"2021 here we come babyyyyy, wooooeeeee yeahhhh"
A group of teens where watching the yearly broadcast for the new year special. Waiting for the last 10 seconds to celebrate the new year to come. 2020 was the worst; wars almost broke out between multiple countries maybe becoming the next world war, a pandemic broke out, killing thousands, riots were started. But nothing was stopping time from moving on.
One of the teens who was wearing a black hoodie with Japanese letters and a panda in the back with blue jeans and a pair of Jans shoes, came up to the main character of this story, Garret. He was wearing a white short-sleeve shirt with a black flamingo on the front.
"Yoo Garret almost there brotha. This will mark our 8th anniversary of being best buddies hahaha, come on take a drink"
"Hahaha alright alright Joe I'll take one, and yeah 8 years... It's been so long, it feels like it was just yesterday when you were there saving my ass from getting beat up by those jerks from J elementary."
Both of the teens took a sip from the cold-beer, you can see droplets sliding down the bottle as they lower it down from their mouths. Looking at each other, smiling then laughing as they looked the tv with the female reporter.
--"1 minute people, until the ball finally drops and the New Year comes. It is such a thrilling event there are.."---
"Soo Garret, I know it's been a rough year for you, losing your family from the pandemic. I just wanted to let you know, I have your back no matter what happens."
Before Garret could respond, a boy and a girl interrupted him each of them jumping on Joe and Garret.
"Come on you aren't forgetting about us right!!!! Come on Ashley we also have Garret's back right.. right!!!"
"Quiet down Jack, hahah, but yeah Garret. We are all here for you, no matter what happens, IIIII will be there for you more than them... ooo look its almost time guyss, look!!! Get the cups"
They all gather up with their colored cups, preparing to chug down the drink as the countdown went down. All looking at the tv and counting down with the reporter.
--"15 seconds remaining until it is time for the new year, andddd here it comes. 10..9..8..7..6..5..4..3..2..1..0.. Happy New Years everyone!!!!! It's been a difficult time for myself and I am sure for yall too, so lets enjoy this..... wait what is that!?? Ray flip the camera--"
The teens were all celebrating, hugging and screaming turning the tv off, without realizing the worst was yet to come. They all began to drink heavily from the bottles of alcohol they acquired from their older neighbors.
"DRINK DRINK DRINK WOOOEEE YEAH GARRETTTTT!"
They were all cheering Garret while he was devouring half the bottle, before letting out a 'ahhh' and swaying a bit. His vision started to get blurry as he tripped over a body. He looked down and it disappeared, not knowing what it was he got back in the groove and wanted to thank his buddies for being there for him.
"I love you guys, I am really happy you guys are here with m..... Guys, guys? where are you?!"
Garret was now in the same room all alone, with no one in sight. The outside began to glow a dark red, casting dark shadows of people standing still in the room but with no one inside. And after a couple seconds, everyone appeared before him all over the floor, with pools of blood covering the marbled floor. Garret ran and kneeled down towards Joe.
"Joe wake up! WAKE UP, DON'T LEAVE ME... JOE"
And once again the bodies disappeared before him, leaving him all alone. Garret stood up, and began to panic looking around for his ghosted friends.
"JOE? ASHLEY? MARK? JACK?!!!"
Joe appeared before Garret, putting his hands on Garret's shoulders.
"Wake up Garret... WAKE UP!!!"
Garret woke up, sitting up straight from his sleeping position, analyzing his surroundings before looking at his watch he received from his friend group for his 17th birthday. The watch was broken, the sticks never moving, the time stuck at 12:00 from two days ago.
He began to cry, moving towards the corner of the bed in the basement of his friend's house, while swaying back and forth.
"this can't be real. this can't be real. this can't be real. this is just a nightmare. just a nightmare.. just a nightmare"
And that is when Garret heard the door from above the stairs rattle and slowly creak as it opened.