You know that feeling when what used to be a lively house becomes too quiet? That was what Marx was experiencing. He just woke up and he was sure it was earlier then he used to but he could not even hear any sound.
Even the birds were not chirping early morning like they used to. Marx sat up and scratched his head. Now that he thought of it, what if they were not at home at all? He never checked to begin with. He stepped on the ground and put on the boots.
He walked lazily towards the door and opened it lazily. He then walked to the dining room but it was empty. Even the remains were not on the table. It was clean like no one had eaten anything in the morning or past few days.
"Hello..." He voiced out but he was met with silence. He sighed and walked to their rooms opening them one by one. But he was met by the same neat beds in every room. He then walked outside and went to check at the elders' circle but he met no one.
He looked at the gates and even the guards were not there. For the first time, he thought that it was a dream. He pinched himself and he even confirmed with the system.
"Is this a dream or is it the reality?"
Marx wanted to know what these factors were but gauging from the complexity of the situation, he had to find everyone first. He walked to the gate and on his way he picked a red leaf and put it inside the Inventory.
He had learnt that the Inventory could store things inside them for an infinite amount of time without them getting bad. He looked at his inventory and there was only a red leaf.
"How much storage does the maple leaf take?"
"How much does it weigh?>
"How much energy do you use to preserve it?"
"Then, mind your own armoury!" Marx took the system's silence as an acceptance of defeat and walked outside the gate. But he was met by silence as he approached the houses.
What was happening here? How could everyone just disappear? He walked around the whole village and to his disappointment, he did not see anyone. Marx contemplated for a while and he thought that everyone was playing him.
He wanted to climb and have an aerial view but he could not risk exposing his ability to everyone. He then stood at the centre of the village and gave his command.
"Scan for thermal radiation," he spoke. If they wanted to surprise him, then he would surprise them by finding them.
<...>
Marx knew just how extensive the scan was. For it to have scanned nothing could only mean that no one was in the village.
"What is happening?" He asked. He felt fear encroaching his heart.
"What is it that you are talking about? What do you mean the Empire? And why is it that you are mocking me? And sleeping for one month? I would never do that. Even when I was in a coma it was only for three weeks. What is it that you are hiding from me? How come I was not taken?" Marx spouted non stop. He did not even hear the system replying until it spoke several times. Marx wanted to get angry at the system. But he knew he was the one at fault. All these rules were in the terms and conditions but he had bothered to read none. He wanted to be angry. He knew that he could have done something. But as he thought of it, they were probably after him. This was to mean that they had not sent just any team. Maybe they had even sent him some of their best. This was to mean that even if he had stepped out, he would not have made a difference. Instead, he qou6ld get arrested and maybe take to one of their Labs for tests. He wanted to be wanted by the Empire but he did not want to be caught soon. It was like he was just registering the fact that all his family and villagers had been taken away. A heavy pressure built up in his chest as he felt lump on his throat. Then he saw everything blurry. His heartbeat becoming erratic and his world started spinning around. A sudden ringing and piercing sound attacked his ears as he tried to block them with his palms but it just got louder. His knees became weak he dropped down on his knees. Then a tear dropped from his eyes unconciously. Then he opened his mouth releasing a roar that could reach the skies. He roared such that his throat was torn apart yet he did not stop. The feeling in his chest just got stronger and made it even tougher to swallow as the lump seemed to go to his eyes and caused the tears to fall. He oftenly compared himself to a man but was he? Was he not just a sixteen year old boy who had just gone out to have an adventure and face some life and death situations but could that qualify to make him a man? He was just a boy loved by his mom and grandma to the extreme. He was just a boy with a system who thought that he could have everything dancing in the palm of his hands easily. He was just a boy who had slept when his parents and villagers had been taken away. He regretted never informing them of his arrival so that he could see their faces once again. His greatest regret was that he was the cause and had he not left, he would still have a peaceful and intact village. It then dawned to him like a bomb blowing in his chest that it was all his fault! Some things were just too much for a 16 year old to take upon himself. He then remembered that he had not even gotten their blessings when he left. He had forced his way and when he was out there, he made enemies with the wrong guys who in turn had come to pay him back. But then his thoughts came to a standstill and his heart stopped for several beats. They were taken away but where were they taken to? Could it be that they had been taken to prison for his crimes? That was not the worst case. What if they were taken to be killed? How could he live with himself when he was the one who brought the end to the peace of the village. Not just peace but probably their lives? He once again roared but his voice came out hoarse and it faded. He supported himself with his hands in crawling position. The lump on his throat just seemed to get larger. He wanted to be angry but all he was was a sad and heartbroken boy. He was also a murderer. As Marx thought of it, there was probably a resistance from the village and the Empire had to kill some in order to prove their position amd that they had the strong foot. Marx could not guess how long the ones remaining could remain alive. What if the Empire decided that they were useless and decided to get rid of all of them? Marx did not know much about the Empire but he could guess a thing or two. First was that the Empire with its large population and size, it highly valued talent and the economic capability of the subjects. This was to mean that one could be arrested for being unemployed for there were job opportunities everywhere. But the point here was that the villagers were useless out there. Non of them could operate a computer or wven swith swith it on. They were all illiterate. Many did not even know that there were people out there and currently they thought that they were abducted by aliens. With how much the Empire valued talent and how much emphasis it put in everyone's economic capability, what use did it have for these few who had neither? Was it not just better to get rid of them than keep them in prison then have them feeding on other people's sweat? Thinking to this point, Marx kneeled straight and stared in the skies. His throat ached and his tears had stopped but a headache like a hammering in his head assaulted him. Ten, a distant and cold expression appeared in his eyes. It appeared like he would never smile again. His face was so calm and he stared at the skies unblinkingly. He raised his hand and tried to cover the sun with his palm. Then he tried to folded his fingers like he was trying to blanket it in his palm. Then he roared once again and his eyes closed involuntarily and he fell sideways.