THE NEW WORLD

Scott and his family travel a deserted country road to his grandparents.While his younger brother Elijah stares at his smartphone, the radio plays a song he doesn't particularly like.Scott, Harry , and his older brothers watch as the trees speed past their vehicle.

A small creek has developed in the ditch that separates the road from the forest as the mid-September sun shines down from the heavens.

He is still overcome with excitement.“God, for some reason I can't believe my little girl is all grown up,” he says as he waits for someone to speak up.

Smiles at ScottMom, hurry up.Over a month ago, school ended.

“What?Each of my children has completed their education.It has a strange sensation.

his younger brother snorts while Astrid's laughs from the driver's seat.

With a grin on his face, Kilian turns to face him after noticing.This is still a long way to go before you can taste the sweet taste of never going back to school.

At first, Tyriondo doesn't say anything to him, but then he suddenly looks up from his phone.Wait.Kilian, you continue to attend school.

“Bah.School is not the police academy.Since... two years ago, I didn't take math class!

Their recline in his chair.I am looking forward to meeting everyone.his monologue is interrupted by a loud beep that replaces the radio song. "Your grandparents probably can't wait to see you."

A male moderator's voice replaces the high-pitched sound, "We interrupt this program."This is an urgent matter.While reading his script, the man is reading it in a monotonous and robotic voice that makes him sound like he is having a heart attack.Following is yet another loud beep.

“Dad.What is taking place?”Tyrion asks, but he replies, "Shhh," which silences him.

The same robotic voice continues, "I repeat, after the long, loud beep comes to an end.This is an immediate need.At the government's request, the following message is sent.Thise is no test hise.This nation or one of its allies has been the target of a nuclear attack.It's possible that nuclear warheads will arrive.The attack's scope, number of casualties, and location have not been determined.If these is a fallout shelter nearby, go this right away.Otherwise, please remain at home.You will receive additional information as soon as possible at the following frequency, 76.155/85.955 Megahertz.Keep your cool and wait for more instructions.This message will be heard again.The transmission terminates.The radio stops talking for a split second.The transmission then begins to repeat with a loud beep.

This is no sound other than the radio and the car.

The most likely explanation is that this is an accident or joke.As a result, Astrid's states, "I hate these jokes."Moreover, it is not even April.

The radio makes Astrid's scowl.He switches the station and says, "I liked that song," only for the same message to continue.

They are all staring at the radio as his hand hovers over it.After swallowing, the man presses a button, switching the station once more.

The same message keeps coming.As the likelihood of this happening increases, every word of it feels like a punch to the gut.

All of their phones suddenly buzz almost simultaneously.

First, Kilian takes him out of his pocket.What's going on?

The same message was sent to them all from the same number that their carrier typically uses."This is an emergency," it says.A nuclear attack is on the way.Take cover.Tune your radio to 76.155/85.955 MHz for more information.

His never looks away from the road.While his voice trembles, it also sounds as hollow as the moderator's.Could you please switch to that frequency, honey?

Astrid's adjusts their radio after taking a few deep breaths.

Before Tyrioncan could finish, Astrid's interrupted him, saying, "Dad, what about grandma and grandpa and-"Probably an accident or something similar caused this.Thise is absolutely no way that we will be annihilated.

Once more, no one speaks.Every time their mothers change the station, they listen as the terrible emergency transmission is cut off.

"This can't be right."A portion of Scottwants has faith in his fathis.In the past few months, those haven't been any major arguments.at the very least nothing that might signal a nuclear war.'The part of his cannot help but believe the man on the radio in spite of the facts and his father's assurance.his heart rate accelerates as a result of this fearful part, and his mouth feels dry.he has the impression that an important exam is about to give his the results.his last test.his mind races with questions.Who would ever attempt to strike us with a nuclear weapon?The Soviet Union?The Asians?Korea de Nord?Why would they want to?’His brain can't try to come up with answers that are plausible because the questions keep coming back at him.

When his mother says, "Got it," his thoughts are halted.

"This is the emergency frequency," says a different moderator in the same monotone voice.Please be patient.

Astrid's chest gets smaller.he takes a deep breath, but his ribcage feels too narrow to hold any air.

Kilian is the first person to speak.He tries to scream, but all he gets out of his mouth is a scared whisper.What the hell is the significance of this?They don't give us anything when the world is supposed to end.

His younger brothers simply appear perplexed.He only knows that nuclear war is bad, that it causes car chases in the desert and leather-clad bodybuilders.Dad.What does it imply?”He asks.

It indicates that we will spend some time with your grandparents.

While everyone else pulls out their phones to check for any additional information, the man returns his focus to the road.As dark, barely visible fog falls from above like ink in water, they don't notice that the bright September sun is waning.

Additionally, they fail to notice that the emergency broadcast is gradually being drowned in static.

As he removes his own cell phone from his ear, their informs them, "Grandma isn't answering his phone."

his husband reassures him that "they're probably already downstairs and can't hear it."

The moderator is silenced as a burst of static from the radio replaces his monotonous voice with crackling.

Until Astrid's snaps, "Come on," nobody moves.Change the channel!The people blink and stare at him as a result of his sudden outburst."We’re probably out of this one's range, and that might be some important information coming through the emergency broadcast on these frequencies," he quickly adds after observing their expressions.

After nodding, Astrid's presses a radio button.

nothing more than static.

"Hmm, that's strange.he ponders the situation before having the epiphany, "God.The station needs to be demolished.

“Whatever.Without looking away from the road, Astrid's responds, "We'll make do without it."His voice is absent, as if he has lost interest.He continues,I can barely see the road anymore because of this fog.

The radio's screen begins to display odd image glitches, and the car's lights begin to slowly start glowing without being turned on.

The of Astrid yells, "What the...?"

All of the car's lights flash suddenly.The engine gives off a stutter before failing.

The radio stops working and everything goes dark.Everything is quiet for a brief moment.

The of Astrid applies the brakes.

While the acceleration forces the remaining passengers to buckle up, they scream.Although Astrid's maintains control of the vehicle until it comes to a complete stop, the tires screech.

Scottcan can't hear anything but his heart beating.“What the hell was that?” he yells in a shrill voice.

his has such a firm grip on the steering wheel that his white knuckles and fingernails dig into the black leathis.His body looks like a board, but when he says, "I don't know," his voice is calm and collected.It must have been struck by one of the pulses generated by nuclear weapons or... or something.I'm not sure."

The of Astrid no longer sounds frantic but helpless.What should we do next?”he demands.as if the car was their only chance to escape danger.

his dad takes off his seatbelt.Get out of the car, please.Those must have been a detonation nearby if the EMP was powerful enough to destroy it.Before the rain starts to fall, we need to leave the open area.

The thick fog that had gathered outside pours like water into the car as soon as he opens the door.He pauses for a moment, but he still goes outside.

Astrid's thoughts race with a query.he declares,This ought to have been an explosion, right?I wondered, "Aren't bombs loud?"

It doesn't matter that I don't know.Let's move!

Scott opens his door, his whole body shaking with fear.

A strange tingling rushes through his legs as the fog washes over them.he takes a momentary pause and inhales a speck of the gloomy mist.It doesn't smell or taste anything, but it feels cold.Almost as if he were inhaling ice.It accumulates in his lungs, draining his as he expels it.not only cooling his, but also removing the warmth from his body.he experiences an unnatural sense of fear.he ponders the possibility that this is a chemical weapon of some kind, but he hesitates to voice his concern.because they are already dead if it is.

He is completely enveloped by the fog as he steps outside.The dark mass seems to be moving, but he's not sure if it's just his nerves.It spins and swirls as if in slow motion even though there is no wind.like how water dissolves ink.