picked the first thing he could find, a low paying, high stress, retail job. That has been his life for the past year. Never ending agony working in retail.
Aeden had been stuck in the cycle that so many others faced. Wake up early, work hard for little pay, get home tired, too tired to do anything else. Like, searching for a different job to escape to. Not like it mattered anymore because it seemed the universe had a grudge against the small green floating rock in space called earth.
Over the last couple of years pollution has been climbing to extraordinary rates. Ice caps melting and the ocean rising. The price of food was starting to skyrocket due to the scarcity. And to top it all off there was an asteroid destined to impact the earth within the coming years. It was as if the universe said to earth that it was time. All in all it didn't seem that bad to Aeden he found small justices in the plight of humanity, at least he wouldn't have to continue to work his crappy retail job in a few years. So was the dour mind of Aeden. He hated hard work and to be the center of attention. See Aeden didn’t believe in people because to him they were only parasites and bullies. Aeden understood the simple base function of human beings that many liked to ignore.You were either strong or you were weak. Since being strong and boisterous wasn’t in his personality. He chose the shadows, out of sight and out of mind from others. He preferred to be self reliant and alone. Even though he hated those aspects of himself. Especially being alone.
Funny enough as a child he had been very energetic and outgoing. Going above and beyond, and working hard at everything he did. At some point all that had stopped, maybe due to his parents death. He didn’t know and at this point he thought it didn’t even matter. Even if he wanted to change, it was too late. Everyone had an invisible timer above their heads and it was only counting down to death.
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Although, despite his reluctant acceptance of his fate he didn't want to die. He may be a cynic and a bit of a doomerish guy. A year of non-stop retail can do that to a man, he didn't want to die. Just like everyone else he secretly wanted salvation. Most days his thoughts were occupied by the same thing. “I wish I could start over, hit the reset button and make changes to his life”. He said that to himself constantly, thinking about the decisions he made so far wishing to go back and change things, but life is not that simple or forgiving.
Aeden longed for a change in anything, any aspect of his life so he did the simple thing: he went to a hiring drive at his old college. Even with the end of the world in sight, instead of choosing something adventurous or exciting to do with his life. Some last ditch attempt to find some small semblance of joy. He chose to simply change his job.
The next day he arrived at his old college which he used to attend. The place was a buzz with people going to and from other classes. Small events happening on the college grounds, music, small clubs, and other groups all mingling about. He stopped to take in the hub of activity. It was a welcome sight compared to the usual robot-like functions of his daily life. These people seemed alive and Aeden felt jealous that they still had the spark of life within them. Laughing and talking as though they had no problems in the world. Just as he was about to step into line for the job fair he felt a strange sensation like something had pervasively entered his mind. He felt off balance for a second having to catch himself from falling.
Aeden looked around because he then noticed the place had gone silent. He stopped to look around and the jovial noise that filled the campus had completely disappeared. Everyone around him had stopped. Like they had been frozen in time, but they were still slightly shifting and breathing but the strangest thing was they were all looking up at the sky. Aeden followed their gaze and saw a giant blue box that said…
Notice!
With the end of your species in sight the system has deemed that your species, culture, and knowledge must be preserved. Therefore by random lottery large sections of your people shall be transported to a new world so that your species may continue to thrive.
In order to survive, all lottery winners' bodies will be reconstructed in order to adapt to the new environment.
The system is fair and you will be given the same treatment as other species before you.
Prepare for reconstruction…
Good Luck!
Then everything went black.