Before long, he had noticed he was alone.

He looked around, trying to find a familiar face; but everything was just blur of shadows, rushing, like water flowing past a still rock that was him. The buildings faded into dark towering figures that stood forlornly, painting over the streets in grey. The sounds, the music from his headphones, and the noise of the busy intersection buzzed into deafening silence. It was like the whole city had sunk in a monochromatic sea of black and white that muffled and muted everything. In a place that he had grown up in his whole life, suddenly it felt alien. It was suffocating.

"Help me..." he whispered. But no one heard. And no one cared.

He looked up at the sky that had grown dark and heavy. It was as if he was trapped between the sheets, crawling to find the exit. The comfort of his bed, suddenly a twisted nightmare.

"Help me," he said again, louder this time. But his voice got caught in his throat and it felt like he was being gagged. Nothing grasped his neck.

He closed his eyes, desperately clinging to the memories. Desperately clinging to the feelings. Desperately clinging to her image. Now fading. He couldn't remember her smile anymore.

Her. Her face. Her smile. Her everything. Felt like his heart was tearing.

But there was no one to comfort him. No one console him. No one to hold him.

"Please..."

No one.

"Someone...!"

Nothingness.

"Help me--!" he screamed into the darkness.