THE RECKONING...A Prelude
First they hear the static hiss. The people. They wait in their houses, sitting in front of the TV that has gone to snow. Or they're at work, listening to their radios. Then, all at once, the hissing stops and the voices begin to travel. It goes something like this . . . At about 3:15 PM, EST; November 3rd, 2008:
EBS Announcer: Quiet, please.(a few seconds of silence)EBS Announcer: (again) Quiet, please.(suddenly)EBS Announcer: The Emergency Broadcasting System is about to cover import information. The following U.S. Emergency Councilor is about to deliver an important message to American Public. If you're listening or watching this program, please find those who may not be in touch with a radio or TV. Please. This is a world wide emergency and it's important that every American hear what is about to follow.(silence, paper shuffling)U.S. Em. Councilor: Thank you, Mr. Grouse.I'd first like to point out that we all know the world has started to turn on end. From the tsunami from the Peloponnese islands that struck India, Hurricane Katrina to the...latest occurrences that you've been privy to hearing on the news in the last few weeks.What we are about to cover here is very important. It's the latest in news that concerns everyone around the world. It's not good news. What we are about to tell you is important for the survival of as many people as possible and to the continuity of the human race. I repeat, this is important to the survival of the whole human race... Approximately 1 minute, 30 seconds later: The sky goes dark. People begin to scurry about their homes, checking their power. Their lights turn on as people begin to look out their windows. The sky is midnight black, as if somebody has turned off the sun. It can no longer be seen.People can hear screaming all around them. Something is awfully wrong.At about 8:45 PM, EST; November 3rd, 2008:
EBS Announcer: We have interrupted your regular scheduled TV and radio programs to bring you up to date on the emergency situation happening all over the world.If you have just tuned in, the U.S. Emergency Councilor has called for an evacuation of many coastal cities and has given us information about how to prepare for certain events that you may face in different locations around the United States. We'll soon be going over them again, but for now, we're going to share some more information about what's happening in through the Midwest and along the Pacific Coast. Councilor?U.S. Em. Councilor: Thank you, Mr. Grouse.I have here new information that California is no more. I repeat, California and parts of the northern U.S., including Oregon and parts of Washington have just been washed away. The Pacific Coastline has erupted with more volcanic activity and most of the land mass in that area has fallen into the sea.In addition, the ancient fault line, the New Madrid fault, running along the Mississippi River, along the states lines of Tennessee, Missouri and Kentucky, has come to life with a registered 6.4 quake. And rising. As the earthquake is still going, and you are able to hear us, please leave your homes immediately and lay yourselves out in the nearest field.This is by no means without its dangers. The USGS has reported that underground sandblasts may occur in fields, where the pressure has built up to extremes and blows earth into the air. But it IS safer than being near anything that may collapse. The USGS reports that they do not know how long this quake will last, but it's expected to be in several days rather than in hours.At about 10:21 AM, EST; November 8th, 2008:
(static)U.S. Em. Councilor (abruptly): ...and there it is in the sky. The moon turned red just four minutes ago. The only light we have left over and now it's colored like blood... At about 2:06 AM, EST; November 23rd, 2008:
The earth becomes still. Those who are alive have found shelters, already recognizing a changed world. Three minutes later, people begin falling asleep wherever they happen to be. They fall asleep huddled next to one another, or alone, or while driving to safety. The last broadcast doesn't come from the Emergency Broadcast System. There's nobody left to run the equipment or to announce disasters and faulty emergency plans. It comes from a small group of people who have recognized a new problem, something they hoped would make the people aware that this wasn't the end...yet.Unidentified Reporter: I, uh, I thought you should all see this. It's, uh, Jesus, how do you explain this? You simply can't. I don't know what we should do. I don't know if there's anything we can do. Anyway, I was driving along the east coast, I think in New York. Hell, who knows where they are anymore? Anyway my girlfriend, she, uh, she points out at the waters that have swamped some city. She tells me, “Look! Look! Jesus Christ...!” And there it is. Here, I'll play it for you. Take a look. I don't think you'll believe this, but somebody has to see. Just has to.The gaunt, tired face of the man looks away and the screen cuts to a hazy, snowy shot of the ocean. The video doesn't get much. It's too dark, but even then, some people could see what it was. There was something coming up out of the water. Something dark, like a tower, a mass of what looked like birds flying around its peek. The image cut out and hissed as it gave the world the first images of something evil.And that's just before the people began to sleep.
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Story copyrighted (©)
September 12th, 2007. All rights are reserved.