Blackout Experiment 1.0

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Jefferson, Ohio, December 2

It was odd. Not having lights everywhere.

Skye lived in a big house. Her parents weren't home much.

They had money.

Mr. Bartholomew White owned a chain of restaurants that branched the whole United States.

His wife, Mrs. Cara White, was once a model. Now she was the co-president of a large modeling/designing company.

Skye White. That's what people called her.

But that would never be her name.

She'd facetimed them before the internet had disapeared.

It was the usual.

'I'm so sorry we aren't there.'

'We hope you're doing well but...'

Skye had never enjoyed all the technology much.

The constant hum. The flashing lights. The way people depended on it.

It wasn't that big of a deal when it all went dark. I mean she had a generator for a week or so, and batteries for the rest.

What seriously alarmed her is when it came back on.
The television, I mean.
It started listing names.

She was on the edge of her seat, listening as names of people and states raced by.

California...Alicia Addicus...Kaden Barkley...Tyler Gregers...Zeke Lakes....
Pennsylvania...Taylor Cast...Matthew Gallows...Mckayla Penny...
Ohio.
People she knew and people she didn't were named. Then.
Skye White.

That was it.

Her name.

She could hardly comprehend what was going on.

She knew it wouldn't work.

She did it anyway.

She picked up her cell phone, not stopping to feel surprised that it was working, and dialed her parents.

They picked up.

"Honey? Oh my god, this is finally working. Your name. It was on the television." She was rambling, Mrs. White, I mean.

She was saying too many things for Skye to understand.

"M-mom?" Skye was stumbling over the word, just like she always did. "What are we going to do?"

"Well of course you're going."

"What? No. Mom."

"Sweetie, it's just experiments, nothing dangerous I'm sure. The world can't run without electricity. You'd be doing the world a favor, you should be honored."

"And what does dad say about this?"

"Oh, uh, hi sweetheart. Yeah. Everything your mom said. We love you, but you must understand how selfish it would be to keep you and make the world suffer."

"But-"

"We're losing you. We love you and hopefully we'll see you soon."

And silence. She was left in silence.

And then she was struck by the realization of what was happening.