text: *“But Dr., wouldn’t you agree that these are quite turbulent times we’re living through? It seems almost arrogant to back the claim that turmoil eludes us in our everyday lives. And what does the social dubbing of the plague have anything to do with its real-world validity?”* *“Sadness is a construct based on our emotional state of mind when it’s faced with unfavorable circumstances. To believe the essence of sadness itself is killing scores of people daily is, laughable at best. While yes, its undeniable to say that the times we find ourselves in aren’t the greatest right now, they’re far from catastrophic. Our nation has endured hell. I see no reason why this time would be any different.”* *“So, your analysis of labeling the sickness that’s killed millions of Americans since February a non-issue and calling the woes burdening our society laughable helps put fifty dollars in a mom’s purse so that she might buy her kid a meal for the night? Granted that the shelves aren’t already empty by the time she gets there.”* *“No, I suppose neither really do help that imaginary mother, much like how your empty words laced with prejudice do nothing to help the so-called freedom fighters somewhere in western Michigan stay warm for the night. But, I’m sure you’re offering more of yourself to the cause behind the scenes.”* *“Excuse me but what the fuck did you just say?”* Chuckling at the venom frothing behind her tongue, cemented digits writhed against the leather-lined steering wheel. Running a palm across the metallic circle with three prongs shooting out in different directions from within, a fingernail slid across the prong shooting to the right. A sharp inhale drove an even quicker exhale from slumbering lungs. With his free hand, he flicked the dial. *“In other news, a massive fire has engulfed most of Missoula’s south side. It’s believed that a large concentration of federal agents were inhabiting a string of hotels and residential complexes hours before the fire’s outbreak. Emergency workers and police alike believe accelerants were used to bolster the blaze as they say it’s reached a point to where any further attempts to extinguish it would be reckless. No such organizations or individuals have claimed responsibility at this time.”* Rolling the toothpick around his mouth, the red hue filling the interior with a cosmic sort of persuasion made his lids feel heavy. It was too late to turn around, back to his apartment. Back the two-hour stretch he came from. Back down the road he knew would never be the same if he ever chose to take it again. Pursed lips took a hit off his vapor stick before restless fingers changed the frequency. *“Large detachments of militiamen belonging to the Sect of Concerned Patriots are gaining ground and advancing through Minneapolis’ East Town. City police and private enforcement personnel are being mercilessly gunned down and tortured as the men make their way towards city hall. The rag-tag band that joined the National Insurrectionist Network since the Texas-Idaho secession late last year have made considerable gains in geographical territory. Claiming all of west and northern Wisconsin, eastern Iowa and northern Illinois, they settled their sights on the land of ten thousand lakes after Governor Malinowski made an announcement pledging that he would stop at nothing to eradicate the organization responsible for toppling Wisconsin state’s government. But as it stands, the governor might soon find himself on the wrong end of a pike if the Sect’s leader is a man of his word.”* A rustling in his oil-stained jeans reminded him of the note that sat at the bottom of his pocket. Imperceptible seconds passed by glossy eyes as his left hand decided to unearth it. While absentmindedly digging, he leaned over the steering wheel and canted his head towards the stars. With his right hand, frigid fingers gave the knob a subtle twist. *“Northern Europe is turning into a black hole at this rate. We have no idea what’s happening behind the militarized wall spanning from Rotterdam to St. Petersburg. The U.S., the French, Germans, Russians. No one’s talking about what they’ve seen in Finland and Norway. Sweden went dark early last week. But, what’s the use? Even if the missions they got assigned to didn’t require the upmost secrecy, I have a feeling most coming back would elect to plead the fifth.”* *“You’re going under the assumption that those going over the wall come back at all. At the rate we’re sending over active duty and even reservists, at a time where our country’s coming apart at the seams, I have a feeling that whatever’s over that wall is kicking our collective asses. I mean, c’mon! For Christ’s fucking sake! Every country involved has some serious firepower at their disposal. Us and the Russians have enough ordnance to send the Nordic states swirling to the depths of the North Sea. What the fuck’s going on over there?”* He could hear the unbridled fear riddling the talk show host’s vocals as he examined the many dimples dotting the moon’s face. Try as he might, as much as his slowed breathing and sluggish pulse would allow inside a seventy-two degree driver's seat, the icy chill of fear scraped the bottom of his throat as its tip skated past the top of his heart. *“If you feel depressed, overly tired, lethargic, anxious, suicidal or unlike yourself, seek help immediately. These are all major symptoms of the sickness. If possible, remove yourself from the surrounding area entirely. There’s a strong correlation between a wide onset of symptoms and a localized area. If you know of those suffering from the illness are close to your place of residence, consider moving to another location immediately. Whatever you do, do not fall asleep in or near the area where your symptoms are worst. Do not wander out at night. Lock your doors. Do not go out after dark. For any reason. Shelter in place. Stay tuned to your local radio stations and listen to military and law enforcement personnel.”* The paper. The note. Where was it? *“Somethin’ else is goin on here, Jack. This don’t make no fuckin sense. Sadness doesn’t kill people. They do it themselves, sure! But, not the sadness itself. I get it. You could be a sad sack of shit in bed for a month and eventually rot away. But this? This is...have you heard of the reports people are posting on their socials? It’s fuckin horrid! Fuckin...its fuckin inhuman. It doesn’t make any sense. I don’t care what you think about the insurrectionists. Nobody could do this to another human being. But the bigger question I have is, why are the cops burning every house and building they find victims in come daybreak?”* Rabid fingers now dug for the slip of parchment that had given him the peace of mind necessary to keep his foot on the gas of the burgundy sedan. Yet it continued to be just out of reach. *“Do you believe our country can survive in the state that it’s in? is there any hope of recovering the union?”* *“No, I can’t say with any confidence that there is. The D.o.D. is deliberating whether or not to nuke New Orleans. The U.S. Government doesn’t exist west of the Rockies. Whatever branches of military not deployed in Europe have either resigned, join the insurrectionists or become disconnected with Washington. This...Sad Flu has killed millions in less than half a year, and we can’t figure it out. Insurrection or government territory be damned. This plague doesn’t seem to take sides. Some have figured out that their differences need to be put aside to beat this. Or else, there won’t be anything left to claim after the dust has settled.”* *“What exactly do you think ‘this’ is? You don’t think...?”* *“What I think has no bearing on reality. And the reality of it all is that, we should do what we can to help one another, to do whatever we need to in order to survive, to see the light of a new dawn.”* Hope flashed beneath his pupils as crumpled paper graced his pointer tip. Inhaling another puff, he moved the dial. *“...Tom, we’re getting word of more reported cases emerging out of Baltimore’s Middle East neighborhood. Our sources on the ground have stated witnessing an entire block of residential dwellings being condemned by city police almost overnight. They’re also telling us some more...troubling developments. Can you shed some light on this?”* *“Kelly, hurry the fuck up! They’re gonna see us!”* *“Hey Tom, watch the language if you could. We’re live.”* *“Stacie! Shit. We’re...Kelly hand me the fuckin camera and get over the fence!”* *“Uhm...Tom, are you close to the site? What’s going on? Why are you breathing so heavily?”* *“Stacie! We had to ditch the cops! Police tape cordoned off the block of buildings Trevor tipped us off to. We didn’t believe it at first when he told us all he heard. But when we got closer, the cops saw our camera and a few of them chased after us. I think we lost ‘em. We’re behind the buildings now. Oh God, the fuck’s that smell!”* *“Tom, take a breath and quick cursing, I told you we’re live. Just calm down for a second.”* *“Oh my fuck, that’s foul. I can’t even breathe. Holy...Kelly! You dumb bitch! I swear to God if you don’t get your shit together right this second!”* *“Tom!”* *“Right there, zoom in right there! What...what the fuck is that? Oh my...no. No, I don’t...it can’t be a body! It can’t be! It’s way too skinny. Yes, I know those look like arms! l...it’s way too...why the fuck is it so grey? What the...no...no it can’t...”* *“Tom, what is going on? You need to talk to us. What are you seeing? The up-link on Kelly’s camera isn’t working.”* *“Are those bite marks? No, right there, underneath it’s tit. Is that a tit? Look right there, to the right of the nipple. Yeah, can you zoom in that far? Looks like a tiny bite from a shark. See how the skin’s all puckered around the bite while the rest is fine? The fuck is going on. Let’s get a closer look.”* *“Bite marks? Tom, what are you seeing? Can you hear me?”* *Holy shit...nuh...hughah...no...no...”* *“Tom!”* *“They’re all dead.