PARADOX-O-RAMA: FICTION #2 (SESSION 1 WEEK 2)
FICTION FRIDAY / PROMPT TABLE RACE / "END OF THE WORLD" THEME
EXTINCTION
Penny didn’t know how to explain it, but it felt like there were fewer and fewer people by the day.
The morning commute was no longer bumper to bumper. Rush hour seemed just as scarce as well.
Friday night dinnertime at the Cheesecake Factory weren’t as busy as before.
The weeks went by and Penny noticed the drastic changes.
“Hey guys, have you’ve noticed anything strange going on?” Penny asked over Halo night one evening.
“Like what?” Leonard questioned.
“Well, doesn’t it seem less…busy? Less, crowded?”
The boys gave Penny a weird glance, brushing the question off they continued on with their gaming.
It wasn’t until the following new comic book day, that the boys started to notice the changes.
Captain Sweatpants was nowhere to be seen. Granted the boys never paid much attention to him before but it was very noticeable that he was no longer present. When asked they were surprised to hear that Captain Sweatpants hasn’t been to the comic book store for weeks.
“And he’s not the only one. Some of my other regulars haven’t been around for quite some time as well.” Stuart said from behind the register.
Taking their purchases, the boys walked in silence to the car, trying to process what this news could mean.
When arriving home, Sheldon went straight to his laptop to do further research. What he was looking for, he wasn’t even sure but he needed to find some answers. They all needed answers.
“It appears that other parts of the world are experiencing the same epidemic.” Sheldon continued to read on.
“Which is?” Raj asked.
“Less people. It’s apparent that people are dying at a rapid pace.”
“Is there some kind of virus going around?” Howard worried his hands.
“I would suggest so but there’s no concrete evidence.”
Two days later the news reported that Indonesia had a massive outbreak. Over 230+ million people died. There was no explanation. The only known fact is that, whatever it is, it’s spreading fast.
“Is there a cure?” Penny had hopeful eyes.
“Penny no one knows what ‘it’ is. No one knows what’s going on. And they’re too scared it find out.” Leonard looked up from his takeout food.
“So what are we supposed to do?”
“Nothing.” Sheldon emerged from the hallway. “There’s nothing we can do.”
“So we’re just supposed to die?” Penny’s eyes glistened.
No one responded to the question. For the remainder of the evening, the local news broadcast was the only thing heard throughout apartment 4A.
The “Extinction Virus”, as Penny liked to call it, made it’s way to Arizona. It was only a matter of time until it reached California - Pasadena - them.
So they all stayed in doors. All waiting for the inevitable to happen.
Raj stayed with Howard and Mrs. Wolowitz and Penny stayed with Sheldon and Leonard.
Leonard stayed in contact with Howard, constantly checking in with him to make sure they were all alright.
After a whole 5 hours of no response, Leonard put down his phone. Penny cried softly at the action. All their families were gone and now their friends were gone too.
Sheldon reached over and took a hold of Penny’s hand.
“There, there. Everything’s going to be alright.”
With a sad smile, Penny rested her head on Sheldon’s shoulder, holding on tightly to his hand and reached over to wrap Leonard’s arm around her middle.
The three friends sat in silence and waited for their time to come.
12-GAUGE
It’s been awhile since she’s used one, but she never, ever forgot.
“I’m so sorry.” Penny let her tears cloud her vision as she pulled the trigger.
====
She wasn’t much of a hunter but when she was younger she went out hunting with her father and grandpa.
She never liked to kill innocence; unsuspecting animals and she voiced her opinions as frequently as she could. But that never stopped her father from taking her. She never understood why he took her, but it probably had something to do with wishing she were a boy.
====
“Guys, trust me, I can take care of myself.”
“But Penny it’s not safe anymore. The infection, it’s spread- ”
“Leonard, I know you’re concerned but, I’ll be fine.”
“Just take this. Keep it next to you at all times. Even if it means you have to use it on one of us.”
“Sheldon…”
“Penny, you have to. Promise me.”
“Alright…I promise.”
=====
The first time she shot a deer, she hit its leg. Her father went up to the deer and shot it in the head.
“Aim to kill Penny. That way it’s out of its misery quickly.”
Penny didn’t try shooting another animal for the rest of their hunting trip.
=====
Knock. Knock. Knock.
“Sheldon! You really have to stop worrying. I’m-oh god no! Nooo….Sheldon!”
Penny rushed to her bedroom.
=====
It wasn’t until the following hunting season that Penny made her first kill. That night Penny cried herself to sleep. It was a horrible feeling. She had a mixture of sadness and happiness wash over her. The proud look in her father’s eyes filled her with utter happiness. It was the first time he’s ever looked at her that way. But at the same time she couldn’t push the sadness of actually killing a living thing out of her heart and mind.
=====
Penny dropped her 12-guage and looked down at the lifeless body that now had a huge hole in it’s head.
“Sheldon-” Penny cried as she fell to her knees. “I kept my promise.”
EXTINCTION
Penny didn’t know how to explain it, but it felt like there were fewer and fewer people by the day.
The morning commute was no longer bumper to bumper. Rush hour seemed just as scarce as well.
Friday night dinnertime at the Cheesecake Factory weren’t as busy as before.
The weeks went by and Penny noticed the drastic changes.
“Hey guys, have you’ve noticed anything strange going on?” Penny asked over Halo night one evening.
“Like what?” Leonard questioned.
“Well, doesn’t it seem less…busy? Less, crowded?”
The boys gave Penny a weird glance, brushing the question off they continued on with their gaming.
It wasn’t until the following new comic book day, that the boys started to notice the changes.
Captain Sweatpants was nowhere to be seen. Granted the boys never paid much attention to him before but it was very noticeable that he was no longer present. When asked they were surprised to hear that Captain Sweatpants hasn’t been to the comic book store for weeks.
“And he’s not the only one. Some of my other regulars haven’t been around for quite some time as well.” Stuart said from behind the register.
Taking their purchases, the boys walked in silence to the car, trying to process what this news could mean.
When arriving home, Sheldon went straight to his laptop to do further research. What he was looking for, he wasn’t even sure but he needed to find some answers. They all needed answers.
“It appears that other parts of the world are experiencing the same epidemic.” Sheldon continued to read on.
“Which is?” Raj asked.
“Less people. It’s apparent that people are dying at a rapid pace.”
“Is there some kind of virus going around?” Howard worried his hands.
“I would suggest so but there’s no concrete evidence.”
Two days later the news reported that Indonesia had a massive outbreak. Over 230+ million people died. There was no explanation. The only known fact is that, whatever it is, it’s spreading fast.
“Is there a cure?” Penny had hopeful eyes.
“Penny no one knows what ‘it’ is. No one knows what’s going on. And they’re too scared it find out.” Leonard looked up from his takeout food.
“So what are we supposed to do?”
“Nothing.” Sheldon emerged from the hallway. “There’s nothing we can do.”
“So we’re just supposed to die?” Penny’s eyes glistened.
No one responded to the question. For the remainder of the evening, the local news broadcast was the only thing heard throughout apartment 4A.
The “Extinction Virus”, as Penny liked to call it, made it’s way to Arizona. It was only a matter of time until it reached California - Pasadena - them.
So they all stayed in doors. All waiting for the inevitable to happen.
Raj stayed with Howard and Mrs. Wolowitz and Penny stayed with Sheldon and Leonard.
Leonard stayed in contact with Howard, constantly checking in with him to make sure they were all alright.
After a whole 5 hours of no response, Leonard put down his phone. Penny cried softly at the action. All their families were gone and now their friends were gone too.
Sheldon reached over and took a hold of Penny’s hand.
“There, there. Everything’s going to be alright.”
With a sad smile, Penny rested her head on Sheldon’s shoulder, holding on tightly to his hand and reached over to wrap Leonard’s arm around her middle.
The three friends sat in silence and waited for their time to come.
12-GAUGE
It’s been awhile since she’s used one, but she never, ever forgot.
“I’m so sorry.” Penny let her tears cloud her vision as she pulled the trigger.
====
She wasn’t much of a hunter but when she was younger she went out hunting with her father and grandpa.
She never liked to kill innocence; unsuspecting animals and she voiced her opinions as frequently as she could. But that never stopped her father from taking her. She never understood why he took her, but it probably had something to do with wishing she were a boy.
====
“Guys, trust me, I can take care of myself.”
“But Penny it’s not safe anymore. The infection, it’s spread- ”
“Leonard, I know you’re concerned but, I’ll be fine.”
“Just take this. Keep it next to you at all times. Even if it means you have to use it on one of us.”
“Sheldon…”
“Penny, you have to. Promise me.”
“Alright…I promise.”
=====
The first time she shot a deer, she hit its leg. Her father went up to the deer and shot it in the head.
“Aim to kill Penny. That way it’s out of its misery quickly.”
Penny didn’t try shooting another animal for the rest of their hunting trip.
=====
Knock. Knock. Knock.
“Sheldon! You really have to stop worrying. I’m-oh god no! Nooo….Sheldon!”
Penny rushed to her bedroom.
=====
It wasn’t until the following hunting season that Penny made her first kill. That night Penny cried herself to sleep. It was a horrible feeling. She had a mixture of sadness and happiness wash over her. The proud look in her father’s eyes filled her with utter happiness. It was the first time he’s ever looked at her that way. But at the same time she couldn’t push the sadness of actually killing a living thing out of her heart and mind.
=====
Penny dropped her 12-guage and looked down at the lifeless body that now had a huge hole in it’s head.
“Sheldon-” Penny cried as she fell to her knees. “I kept my promise.”