Sunrise On The Forest Before Us

Day one, I am ten days before diverging from the path and entering the black void of insanity.

The morning air filled my lungs as I stepped onto the deck. A thick layer of fog surrounded the strange jungle, giving us no sense of direction or sight.

Flashbacks occurred as I stood on the decaying wood planks, staring blankly into the opaque landscape: "Another late day at the lab." I thought to myself as a sigh of frustration was released. My eyes looked away from my computer screen and focused on the empty cup of coffee. Mise well refill it if I'm going to be here a while, I thought as I began to leave my chair. As I walked further from my desk, the sound of television grows.

"Gravity is disappearing! Joining me is scientist David Lewis with more information!" said the TV.

"The loss of gravity is probably caused by some kind of energy surge. If we find what the source of the surge is, then perhaps we can reverse it," said David, adjusting his circular glasses.

"More information will be released later today on Dangerous News!"

Having already being told by other scientists and government agents, this news didn't come as a shock. I lightly massaged my temples as I watched the coffee brew. The day to day problem is that so little information is known about this significant loss. I did my best to learn about this sudden change that has caused millions to die.

As the problem grew more prominent, and the loss became worldwide, we found ways to keep what humans were left on the ground. We used specialized boots that locked onto Earth's core and saved us from floating out into the sky. We eventually stumbled upon the last place with gravity, and this became our hope that we clung to.

The surrounding waters of a jungle in South America weren't affected by the change, nor was the deceptive landscape. The trip was dangerously long, but we finally ended up in the jungle. Sailing the short bit ahead, I tried to have hope in this grave time. The ship captain, Mr. Spectacle, approached with the floorboards creaking beneath his freshly polished shoes.

"Morning, Mr. Thorns. Admiring the sun, are you?" said Mr. Spectacle with his pristine outfit and freshly brewed coffee in hand. The expression he used was, at times, uneasy to find innocent. Calm, despite the chaos, at peace with the death-causing surroundings.

I answered while trying to hide my real face from him "Yes, quite beautiful, isn't it?"

"Indeed, it is Mr. Thorns. Tell me, if this plan of yours works, how will we exit the jungle?"

"We'll have to retrace our steps, possibly live out there for a while," I replied with a slight nod. Will I survive? I often asked the question of how and never received the answer. As hard as I tried, I could never figure out the verdict.

"Well, I do trust that you will lead us to the right path," he added while taking another sip of his coffee.

He was the only sailor that would take me to the jungle. Everyone that was left was worried about the stories they've heard. I don't blame them; it's a daring adventure that is sure to result in casualties, no matter the route.

"It does put the mind at ease to have someone that trusts you, doesn't it?" I said, putting on a fake smile.

Trying to hide the sadness and weight I carried: the importance of discovering why gravity was almost extinct. If this mission was not successful, it would mean there is no reason for the demise of Earth. It had to work, no matter the cost, even if it meant my life.

Mr. Spectacle smiled back and left the boat side to continue sipping his coffee near the steering wheel. Robert bounded up to me, his youthful eyes glimmering. We had been friends for years and, both of us being scientists, he had agreed to join me on the expedition.

"Hello, Gregory! How's the boat treating you? Feel uneasy yet?" said Robert, with a smile spreading across his face, illuminating his tired eyes.

Happy to see an old friend, I said, "Almost! But I'm still standing, aren't I?". We laughed, trying to ease the challenging times, hoping we would forget the chaos.

"Are you sure about this plan, Gregory?" asked Robert with a troubled face, dropping the facade of happiness, concerned about our safety in the thicket of forest.

He stroked his beard as he said, "It's quite dangerous in there, even for professionals."

"It has to work; we are Earth's only hope of revival," I said, gawking deep into the waters below.

"Well, I'm here to help you, so what you say goes," added Robert, resting his arms on the boat's side, joining me in staring.

"What do you think is the cause? This jungle is the last place on Earth with gravity, why?" Asked Robert with a bewildered look. I, too, wanted to know the reason.

I shrugged and said, "We are here to figure that out, and hopefully, in time."

Finally, escaping from blankly looking at the water, I saw a figure approaching from the corner of my eye. I turned to see who it was. Standing there was the survivalist, Henry, who I convinced to come along and help us.

"Hello Henry, anything unusual so far?" I asked, dredging up a smile, pushing the thoughts of Earth's eradication to the side.

"Not yet, but I will be observant, there's no such thing as too careful, hm?" Replied Henry, with his hands at ease. His leather boots made a specific sound on the boat's floorboards, something I could identify with, not using sight.

"Indeed, that is so," I replied while letting out a sigh of relief. Robert and Henry exchanged waves as their eyes linked.

Mr. Spectacle approached us once again. "We are approaching the shore, Mr. Thorns, I suggest you prepare for the docking," He said. Not waiting for a reply, he walked back up the steps towards the control room.

"Well, let's get ready," said Henry, turning his back to us and stepping towards the stairs to the bay below.

Robert had left the deck as well, after waving his hand towards me. Being the only one on the rotting floor, I felt alone. An eerie quietness came aboard. I felt jittery standing there as if something or someone was staring at me. It meant they knew where I was and where I was headed. It could watch us for our entire expedition, lurking in the darkness, waiting to feed on our flesh, making it seem that we disappeared, removed from existence, causing the doom of Earth and the human race.

Cracks of thunder came as I went to my private room. A storm approached, and I knew that it was trouble.