The Awake

Chapter 3

After agreeing to do whatever the maniac had put 99% of the human race to sleep, I was feeling more than a little on edge. I wasn't sure what was going to happen, and I didn't want to be a puppet for some monster. I opened my message thread with Gina for what seemed like the thirtieth time and sent her another.

Hey again Gina! You've only got 5 more minutes to answer, okay? You need to comment and say "I accept" or something bad might happen to you. Can you do that for me?

I nervously glanced at the clock again. She still hadn't answered.

Finally, with one minute to spare, my newsfeed refreshed with Gina's comment saying "okay I accept" blinked on my phone screen. I breathed a sigh of relief knowing that for the time being, Gina was safe. My phone blinked again and my heart sunk as my eyes ran over the words.

CONGRATULATIONS! 2 of you are dead. Not asleep, dead. Don't believe me? Here's the proof.

There was an attachment that I dreaded clicking on, but I did anyway. The other two commenters, by the usernames imsocool and xo_angel, the first a 16 year old boy and one maybe a 16-17 year old girl (I was totally guessing on ages) were posted in separate, but similarly horrifying, pictures. They were hanging upside down from rafters, with a pool of blood underneath them.

I commented as fast as I could.

Gina, DO NOT CLICK ON THAT ATTACHMENT. Understand??

I felt my shoulders un-tense slightly when Gina said

okay i wont I promise

I created a new message thread with Luka, or at least that's what I was deriving from his username, lukagenova42.

Hey, Luka? I have absolutely no clue what the hell is going on or how this creep was able to kill 2 teenagers in different countries in literally one minute, or for that matter how he could put most of the human race to sleep. Where do you live? We need to stick together in order to survive this thing. I think Gina actually lives pretty close to my city, Spiritfalls. How soon can you get here?

An almost instant reply came.

Hey Evie? I'm guessing that's your name, judging by your username? (I used the same username for everything, evie_blue) Aaanyway, I'm 2 hours out of Spiritfalls. What do you need me to bring? Food? Money?•

I worried the inside of my lip again as I typed.

Food or money shouldn't be an issue. Everything is still functioning, just we're the only ones awake to use any of it. I'm sure if we need anything we can always go to the mall or something. I'll get Gina to my house. Meet me at the fountain in the middle of the city when you get there? Oh, you should probably bring your phone charger. I have a feeling that's the only means of communication that we're going to have with this weirdo. Get here safe

I ran back up the stairs to my room and looked around. What would I need? How long would it be until I was back here? I traded my leggings for a more practical pair of jeans and layered a tank top under my hoodie. Flipping my slippers off, I rooted around in my drawer for a few pairs of socks. I put a pair on and stuffed the rest into my duffle bag. I threw in a few necessities; underwear, a complete change of clothes, toothbrush and toiletries, and my art journal and watercolour kit. In the side pocket, I zipped my charger, and after a minute, added my backup charger. I grabbed my wallet and keys as I flipped the light switch and shut my door.

As I went down the stairs, I typed another message to Gina.

Gina, I know you live in Josburg from your profile, but I'll need to give me your house address so I can find you. I'm going to come get you, okay? Get some clothes and your toothbrush and be ready when I get there.

Going around my house, I flipped all the lights off and made sure I didn't have anything on. I grabbed my green army jacket, a cherished gift from my parents, and stepped out the door, locking it behind me. Whoever this person was that was controlling everything, Luka, Gina and I had to stick together. We had to do what he said in order to survive, and for our family to survive, too. I drew in a deep breath. I could do this.