chapter 1

Alex was a good kid. Probably that was a reason why his mom didnt object when he said he would be going to camp in an isolated forest for a week. Although 17, she had enough trust in Alex to know that he would never give into the temptations of bad habits.

Alex had a plan, in 4 day, it was Sakura's birthday. She had been kind to him ever since he was a kid, always talking care of him like an older sister. She was also the reason the trip was taking place and also the reason why his mom allowed him to go on such a trip.

The trip...

12 days into the trip, Alex was running for his life.

"God, please no, I don't want to die"

It had been just a few week, since the great anomaly took place. Alex was with his friends preparing for the birthday when he suddenly got a call from his mom.

"Alex, you need to return home immediately", she had said in a panicked voice.

Alex grew concerned but couldn't ask her anything over the laughing of his friends.

"I'll call you in a few minutes" he told his mom.

"Wait, Alex-"

click. the call was cut. he turned towards his friends who were looking at his face. They have obviously sensed something was wrong.

"what's wrong?" Sis Sakura asked immediately.

"Nothing" he said "I will be back in a few minutes"

"Don't wander too far off."

Alex just hurried towards the river, this was the farthest he could safely go. He could have asked his friends to shut up but he didn't wanted to ruin their fun. Although, he knew that he had failed in that regard, quite miserably. The loud noise that accompanied the tent was now replaced by the silence. Even from here, Alex could sense the tension among his friends.

Hurriedly he dialed his mom, but to no avail, she just wouldn't pick it up.

"Dammit mom, pick up the call"

But there was no return. Alex dialed her number once again, but nothing. He dialed his sister, the same. nothing. Something was wrong, something was terribly wrong.

"Alex, you need to return home back immidately", his mom's word kept ringing in his head.

"Something is wrong"

Alex was too far from the settlement to have any internet access. So he trying to make do with whatever he had on his hand, he turned on the radio. But the answer he got was static.

he changed the station from one to the other, but in every single one the result was the same. yes, something was terribly wrong. Finally among the static of the radio, he could hear something.

" ...the great anomaly ...everyone .. disappear .."

---

Alex ran back to his camp.

"Call your families, everyone" he shouted with tears running down his cheeks.

Seeing Alex in such a pitiful state, everyone ran towards him.

"What happened dude?"asked one boy.

"Is something wrong?" asked the other.

A few moments ago this was a jolly place, everyone was having fun dancing, singing laughing now it was just the opposite.

Most people were scared by such an abrupt command from Alex. 'Did something happen to their families?' everyone grew scared, most to the level that they couldn't even think straight.

"what happened alex?" "what happened?"

A few among the campers gathered enough courage to call their families. Namely Big sis Sakura was the first one to call her family.

She brought the phone to her ears and waited for someone to pick up the call. She waited and waited, but no one answered the call. She looked to Alex and shook her head. Other in the group started calling their families too. But soon an understanding set in, nobody was goin to pick up the call.

"Dude, what the f--- happened?" One man snapped. "Why isnt my mom picking up the call"

He reached in to grab Alex's collar and brought his other hand to punch him, but sakura shouted immediately.

"Jack, wait! How would he know about this"

"he does" jack snapped back. "he was the first one to tell us about this"

Listening to the argument takin place, Alex finally let out a word.

"Disappered..." he said with dry throat "Everyone... disappeared..."