They called it the ‘Great Vanishing.’ It began in the year 2050 when one hundred individuals suddenly disappeared without a trace. Little did anyone know, this was just the start of something far greater than anyone could have ever imagined.
As the years passed, the disappearances continued to escalate, with more and more people vanishing without any explanation. Rumors started to spread in the darkest corners of the internet and urban myths sprang up, but no one could explain these strange vanishments.
Soon this caught the attention of some very important people in high places. It wasn’t long before government agencies and unknown private groups tried to get to the bottom of this while keeping a lid on things from the public.
However, these strange instants persisted; with airlines that never landed again, famous people never being heard of again, communities turning into ghost towns overnight, people unexplainably vanishing in a bright show of lights right before many witnesses' eyes, and many more such unusual incidents.
It wasn't long before it became too big to cover up as millions had vanished at this point, and people started catching on. Panic and fear slowly started to set in, and there was no stopping the public outcries from every corner of the world. Soon riots and mad hysteria spread like wildfire as none could even explain what was going on.
Nevertheless, the question that should have been asked is what happens when a whole eighth of the world's population vanishes from right under everyone's nose.
It was then 2057, the 8th year in a row that people had started disappearing when the world was gripped by chaos! Airplanes started crashing down from the sky, cars piled up on streets with no one at the driving wheel, oil refineries malfunctioned erupting into giant blazes all along the countryside, underground train systems started flooding, electricity grids started shutting down in parts of the world. It truly looked like the end times.
In the aftermath, the disappearance of one billion humans left a large gaping wound to those who remained. With no clear explanation of what was going on, it wasn't long before the familiar old world began to crumble, yielding to the widespread anarchy that seized hold across the globe.
As the 9th year rolled around, 10 Billion people silently disappeared from the face of the earth. Now as the 10th year approaches, the world is a shadow of its former self as the ghost of vanished still haunts everywhere. Society had long collapsed in on itself and it is each man for themself. Everyone is just waiting for the inevitable end to arrive while the same question is on their mind. What happens next?
- Excerpt from the Archivist, Keeper of all human knowledge and history!
⧖⧖⧖
Day 0
Date: December 31st, 2059
Location: Virginia, U.S. Earth
Lucian Arcades woke up suddenly, his body tensing for a moment before relaxing. Unlike most people, he didn't experience a transitional period between being empty nothingness and sudden awareness, it was merely two discrete states for him.
He could go from one to the other in the blink of an eye, and when he woke up he never felt groggy or slow in thought and motion. He always woke up completely and on his own, at the exact moment he intended to.
Blinking his eyes a few times, he sat up in his bed and surveyed his luxurious surroundings, absently taking in the opulence of his bedroom without further thought.
His living quarters were spacious enough to accommodate a medium-sized family apartment and boasted every modern amenity he could desire from a magnificent four-poster bed crafted in gold leaf which was big enough to fit a dozen people, and lined with countless plush pillows and the finest silken sheets.
Set along one of the walls was a grand hearth with intricate carvings and a fire roaring in place creating a cozy atmosphere. The ceiling overhead featured a massive stunning golden crystal chandelier that cast a warm glow while a great fresco depicting scenes from ancient myths festooned the ceiling.
Expensive rugs covered the white marble flooring, and vintage Victorian-style furnishing decorated the place with expensive paintings and lavish tapestries adorning the walls. There was also a grand wardrobe made of dark wood and gold-plated handles, as well as a great vanity table with a large mirror, complete with a collection of grooming tools and perfumes.
In one corner stood a beautiful piano, and there was a sitting area with plush velvet armchairs and a tea set made of porcelain. Opposite him were double sliding doors that led to a private library and study, while out his window was a wide balcony that overlooked the gardens.
image [https://img.freepik.com/premium-photo/art-deco-glamour-opulent-bedroom-design_839035-96738.jpg]
He had everything he could ever want, but underneath it all, there was no hiding the empty, lonely feeling that pervaded the space.
As the curtains automatically rolled back, he stared out the window at the gardens beyond and the first rays of sunlight shone through his window illuminating the clock next to his bedside which read December 31st, 2059, 6:07 AM.
Today was the day - the day when everything as he knew it would change.
Rising from his bed, the young man headed to the bathroom and turned on the faucets, letting the water run. He took a moment to stare at himself in the mirror as his reflection peered back at him.
He stood over 6 feet tall with a slender, lanky figure that had all the awkwardness of a teen still growing in places even though he was an adult now, at 18 years old. He had thick, light golden blonde locks that fell across his face and bright green eyes that shone like emeralds, with golden freckles like sand scattered across a bright pond.
His skin was pale and smooth, clearly showing he hadn’t seen the sun in days. His oval face had high, refined cheekbones, a sharp aquiline nose, full red lips, thin arched eyebrows, and long, lush eyelashes - all of which lent him an aristocratic look. He was the epitome of a soft, pretty boy, and he knew who he had to thank for that as people always said he was a mirror image of his mother.
image [https://i.pinimg.com/564x/d4/d4/51/d4d45113f1885cc981205139feaae11f.jpg]
[A/N: A bit older w/ green eyes]
At those thoughts, the same old familiar pain deep within his heart welled up to the surface. Before it could become all-encompassing, he mercilessly shoved it back down. There was no time for dilly-dallying. He needed to get prepared!
Washing up quickly, he dressed and went down the long, elaborate hallways and winding stairway that made up his family's Château. The manor was eerily quiet, with no one in sight. The only person on the premises seemed to be just him.
As he made his way down the familiar old passageways, the whole house seemed to be coming to life all around him. The walls and hallways started to shift and rearrange themselves in a dynamic transformation of many strange configurations and shapes.
The lighting system began to activate, gradually illuminating the various rooms and hallways in the house. Then the curtains rolled back, and windows turned back from their dark opaque color, letting the sun shine through the small cracks of the heavy metal shutters.
Slowly the temperature adjusted itself accordingly, and music even filtered through the corridors with Lucian catching notes of one of his favorite composers, Beethoven.
In the background, many more automated systems and adaptive algorithms came online throughout the house, ensuring that every aspect of the Château was perfectly tailored to his preferences and habits. To anyone else, this would have given them a sense of wonder and magic but to him, it was business as usual.
As he made his way to his destination, shortcuts appeared for him as whole portions of walls slid back creating new passageways, and staircases shifted and changed direction for him, allowing him access to different levels of the house. The central control system seemed to anticipate his every move, seamlessly shifting and adjusting to his needs.
image [https://images.playground.com/346941b64b244fbc834f55dd488f1f5b.jpeg]
Eventually, Lucian arrived at where he wanted, the main kitchens. Entering he was greeted by the scent of food cooking and the fresh aroma of coffee.
Walking over to the massive stove area, he saw a pair of robot hands flipping some pancakes in the air.
“Hey, Hal,” Lucian greeted the machine as he took a seat on one of the stools.
“Hello, Master Lucian,” a calm, monotone voice came not from the machine but from the surround sound systems, and just like its namesake they sounded exactly alike.
It was a poor joke by his brother who changed the smart house A.I. voice module to match the infamous homicidal machine, but ever since then it simply stuck with the name soon following.
Regardless, it wasn't creepy in the least bit that he was only living with an automated control system that had the same name and mannerisms as a machine that went mad in the end.
“Here you go, Sir,” the machine said as it set down the final dish. Laid out before him was a large splendid spread with everything he could want. Yet his nervousness had his stomach tightening up into knots and he had no appetite with the day ahead of him.
“I will just have my cup of coffee, Hal,” Lucian said with a smile.
“Are you sure, Sir? Today is the big day. And breakfast is the most important meal of the day,” the A.I. tool said. Quoting some long-dead cereal makers from his database.
“Yeah!”
After he had his morning brew, Lucian was ready to hit the road and began to prepare himself for the long journey ahead. He put on his trench coat from one of the racks, heavy leather boots, a hand-knitted scarf, and a pair of gloves. Then he started assembling everything he would need.
He set down a camping bag on the table and started tossing in ropes, flint, medical kit, tape, a pocket knife, food rations, and anything else he could think of that he would need for wherever he was headed. On his way out, he even grabbed an old-fashioned portable radio to have something to listen to on the road.
After that, he made a small circuit around the house making pit stops in certain rooms. The first room he came upon was one he didn’t dare to enter for a very long time.
Slowly letting the door creak open, he was greeted by a very familiar layout. He remembered all the times he came here whenever he was scared or sad, and it always made him feel safe. Now however it only brought upon dark and lonely thoughts.
Stepping inside, he detected the faint nostalgic scent of vanilla and honeycombs which brought an onrush of memories. Closing his eyes for a moment, he took a deep breath and let the memories wash over him.
Opening his eyelids, he edged over to a large wooden silver cabinet and opened one of the drawers - pulling out an old antique pocket watch. Gazing at it Lucian pocketed it then took one more glance at the room and walked back out.
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRtlNz9Vaud4-acKzjruVipQJ3IFAJYqdLECw&s [https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRtlNz9Vaud4-acKzjruVipQJ3IFAJYqdLECw&s]
Next, he headed to two more rooms each unique in their layouts and bringing forth more wistful recollections. From each room he took a memento with him - one a porcelain doll that still gave him the hibbie-jibbies and the other an electric guitar ready to be shredded.
Following that, Lucian came upon one final room and had no idea what to take with him. The chambers were spartan with sheets covering most of the furnitures that had dust gathered on them.
After a long fruitless while of looking around, he sighed deeply and walked out of the room with nothing in hand.
With his tasks concluded at hand, he slowly wandered over to the gun cabinet which was filled with all sorts of hunting rifles. With a brief hesitation, he opened the cabinet and slung one of the rifles over his shoulder.
“Master Lucian,” Hal called out, who must have been watching him with the cameras all over the premises. “I will be waiting for you, and standing by until you come back home with the family!”
“Thank you, Hal,” Lucian smiled sadly, giving the A.I. system an appreciative nod as he headed out the back door.
Pulling out the old pocket watch, Lucian saw that it read 8:57 a.m.
He knew he had a lot of ground to cover, and time was ticking by. Thus to make his journey all the more easier he headed to the back of the estate and walked up to the stables. Horses neighed and whinnied in excitement at the arrival of a human being after such a long time.
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
He could have chosen any of the numerous vehicles parked in the garage, or even the helicopter on the manor’s rooftop but he didn’t want anything too flashy that drew too much attention. So what was better than a good oldy than a horse?
Without stopping for anything, Lucian approached a stall with a gorgeous-looking cream colored mare who was walking around in circles in her stable.
image [https://images.saatchiart.com/saatchi/1702437/art/8065133/7132131-HSC00923-32.jpg]
"How are you doing, girl," the young man greeted the little beasty as he patted her head affectionately. "Feeling angsty after being cooped up in here for so long?!"
Snorting at him as if saying ‘You know it,’ Lucian chuckled softly as he let out the horse from her stall and began putting on her saddle and stirrups. He brushed her long mane with his hand and whispered in her ears. “Ready to go for one last ride?”
Staring down at him with eyes that held such intelligence, Ivory nickered in agreement and started following him out. Before he left, Lucian opened all the stalls, letting out all the other horses. “Come on and run free,” he shouted, smacking them on their rumps.
They didn’t need to be told twice as they started galloping away into the wide-open fields. Lucian watched them go, and for some reason, he couldn’t stop feeling giddy and quite pleased with himself. His father sure did love those horses!
Without further ado, he hopped onto Ivory's back, and with a click of his tongue, they were off. The landscape rolled past with trees bare of leaves, a small sprinkling of snow covering the ground, and the cold chill of winter winds brushing against him.
Lucian looked back at his family home which was all he had known for most of his childhood as it quickly became smaller and smaller in the distance. He felt like a baby chick leaving the nest for the first time.
He didn’t know what he would expect on his journey, but he was willing to face it head-on.
image [https://media.timeout.com/images/106095842/750/562/image.jpg]
Ivory galloped swiftly across the open meadows and low-lying hills, eating up ground as they went. Despite their speed, there was still a lot of ground to cover as their family estate was surrounded by a vast expanse of private property which was all theirs.
The nearest town, known to Lucian, was a few miles away, down a rugged road that wound through small, densely packed forests. To pass the time, Lucian tuned into the radio, flipping through one channel to the next.
"I tell you," a squeaky voice came from the radio. "It's aliens. Goddamn aliens that are doing this to us. They are beaming us up to their motherships parked above and are putting everyone in cages like animals. They have these sick, twisted experiments which I am one of the few lucky people to escape from so that I can warn you all."
“Repent!” An older man wept. “For we are sinners, and this is God’s righteous punishment upon us. Ask for forgiveness before it is too late, or else you will end up like those evildoers taken away from us. God will only leave us innocent lambs from amongst his flock to inherit this earth and build a new virtuous world!”
“Reality is a simulation,” a creepy-sounding man laughed from the radio. “The Matrix is crumbling all around us. We are just ones and zeroes…”
“We had this coming,” a disappointed woman sighed. “We devastated our planet and brought it to the brink of collapse. Now we must face our inevitable extinction!”
“The empty void now stares back at us,” a dull, bored voice of a young woman spoke. “Its cold fingers wrap around us in its tight embrace…”
Lucian turned off the radio. He couldn't bear to listen to the fear and insanity pouring out of it any longer. He knew all too well why: humanity as they knew it would soon cease to exist on this planet. With a heavy heart, he urged his horse onward to quickly reach their destination before the day was out.
Before long they reached the outskirts of the town. This place used to be a mining town before the mine closed and work dried out. The only reason why it continued to survive was that it was quick to turn itself into a tourist trap thanks to all its pleasant sights and attractions.
Now though, the whole place was a ghost town. He didn’t see a single soul out in the streets or behind the curtains as he rode into town. The buildings were all abandoned, and most of them were boarded up and covered in graffiti.
Abruptly a noise echoed from somewhere, and Lucian drew Ivory to a halt as he wearily gazed about while his free hand wandered over to his gun. Slowly coming out of the shadows of an alleyway with teeth bared and hunger evident in their eyes were a pack of gaunt, dirty wild dogs blocking their path.
Ivory dug in her flank while pawing her front hoof almost as if she was ready to charge. Meanwhile, Lucian surveyed them he saw most dogs still had their owners' tags and other indicators showing that they were domesticated animals.
Sighing to himself, he pulled out his rifle and shot at the pack of dogs hitting just a few feet above their heads. Recoiling back in alarm and fear, the wild dogs quickly scattered to the winds while letting out panic-yipping sounds.
Continuing on his way, it wasn’t long before he came upon a small grocery store with a flickering neon sign. Tying Ivory’s reins to a post, he patted her neck affectionately and walked into the store while keeping his firearm close by.
A bell rang as he swung the door open, announcing his arrival; however, no one greeted him from inside. Not wasting any time, Lucian got what he needed and came up to the cashier then paused at the sight before him.
Sitting quietly behind the counter were an elderly couple who were holding hands. They were so quiet you would at first imagine they were asleep as they had a pleasant smile on their face.
However Lucian knew better as their bodies were as stiff and cold as only a corpse could be, and from the corner of his eye, he saw a bottle of medical prescription laid upturned with pills scattered about.
Without a word, he set down a wad of cash on the counter and walked out of the store with his back turned to the tragic scene.
-
As Lucian stepped back outside, he let the harsh glare of the sun beat down upon him and found himself lost in a sea of despair as he stood still on the store’s doorsteps.
Abruptly he was jolted out of his reverie when he heard a small barking sound. Looking down at his feet he saw a skinny brown and grey terrier with a long scar running down its hind quarter.
Looking down at his feet, he saw a scrappy, scarred brown and grey terrier looking at him with hostility.
“Hey buddy,” Lucian said as he knelt before the aggravated canine. In answer, the little dog stood on guard as it let out a low threatening growl.
“It's okay,” Lucian said sincerely as he held out one hand and in the other, he slowly reached into his pack and pulled out some snacks.
Hesitantly looking between his open palm and at him, the little dog slowly crept forward, sniffing at the proffered food. Then it took a tentative bite and after seeing everything was fine it began to dig in with gusto.
“Good boy,” Lucian remarked, feeling a sense of warmth and contentment as he rubbed behind the dog's dirty matted ear. At first, it froze up and went rigid then after a while it let him continue to pet it as it scruffed down his snacks.
Continuing to feed and comfort the poor little dog, Lucian was reminded of a white fluffy, tiny pomeranian from long ago. As soon as those memories bubbled up to the surface, flashes of blood and gun smoke promptly followed behind.
Shaking his head just like one of the dogs, he tried to banish the old memory to where it came from.
Turning to look at Ivory, he saw that she was getting angsty, and from the corner of his eye, he saw why. The small pack of feral dogs were back and this time they weren’t alone. He saw more wild dogs with them and even some other domesticated animals.
Getting up, Lucian peered at them, seeing the hunger and desperation in their eyes. Sensing the oncoming conflict, the little dog let out a low whine as it rolled down its ears.
Without saying a word, Lucian walked back into the store and came back out with large packs of food. Then he started bringing out all the utensils he could find and freshwater that was still available.
Afterward, he began to lay everything out at the store’s doorsteps, all the while the abandoned animals watched him closely.
Finally, when he was all done, he put two fingers to his lips and let out a loud, sharp whistle. “Come and get some,” Lucian shouted as he waved over at the animals standing at the fridges. “I can promise you it's much more tastier and filling than me!”
Looking at each other dubiously, none of them moved and even worse yet they looked more ready to pounce at any minute.
Stepping forward, the small terrier let out short, quick barks almost as if it was defending him and his character. Then there was a long pause, with both sides not moving an inch until one lone poodle stepped forward and came over to the long row of food set up.
Soon more and more of the former pets came forth, skeptical at first then when they saw the food was going nowhere they dug in with more delight.
Watching them with a smile, Lucian busied himself setting up more food and laying out the rest for later. Yet he couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness, knowing that their survival was uncertain at the very best.
But he also felt a glimmer of hope, knowing that even in this abandoned world, there was still a chance for these animals to thrive and run free once more.
-
Riding out of town, Lucian couldn't help but notice the chaos and decline that had overtaken society. The landscape was bleak, with abandoned cars piling on the roads, overgrown vegetation seeping through cracks and foundations, and not a single soul in sight for many miles all around.
However, that didn’t mean it was safe. With the end of the world at hand, many had given in to their most primal desires, committing unspeakable acts of violence and depravity without fear of consequence.
Every day he would hear about looting, killing, raping, shooting, and so much more atrocities going on all around the world. And there was no one there to stop it.
Not stopping for anything, he rode throughout most of the day, taking no breaks until he finally reached his destination. The sun stood at its zenith in the sky as he dismounted from Ivory and looked out over a cliffside that descended to a rocky beach below, where the cold, foaming ocean waves came crashing in
Patting Ivory on the neck, he began to remove her saddle and reins. “This is the end of the road for us, girl,” he whispered, tossing aside her gear.
"Come on. Run and be free!" Lucian smiled reassuringly at her. She stared back at him intently, almost as if she understood the gravity of this moment. Finally, after a long moment, she nudged him with her head, as if saying goodbye and take care all at once. Then with one final look, she was galloping off into the distance.
Turning around, Lucian's eyes landed on the sole landmark within sight - a massive tombstone that sat near the cliff. He walked up to it and removed his gloves, then rested a hand on the granite stone.
image [https://cdn.openart.ai/stable_diffusion/0c402596c11f05c1e2a1ad9d47b87e7f7f74a67f_2000x2000.webp]
On it read;
Isabel Arcades
July 13, 2011 - September 28, 2058
Loving Mother & Wife
“Hey, Mom,” Lucian greeted. “Sorry, I haven’t come by in a while. I was just being me, moping around and everything. But guess what, today is it,” he smiled as he sat down before the grave.
“Hopefully, I will end up where they did,” he muttered while staring far off into the distance as if remembering something.
Snapping back to reality, he put on his most reassuring smile and shook the bag in his hand. “I brought your favorite!” He said as he took out some lemons and cut them in half. He placed them on the headstone and took one for himself.
“You won’t believe the state the world is in right now,” Lucian resumed, taking a seat on the ground as if he were there for the long haul. He continued talking to the headstone throughout the whole evening as the sun slowly began to set in the sky.
“Yeah, so that has been my year so far while the world went down the gutters,” he finished, taking a long pause. The constant sound of the ocean waves hitting the rocks was soothing and put a lull in their conversation.
Lucian took that moment to dig into his coat’s pocket and pull out a picture in which had a happy-looking family. There were the parents of course; a broad-shouldered, well-built solemn man, and a beautiful woman with a radiant smile wrapping her arms around the man’s arm.
Then there were the children, 3 in total - the oldest had a cocky grin as he playfully tousled the hair of the middle child, who was none other than him, and grabbing his sleeve was a little girl who looked very shy and was trying to hide behind him.
As he stared at the photo, long-represented memories came flooding in.
At first, it was his father who disappeared with the first wave. Nobody at that time knew what was even happening. Nevertheless, the damage had been done as rumors and speculation spread. Some assumed he ran off with a mistress or that he mysteriously died, then very soon the sharks came circling in, smelling blood.
Then on the fourth wave, it was his brother, Alexander Arcades, who was whisked away. That blow struck closest to home, and the person most physically affected by it was his mother who was heartbroken and distraught then soon fell sick. Finally, after years of being bedridden and emotionally detached from the world, she passed away.
The only small comfort Lucian could find was that she passed away before the ninth wave, in which his little sister was carried off.
So many people; friends, family, and loved ones had been taken away from him as their time on earth was cut short. He didn’t even have the stratification of knowing if they were long dead or just beyond his reach. All he could do was carry on with the memories of them as he was the last one remaining on earth.
Folding the picture in hand and putting it back in his pocket, he turned to face the tomb with eyes hardened into something unreadable. “I promise you, Mom. I will find them no matter what and bring them home. Then we can be a family again!”
Getting up with resolve in his back, and his fist clenched in determination, Lucian was just about to continue his little declaration until out of the blue, dizziness overcame him.
He swayed on his feet drunkenly and fell back onto the ground as a part of him wondered what came over him. He clutched his head as suddenly the small dizzy spell turned into acute sharp pain with his ears ringing and everything starting to blur all around him.
“AAAAAHHHH!!!”
A scream broke from his lips as the pain seemed to be dialed up to 11. His brain felt like it was on fire as it was constantly pounding against his skull and he felt like he would explode at any second now. He curled up into a small feeble form on the floor right before his mother’s grave.
He wanted to let out another scream, but it was caught up in his throat leaving his mouth gaping open in a silent rictus of pain. It felt like an eternity that he was trapped in this endless cycle of pure agony.
Meanwhile, memories flashed before his eyes, like a movie reel was playing and he felt disconnected from everything. Unable to turn away he watched as a whole life played out, it felt so different from his… yet at the same time so familiar.
Then as if reaching some tipping point, it became too much for him to bare, and before he knew it was lights out for him, and he knew no more.
Unknown to him the moment he collapsed a long shadow fell over him that seemed to appear from nowhere.
-
Waking up with a sudden start, Lucian saw that it was dark out with a grey crescent moon hanging high in the sky and the stars shone brightly overhead.
He tried to get up but quickly found out that was a mistake since he emptied whatever was in his stomach. After a couple moments of heaving, he wiped his mouth with the corner of his sleeve and tried once more to stand up.
He was a bit shaky on his feet but other than that he was sort of fine. Still, the question remained what just happened to him? He never heard about people experiencing head-splitting headaches before departing.
This was clearly an outlier.
To add to it, everything felt weird. It was like he was experiencing deja vu as everything felt uncanny familiar to him, but also out of touch. It was like something was right at the cusp of his mind, but yet so far away.
Moreover, he could have sworn he had been here before, which was true, but he also remembered making that same promise over his mother’s grave right before he disappeared.
Lucian swore under his breath when that thought flashed through his mind. He pulled out his watch and saw that it read; 11:59 p.m.
All that he was able to get out right as his watch struck 12 o’clock and he began to disappear in a bright flash of golden light was, “Fuck m-...”
The only thing left in his wake was empty silence and a lone gravestone that stood overlooking the ocean.