Population Zero

Several days have passed since the inexplicable disappearance of man. One could even feel the atmospheric temperature drop the moment all human presence were no longer detected. The concrete microcosm that man created and claimed dominion over were now littered with unoccupied automobiles and skyscrapers. Their cities now lifeless and still. Silence and vacancy prompts neighboring ferals to explore its cemented dome that was once perfectly constructed to epitomize man’s ceaseless and limitless power.

Man’s abrupt vanishment permits curiosity to flicker within the exotic animals arrested in captivity, empowering them to proclaim their own freedom, scorning their former dependence on man for survival, acceding the power that once belonged to man. Compelled by imminent hunger, they escape the restraints of artificial confinements and lose themselves in unfamiliar terrain in hopes to satiate their hunger. Sightings of them within urban territories were rare at first; however, slowly becoming apparent as days passed. Their presence beacons danger for the cats and dogs trapped inside their abode, which following their master’s abandonment, lost all remnants of comfort, warmth, and security. Some innately surrendered to their instincts, escaping [what they were trained to believe] their only means of survival to face the hardships of primitivity with no reluctance. Some were too tamed to warrant their instincts to govern their inclinations, remaining inside the four walls of domesticity, relying on false hopes of their masters’ return.

A new era has emerged -- the world now desolate and completely void of human life. This story follows the lives of the dogs as they struggle against the unforgiving elements of nature sans human protection. Profoundly deemed as man’s best friend for centuries, many have traveled in hopes of finding their masters to reunite with them, but eventually succumb to the impossible. Others roam wild across the deserted landscapes, embracing their newfound savagery that has been suppressed for thousands of years by human exploitation, forming and living in packs approximate to their wild ancestor: the wolf. Conditions are becoming harsh -- ferreting for food can be a dangerous task if a canine was to travel alone. Embarking on pack territory to search for food has proven fatal for those who fall prey to their hunger. Joining packs was sought as the most logical decision if one wants to survive regressing times, especially when the survival of the species is threatened by exotic presence. The food chain has begun to evolve in the world of no humans, prompting a bloody competition to rise among opposing factions of carnivorism.

One dog remains indifferent towards this feud. True to his inbred nature as a dog, he refuses to accept this new sudden reality. He remains loyal to man, devoting his entire life just to be with his master again. He vowed to walk the ends of the austerely bleak earth until his dying breath to prove that human life can still be detected. With this compulsion fueling his heart and focally hardening his mind, he takes his first steps to embark on a dangerous journey in search of human life. Upon escaping, he looks back one last time at the only manor he have ever called home -- a home that once harbored promising and perpetual vibrancy generated by unforgettable memories, unbreakable bonds, and ardent smiles. He realized now that he must distance himself from these memories and divorce from the feelings they evoked. He learned to accept this lamentable decision for he knows that it will only slow him down, maybe even hold him back. Subsuming all fears, doubts, nostalgia, and sadness, he was mentally ready to face any premeditated hardship as he tread the new grounds of the new era -- an aftermath: population zero.