BLUEPRINT: The Story

Chapter 1 | The Drum

Adam was walking out of the grocery store when he heard a one-second drum sound coming from the sky.

As a response, he looked up to the sky, expecting to see something but there was nothing. He shook his head, assuming he was starting to hear things because of his poor sleep schedule.

A few seconds later, he heard it again. This time, he knew he wasn't mistaken. A middle-aged man who was walking in front of him did the same thing–looking up to the sky and trying to find the source of the momentary drum sound.

The man turned around shortly after, his eyebrows furrowed. "I am not the only who heard that, do I?" He asked.

Adam put on an awkward smile before he answered, "I... I heard it too."

Adam's voice was almost inaudible, but the man nodded his head. Wow, the man must've had his ears checked regularly.

The man looked up again, later shrugged and continued walking.

Adam was yet to walk when he heard the drum, so loud that his ears started ringing. He gripped the grocery paper bag in his embrace tighter, scared and anxious of what he was going through at the moment.

What is this... the end of the world?

The world around him was silent. He realised that he couldn't hear a single sound. His eyes roamed around the place, seeing people living their lives like normal. It seems like he was the only one who heard the drum.

He lost his balance for a short moment. He couldn't hear a thing, not even the sound of car engines or people walking when obviously, there should be a sound coming from those.

Adam turned around as though he lost his sense of direction. His face was wearing concern. He was damn afraid that something he has in mind might be true. His hands were holding the paper bag still, some pieces of lettuce shattering on the ground for he's trembled terribly.

"What's going on?" His eyes enlarged.

He heard his own voice.

That was the only thing that convinced him he hasn't really gone deaf. "What the heck is happening?"

His mind was in disarray. He couldn't make sense of what was happening to his ears.

He was taken aback when someone poked his shoulder from behind.

Turning around, his eyes found a woman, seeming to be around the age of his mom, looking as worried as he was.

"Are you okay?" Adam was quick enough to read her lips.

No... I'm not okay. I can't hear you.

Empathy was apparent on the woman's face. Adam knew she wanted to help but the fact that he couldn't hear what the woman said at all disrupted his rational thinking.

Adam stormed off, his body shivering with the fact that he didn't hear a thing. He didn't care how the woman perceived him for walking off just like that. He was damn anxious to care about anything else.

—

The grocery store was a 5-minute walk from the basement he stays at. By the time the clock showed 3.30, Adam made his way getting into the basement, slamming close the metal door behind him, and yet, he heard nothing.

The smell in the basement was something of machinery. Used steels and aluminiums were visible all around the place. The on-going project he was working on was placed near the main wooden table where Adam spent most of his time at. His previous robots were never as big as this one. This was actually his first time to create a human-sized robot.

Adam wasn't sure why he decided to start creating this human-sized robot. It took so much time and effort working on something as big as this one but he just felt the 'urge'.

To have the tall figure standing in his studio made him feel accompanied somehow. There was hardly anybody who's come to the studio other than his cousin, Dan. He hid the studio from everyone, even his own mom. Dan was... a special case.

Adam tried slamming his hand on the table. He saw the small pieces of steel trembling as his palm made contact with the surface of the table, but still, he could hear nothing.

He shut his eyes tight, feeling frustrated with whatever was happening to his ears. This isn't real. He thought. This can't be real.

—

By this time, Adam was at the hospital. He wanted to prove himself that he wasn't going deaf. His voice being audible might be his illusion after all, so he should prove that too. He was very sure that this incident has something to do with him refusing to sleep for three days or so.

Don't worry. This isn't real. Adam tried to console himself.

He couldn't help breathing out a heavy sigh every now and then. As soon as he looked up, he was stressed out. He could see very well that people around him were talking but he couldn't make out whatever they were saying.

His heavy breath, he heard it somehow. Weird.

He couldn't imagine being any lonelier than now. Even the time he spent alone in the basement was better as he would usually turn on his favourite electronic themed music while he was working. The music has somehow helped wash off the loneliness but he wonders if it was possible from now on.

Adam has his head hung low. Anyone who sees him would surely understand that he was going through an absolute despair.

Short moments after, Adam noticed a figure standing in front of him. He looked up to meet eyes with the nurse he'd spoken to earlier at the reception.

He squinted as he tried to read her lips. "The doctor is waiting for you." He believed that was what she said.

The nurse repeated her words and gestured towards the room Adam was supposed to get into.

Adam forced a smile on his face before he stood up, and made his way getting into room numbered 3, expecting the worst coming out of the doctor's mouth.