Kai Reven was turning sixteen
The age when people vanish in Viridia
The countdown on his arm read
00:00:37:22
And he was stealing cake
"Think they'll bury me or just yeet me off the edge?"
Kai crouched behind a fruit stall, cupcake in hand
Rhea didn't laugh
She never did on Vanishing Days
"You're not scared?" she asked
He shrugged
"I'm hilarious, remember? The sky wouldn't dare delete its funniest citizen"
She rolled her eyes
But her hand held his tighter than usual
Later that night
Kai sat alone in his room
The candle on his cupcake flickered
His countdown ticked
00:00:00:05
He smiled
"Here we go"
00:00:00:00
Nothing
No light
No scream
No death
Just silence
Then
a click
Like a camera shutter
Snapping him out of reality
Morning came
His mother passed him in the kitchen
No eye contact
No hello
She made one cup of tea
Sat alone
"Kai?" he called
Nothing
He walked to the hallway mirror
His reflection wasn't there