They’re Hiding In The Clouds

Day One

Its clear today.

Liam gazed upwards with an abundance of serenity. The kids played and yelled all throughout recess, but he couldn't help but to be drawn to the clear blue sky. Generally, it calmed him. So much so he would be caught in a trance like state on various occasions, until his friends interrupted him.

"Liam!" His friend, Bobby, approached with much enthusiasm as per usual. Accompanying him was their other friend, Marissa. A young girl with above average height compared to the other boys. They often teased her for it, but she didn't mind as they were much nicer than the other girls in their class. "What are you lookin' at?"

"Oh…nothin' really." Liam turned to them. "I just like lookin' at the sky sometimes."

Marissa giggled. "Why? That's kinda weird."

Bobby jumped to Liam's defense. "Hey, not everyone can stand up with their heads in the clouds like you. It'd sure be nice if you could spare some of that height of yours Marissa!"

They banter back and forth for a good moment, until the teacher stood from the bench she sat so everyone could clearly see her, and called for the class to make their way back. One by one they rushed towards the school from the various playground sets, with Joseph, the known class clown, verbally declaring it a race. Generally, the last one in class would be shamed for being slow. Liam began to run just after Marissa had already sprinted away, but slowed down to look back for his friend. Bobby had put his hands in his pockets and strutted slowly to the door.

"Hey! You gotta run Bobby!" shouted Liam.

Bobby shook his head with content. "Nah, I'd rather be the last one in. You know how mean Joeseph can be if one of y'all came in last."

It was true. Joespeh was never the type to verbally pull his punches from anyone, so this prompted Bobby to often stand up to him often. So much so, that Joseph often would leave him alone. Liam admired this very much from Bobby, and took his time back to class as well. During his stroll, he gazed up to the sky again.

Once the day is over, the teacher dismissed everyone. Liam, Bobby, and Marissa always walked home together, while making sure Marissa got to her destination first. The boys talked the entire way, often stopping to pick up miscellaneous objects to extend their time together. A deep bond that seamlessly helped both young boys grow and trust one another.

"Okay, this is my stop." Said Liam.

"Alright. Hey can I copy your English homework tomorrow morning during breakfast?"

"Yeah, sure. Just don't copy it word for word. It'll look too obvious."

Liam eye's widen. "Oh right! That's smart...I'll see you then, haha."

"Haha, later bro!"

The loyal boy walks on. Liam couldn't help but watch his friend until he turned the corner of his block. He appreciated Bobby for who he was and what he's done for him over the years, but something caught his attention. A singular cloud. The forecast said it would be clear today, but this lone nimbus found it's way within his neighborhood. He gazed curiously and noticed it's speed was...off. The wind is dragging, not fast enough to have it moving at such a pace. It matched Bobby's speed and his direction.

"Liam!" A motherly voice breaks his focus. "Why are you just standing out there?

Dinners almost ready, come in and do your homework before it's done." He takes one more look to the cloud, but only see's clear blue sky. Conflicting emotions welled up, but dissipated from the thought of explaining this strange event to his friend tomorrow.

Day Two

Where is he?

Liam sat at his desk and waited. Only ten minutes after class begins and Bobby's desk remained empty. Concerns with a hint of guilt lingered in his chest. His friend would often be the first to arrive to class. Helping the teacher prep was a fun pass time for him, yet Liam sat fidgeting with his hands in complete worry. Wary to know end, maybe he should've walked his friend home instead. This morning carried a damping atmosphere he'd never felt before. Many of the faculty talked in close proximity of each other. Confusion and dread washed over their faces. Some classroom doors remained open with empty chairs where teachers would sit, yet the remained empty...much like his own teacher's.

A creek at the door startled the rowdy kids to attention. A woman of middle age step through with her head held low. The principle, right behind her, step forward slowly but subtlety. Any principle walking into a classroom usually meant trouble, but his demeanor showed no signs of sternness, nor did it invite any joy or comfort. Something was surely wrong.

Mr. Greene, big in stature and heavy in frame, looked small and defeated. "Class...I regret to inform you, that your classmate Bobby Stills and your teacher Mrs. Stockson...won't be here today. We just got information about an hour ago of them being reported missing. The husband and parents are in a great deal of stress and would accept any kind of help in finding their loved ones. Ms. Palmer will step in for her today. We will continue to monitor the situation until further notice of their whereabouts. Thank you."

This was all too confusing for Liam. One day your best friend walks with you home, the next they're gone. Yet, he felt little to no time to process the feeling of grief. The entire day, emptiness plagued his psyche. A lack of emotional support and unanswered questions to his friend's well-being tore him down at every passing hour. No one spoke to him for the entire day. From that morning, to recess, lunch and the ringing of the bell to alert that the day was over, no one spoke to Liam...except Joeseph.

A smack on the back of his shoulder brought Liam out of his daze. "Hey loser, so you're girlfriend went missing? I'm sure he'll turn back up so you guys can go back to making out again." The insult didn't even warrant a gaze towards his instigator. Liam kept his dead low, and started to pack his backpack to leave.

"Hey! Woose, I’m talkin' to you." Joeseph slams his hand on one of the books, preventing Liam from ignoring his hostility. Still, he continued to pack with much struggle and growing frustration. Then Marissa intervened.

"Hey, dumbass. Leave him alone or I'll get the teacher again. You wanna spend another day in the principle's office?"

Joeseph scoffs. "Pfft, whatever...I was just messing with him."

The bully walks off with disappointment. Until Ms. Palmer intercepts him at his desk and begins to berate him with questions. She had already gotten word of a particular student giving other kids a hard time. Marissa seized the opportunity to finally talk to Liam. "Hey, you alright?"

"...I guess."

"Okay...you wanna walk home together?"

"Yeah..."

They both continued on their journey back home in a sullen silence. Liam could only notice their neighborhood is quieter than normal. Some parents stood outside, looking left and right with a clear level of concern on their face. Liam takes a moment to observe the sky once again, and noticed spotty clouds scattered all around. Some were closer than normal. He could only wonder, if he'd seen a face in one before Marissa got his attention.

"You think Bobby will be okay?"

"Huh? Oh...yeah, I think so. He's tough. So I think he'll be fine...I hope so."

"Hmm...okay, well this is my stop. I can see my mom down the street waiting for me. She looks kind of worried though...you think you'll be okay walking home from here?"

"Yeah, I should be fine. Thanks for walking with me...I appreciate it."

"Don't stress it. Everything will be okay." The two hugged, and parted ways. Liam walked a couple blocks before bursting into a full on sprint to his home. A lingering ominous feeling could be felt with each step. It was as though he was running from something, yet he couldn't tell just how close it actually was to him. His instincts screamed with every passing step. Deep looming shadows seemed to have matched his pace, and trailed behind him, unnaturally. This was a feeling he had never experienced before. A deepening, soul crushing realization of the End.

Yet luckily his final steps granted him euphoria when he reached the patio of his home. He jutted up the stairs and quickly open and closed the door behind him. Out of breathe, he could only look up towards his confused mother wiping her hands in the kitchen. "Liam?" She exclaims. "Everything okay?"

Day Three

Where is everyone...?

Liam sat in the living room to himself as he stared outside the window. The street was empty. Cars were abandoned in unusual spots with various "missing" posters dancing in the turbulent wind. His mother paced back and forth near the hallway, phone stuck to her face calling the missing husband...but with no luck.

"...Damnit...he's still not picking up." She drops her hands with clear defeat and let out a stuttering, cracking deep breath.

"Mom?" Liam finally speaks. "Where's dad...?"

"I don't know baby, he's...somewhere." She looks away, trying everything in her power to not cry in front of her child. "Okay...look. We're going to go for a ride. Dad will be back soon, so we're just going to go out for a little fresh air okay?"

"Oh...okay."

With much urgency and confusion, the two stumbled outside. The overcast is encompassing today, and many front doors to various homes were wide open. In a distance, Liam could here a voice. A cry from a grown man he came to recognize as Joseph's father. He shouted and called for his son, only to be met with with a dead silence. Staggering and helpless, the man fell to his knees in utter defeat.

Liam's mother called for his attention, and waved her hand towards him. Her eyes were watery and red. Liam had never seen her like this, and didn't know what was going on for everyone to up and vanish. He looks back one more to see the hysterical father is now gone. It was only a few seconds he could hear his cries, now it ranged silent in mere moments. He turns back around to ask his mother what is happening, just to be met with another vanishing parent. No indication of her disappearance explained what could've possibly happened to her. Liam’s chest gripped tightly, as he came to the conclusion that his mother was also gone. The only thing left behind was a falling shoe where she stood.

Liam, shaking in fear, became paralyzed. Something otherworldly gripped him. Feint voices of Bobby, Marissa, and his parents beckoned to him from above. He instinctively looks up, only to be met with an extremely low altitude dark cloud. For a moment, he could see something within it. A distorted face twisting and turning with a crooked smile. Every second that went by, the face grew closer and closer with glee. Liam could do nothing but witness something so horrific and unfamiliar. Paralyzed and afraid, he could do nothing. It grew so fierce within him, the instinctual reaction of running no longer became an option. Closer and closer the cosmic horror descended from above. He shed a single tear until as his feet began to raise from the ground. He drew one long breathe as he came closer to the other worldly horror. Screams from all around engulfed his hearing, with the face of something unfamiliar gripped his vision. Suddenly...