Chương 1: The Seattle Incident
*RING*
*RING*
In the quietude of the room, Daniel's alarm clock shattered the silence, resonating like the plaintive cries of a newborn infant in the early morning—loud, and entirely unexpected.
*Thump!*
In his morning daze, Daniel, fueled by frustration, slammed a closed fist onto the 'Silence Alarm' button to quell the intrusive noise.
"Ugh," Daniel groaned in protest to the unwelcome arrival of a new day as he stirred from his slumber.
A moment later, he turned over, allowing his face to meet the stagnant air in the room. However, he retained his grip on the alarm clock, fully aware that lifting his hand would reignite the siren-like screech. To truly silence the little beast, he had to endure holding it for a full minute.
After the designated minute had elapsed, Daniel released his grip on the alarm clock. Gradually rubbing his face, he turned his attention to the bedside table, where his glasses lay in repose.
Squinting, he lethargically extended his hand and donned his glasses.
'Granted, I probably should've cleaned the glasses, but whatever..'
With the glasses in place, the need for squinting ceased. Despite the tempting tranquility of the quiet room, the impulse to pull the covers over his head and return to sleep, he couldn't.
The day had already begun, indifferent to his desire for a few more moments of rest.
Daniel rose from the bed and executed a few jumps to dispel some of the lingering laziness. Following this brief physical wake-up, he strolled to the window and raised the shades, allowing the morning light to filter into the room.
The sunlight swiftly bathed his room in a soft yellow glow, illuminating every corner. Taking a moment to appreciate the splendid weather, he proceeded to open his window.
In that instant, it seemed as if a new life had emerged. The prior darkness and warmth dissipated, replaced by the invigorating sound of the morning breeze gently wafting through the air. The backdrop of birds harmonizing in amorous calls for mates created a natural melody, while children playing on the grass contributed their lively laughter and exuberant energy to the symphony of the awakening day.
"Sigh," Dispelling the last remnants of reluctance, Daniel swiftly engaged in his morning routine. This encompassed meticulous tasks such as brushing his teeth, tongue, and hair, along with the refreshing rituals of washing his face and hydrating with a sip of water.
With all tasks completed, Daniel proceeded to prepare his breakfast. He crafted scrambled eggs, expertly enhancing them with a touch of olive oil, salt, and pepper. To achieve an extra level of fluffiness, he concluded the cooking process by adding a hint of sugar.
Utilizing the residual juices from the eggs, Daniel skillfully sliced up some potatoes and cooked them with a dash of pepper and salt. This was swiftly accompanied by the preparation of crispy bacon, adding a savory element to his morning feast.
Pouring himself a glass of ice-cold orange juice, Daniel succumbed to his earthly desires and indulged until his belly felt pleasantly bloated. Seated alone at the dining table, he couldn't escape the reminiscence of one of the fondest memories he had shared with his brother, currently away on vacation with his own family in the East.
"Grow fat with strength, aye?" A wistful glint of nostalgia flickered in Daniel's eyes, accompanied by a gentle chuckle that escaped from his lips.
'I miss you, brother..'
After a brief immersion in his own thoughts, Daniel's gaze shifted to the clock. Swiftly, he initiated the task of cleaning the dishes and wiping down the table.
Completing the cleaning ritual, he delved into the realm of music composition, exploring new ideas and interspersing his creative sessions with bouts of physical exercise. Such was the peculiar chaos within his adolescent mind.
...
Later in the afternoon, around four o'clock, Daniel found himself engaged in a spirited debate with a close friend who had dropped by for a few hours. Seated together in the living room, a companionable silence enveloped them, while the coffee table boasted an array of snacks and energy drinks.
"Influence & Will," With his chin resting on one hand and an arm folded beneath, Daniel vocalized his thoughts. This was the same topic that had been assigned as homework in class—an issue meant for debate and exploration in sessions to unearth the most compelling perspective.
Daniel turned to his friend, finding a contemplative expression on his face.
"I'd say linear relationship. The idea that choice has no influence is false. The choice is a result of decision & influence merging into existence. My will, my body, my memories, my character, my thought patterns, and my instincts. They all influence my choices. They are like shackles on my will, therefore, no free will." Daniel shared his thoughts quietly and succinctly.
His friend continued gazing at a distant wall, lost in his own contemplation.
"It's a decent opinion, too bad you're wrong. That is only based on perception. I believe that choice and influence only connect through temptation. Choose to follow your gut feeling or not; choose to follow your instincts or not. The choice is a manifestation of your will. It's not a separate entity. Therefore, free will exists." Speaking with a faraway daze in his eyes, Daniel's friend directed his words while still fixated on the wall.
As Daniel pondered a response, he shifted his gaze to his friend—a figure with short, light brown hair, hazel eyes, and a lean build. The embodiment of a typical nerd, albeit infused with a touch of style.
"Brian, I can agree with one aspect but even then, my theory holds. To choose or not is a result of influence on choice because everything that you are and have experienced will lead to the result."
"We cannot control circumstances, upbringing, etc. All those variables affect you in some way shape or form. Therefore, our choices aren't our own... They are the result of everything leading to it. Perhaps it is fate... Some might even call it predestination."
Brian froze. He looked at Daniel with slightly wide eyes.
"I guess, you're right."
"I'm not too sure either... I still realize how much I do not know, and it causes me to doubt, but my choices reflect the influence of my emotions and everything else around me; I perceive it this way... That is my personal truth." Daniel spoke with conviction.
"That's good. These talks have truly exercised my mind. From an existential crisis caused by that movie-free doodle or something like that to our chemical build-up, to even time & perception. Talking with you is both a relief & a wonder. Let's end our talk here; I have an appointment with a female."
"Alright... But do you need to speak like that? We only have to speak all civilized in our debates, you know?" Daniel spoke with slight amusement, breaking character. His raised eyebrows were accompanied by a slight smirk on his lips.
"Yeah, yeah," Brian responded, grabbing his laptop and notebook before departing with a brief goodbye.
..
Daniel glanced around the vacant apartment, usually resonant with the sounds of his mother preparing dinner, his brother engrossed in video games, or his sister chattering on the phone while snacking on almonds. The absence of these familiar noises evoked a pang of loneliness in his heart.
'I'm glad I didn't go on vacation, but I can't help but miss them dearly..'
Daniel finally brought himself back & started to clean up the mess he and Brian made. After all, was said and done, he sat down on the couch and stared into space, definitely not lost in thought.
"I should check the news for now," he contemplated.
Completing his cleaning tasks, he sank into the couch, its plush cushions offering respite for his sore ass cheeks. Prior to this, he had been perched on a rigid wooden stool, often neglecting to stand and stretch.
With half the day already elapsed, he felt compelled to catch up on any noteworthy events unfolding in the world.
*Click*
The TV sprang to life, presenting a fervent scientist whose impassioned speech sent spittle flying, staining every microphone within his proximity.
"Global warming has been discernible for a long time! With our summers intensifying in heat and winters escalating in cold, the extremities of natural weather and disasters will increase manifold! The melting of the polar ice caps is a consequence of a higher average temperature globally and could potentially lead to an ice age! It is imperative that we reduce emissions, foster the growth of our forests instead of depleting them, safeguard our coral reefs and oceans, all while concurrently advancing renewable energy technology and ensuring its global dissemination!" The scientist on the news channel spoke with fervor about the imminent crisis posed by global warming.
Daniel slowly shook his head, clicking his tongue against his teeth. "Tsk tsk, at this rate, the planet will freeze over before I die.." The thought inundated his chest with a myriad of mixed emotions.
!!*Beep* Emergency Broadcast *Beep*!!
Daniel flinched slightly, startled by the sudden blare of sirens that snapped him out of his thoughts.
The sirens were abruptly cut off, replaced by a change in the on-screen visuals, leaving only the soft static from the microphones audible for a moment.
A middle-aged woman appeared on the TV, accompanied by the country's flag and various officials behind her. Every person on the screen wore a solemn expression, signaling the gravity of the situation.
"My fellow citizens, our country has just witnessed an atrocity that has never before been seen in our history," her voice quivered with suppressed emotion, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Seattle has been wiped out... Due to a foreign energy anomaly near the I.S.S., it was ripped from its gravitational orbit and sent plummeting to Earth. With a velocity exceeding its original speed by ten times, it managed to pierce through the atmosphere in flames, swiftly crashing into the City of Seattle."
Her voice cracked, her face flushed red, and tears began to freely fall down her cheeks.
She trembled as she continued, the emotional pain gripping her heart.
"At this moment in time... There are no survivors," she uttered, her gaze fixed on the podium; her soft sobs were the only accompaniment to the faint TV static.
The image on the screen morphed again, revealing an aerial view of what had once been the proud city of Seattle—now reduced to a charred, smoking crater spanning miles in diameter.
Daniel shivered as a multitude of thoughts stormed through his mind.
Nothing was left...
But embers.
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