Chronicle V

What is there? What has become of the one thing that kept the world running?

The coffee was strong, the room wasn't hot but it wasn't cold either, and the world seemed to have shut down. Where ever the eyes shifted to there was nothing happening. It was like everything had decided to just slow to a lull. Even the hum of the ceiling fan had seemed to have become quiet.

What was I looking for? Wait.. what was I even doing?

There was an air of confusion. A feeling of disbelief amongst the continuing inability to focus on the matters at hand. The world changed within the years of content.

I don't remember this.. How did things change so much?

Time changed everything. The overwhelming stench of hopelessness made the stomachs of millions churn. It wore down even the strongest to their cores. It turned back the clocks in ways that could dissolve even the mighty.

I have to do this, I have to make ends meet.. I don't have anywhere else to go..

The plan was simple enough. After all, they have much more than they need. The times have made this an acceptable risk. The times have forced the action to react. The times have made it desperate.

Everything will be fine.. I have to do this. There's nothing left that I can do.

The times have made the options unavailable. The times have made people greedy. It has made the term, surplus, a thing of the past. It has made the term, desperate, a common view.

Ok.. let's do this.. In an out.. nothing more.. just take my share..

A foot knocks the door open.

Up the stairs.. fast.. let's go...

The drawers are pulled out to the floor. Their contents are scattered.

Where is it? Where the FUCK is it?

The closet doors flung open, pulling one side off the track. Clothes are pulled off the hangers as they are shoved out of the way.

Son of a BITCH! Where is it!!

The times have changed many things but time is still constant. Boxes on the closet floor get rifled through. Box by box they are scattered across the room. Nervousness starts to sink in.

I gotta go.. This was stupid.. I gotta get out of here!

A noise emits from below the room. A door swung open to hit the wall then silence.

The fuck was that?! Shit! They're not supposed to be home...

The stairs creak. A clicking sound was heard as if it was the only noise within a mile distance. The noise created by an instrument that hadn't been used in a decade or more.

What am I going to do!? The window? The door? Hide?

Time slowed to allow the many thoughts. The thoughts came so fast to deny the important one. A face covered hides the truth.

The door, I'll just talk to them, I'll tell them I'm sorry... I'll tell them...

The world goes quiet. The thoughts cease. Nothing pertains in the realm of worry. Only one thing left to do.

"Dad??"

The times have changed. He thought he was protecting his family. He didn't know that his family was trying to save themselves. He did what came natural. He heard the noises. He saw the mask. He didn't know.

He didn't know.

The times are changing. He buried his child.