the sixth extinction

January 1999, morning, abandoned mall 

She was struggling to remember the date, because every day is like the last one. Wake up, check on Vicky, look for any signs of life, eat canned peaches, and realize that when death takes your hand, they won.   

Friday, Sept 24 1997 6:34 am, home 

“All this bull news” mother said frustrated, after turning off the TV. 

“What do you mean ma?” Ally was confused. Her mom usually is pretty calm but now she's getting frustrated because of “fake news”. 

“I mean that this news is bullshit. Nothing has happened for weeks and the president expects us to leave our home just because ‘An unexplained natural disaster is coming our way’, do you guys actually believe this?” 

“well,” Ally started to explain, “if scientist believe this, we should too.” she said while packing up a lunch. 

“why are you packing for school? The bus doesn’t leave until 8?” mother said confused at her actions. 

“this isn't for school Ma, just in case- 

“just in case for what, if aliens attack the planet?! No if Godzilla starts to wake up? This news is fake.” she stated, “what do you not believe your own mother?!” She spoke in a very loud tone. At this point Sydney was full with tears, trying not to cry. 

“mom, please don’t get mad, I'm doing this just to be on the safe side,” Ally said calmly, “look, mom please- just relax-” 

“RELAX! DID YOU JUST TELL ME TO RELAX? IVE HAD IT WITH YOU TWO.” she spoke angrily, the apartment next door could hear us. The two daughters stood their quiet, as their mother slammed the door. 

Both daughters were used to this. Yelling, screaming. They didn’t blame mother though, they blamed themselves. Sydney and Ally thought it was their fault that father left. Single parenting wasn’t easy. 

“it's okay Sydney, just pack some food, water and blankets, its better safe than sorry.” Ally said, “Syd, are you alright?” 

Sydney sat there still, frozen. Finally, she spoke “what if it is the end?,” she paused and then continued, “What if we die while mother is out of our sight? what if mother dies? what if everyone dies and we are the only ones left? What if-” 

“Stop it Syd! Stop it! Just pack up and wait at the door!” And so, Sydney packed up her water, food, blankets, and a lamp. And sat in front of the door. She turned on the TV to see if anything was updated 

“...this unexplained natural disaster is coming close. Officials are telling people to evacuate the southern county. The government is calling this marvel “the sixth extinction” ...” 

“ALLY! ALLY COME HERE RIGHT NOW”  

“What is it Syd? What's wron-” her eyes were glued to the TV, observing the world going down. 

“Call mom, Syd call mom right now” but Syd sat there in shock, still listening to the news reporter. 

“11 people are reported dead, 74 injured and 3 are reported missing, due to these inexplicable explosions...” 

“Turn it off Sydney! Turn it off right now!” she yelled- almost identical to her mother. But Syd just sat there. Ally had to do it for her. She aggressively turned it off and shot Sydney a death glare. 

 Ally was not to blame for these actions, her mom not responding to calls, she was stressed, in distressed for what was to come.  

7:01 am, home 

“where are you going?” 

“I'm going to look for mom, stay here Syd.” 

“no.” she shot back 

“what do mean no. I'm in charge and you have to listen to me, understand?” 

“fine, just please tell Ma that you're sorry?” 

“I will I promise. If I don’t come back in an hour call the police and get help, okay?” 

“but I won't have to because you will come back, right?” 

Ally gave her an apologetic smile. “yes, yes I will, I promise.” She gave her sister a hug and went to search for her mother. 

7:09 am, outside the apartment, Ally’s perspective 

When I went downstairs, I didn’t know what was to come. If it were a normal Friday in Thomasville Georgia or Chernobyl. In Georgia nothing happened, therefore I didn’t expect anything.  

As I opened the door, it didn’t look like Chernobyl, it looked worse. I envisioned the kids walk to the local school, but all those kids, were dead. People filming helicopters crashing into the lake. Explosions, many explosions, too many for me to comprehend. I ran around looking at the motionless bodies' underneath crumbled bricks maybe to find my mother, hopefully not. I walked across the street coughing up all the dust and smoke. 

I saw a building, I wasn’t sure if it was the police department or the jail county, anyway there will be adults. I opened the door and saw the prisoners' lifeless corpses, I could barely see the orange uniform, I only saw black and red. 

It's good that Syd didn’t come. Syd! I tried to check the time on my phone but it was cracked, suddenly blood was all over my palms, I smashed the phone in rage and headed home. 

The neighborhood looked like Night of the Living Dead all over again. God let's hope zombies don’t attack Earth. 

The neighborhood looked like Night of the Living Dead all over again. God let's hope zombies don’t attack Earth. 

7:47 am, home (Allys perspective) 

I walked through the door and went to the sink to clean my wound. While I put I little bit off alcohol on it.  

“Syd!” I called. No response. 

“Syd! Come here, I'm home!” Still no response. Where is she? Then I finally noticed that the door was unlocked. I went outside with the gauze around my hand. I saw her out the window looking for someone. She better not have been looking for me. I kept watching her. Suddenly she paused and stood there. 

I ran downstairs since the elevators weren't working and rushed down to the parking lot. And all I can see is her staring down a corpse. A dead corpse 

8:04 am, parking lot 

The two daughters found themselves staring down at their dead mother, gazing into her lifeless eyes. That’s all they could look at since the rats already took most of her. 

8:45 am, parking lot 

“what now?” Syd asked traumatized. 

“I think we should head to the apartment, just remember this wasn’t our fault.” Ally said looking down at her trampled hand. 

“let's go. "she said grabbing Syd's arm. Immediately after the girls heard a bang. They quickly turned around almost falling to their feet. 

the apartment crumbled