Your Life News
“The experts forecast the death count to reach 10,000 as what is being referred to as the Home Invasion Invasion is sweeping the East Coast,” said Norm E. Weathers, an anchor giving his morning update on the YLN channel. Thomas Radd sat in front of his television, watching the report, while paused from eating his delicious waffles.
Thomas called his boss on the phone, and after some initial conversation he said, “Yeah, Mike, I’m just really worried about this thing, you know. They’re saying it’s the big one.”
“They always say that garbage,” replied Mike. He sighed and continued, “If you feel like it’s absolutely necessary to go out and buy a gun right now I guess it’s alright if you come in a little late, but I think you’re overreacting.”
Once Thomas ended the call, he hopped in his car and went straight to Pete’s gun store, where he knew Pete wouldn’t deny any red-blooded American the right to walk out with a firearm the same day they walked in. “You want me to show you how to handle this baby?” said Pete as he handed Thomas his newly purchased pistol.
“No,” replied Thomas. “I know what I’m doing,” but the truth was he had never touched a gun before that moment. When Thomas got home, he figured it would be best to have the gun loaded at all times. After six minutes of fumbling with the gun, he ended up shooting himself in the foot and had to call for an ambulance.
After five weeks of recovering, Thomas had one last doctor check-up before he could return to work. While waiting for his name to be called, Thomas noticed YLN was playing on the television in the doctor’s waiting room. “The experts forecast the death count to reach 100,000 as what is being referred to as the Hippovirus is sweeping the nation,” said Norm E. Weathers, giving his afternoon update on the YLN channel. Thomas left the doctor’s office, not saying a word to anyone, and pulled out his phone.
“Hey, Tom. Ready to get back to the office?” said Mike when he picked up the phone. “Let me guess, the doc says you’re ready to run a marathon.”
“No, I didn’t see him,” said Thomas. “I’m going to the grocery store. I have to stock up on supplies.”
“Supplies?” said Mike. “Supplies for what?”
“The Hippovirus! I’m just really worried about this thing, you know. They’re saying it’s the big one.”
“Tom, I think you might be taking this thing a little too seriously. I doubt it will be that bad. Anyway, I need you back in the office. We’ve been stretched thin without you.”
“I'm sorry. I just can’t risk it. I’ll try to get some work done at home if I can, but I can’t think about that now. Stay safe,” said Thomas, and he hung up the phone.
Thomas spent the next four months shut up in his house. Once WCE, YLN’s biggest competitor, reported that the Hippovirus had become an issue, YLN reported, “The Hippovirus is no longer anything to worry about.” Thomas felt free to go out into the world again. The first thing he decided to do was go have a McDonald’s hamburger. It was a delicious treat, but when Thomas got home he noticed he wasn’t feeling well and decided to go to the hospital. It turned out that his trip to get his burger caught him the flu, and he had to spend the next three weeks in the hospital, clinging to life.
On Thomas’s first day back to the office, when he was well again, Mike stopped by his desk and said, “Good to have you back, Tom.”
“Thanks, Mike,” replied Thomas. “Good to be back.”
“You really put in some good work… when you actually show up.”
Thomas forced a light chuckle, and to keep the moment from being too awkward, he pointed to the device on Mike’s wrist and said, “That looks new. What is it?”
“You’re telling me you watch all that news and you haven’t heard of the new Blueberry smartwatch? It’s the first to connect to the 6H network.”
“No. What can it do?”
“Let me show you,” said Mike.
“Hey Mike,” said Jim, popping out of nowhere. “We have a customer on the line who’s pissed and wants to talk to you.” Hearing that, Mike walked away with Jim without another word.
When Thomas got home from work, he decided to partake in his favorite pastime: watching YLN. “Breaking news tonight, folks,” said Norm E. Weathers, giving his evening update on the YLN channel, “as the experts forecast the death count to reach 1 million as what is being referred to as the 6H network is sweeping the world.”
Thomas was eager to hear more but was distracted when his cell phone began to vibrate. It was Mike calling. Thomas threw his phone across the room and packed a bag as fast as he could.
After two days of driving, Thomas found himself in Newfoundland. He set up camp in some remote woods and lived off of berries, insects, and wild rabbits for one year, stealing the occasional bird’s egg as a delicacy. When he returned to civilization, everyone was dead, and Thomas thought, “I’m finally safe.” He roamed around for what seemed like no time and eternity, winding up in New York City. He watched a beautiful sunset in a peaceful world, before jumping off of the roof of the 70-story YLN building.