The Sudden Departure

The Sudden Departure occurred three years before the start of the story. It was the day on October 14th that certain people in Mapleton disappeared into thin air. They just evaporated according to some Eyewitnesses. Some called it the Rapture; others refused to attach any religious meaning to it. What everyone had to agree on was that October 14th devastated the community. Sudden Departures also occurred worldwide on the same day.

Commemorative Parade

A police motorcade leads the parade that includes among others floats representing local civic and commercial establishments, marching bands, dancers and karate kids. It seemed like a typical parade until the last vehicle passes by. It’s a flatbed truck draped in black with a completely empty bed. The parade marks the third anniversary of the October 14th Sudden Departure. The parade with its lively floats are in contrast to the...