Modern Man

Chapter 1 - Don't they know it's the end of the world?

Cormac sat there on his bed, staring at the clock hands move ever so slowly. He had just gotten home from school, just having completed his final exam.

"Ah. Finally done with school. Only took me seventeen years of my life."

He wondered what he would do with his life now. He still had to wait for his results. By no means did he study, but he believed his grades were passable. Did he want to go to college?

...

No, not really.

...

Did he want to go get a job instantly?

...

Still, no.

"Damn, these years went by quick, now that I think about it. I guess they were right when they said it goes by fast. Oh well. It's not like time waits for anyone."

. . .

. . . . .

"Guess.. guess I'll get some sleep."

*ring ring*

"What?"

His phone was vibrating on his bed, waiting for him to either accept or decline.

"Oh, who could it be now... oh!"

It was his older brother, who was now in college. He hadn't talked to him in a while, so it was good to catch up.

"Hey bud, you free?"

"Yeah, what do you want?"

"Heard you just finished school today. Heh, now you're in the big leagues."

"Yeah, well now I have to get a job, which is equally as bad."

"Don't worry about it bud, I just know you'll get a well paying job. Actually, do you want to meet up at the park?"

"The park? Why?"

"Well I mean, we haven't seen each other in ages. Couldn't hurt to catch up, right? Heh."

"Guess so. Meet you at the bench by the lake?"

"Sure thing bud. See you soon."

Cormac put on a fresh pair of clothes, grabbed the keys to get back into his house, and walked out the front door.

Hopefully no one would break in while his parents were gone.

He looked around as he sat down on the bench, but he didn't see anyone around him. Guess his brother was going to be comically late as always.

"Hey bud! Sorry, the girlfriend wouldn't let me leave without my helmet. She wouldn't believe that I can cycle completely fine without it-"

"Alright, alright, I get it. So how's college going for you?"

"Hm... well, for first, I wouldn't say I have the best grades...  but I'm not the person in last place. Used to be a great deal with the ladies before I stuck with the miss, you know yourself. How about you, did your exams go well?"

As he finished that sentence, he cracked open a can of beer, and drank most of it in one gulp.

"Yeah, I think I did well."

"Oh yeah, how are the guys?"

...

"The guys?"

"Yeah, dumbass, your friends, heh. What about them? They do alright too?"

"Well, I don't know."

"Hm?"

"I haven't talked to them in a while."

"Why, something happen bud?"

"Well...

"Yeah?"

...it's just that I'm fed up, really. I'm sick of them borrowing money off me. They rarely pay me back. I'm always buying them out of situations."

"Woah woah woah, bud. Didn't you borrow some money off them too?"

"Well yeah, but they borrowed more. I'm not apologising. They are in the wrong."

"Now, buddy. You don't want to lose your childhood friends, do you?"

"Well, bro. They won't even apologise to me first. Why should I?"

He put down his can of beer, and wiped the foam off of his mustache, and his big long beard.

"Brother. If you are the first one to apologise, it's a showcase of your bravery. I can tell this is keeping a load on your mind bud. Don't just forgive them because they deserve your forgiveness, but because you deserve peace."

"Wow. That was really something..."

"Yeah, I know, right? But don't tell anyone I'm saying this stuff. I don't want to get labeled a pussy, heheh."

"Well, I'll think I'll forgive them bro. You're right, I think it'll all be right again. I'll head over later and-

Just then, a loud piercing noise came from both of their phones.

"I can only wonder what this is, bud. Better not be another missing kid... wait  what..?"

On the phone screen, it read out as followed.

*SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY*
*CATASTROPHIC EVENT*

*SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY*
*CATASTROPHIC EVENT*

*SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY*
*CATASTROPHIC EVENT*

An artificial voice read out those lines over and over again.

"Well, look at that bud. Probably those two supergiants at war again. We'll probably be fine, I mean who would attack our small country-

A big explosion sounded out beside them. They looked in the sky to their right, and saw what to be a blue mushroom cloud. It wasn't too far from their current location, and was approaching quickly.

"Ah shit!!!"

"Bud, calm down! Listen...!"

He picked him up, and with the strength of a Greek god, he tossed him into the lake.

"Brother! What are you doing?!"

"Swim down further! I'll follow you in!-"

As he said that, Cormac's vision was gone as a big blue smoke cloud blasted across the water.

He did not know what was going on.
His movements were getting... sluggish.
The water was freezing! He needed... to get out...

The water is turning into ice...

. . .

I can't move...

.   .   .

I think this is it... fucking... typical...