Age of Men

by Eduard Joseph

Everything was left as is – there were even tables set with food and burning candles; an indication that whatever happened, happened fast and unexpectedly. Then there was town of Hoer-Verde in Brazil. 600 hundred people disappeared without a trace on February 5th, 1923.”

  “Is there any connection to what’s happening now?” Agent Smith asked.

  “I’m getting to it… Three thousand Chinese soldiers disappeared without a trace at Nanking in December 1937 and in 1965, one of the Chinese soldiers reappeared wandering the streets of Paris, still wearing the uniform he wore on the day of his disappearance.”

  Agent Smith and the rest of the agents seemed confused.

  “How is that possible?” Agent Smith asked.

  “His name was Liu Miu Zie.” Jack continued, “When the police officers confronted him, he said he was looking for the rest of the troops and was convinced that he and the rest of the missing troops were on their way to battle just a few hours earlier. He was declared insane and died six days later – after being institutionalized. Nobody knows where he was all those years or how he came back. Mass disappearances are recorded throughout history, though there are no records of buildings or continents disappearing. I guess there’s a first time for everything… And this brings me to the most frightening part of my theory; when Australia, Japan and all the other countries disappeared, they didn’t vanish completely. They went someplace else...”

  “They went someplace else?” Agent Smith asked confused, “I’m not sure I’m following.”

  Jack reached into his bag and took out a DVD, handed it to one of the agents seated at the table and motioned for him to play it.

  “I found something late last night.” Jack said.

  The agent put the DVD into the player and the news footage of Kyushu, Japan appeared on the TV.

  “We’ve seen this already.” Agent Smith said annoyed.

  Jack gestured for him to be patient, took the remote and forwarded through the footage right up to the point where all hell broke loose.

  “Here we go.” Jack said.

  He slowed down the footage just after the field reporter turned to ash and disappeared.

  “There!” Jack exclaimed.

  Jack paused the video and pointed at the screen. The footage was paused just before the video link died and displayed an image of a field. Everyone stared at the screen unsure what he was referring to – what was so special about the field?

  “What?” Agent Smith asked unimpressed, “What are we looking at? It’s a field.”

  “Yes.” Jack said proudly, “A field – a completely different field.”

  His enthusiasm was met by blank faces.

  “There used to be a forest and a village… not a field.” He added.

  Jack skipped the video footage back one frame and the disappearing village came onto the TV screen again and it was evident that the field and the town were two different locations.

  “It’s easy to miss this important piece of information.” Jack said, “If it weren’t for my slow internet connection that buffered the video playback I too would have missed this. It’s only visible in one frame of video, between the villagers disappearing and the static; a mere split second before the feed was lost the camera recorded images that are not from around there. You’ll note that the image you’re seeing is completely different from where the little girl vanished. I think that it might be possible that Kyushu, Japan and its people didn’t vanish. They were simply moved to another place.”

  “Another place?” Agent Smith asked concerned, “Can you be more specific?”

  “I’m not sure. The theories about what happens to people after they mysteriously vanished varies from scholar to scholar. Some point to an alternate universe.”

  “An alternate universe?” Agent Smith was unconvinced. “I’m not a big believer in science fiction.”

  “It’s not so far-fetched if you think in terms of heaven and hell. They too can be considered alternate universes, but it’s all just a theory. Another theory could be spontaneous combustion; it’s also a recorded trigger for disappearances, but there would be scorch marks in the soil and not water where the earth used to be. I think it is safe to say these people didn’t spontaneously combust. I’ll only know for certain if I can get to one of the sites and investigate.”

  “We don’t have the time or luxury for that.” Agent Smith said.

  Agent Smith’s phone rang. He reached for it and answered the call. The expression on his face changed drastically and then he disconnected the call.

  “What?” Jack asked alarmed, “What is it?”

  “I think you might just get your chance to investigate a disappearance site.” Agent Smith said.

   

  13

  Alicia sat on one of the couches in the break-room of the office. She had handed in her column and was too afraid to go home and be alone. She would rather be at work surrounded by people she despised than be alone. When you’re alone your mind starts to wander and run wild with assumptions and worries about what might happen to your family.

  A co-worker rushed past her and switched on the TV mounted against the wall of the break-room; a news bulletin was on about another disappearance and within no time, everyone in the office stood up and approached the TV. Something was happening. Was it another disappearance? Alicia’s heart started racing at the thought of the disappearances continuing – it all felt like a bad dream she couldn’t wake up from.

  The news report was by a camera-crew in a helicopter circling the ocean where Miami used to be. Sirens of emergency workers approaching from surrounding areas could be heard as the news crew filmed search and rescue helicopters flying above the scene of disaster. There seemed to be no survivors and no indication as to where the landmass and the citizens of Miami disappeared to.

  “It is utter chaos here in what used to be Miami.” The Camera-man said, “I’m unable to describe what I’m seeing here. It’s like the air swallowed up Miami leaving behind only water. It’s an amazing sight and a terrifying one. From what we can see there are no survivors.”

  Everyone in the office reacted differently to the news report; some started crying, others simply ran out of the office while some just stood there frozen with fear. Alicia was one of the frozen ones until her phone rang; forcing her to gather herself and answer it.

  “Hello?” Alicia answered.

  “Honey.” Jack said, “Did you see the news?”

  “Yes. America’s the only continent left and it’s reached our shores.”

  “Yes. We fear we our time might be running out fast.”

  “Where are you?” Alicia asked concerned, “It sounds like you’re in a car.”

  “We’re heading to the airport. We’re going to Miami to investigate the scene. I need to see this from up close if I’m to figure out what’s happening.”

  Alicia’s heart sank to her feet. She didn’t want her husband running straight towards danger – she wanted him with her and their son – safe in their house and away from the impending doom, but she knew that he had a job to do and that he could perhaps be the only one who could stop it.

  “Is Timmy with you?” Alicia asked worried.

  “Yes.” Jack said, “He’s with me. He’s fine. He is a bit scared, but he’s safe.”

  “Safe? You have our son with you and you’re heading off to meet danger head-on? What are you thinking?”

  “I’m thinking that this might be my only chance to do this.” Jack said, “Don’t worry. I won’t let anything happen to our son. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

  She didn’t like the idea of her entire family rushing off to one of the disaster areas, but what if he was the only thing that stood between them and extinction?

  “Fine. Just promise me you’ll return home – both of you.”

  “I promise.” Jack said.

  “I can’t imagine losing the two of you.” Alicia whispered softly.

  “You won’t.” Jack assured her, “I lov
e you.”

  “I love you too.” Alicia said.

   

  14

  Kennedy Airport was completely deserted as the FDA grounded all flights due to the enigmatic disappearance of Miami. The only movement in the Drop Zone of the airport was the Federal Mercedes Benz pulling up to the entrance. Once the vehicle was stationary Agent Smith, Jack, Timmy and two other agents got out, rushed over to the entrance and entered the airport building. They were heading to a private jet that stood waiting for them on tarmac 6.

  Timmy held on tightly to his father’s hand, but had trouble keeping up with the grownups as one of their strides was equivalent to three of his. Finally, Jack picked Timmy up and carried him in his arms. He felt better with Timmy in his arms rather than having him run next to him. He could feel Timmy’s little heart beating nervously against his chest as they hurried through the empty airport.

  “I still think you should’ve left your son at the office.” Agent Smith said, “This could be dangerous.”

  “I appreciate your concern,” Jack said, “But I’m keeping him close to me. I’m not letting him out of my sight. When you’re a father your priorities change.”

  “Have it your way.”

  Jack was growing weary of Agent Smith’s harsh attitude towards Timmy. It became more apparent that Agent Smith wasn’t a family man, otherwise he’d understand why Timmy was so important. What use was it to try and save the world when you don’t like children? Children are our future and is worth saving.

  “Why are you so mean?” Jack insisted.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Whenever my son comes up you get agitated.”

  “Kids slow us down. I don’t know if you know this, but we’re at the front of a catastrophe and we need to move fast to avert it. Your son is going to get in the way or get you killed. When you have a child with you, you’ll only think about protecting him and not the big picture.”

  “My son is my big picture.” Jack said defensive, “If you had children you would understand.”

  “I’ll never understand why anyone would want a child.”

  Agent Smith received a text message which he read and quietly cursed to himself before putting the phone away again.

  “This thing is moving faster than we thought.” Agent Smith said.

  “What?” Jack gasped.

  “Los Angeles has been eliminated.”

  “What? That’s on the other side of the country. It’s approaching us from two directions?”

   

  15

  New York City. 10:05PM

  Jessica and Kim sat on a bench in Central Park having their morning coffee. Despite the fact that more than half of the planet had disappeared into thin air, it was a lovely summer day and they decided to make the best of – get outdoors for a while and soak up the sun.

  The park was deserted except for a few people scurrying off to somewhere safe, but with the whole world disappearing where was safe? When the news broke that two American cities were the latest to disappear, most of the New Yorkers had packed up and tried to get out of the city. Some stayed, knowing that it was pointless to get stuck in traffic with nowhere to go and sought refuge in churches. If their city was the next to disappear there was nothing anyone could do or anywhere they could go.

  Jessica and Kim were two of the few that decided to stay and take their chances. Maybe it was not as bad as everyone thought? Perhaps it would blow over? It could be blown out of proportion like they did with Y2K. Media always had a way of making things sound worse than it really was, didn’t they?

  Jessica took a sip from her coffee; soaking up the morning sun as a woman carrying a baby ran by frantically as she tried to get out of the city. The woman glanced at the two women on the bench with confusion as she rushed by.

  “This is nice.” Jessica said in a relaxed tone.

  Kim nodded and stared up at the cloudless sky as a bird flew overhead towards the city.

  “We should do this more often.” Jessica said, “We never really take time off from our busy lives to just sit and enjoy life. I hardly see you anymore. We used to be so close.”

  Jessica turned to Kim. Kim was too quiet for her liking and seemed preoccupied.

  “I’m glad you are here.”

  “Me too.” Kim said a bit rattled, I’m just worried about my mother. I tried calling her earlier, but the network was busy. I just hope nothing bad happened to her.”

  There was a moment of awkward silence as Kim pondered about her decision to stay in the city with her lifelong friend. Her boyfriend packed his stuff the night before and ran off to be with his parents in what he called the end of days. At first she was upset that he picked his family over her, but if her parents were still alive she might’ve made the same decision.

  “This’ll blow over.” Jessica said confident, “It’s just mass hysteria. You remember with the 9/11 attacks how everyone thought it was the end of civilization, but then we survived?”

  “Yeah.” Kim chuckled uncertain.

  A man carrying a briefcase ran by and glanced at them; wondering what was wrong with the only two idiots in the city who decided to stay put.

  A few more people ran by; some crying as they tried desperately to get to safety before it was too late, but what were they running from? There was no indication that the city was in any danger, and besides, it proved pointless to try and leave the city as every road leading out of the city was crammed with bumper-to-bumper traffic.

  Jessica took a sip from her coffee as a small cloud of fog formed around her. Kim stood up and stepped back; watching in horror as her friend simply turned into ash while she drank her coffee and disappeared into the fog. A small pool of water formed in the spot where the park bench was and it increased as the fog cloud grew. Instantaneously the fog cloud expanded in a circular motion, engulfing and disintegrating Kim, the park, everything and everyone in it.

  The ash cloud, now reaching up into the sky about a mile high, moved out in a circular impact tremor from Central Park at an incredible rate and devoured buildings, cars and people. Everything simply turned to ash and vanished without a trace. As everything disappeared, only water was left behind as the cloud of fog and ash continued on its path of obliteration with no sign of slowing down.

   

  16

  The private jet stood on tarmac 6 ready for takeoff as the immense fog bank of nothingness approached the airport at an alarming rate. Jack strapped Timmy in before buckling up himself. Along with the pilots and the agents, they were the only six people in the jet.

  While Jack buckled up he noticed the imminent doom through the window; the ash-and-fog bank reached at least a mile up into the sky and stretched across the horizon with no visible ends – devouring everything in its path as it rushed towards the airport.

  “It’s here.” Jack gasped.

  Timmy started crying and Jack tried to calm him down as Agent Smith looked out the window; the pending kismet would reach them in a matter of minutes.

  “Holy crap.” Agent Smith said to himself.

  Agent Smith glanced over at the cockpit and yelled, “Get us in the air, NOW!”

  Jack’s hands were trembling as he held onto Timmy’s fragile, little hands. His little boy was terrified and there was not much he could do but hold onto him and pray to God to keep them safe. The moment he feared had arrived and they were nowhere near prepared to deal with it. The event had come much too fast and they still had no idea what they were facing.

  “Don’t worry.” Jack said unto Timmy, “We’ll be alright.”

  “What about mom?”

  With those three words, Jack felt the life drain out of him. In all the confusion he had forgotten about Alicia; he was only concentrated on getting his boy to safety. As the jet started moving Jack anxiously reached into his pocket for his phone and dialed Alicia’s number with trembling fingers. The number rang a few moments and then Alicia answered.

  “Jack?”

 
He could hear the fear in her voice and he knew the event had reached her. He should’ve never left her behind.

  “Alicia!” He called out, “Get out! Run! Run NOW!”

  “It’s already here.” Alicia said.

  There was a portentous sound of gushing wind and then the call was disconnected. Jack lowered his head at the thought of Alicia being gone. He couldn’t save her. He should’ve insisted they go pick her up before they came to the airport. It was his fault that she was gone and there was nothing he could do to get her back.

  “Daddy?” Timmy whimpered.

  Jack embraced him tightly and stroked his head. He had to keep his son calm; the most important thing now was to protect his son.

  The nothingness reached the airport as the jet turned onto the runway and devoured the building and other planes in a matter of seconds. Concrete, windows and metal all shattered into ash and disappeared into the cloud of disaster as it swooped across hangers and airplanes towards the runway; leaving behind absolutely nothing – not even landmass. Water from the ocean flooded the abyss left behind by the event just as it did with every other part of the world that disappeared.

  Jack turned to Agent Smith and could see he was just as terrified as he clenched onto the armrests tightly – so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

  “Are we going to make it?” Jack asked.

  “You tell me.”

  Jack stared out the window again; the nothingness was close now and gaining on them as the jet took to the sky. The cloud of nothingness inched closer and closer to the ascending jet until it finally touched the tail of the jet. The tail started to disintegrate and crumble away into the nothingness while the jet shook tremendously as it climbed. Emergency sirens from the cockpit echoed through the jet while the pilots were doing everything they could to keep the jet in the air. They were clearing the nothingness, but then the jet took a dip and started descending at a rapid rate; they were crashing.

  Timmy cried hysterically as Jack held onto him tightly and tried to comfort him.

  The jet was heading towards a busy highway packed with stationary cars of people who tried to get out of the city. Some people stood next to their cars and watched frozen in fear as the nothingness and the jet approached them while others simply grabbed their kids and ran for their lives.

  The jet swooped down towards the highway filled with cars and screaming people.

  “Brace for impact!” The pilot screamed.

  Jack, Timmy and Agent Smith ducked and braced for impact just as the jet lunged down onto the highway; crushing cars and people as it skidded across the highway to a bumpy halt.

  Jack cautiously opened his eyes to see whether they were still alive and was relieved to see Timmy. He was still alive, but rattled. He glanced over at Agent Smith who wasn’t moving, but there was no time to check. He had to get out of the jet and get his son to safety.

  Jack glanced out the window and saw that the nothingness was still closing in on them and people were still scattering to get away. He unbuckled himself then Timmy and grabbed him in his arms, ran towards the front of the jet and saw that the pilots were not moving. Without hesitation, he