Day count: 0
The alarm buzzed relentlessly.
Chris jolted awake.
"Shit, I'm late."
He shot out of bed, dragging on the first clothes he could find. His shirt was half-buttoned, his shoes still missing as he stumbled toward the door.
"I can't miss this interview…" he muttered, heart already racing. "Why didn't they wake me up?"
He barely slowed as he rushed past the hallway.
"Mom love you, bye!"
Keys in hand, he yanked the door open and sprinted down the street toward the bus stop. The morning air hit his face, sharp and cold, filling his lungs as he ran.
"I can still make it… I can still"
He stopped.
The bus stop was empty.
Chris bent over, hands on his knees, catching his breath as he checked his phone.
"Fifteen minutes late… are you serious?"
He looked up.
No cars.
No people.
No sound.
The street stretched out in silence, completely still. Not even the usual hum of traffic.
A strange feeling crept up his spine.
He pulled out his phone and quickly dialled.
Josh.
The call failed instantly.
"No signal?"
Chris frowned, turning in a slow circle as if the world might suddenly reappear behind him.
"What the hell is going on…?"
Panic began to rise, sharp and sudden.
He turned and ran back to the house.
His shoes slapped against the pavement as he rushed up to the door and grabbed the handle
Locked.
He fumbled with his keys, hands shaking, finally forcing the door open.
Water.
It spilled out toward his feet, pooling across the floor.
Chris froze.
"Mom…?"
Silence.
He stepped inside, shoes soaking instantly as water rippled around his ankles. The faucet in the kitchen was still running, endlessly pouring into an already flooded sink.
He rushed forward and twisted it shut.
The sudden quiet was suffocating.
Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
Chris stood there, breathing hard, staring at the empty house.
"…Where is everyone?"