Sarah stared blankly out her window, her phone still clutched in her hand, though the broadcast had ended minutes ago.
"Survive and thrive… if you can."
The words of the strange, unseen woman rang over and over in her skull, too vast and too heavy to process. They weren't just sounds—they were a decree, something carved into her very marrow. Her lips parted, but no sound came out.
Then—
"AHHHH!"
Her mother's scream snapped her free. Sarah jolted upright, heart hammering, and bolted from her room. Her bare feet pounded down the wooden steps, carrying her into the living room.
Her mother stood by the television, trembling, face pale as death. "W-What was that?! What was that voice?!"
Sarah felt the same ice crawl up her spine, but instinct took over. She darted to the window, snapping the curtains shut and shoving the lock down before dragging a chair in front of it. Then another. Then she turned to the door, pulling the heavy coat rack and wedging it against the frame.
