"Hello?" His voice reverberated throughout the street, returning empty and hollow. There was nobody left in the city. Not a single person, animal, or insect. Nothing moved. Not even the wind.

Riley leaned against a large SUV that was parked in the middle of the road and surveyed the street before him. Large office buildings towered over him. Alongside the sidewalk there were tables and chairs where had once been populated cafes. Now there was nobody, and the chairs sat empty in the silence of midday.

This was day three of his adventure, he thought, his mind racing to catch up with reality. This was just like all of the stories that he'd read, heard, and watched. Last man on earth; knock on the door. Last man on earth; sudden surprise. Riley looked around, the corners of his eyes drooping. He'd only come into town for supplies. His vegetable farm had been attacked by insects and he needed a repellent. How long had the people been gone? By the looks of things, it was less than a few weeks.

He let his eyes roam over the countless black windows of the buildings that overlooked the street. Somehow it was different. Before, he was alone, but he wasn't alone. He didn't hate people, he hated what people made him feel. But now, if an entire city was missing and nobody had come to find out why--then he was truly alone. Now there would be nobody left on Earth. But he was here, which meant that somewhere, somehow, somebody else was still here. He just had to find them.

He chuckled. What would he do after he found them? He'd be forced almost out of courtesy to stay with them forever. No, instead he'd be able to go back home, alone, alone but content in knowing that at least there was another human being on Earth. "So what's the difference, Riley?" His voice was low and soft. "What is the difference?" He let the words hang in the air. He smiled and picked up his rucksack. Maybe there was no difference.