Short Story: Based off of Left Behind City [Part One]
By: MadilynNoir
(Word Count: 355)

A black cat bounds from rock to rock across the surface of a river. I count the number of times the feline rebalances itself. One, two, three, four...
Wait, why is it that everyone begins to count with one? I know that's how things are expressed as singular, but, where does zero come into play? I guess it is just there to separate the fragments from wholes. It still doesn't make any sense, because zero is nothing: Less than a fragment. I suppose zero and one will never meet each other. Maybe, math is all wrong, and a part of miscommunication?
The cat makes its' way to me, slowly and tediously. It snarls and unsheathes its claws, about to pounce on me. Once it jumps into the air, I wake up.
Yes, I gasp and find myself in a completely different world. Scratching my head, I think, 'Was that all a dream?' I guess I should be glad that cat didn't rip me to shreds. Blinking twice, I run my fingers through my twin tails blanketing the ground. I get up and take a good, long look around my environment.
Odd, I don't know this place. Nothing looks familiar. All I see is what seems like a ghost town. Oh, wait, a building out in the distance! I hope someone is there, they'll probably be a local who can tell me where I am. Taking a deep breath and a step forward, I start my journey.
Now, how can I wake up and not know where I am? Was I swept away by a tornado? Stranded by a kidnapper? What's going on?!
I knock on the door: no answer. Great... But, there is a sign! No, not a "sign", an ACTIAL sign. I squint my eyes and read:

Welcome To the City of Left Behind
Population -

I watch the digital screen switch numbers.

Population - 1

Am I really the only one here? I wish that cat was real. Even if it would claw me to pieces, at least it could help me figure out my unending questions.

And possibly calm this panicking heart of mine.