the gauntlet of math // numberblocks short story

The Silence

...there was silence around numberland. nothing could be heard, anywhere.

the only place where noise could be heard was at the MI-15 agency. thirteen, fifteen and twenty-six were talking about everyone's sudden disappearance.

fifteen held up a piece of paper. "the last disappearance we have marked is fourteen's. something doesn't add up."

thirteen gasped sharply. "th-that means someone must've taken everyone else in secret! without being noticed! ooh-hooh!" he trembled. 

fifteen tapped thirteen lightly. "don't you worry, thir-- ...ten-and-three. we'll be alright."

"p-promise?"

"promise."

twenty-six flicked his shades. "so, what are we going to do now? no one's here."

"w-well, we could go out and see if anyone's still here," fifteen suggested.

twenty-six nodded slowly. "alright. it might just work."

thirteen, fifteen and twenty-six all wnt outside the agency. numberland looks dark and grey.

"wow. not even grayscale city is this dark," twenty-six mumbled to himself. fifteen heard him.

"you're right," she whispered.

thirteen doesn't say anything. instead, he stepped back slowly.

twenty-six held thirteen's hand. "you're going to be fine. we're military intelligence agents, we can handle this, don't you think so?"

thirteen nodded. "i- I guess..."

they walked out into the silent city. no one was in the greens of numberland. eventually, their only place left to visit was the edge of grayscale city, the darkest part of inner numberland. outside of that, was the unseen mathematics.