The Day The Internet Died

The sound of the explosion vibrated Sonya to her core. Heat rapidly radiated off the police car inferno and smoke filled the air, choking out what little oxygen was available. Sonya started to frantically look around. Shit! Shit shit shit shit!

“Alex!” she screamed at the top of her lungs. “Alex!”

But Sonya heard no response. Frantically, she began pushing through the crowd in front of her, trying to make it to where she had last seen Katie. But the density of the crowd coupled with the smoke choking out the air made it almost impossible to tell which was which. Sonya pushed and pushed, trying to get through. Finally, she spotted her.

“Katie!” Sonya rushed to Katie and wrapped her arms around her. Katie crumpled into her arms. “Katie! Katie what happened? Why are you here? Where is Alex?”

Katie tried to respond but the words were garbled in between the sobs. “I’m…. I’m trying… Alex… lost her… please…” Sonya put both her arms on Katie’s shoulders and tried to put on as soothing a voice as she could manage. “Katie… it’s going to be okay. I’m here now. Just stay with me. We’re going to find Alex, and we’re going to get out of here. Okay?”

Katie sniffled and gave the slightest of nods. Sonya grabbed her hand. The smoke continued to billow just above them, smearing the sky in dark gray. “Alright Katie. I need you to be with me for a minute. When were you last with Alex?”

“I… We were together right about here. But then someone bumped… I lost her hand… I tried to look for her… I yelled for her but she didn’t yell back… So I started making my way back—”

“So your original spot was just a bit ahead of where we are now? Towards the front of the crowd?”

“Maybe,” sniffled a defeated Katie in response.

“Okay.” Sonya leaned into Katie to be heard clearly over the roaring crowd. “Okay Katie. We’re going to get Alex. Whatever you do, do not let go of my hand. Okay? Squeeze tight and don’t let go.” Katie nodded in assurance.

Once again, Sonya began forcing her way through the crowd, dragging Katie behind her. But the smoke and density of the crowd made it almost impossible to see anything. Shit. It’s getting hard to breathe. I need to find Alex and get us the hell out of here. Sonya continued to push, and used what little breath she had left to yell, “Alex!”

No response. Pushing forward.

“Alex!”

Crowd compacting. Smoke choking.

“Alex!”

Almost. Please.

“Alex!”

With a final push, she made it through another few members of the crowd, and finally, finally spotted her. Huddled over, shielding her ears from the noise, was Alex.