<span style="font-family: 'Verdana'"> There was no noise that Riley could hear.  Well, he heard the wind blowing through the trees, a plastic grocery bag skidding across the concrete, and the voices of those that had been on the bus with him, but it was silent.  It was the kind of silent that made chills race up and down your body, bouncing down your spine and pressed on your chest to making breathing hard.  Being a musician, silence wasn't something he dealt with very often either because he had a song in his head or his fingers were itching to bring that song to life on his guitar or piano.<br/>
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This was...This was terrifying.<br/>
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He swallowed hard and glanced at the people who hadn't rushed home the moment the bus doors were open.  He hadn't left because he wouldn't have found anything, not even answers in his studio apartment.  Maybe walking somewhere else and he could find someone?  No, the school, even if out for the summer would have had traffic going by on the road.  People should have been out either for dinner or on their way home from work.  There was nothing.  A thought only clarified as people started coming back.  How long had he been zoned out?<br/>
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Straightening his glasses, he looked at the people returning, admitting to what he already feared.  <i>Everything</i> was gone and while Riley didn't know much about this place, or really anyone that had lived? that lived?  Were they even still here? He couldn't help but empathize with the other counselors that they had nothing.  He had been told by his friend that he would probably be the oldest one here and while he could tell there were some close in age, it quickly became apparent that he was.  They were missing their families, their parents, their siblings, anyone who they had grown up with.  It was a loss that he was sure would torment them once that reality truly set in.<br/>
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Maybe he was lucky that he had no one here?  Did that mean everywhere was affected though, or was it just this town?  He quickly pulled his cellphone out, thumbing through his contact list until he found Derrick, his brother's number.  <i>Hey, just wanted to check in.  I know we're not talking, but if you could just let me know your alive?</i>  He frowned as he hit send, the spinning wheel continuing without sending.  He pocketed the phone and looked at the others.<br/>
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He pulled his hoodie tighter around him, stuffing his hands in the front pockets.  What should they do?  Get back on the bus and try to find the kids?  Try the next town?  The kids hadn't shown back up yet, were they okay?  "We should try to find the kids," he said quietly.  "Maybe they're stuck on the road headed back?"</span>