No One’s Home

By Angie Z

Vivien woke up to an empty house. She didn’t let it bother her, and went on with her day. She waited, and waited for anyone to come home, until she realized how quiet it was. No cars, no chatter, it was like she was on an unused movie set. Soon, she gets a mysterious link that directs her to a website explaining the strange occurrence, and she realizes that things are bigger than they appear to be. She ends up in a city in Spain with the other leftovers, and is expected to start a new life by order of Jaghen Hine, the leader of Project 500-08. Far from home without any family left, she and her best friend, Kiera Lee, tries to return everything back to their original places and restore their families.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Partridge Publishing Singapore
• Release date: Nov 14, 2022
• ISBN: 9781543771947

Book preview

Chapter 1

I woke up to my alarm blaring. Quickly getting up, I went to turn it off and checked the time. It was already past ten in the morning, and my sister was already up. Her bed was tucked in neatly, and the bedroom door was left open.

I got out of bed to close the door and felt the world spinning for a while before reaching the bathroom. I brushed my teeth and washed my face, then changed, and went on my phone to check for new notifications.

Apparently, no one has thought of me in the past 12 hours, so I did not get any new messages. It was rather common. After checking all my texting apps and finding all of them empty, I decided to finally go down to grab something to munch on. I was only looking for something light.

I went out of my room and walked down the stairs with a few cups in hand and my phone in my back pocket. Since I was going down to the kitchen, I might as well clear up the room a bit. Step by step, I slowly walked down the stairs and made sure I didn’t drop anything.

The living room was empty, and all the lights were off. Normally, they would leave one or two on in the morning before going out, unless no one was home. I couldn’t find anyone in the back either, which was red flag number 1.

I figured they went out to the store for some grocery shopping or they all left with my mom for a meeting, so I decided to just wait downstairs while I go on my socials.

Unable to recommend new posts.

That was red flag number 2.

I checked the Wi-Fi connection and my data, but they were working fine. I felt that something wasn’t right, but I still waited. After a while, I got really hungry, so I texted my mother and asked where she was and if she was going to come back soon. There was nothing for me to cook. I ate the last pack of instant noodles the night before.

The message reached my mother, but she didn’t come online to check. After a while, I got impatient and went to the kitchen to see if there was really nothing to eat. I drank a cup of water and found some bread and cheese in the fridge, so I made a cheese sandwich and ate it while waiting.

The rest of my morning passed quickly, with me just going online in my game and doing my commissions. My friends weren’t online. That was normal; they only go on in the middle of the night, so it’s hard to play together with them.

After using up my stock and checking out the new events, I logged out since there wasn’t anything else to do in it for today. I checked the time, and it was already 12pm. My classes were starting soon.

I checked my schedule and remembered to send the details of the classes today to Lily, who keeps losing her timetable. I went into the classroom and opened the first link to science class. No one was in yet, so I went back to my phone and texted Keira, my best friend.

Kei

No one is home right now QAQ

It’s been like that since I woke up this morning

They wouldn’t read my texts too

Omg

Mine too

I went down and everyone was gone

[gif]

I hope they get back soon tho

I’m hungry

I just ate

[gif]

Hehe

It’s so quiet

I don’t even hear anything passing by my house

Same

Normally there is a guy selling fruits in the morning too

But today he didn’t come, so I couldn’t get my fruits

I went back to check if my mother read my texts or not. The tick was still grey. I thought I should call her to ask if she would be coming home soon since I was getting really hungry and I couldn’t survive on cold bread and cheese for the whole day.

Just as I was about to tap the call icon, a new notification popped up. The icon was completely unrecognisable, so it piqued my interest. It was the first notification that popped up on my phone that day. I tapped it, and it loaded for a bit before showing me a five-minute countdown.

I took a screenshot of it and sent it to Kei.

Got a notif and was sent here

Wonder what it is

[gif]

You too?

I got it just now

What do you think it’s for?

??

Idk

We are living the same lives

Soulmate connection?

[gif]

No one is attending class too

I asked the monitor but she didn’t reply

Really?

Maybe it’s the wrong class

I checked the time. 12.27pm. No one joined class on my side either. I checked the day and looked back into my schedule, making sure I did not send the wrong classes to Susan. But no, I had it right.

I looked into the group chat for science class, and the teacher did not say anything about cancelling class that day. I wondered if I should call my classmates to see if I was the only one confused.

Kei

No one is joining my class too

I checked my timetable, i was in the right class but no one is joining

Is today a holiday?

I don’t think so

The five minutes is almost up

[gif]

Let’s go check first

I tapped back to the website and was just in time for a new link to pop up. The link brought me to another site again, this time with a huge map. We could scroll around and zoom into countries, and there were glowing dots around the globe all over the world. A 500 was on the top of the page.

What does this have to do with me?

I ignored it and went back to the chat, but suddenly, my phone turned itself off to restart. It took a while, so I went to get more water and sadly had to prepare another set of bread and cheese right out the fridge. When I went back, there were almost a dozen new messages from Kei and a new link with the same symbol I saw on the map earlier.

Vi

What is this

[screenshot]

What did it mean

Did I read it correctly

Terminated?

What does it mean

Vi?

Hello

Did you disappear too?

?

My phone was restarting

Mine didn’t take so long

I went to get food too

And water

[gif]

Oh nvm

Hurry and check the link

I opened the screenshot and read through the message.

?

To double-check, I tapped on the link and read through it again. I didn’t have to, of course. One glance and you would know that it was identical, but I wanted to make sure.

WELCOME.

YOU HAVE BEEN NOMINATED FOR PROJECT 500-08.

FIND YOUR PARTNERS AND START THE NEW WORLD.

INSTRUCTIONS:

EACH TEAM NEEDS A GOLD AND A SILVER MEMBER. FIND YOUR SUITABLE PARTNER AND SURVIVE THE NEXT 200 DAYS.

REWARD TO FINDING PARTNER: 10 STARS

FAILURE TO FIND PARTNER: DEATH

What the heck was that?

I went back to Kei and replied with a screenshot of my own.

[screenshot]

I got the same thing

Is this a prank

I don’t know any of your friends

Who else can prank the two of us at the same time?

Hmm…

Maybe we just don’t know who they are

This has to be a prank

The whole world can’t disappear

Where will they go? Mars?

Did they purposely leave us behind QAQ

Am I dreaming

[gif]

[gif]

HAHA

But seriously, no one is replying

And there is no one outside too

Then what do we do?

I’m so hungry

[gif]

Maybe just wait

You don’t have any food?

Okok

By 5 maybe we should start thinking of something

Yeah

[gif]

Alright

I put my phone down and went upstairs to check. You never know, maybe my sister was hiding somewhere. I called their phones, but no one responded, so I went to look for Gobs, my dog. I had a pet dog and two cats.

It was beginning to feel creepy being the only one at home. I went outside in the sun and looked around for Gobs. I tried calling her but got the same results. I went back in to grab my phone and more bread and a carton of milk this time to bring it all up into my room.

The room was very messy. There were clothes piled up on the floor, books on the tables, spiderwebs in the corners, and walls covered with chalk drawings.

I placed the food on a table beside my bed and got comfy. I went online and looked for series that just came out and clocked on an action movie. I was not in the mood to go back into the game or continue reading one of the novels I bookmarked.

One episode passed. Then two. And three. Four, five . . . No one came back yet, and it has been two hours. Six episodes, seven, eight . . .

I had enough. I couldn’t force myself to continue watching the same show after three hours of it. No matter how good the plot or characters are, I have my limits. My head spun when I got up, and I felt nauseous.

It’s almost 5

I’m still waiting for someone to come back

[gif]

I’m bored

I finished all my homework already

And I was about to text you

I’m so hungry

So what do we do now?

We start the plan ig

But what is the plan

People would normally meet up right

So i was thinking I could go to your house

How are you going to come?

Walk? I don’t think I can call grab

My mother’s car is here, I can try to drive too

That is dangerous

If your mother’s car is home why is she not home?

Maybe she went out in Winnie’s car

They go out together often

Oh

Are you really coming to my house?

I’ll try my best

[gif]

Ok…

Then…

See you?

Pack your things too

In case we have to go somewhere

But are you sure this is a good idea

What if it’s a prank

They are going too far

I’ll go get ready now

See ya

It was a rash decision, yes. But it was the only thing I could think of, and we haven’t met in a long time. I charged my phone while I started packing my necessities.

I got clothes, my beauty products, chargers, and all of that. It was like packing for a vacation. I went to my mom’s room to look around for her key. If her car is here, her keys should be too, right?

Of course. But that wasn’t the only thing that was left behind. I found her whole bag in her room. I didn’t see it at first when I was looking around for her, so I wasn’t expecting it. Seeing it on the table made me feel chills all over. I took the bag and hurried out of my mother’s room.

I found her car keys and put the bag back onto her bed.

I packed everything into my backpack and changed into something more presentable but still comfy. Track pants and a T-shirt. I got a few hair ties in my bag as well.

After I was satisfied, I checked to see if I missed anything. I nodded and cheered myself on. One step was done. Now it’s time to figure out how to start the car.

Starting a car was way harder than I expected. I basically have noodle arms, so there is no muscle anywhere. I tried inserting each key to see which one fitted and had to try several times before getting the key to turn. Even then, I had to struggle to push it back and get the car to start.

Finally, the car started. I almost lost hope.

Driving it was as challenging as getting it to start, if not harder. I tested it out slowly in my garden, but there wasn’t much space. By the time I successfully reversed the car out, it was past 5.30.

I drove carefully and stopped whenever I was unsure or to reverse and made sure I didn’t hit anything. I stopped by the store near my house and got off, intending to get some food. I had a few bottles of water in the car already. My bag was in the back seat. I parked the car as best as I could in the middle of the road. No one else was here. No cars, nothing.

There were no signs of life in every direction I turned to. I really couldn’t figure out how it could all happen within a day.

I walked up to the main entrance and looked around. The door was halfway open, and everything inside was dark. I was not a fan of dark places, but I still turned my flashlight on and slowly went in.

Inside was the same as outside. It was so quiet I felt like I could hear my phone’s light. I paused and turned a video on so it wouldn’t be as quiet and walked around. The first rule was to act brave.

I got some fruits, a set of small juice boxes and milk, chips, popcorn, canned food and instant noodles, and a portable kettle. I couldn’t hold myself back and took everything that looked like it would taste good. Food could turn things up a bit. I didn’t take anything that seemed too complicated to make.

I walked up to the register and checked around for a bit to confirm that there was no one to pay to. I was secretly relieved because I was sure I wouldn’t have nearly enough money to pay for the whole thing.

I pushed everything to the car and loaded it in carefully.

Are you still coming? It’s 6.20 now

Yeah just got some food, can you send me your address?

[link]

Ok

I have brown gates

And a gray car in front

I’ll text you when I reach

Ok

Be careful

[gif]

I Wazed my way over. On the way, whenever I was on a big road, I would test out some gears and buttons. I was too tense. I was waiting for something to happen, someone to pop out and stop me and tell me I could go home now.

Unfortunately for me, I made my way to Kei’s house before such a hint could appear. By the time I reached her house, the sun was setting, and Kei was already outside, waiting for me with her phone in her hands.

I honked once I saw her figure, and she waved back. I drove carefully and reached her house.

I’m finally here. I sighed. It’s so hard to drive a car.

I didn’t think you’d actually come. I came out to check for a while only, Kei said. But you’re here now, so do I come in?

You’d leave your bestie alone after all my hard work? I gasped.

Let me grab my things first. Kei chuckled. She went back in and came out a few minutes later with a couple of small bags and asked, Where do I put them?

Just in the back seat. I got us some snacks and drinks too. I went down and helped her open the car door. I helped arrange her bags. She wore loose pants that reached her calves and a faded red shirt. Her hair was tied up into a simple bun to keep it away from her face.

I got some chips in my bag too. She looked and gasped at the snacks I got from the store. Wow . . . how did you afford all that?

Wait, I’ll stop the car first.

I took out the car key and closed all doors and followed Kei into her house. She let me sit on a sofa, and I looked around. Her house was pretty neat, and it was comfortable. The floors were marbled, and the living room was small. The kitchen was right next to it.

"About your question earlier, actually, there was no one in the store. No cars, no birds, my dog disappeared, and no one has been replying