The apocalypse of 2067

It was when the government caught the last of the active rebellion that the monsters came out and killed them. That wasn’t all they did, though. No. They also decided to take over as much of the world as possible.

Just because they could.

Mythical creatures, the government had crushed almost all stories of them. The wards against them, the survivors. The creatures themselves. Unknown by the world, never to be heard of again. Of course, tales were occasionally passed down. The government couldn’t fully stop that, although they tried. Rebellers stood on the streets shouting the information, until their death, which was imminent and came quickly. How could it not, when the dust told the government whatever they wanted to know.

But we for the most part knew a few things.

Iron was poison. Inside-out clothing means they can’t see you if you stay quiet and make no contact. Stuff like that. But that was about it. And not everyone knew, either

Their empire was set up at the base of a mountain, a mountain that before, did not exist. It rose from the sea, and all who went there were never seen again. The believers, they say that up there, it is paradise. Everyone else, we aren’t so sure. It was at one point rumoured, and probably still is, that screams can be heard from up on the summit late at night when everything should be sleeping.

We saw people who were witnesses on the internet every day until the creatures broke the devices.

And it was easy to believe them, because the looks on those faces, the haunted eyes, the pale faces? Those couldn’t have been faked.

And those people, the witnesses? Apparently, they were never seen again.

For better or worse, they were all gone.

Forever.

Until they weren’t.

Until today.

September 28, 2067

- Aether Winters, age 15 –

WHAT I KNOW

• Mythical creatures, particularly faeries or those related to fae, cannot see or hear those who wear inside out clothes or the colour red, unless the one who wears the garments above talks in the presence of the creature or the creature touches the space of the human. Then, all faeries with the Fae who found the person can also see the Fae

• FAE, only Fae, cannot lie. However, they can omit things and warp the truth ( in the same way that wish granters will make the wish into something undesirable or useless if possible)

• Wish granters. As above.

• Mythical creatures, if wearing clothes, will usually wear green.

• Iron is a good defense against most creatures; it seems to be poisonous to them, sometimes burning the skin of the creature if contact is made.

• They do not like horses. Perhaps because they often wear horseshoes?

• They can make glamours: around one, senses are often not to be trusted.

• The dead are coming back to life again.

10 days earlier

On September 17 of the year 2067, the government showed the mass murder of the rebels on TV.

One thousand and fifty-two people, caught over the course of a month. The last of the rebellion.

It was an elaborate scheme, the way they died. Five hundred and twenty-six of the people caught were put into nooses attached to gallows. The other five hundred and twenty-six in guillotines.

The contraptions were arranged in a checkerboard pattern, a guillotine, and then to each side gallows. And to each side of the gallows, guillotines.

It was sudden and unexpected when all at once the guillotines fell and the trapdoors opened to let the people fall through.

They had had the information of the people on the screens as they waited to do it - of the gallows, two hundred and thirty-nine were children under the age of twelve. Ninety-six of them were girls, one hundred and forty-nine were boys. The youngest was four years old.

in the guillotines, there were only four children, all under seven, all girls.

It was to be beautiful, they said at the start of the broadcast, which I suppose means that they thought that the sight of seven young girls’ heads rolling around on the floor would be beautiful too, but I don’t think anyone could have called it that. I certainly didn’t, for who would think that the sight of writhing bodies and rolling, bloody heads as the owners died, was ‘beautiful’?

Deranged psychopaths, that’s who.

There’s a lot of those in the government.

September 18, 2067

-Aether Winters, age 15-

Radio news broadcast

“The Survivors’ Truth Frequency”

“While water rations are already low, at 1.5 gallons per week, per person, next week they lower even further, going from one and a half to three quarters.

Remember, humans optimally got at least half a gallon a day before the water restrictions came to be, and these rations include drinking, cooking, and cleaning water. New laws are coming into place, including one where any stolen water will result in a life sentence, extended labour, or death.

“Another new law is that of extra water for torture. Every hour spent torturing one of these people, or someone who kills a family member, will result in an extra 0.25 galleons for the torturer.

Hailstorms have been rampant in America, killing most of the food growing in the farms situated there. As you know, 97% of North America is farmland, and supplies 60% of the total food for the population, so this may be a problem, especially for those who are not Antarcticanians. As the President of Antarctica said, Antarcticanians will not be sharing out their food with the rest of the planet.

One of the main natural problems at the moment is the USA drought, where the sun has begun to shine year round, without any rain. Meteorologists claim that this will last at least a few hundred years, so Americans from this area have fled to other countries as refugees.

“Meanwhile, an experiment to slow climate change has resulted in acid rain between Japin and Kahikistann.

A short break now, narrated by an anonymous voice. We’ll be back in just a moment!”

“Survival Kit List for Surviving the Government

Small bottles of bleach to purify water (a few drops can purify a gallon of water).

Non-perishable, calorie-dense food such as rice, beans, canned goods, and dried pasta.

Bandages, antiseptics, pain relievers, and any necessary personal medications.

A basic pocket knife.

Mylar emergency blankets if affordable, or repurposed old blankets.

Whistle or signaling for help.

Basic items like pepper spray or even a sturdy stick.

A basic, battery-operated flashlight (with extra batteries), or better get a dynamo style torch, as those are easily rechargable and have less ways to break

Made from plastic sheeting or heavy-duty garbage bags.

Layered old clothes and blankets.

Tarps or plastic sheeting combined with ropes to create a makeshift shelter.

Matches, lighters, and DIY fire starters made from cotton balls and petroleum jelly.

Rope or strong twine.

A small pot and a portable DIY stove made from cans.

An old gardening trowel or repurposed tool.

DIY masks made from cloth or other available materials.

Soap, homemade sanitizer, and a small container of bleach for disinfecting.

Small amounts of cash, tradable items, or barter goods like cigarettes or alcohol.

An underground bunker or hideout at least sixty-five metres below ground that is big enough for your group to stand at least two meters apart at all times, to stop body heat from being sensed and that has an airtight door.”

“There are multiple reasons why this is becoming a necessary precaution for many households- one of which is the thought control Chips the government has just approved the forced implantation of. These provide the illusion of free will, without it actually being there and have been around illegally since the early twenties.

And one other thing - the AI prime minister is being “re-elected” for its 5th term. Quote from the election days -

“I CAN’T NOT LOSE IF I KILL ANYONE WHO TRIES TO BEAT ME”

This, of course, meant anyone competing against him surrendered, as it goes through with its threats eventually.

A new law being put in place by it is microscopic camera ’dust’, so it can easily survey what people are doing.

Leave as soon as you can, before it’s too late.

Now we move onto—

*INDISTINGUISHABLE SCREAMING*

A pause, then

“We found them, and we will find you all soon too”

In a low, disembodied voice.

The voice of the prime minister.

**STATIC**