Jacob's heart raced as the office plunged into sudden darkness. The fluorescent lights that had hummed above his head moments ago were gone, leaving only the faint glow of emergency lights flickering in the hallway. A nervous murmur spread across the office like a wave, as people began to realize something was very wrong.
He fumbled for his phone, fingers trembling as he unlocked it. The message from his sister still glared back at him on the screen: Are you safe? Stay inside. Don't come home yet. Something's going on. The ominous words gnawed at him, and he quickly typed out a response.
What do you mean? Are you okay? he sent, hoping for a quick reply. Seconds ticked by, but there was no response. His anxiety climbed.
Around him, the office was descending into chaos. Colleagues were rising from their desks, huddling in small groups, voices rising in panic. Gina was already packing her things, eyes wide as she grabbed her phone and bag.
"What's happening?" Jacob asked, stepping closer to her.
"I don't know, but I'm not sticking around to find out," she replied, slinging her bag over her shoulder. "The power's out all over the city. My boyfriend just texted me—he's saying there are riots downtown. People are going crazy."
Jacob's pulse quickened. Riots? That didn't make sense. He hadn't heard anything about protests or unrest. And the news reports earlier had mentioned violent attacks. Something wasn't adding up.
Just then, their boss, Mr. Reynolds, a stout man with thinning hair, burst out of his office. His face was flushed, and sweat glistened on his forehead. "Everyone, listen up!" he barked, clapping his hands for attention. "I just got off the phone with corporate. We're shutting down the office for the day. It's not safe to stay here. Go home, lock your doors, and wait for more instructions. Stay off the streets if you can."
The panic in his voice was unlike anything Jacob had heard from him before. Mr. Reynolds was normally composed, even during the worst business crises, but now, he looked on the verge of breaking. The gravity of the situation hit Jacob like a brick. This wasn't just another office shutdown. Something serious was happening.
Gina grabbed Jacob's arm, pulling him toward the exit. "Come on, we need to get out of here before it gets worse."
Jacob hesitated for a moment, his mind racing. He glanced back at his desk, at the work that now felt meaningless in the face of this looming threat. The usual worries—deadlines, spreadsheets, marketing campaigns—seemed distant, trivial.
He nodded and followed Gina toward the elevator. As they approached, the power flickered back on for a brief moment, and Jacob could see the panicked expressions of his coworkers mirrored in the glow of their phones. But before anyone could rejoice, the lights dimmed again. The emergency generator kept only a few lights on, casting eerie shadows across the office floor.
"Elevator's out," Gina said grimly. "We'll have to take the stairs."
The stairwell was crowded, filled with people from other floors, all shoving their way downward in a hurry to get out. The tension was palpable, and Jacob could hear snippets of conversation as they descended.
"... my brother said the police can't handle it. They're just overwhelmed..."
"... hospitals are closed off now. They're saying it's some kind of virus..."
"... saw someone get attacked on the subway..."
Each piece of conversation was like a jigsaw puzzle falling into place, and the picture that formed was disturbing. Violence, chaos, hospitals flooded with patients. His sister's message echoed in his mind. Stay inside.
By the time they reached the lobby, Jacob's phone buzzed again. He glanced down to see another message from Emma.
Jacob, if you're reading this, don't come to the house. Go somewhere safe. There are people outside, sick people. They're attacking everyone.
Jacob's breath caught in his throat. Attacking everyone? He hurriedly texted back, Emma, where are you? Are you okay?
He barely had time to send the message before the scene in front of him yanked his attention back to the present. The streets outside the office were in chaos. Cars were backed up as far as he could see, horns blaring in frustration. People were running—some with their heads down, others clutching shopping bags, as though they had been caught mid-errand and had no idea what to do next. And in the distance, Jacob could hear it: the sound of sirens wailing in the air, overlapping like a terrible symphony.
Gina's eyes widened as she surveyed the scene. "Oh my god, this is worse than I thought."
Jacob nodded, his mind racing. "Where do we go? The subway's not safe, and if the power's out..."
She looked at him, her voice trembling slightly. "We need to find somewhere secure. Maybe a grocery store, or... or a hospital?"
But even as she said it, they both knew that the hospitals were already overwhelmed. The thought of going near one seemed like a death sentence.
Jacob's phone buzzed again. This time, it was a news alert: Emergency broadcast—violent outbreaks reported in multiple cities. Authorities advise citizens to remain indoors and avoid contact with infected individuals.
The word infected hung in the air, heavy and foreboding.
"We need to get off the streets," Jacob said, pulling Gina toward a nearby alley. "We can't stay out here."
As they ducked into the alley, the world around them seemed to spiral further into madness. The sounds of panic grew louder, and from somewhere close by, Jacob heard a scream—a long, chilling wail that sent a shiver down his spine.
They were only beginning to realize the scale of the nightmare they had just stepped into.