BEEP BEEP BEEP---------
With a delicate touch, I reached for my phone, fervently wishing for the silencing of my persistent alarm.
Ahh..
The Dawn of yet another another day greeted me with misfortune, The constant repeat of my everyday life feels like a movie scene replaying
With no devotion
I yawned.
once again, I pulled my blanket over me. wishing I could just rest in peace
"Sage!"
I hear my mother call out to me, reminding me to
Get up and work endlessly
Her voice can be heard downstairs
"Mom, isn't it Saturday?"
I said in an attempt to deceive her, but she saw right through it. and disagree
I groaned as I roll my way down to the cold floor, crawling untill I reach the door.
I stood up and touch the doorknob with my hands
Tilting it slightly before opening and making my way to the bathroom.
I brushed my teeth, and with Great effort. I washed my body with soap that I brought from the nearest convenience store
Fuck, I want a day off. I'm so tired of always waking up at dawn, leaving and coming back only to lay in bed yet again
As if that wasn't bad enough, my boss has been torturing me like a slave.
Even my salary doesn't make up for the torture they've put a perfectly fine young woman like me in
Isn't that right? I'm pretty fine...
I smile and nod in agreement with myself
.....
A few minutes later.....
I stood by the shoe cabinet, wondering if I should suffer the rest of my day to look presentable. or be comfortable
I have about an hour to decided, yet I'm still hesitant about it.
I decided to wear a jacket first before wearing my actual work clothes. I don't want to get it stain
I walk towards the bathroom, in search for my phone, but before I could reach the door. A splitting headache filled my mind
"Aghh.... Shit.."
Is the 2 hours of sleep kicking in? I. Shouldn't have stayed all night playing otome games
"M-mom!"
I called out to her desperately, I couldn't move my body. The pain was overwhelming, this wasn't normal
"C-call the ambulance... Mom.. "
My mom panicks and she tries her best to help
Suddenly, memories flooded in my mind
What?
Foreshadowing what was gonna happen next, I quickly grabbed my mom's hand and instinctively ran downstairs
There it is.
In my memories, that black hole appeared and swallowed me along with my mom. I was terrified just thinking about it
Could these memories be a foreshadow to the future?
I breathe heavily, panting. I can't believe I almost died. If it weren't for that memories, I would've become a story by now.
My mom looks at me terrified, the cellphone that she was holding was now swallowed by the black hole. That was our only chance to call the police
But honestly, can the police even handle this?
A black hole?
What if that black hole has already consume them?
Question filled my minds, all jumble and tangled together. I just almost died, I didn't want to panick but that was a close call
I took my mom's hand and told her that we needed to get out of here, I ran to our fridge and started packing whatever we have
My old backpack still in the same place as before,
There were dust forming and it was dirty but I didn't hesitate to take it out. It was the only thing we can use as a storage right now
My mom
Seeing me pack, ran to me and started helping.
I brought a flashlight just incase. I forgot that I left my phone in the bathroom, what a bad timing.
The right side of our 2nd floor was filled with the black hole, but the 1st floor was untouch.
I looked at my mother, my grip was tight.
I wasn't letting go of her
"Aghh...! What.."
Once again, a foreshadow was given to me.
But I didn't see any memories this time, only the sound of my mother screaming for help
Tears forming my eyes, is it telling me that my mom was going to be in danger? Is she going to be swallowed by that dark pit?
My mother comforted me even in this life and death situation, she probably thought I was crying because I almost lost my life. But it was the other way around, I'm scared she might lose her life.
Soon, we agreed on going out. It wasn't safe in the house, even if the 1st floor was untouch. It doesn't mean that we're safe in here, if ever the black hole occurs in here. We won't be able to escape
I calmed my trembling hands and feet, aware that the very lives of my mother and I were at stake.
As soon as we opened the front door, we were greeted with people desperately crying out for help as they hold onto the floor.
"we have to help them"
My mom said, she was right. But wrong at the same time
Even if we were to help them now, it wouldn't make a difference. The difference it would make was that we'll both be dragged by the black pit with them.
We'll never know when another hole will appear
What if we were to actually help them, and another hole appear behind us completely blocking our only way out?
As much as I want to help
I'll prioritize my mother's and my life first.
CRACKED
I hear a crack. The same cracked I heard when that hole appeared
My mother who was about to step out was pulled by me, the black hole appeared on the front of our door leaving my mom in shock
The black hole was unpredictable, we can only stay in our house for now. But that black hole will consume the first floor too, I'm just glad it hasn't consume our house whole yet
"Mom, wait."
I remembered the balcony we have on the second floor
maybe we can leave there. Although I wasn't sure if the exit there Is free, it was worth the risk
It was better than dying here.
I quickly ran to the sofa and, took the blanket covering it.
It was now or never.
I told her the plan and she decided to take the risk along with me
we both made our way upstairs.
We tip toed our way to the balcony.
Standing on the floor that hasn't been consumed by the blackhole, we walk pass my bedroom and headed to the balcony.
I opened the balcony door
And look down at the sight before me, people cries and screams were heard once again.
There weren't any black holes
We can escape.
I looked back, only to see the blackhole consuming our stairs all the way to my bedroom door.
We had no time
I immediately started to tie the blanket on the balcony railing, it was thin and not long enough to reach the bottom floor.
We needed another clothing.
I guess I have to sacrifice my favorite jacket.
I took of my jacket, good thing I wore a spaghetti shirt over this.
My mom made her way down, clutching on to the cloth. Her expression showed visibly that she was scared to fall
The black hole came closer and closer, the house was shaking. It seems it has consumed structures needed to balance the house
The black hole was now even closer, almost touching my bare feet.
The black hole was just an inch away, and soon I joined my mother. Both of us holding on to the cloth hoping that it won't tear as it was pretty thin.
The bag was making things even heavier, with all my might. I threw it down
Fortunately, we made it to safety and soon
Our house was consumed as whole. Unfortunately that would've been us if we didn't leave sooner
"Let's go."
I smiled in reassurance, my mother giving a concern look as my body was shaking.
It's true, I was really scared. I didn't expect anything like this to happen. Even an earthquake would've been better than this
....
.....
As we walk pass the people screaming for help,
We walked through the city in search of a supermarket that hasn't been consume by the black hole yet.
Soon, we found one and the other agreed to stay back just incase.
I took some canned foods, I didn't care what happens to this store anymore. It didn't matter wether we rob it or not, they're not getting paid.
I took the basket and filled them with food, our bag was full so it couldn't store any more things.
"M-ma'am?"
I turned around only to see a fragile girl, she was hiding on the corner of the cashier register.
She could see what was happening in this see through glass.
Poor girl, she seems so young.
"Come with me, let's escape together.
Help me carry this food"
The girl hesitated, she was uncertain wether to
Trust me.
I understand, you never know. I might betray her, but not I'm not that kind of person.
"You know, you don't really have a choice right?"
The girl nodded, she hesitated but agreed.
"W-whats your name ma'am?"
She asks shyly as i threw the pack of water bottles in the basket
"I'm sage, we can introduce ourself later.
Let's get going"
I carried the basket and ran outside.
"Shit."
I looked at the entrance completely blocked by the hole
"We took too long. Do you have any thing that can potentially be use for breaking things?"
I turn to look at her
"Well, U-uhm.. w-we have a fire extinguisher in the storage room"
That's weird, why would they have a fire extinguish- Well I guess they should always be prepared, you never know. Someone might start a fire in their market
"Go get it, quickly!"
She hurriedly rush to the storage room and came back handing me the extinguisher like a little puppy playing fetch.
I smiled as I put the basket down, taking the fire extinguisher from her hand.
CRACK
CRACK
SHATTER
For the last blow, I threw the extinguisher from afar. Completely breaking the glass
Soon, we made our way out in search for my mother
.....
.....
...
.....
"I-I was so worried y-you wouldn't come back!"
My mother stuttered while sobbing in my arms
wiping her tears. I smiled to reassure her that I'm still alive
She wiped her tears, wondering who I had brought with me.
For our safety, I've decided that we talk on the way.
The buildings, markets and even the police station we were looking for has been swallowed by the void, Making it a disadvantage for us.
We wandered around the city and started introducing ourselves to eachother
"My name is shyra, with a y. But you can call
Aira. It's my nickname"
She seems like a nice girl
"Nice to meet you aira, this my mom. Her name is Nicole but you can call her auntie."
"As for me, I think you already know, my name is sage. I hope we can get to know eachother more better in the future"
HEY!!
We heard a shout from a distance, there were a group of people waving at us.
COME WITH US!
They yelled, finally. We found some survivors.
I nodded at them, as if telepathically telling them to walk faster.
Soon we are standing face to face with them.
They looked around 20-28 years old
I stood Infront, making sure to protect both my mother and the stranger I meet today.
Wow, you guys have a basket full of food. I've been starving cause we've only been eating the same food for the past 2 days!
The girl excitedly spoke
"and what made you think that we would give this to you guys so easily?"
The girl was cute but she was arrogant, she's expressing her emotions but she doesn't know how to read the room.
The girl in front of her flicked her forehead and bowed to us
"We apologize, it may have come off as rude. My name is juniper, you can call me uni.
We've been looking for survivors to join our safety zone. "
I raised my eyesbrows
"safety zone?"
What are they talking about? How could there be a safetyzone when the hole city has been swallowed by the blackhole?
"....."
"Well... uhm"
The woman looked back at her friends, as if asking for approval to share their story.
Everyone nodded in agreement
"Me and my friends were hanging out when the danger struck, we had to see our love ones get swallowed by that hole"
"And while trying to escape from the black hole, we lost 2 of our friends. Including their lovers..."
"This area hasn't been consumed by the black hole, it was safe from it"
I dropped the basket on the ground
"how could you be so sure about that?"
"well, the black hole had never touched that area. And when you enter, you'll be notified That you're in the safety zone"
Aira hesitantly questioned them
"notified? Uhm.. w-what do you mean?"
"It's exactly how it sounds, it might sound ridiculous but when we enter this area. There is a system that pops up like a video game telling us that we entered the safe zone"
Wait, could that system be related to those memories I saw? Considering my experience, I actually believe them. And it wouldn't be a shock for this to happen when a black hole suddenly appeared consuming everyone right?
"I believe you."
My mother and Aira were shocked, they can't believe I'm already believing their story without confirming it.
does that mean we could eat your foo-
I-i mean! Let me introduce myself first!"
"my name is chara"
"The tallest out of all of us is this big guy over here, his name is Desmond."
"Nice to meet you."
He said in reply
"and this quiet twink right here is navid, he doesn't like his name so you can call him nave"
The guy at the back took one look at us and rolled his eyes
"Tsk."
" and here is the quietest and the most shy person in this group, delphi. She doesn't talk much"
The girl waved her hands, she kind of reminds me of aira. Timid and quiet
"Now now, we won't take advantage of you.
Let's make a deal."
"We offer you a safe place in exchange for food"
"We won't take everything"
"Deal?"
"deal"
I said in agreement, but Aira replied back.
" it's not fair, you're taking advantage of us.... You only took hold of the safety zone because you found it. It doesn't mean it's yours!"
The youngest in their group Chara, disagreed with her in defends of her leader
"What do you mean? Uni found the place and as a leader she took charge of it.
Without a leader, this safety zone would be a mess"
"She has a point."
I quietly spoke in defend of chara
"well, Uhm! Actually,
There is a limit of 200 people, we've only manage to find 50 people who were willing to cooperate with us. As for me, I'm good at clea-
Before she could finish, uni interrupted her
"Let's go, it's getting dark. Which means the black hole will soon dissapear"
Wait what?
"Desmond will explain as we walk"
I raised my eyebrows in confusion, well. It's better to have companions, I guess.
(End of chapter)