Day 2

5:45 AM: After a few hours of intermittent sleep, Alex decided to wake up and check the news. Much had changed overnight. The shopping hours were updated to one-hour slots from 9:00 to 19:00, then half-hour slots until midnight.

A plane had just crashed in France due to engine failure, and more new plants were discovered, including one with slightly corrosive sap.

Two government phone lines were announced: one to report new findings and the other a direct line to the security forces to report misconduct or suspicious activity.

After a shower and coffee, Alex checked his phone. Ricky had sent a link to a social media video. In Thailand, someone had spotted weird bugs—two black and purple beetles the size of tennis balls. When the girl filming tried to get closer, they began glowing, as if they were about to explode. She ran away before finding out what happened.

Group Chat: D&D BRAWL
Alex: I’m not very optimistic about this.
Luke (Luger): I guess it will all depend on two things:

1. How big these changes are going to be.

2. How the governments handle it.

These two factors will determine people’s reaction and whether civilization can be sustained as we know it.
Willy: I REALLY hope you’re wrong. I still can’t believe this shit is happening.

10:29 AM

The city was eerily silent, except for a preacher with a bullhorn yelling about repentance. Alex had closed the windows to block out the annoying noise and was glued to the TV, watching as the government announced improvements to the rules so far. They had focused so much on big cities that small towns had been neglected.

New laws were passed to empower the army and maintain homeland order. Cars were given one-hour authorizations based on the last digit of their license plates, but transportation apps were down or charging 20 to 100 times the usual rate. Alex decided to wait a few hours until things normalized.

Websites were already listing new evidence of bugs and plants along with their discovered properties. Social media accounts showing interactions with new species were skyrocketing in popularity. Meanwhile, electric cars were failing, and more people were convinced this was just the beginning of a progression—new phenomena were bound to keep popping up. Around the world, governments were passing stricter confinement laws, while new "religions" and prayer groups sprang up everywhere.

Morgan lay on the couch with his head on Alex’s leg. Suddenly, he popped up and started barking like crazy.

Alex looked at him, confused and annoyed since the barking was right next to his ear. But before he could tell Morgan to quiet down, the ground began to tremble.

Ellie (shouting from her room): Is it quaking?
Alex: Yup… still going.

The quake’s intensity began to pick up. Ellie came into the living room, her face full of worry.
Ellie: Should we get out?
Alex: It’ll be dangerous if it keeps getting stronger… better be sa—

The world shook so violently that even Morgan fell to the ground. They were terrified. If it keeps getting stronger, the building might collapse.

After a few seconds that felt like an eternity, the quake stopped. Car alarms were blaring, dogs were barking, and the TV remained on. The presenters reappeared on-screen, visibly shaken.

Presenter: That was a big one. We hope you’re all okay. That was probably the strongest earthquake I’ve ever felt. Miraculously, no one in the studio is hurt, but for safety measures, we’ll continue our broadcast outside in case of aftershocks.

Ellie: Nothing’s broken. That’s some luck. Let’s go outside, just in case.

They went down the stairs, but instead of heading to the street, they went to the building’s backyard garden. It was a mini-park with a few kids’ games, a swimming pool area, and some grills, surrounded by plants. Morgan loved it.

A few neighbors were already there, talking. Alex and Ellie wanted to keep to themselves but still waved to the group. They went to a corner where Morgan started sniffing around.

Nikola, the neighbor who had coordinated the barricade at the main door, approached them.
Nikola: Hey guys, are you okay?
Ellie: Yeah, we’re fine, thanks. How’s everyone?
Nikola: Luckily, no injuries. Weird question—did anything break at your place?
Ellie: No, nothing.
Nikola: That’s strange. It was the strongest earthquake we’ve felt, but nothing broke in the whole building.

He turned to his group and gestured "no."

Alex: Do you think it has to do with… the changes?
Nikola: Well, it looks like a miracle to me, but we’ll see. Thank you guys, I’m glad you’re okay.
Ellie: Thank you, you too!

Nikola started walking back to his group.
Alex: I wish I could be extroverted like that. How is he always so nice?
Ellie: Yeah, he’s nice. It’s mostly small talk.
Alex: One of the many mysteries of this world.

Ellie laughed and gave him a soft backslap on the arm. Alex looked at her with mock offense, clearly teasing. He was about to say something witty, but a scream interrupted him.

A spider the size of a football emerged from the plants, hissing at a small pug. Its forelegs were raised in an aggressive stance.

Someone: Get the kids!