The Day The Internet Died

The student body’s previous day of despair had now been replaced with outright agitation. The outage persisted, and now the conversations had shifted towards conspiracy theories.

“I bet someone was digging for oil and cut all the lines.”

“If that’s true, then why wouldn’t Telecom have blamed them? Not saying anything sounds really shady.”

“They’ll have to say something soon, otherwise the government will do something.”

“Well, my Dad says that the government and Telecom are working together to control us!”

“Joshua, tell your Dad to go back to watching football.”

“He can’t!”

Alex looked once again at her phone before putting her bag in the locker.

—

Sonya was already gone by the time Alex arrived home from school. On the coffee table was the newest paper and a sticky note on which Sonya’s terrible handwriting sprawled:

Had to go to work earlier than normal. Still CRAZY. For your reading pleasure. Love u!

The newspaper didn’t reveal much new information. Only that now they were sure the outage at least expanded to all the neighboring counties, and that Telecom still hadn’t issued a statement despite mounting pressure from local government officials.

They must have really messed up. Alex put down the paper and rummaged in the fridge for a juice box. Getting pretty low on mac and cheese. Wonder if Sonya knows about the cash thing.

Alex returned to the living room and plopped down on the couch. I wonder if she secretly enjoys being at work. Then at least she doesn’t have to be here with me. She took a sip of her juice box, before checking her phone once more just to be sure.

Alex eventually turned her meandering gaze to the front window and noticed something off. A piece of paper clung to their hedge that she hadn’t noticed when she first got home. Tiptoeing outside barefoot to snatch it, she realized it was actually a printed out flier.

—

TAKE BACK WHAT IS YOURS

We the people will not stand for this injustice and restriction of basic human rights. Do not believe the Telecom lies. Do not believe the government lies. Stand with us and demand answers.

On Friday, August 7th starting at 12PM we will gather in front of the Telecom building and demand answers.

—

Along with the text, the page was mostly dominated by the large black and white silhouette of a face, or at least one that looked like it had been run through the photocopier one too many times, destroying most of its identifiable features.

Creepy. Some poor schmuck must have been going door to door with these. Probably made them himself to try to prey on people’s insecurities. Who would even believe this crap? Still, the silhouette of a face unsettled Alex. Though it lacked features, its strangeness succeeded in eliciting a very off-putting presence.

Alex brought the flier inside and tossed it on top of the ever-growing pile of loose school papers that had taken semi-permanent residence on her desk.

That night, Alex once again found herself laying in bed, staring across at the blank computer monitor. Her agitation was beginning to turn into desperation. Surely tomorrow, at least something will be back up. Anything. I mean, won’t people be out of work? It’s been like…one-two-three days! Her gaze then drifted over to the flier still on her desk. In the dimly lit room, the face seemed almost alive. Alex got out of bed, grabbed the paper, and turned it face down. If this goes on much longer, people will start believing this crap.