Arthur and Maki's Home, Earth – 2032
"We are getting reports about multiple explosions inside the building. We are unsure where the source of these explosions is, but we are certain that it has something to do with the gate," a news anchor explains as another explosion goes off in the background—this time large enough to bust through the roof.
"What is going on over there? I thought it was safe to operate!" Maki jumps up from her seat when she sees the explosion on the TV screen. She looks over at Arthur as if expecting answers from him.
Arthur notices Maki's gaze and responds, "How the hell am I supposed to know? I'm not the one in charge of this entire thing. Hell, it could just be an isolated incident…"
Moments after he says that, another explosion is heard from the TV. Through the broadcast, sirens from emergency vehicles can be heard rapidly approaching the site.
While Maki and Arthur bicker back and forth about what happened to the gate, Jeremiah paces at the back of the room. He constantly looks between his hands and the TV, knowing deep down that something else is about to happen. Meanwhile, in the corner of the room, a small dark purple dot begins to grow.
"It's not like it's going to affect us, so why should we worry about it?" Arthur says to Maki.
Maki rebuts his claim. "It was supposed to be a new source of energy—the energy that was meant to replace our dwindling supply of oil. That same oil that's supposed to run out in our lifetime. Not only that, but what about the people who might be dying over there?"
"They should have known the risks of experimenting with the unknown," he tells her, dodging a pillow she throws his way. "Hey! Violence isn't the answer."
"It is when it comes to you, you musclehead." She throws another pillow at him, only to miss again.
Arthur takes cover behind the couch, hoping to shield himself from Maki's wrath. One of the pillows bounces off the couch and flies toward the dark purple dot in the corner—now the size of a plum—and gets sucked into it.
Jeremiah faintly notices the pillow disappear in his peripheral vision and stops pacing. He asks Arthur to toss him one of the many pillows surrounding him, and Arthur obliges. Jeremiah catches it. Curious, Maki stops throwing pillows and watches what Jeremiah is doing.
Jeremiah lobs the pillow into the growing dot. He and Maki watch as it touches the outer edge and is instantly consumed. Jeremiah immediately understands the ramifications of what's happening.
He runs to Maki and grabs her arm. He yells to Arthur, "We need to get out of here immediately!"
Arthur understands his tone and prepares to stand, but the dot rapidly grows larger. It begins to suck everything into it—dust, pillows, chairs, the couch, and even parts of the wall. In just a few seconds, it grows from the size of a plum to the size of a toddler.
"Stay close to me!" Jeremiah cries to Maki as he fights against the pull of the ever-growing, black hole–like phenomenon in their home.
He manages to stomp his way to a doorframe and hold on before the suction becomes too strong. Jeremiah turns his head just in time to see Arthur inches away from being swallowed.
Jeremiah's eyes widen in horror as Arthur's feet disappear into it—then his legs, his torso, and finally his head. Jeremiah screams, tears streaming down his face, but to no avail. Arthur is gone.
Jeremiah feels his grip on Maki's hand loosen. He tightens his hold, but the sweat on their palms makes it impossible. He sees her feet lift from the ground, pulled toward the thing that took Arthur.
Abruptly, he loses his grip and watches Maki disappear as well. In his shock, he accidentally lets go of the doorframe. His adrenaline surges, and time slows to a crawl as he's pulled toward the dot.
He closes his eyes and accepts his fate—though fate has other plans.
Before he reaches it, the dot suddenly collapses and drops to the floor with a heavy thump.
Jeremiah lies there, tears streaming down his face. Half of his new home is gone—and more importantly, so is his family.