Blatant LOPE ripoff (Where is Everybody?) Fourth.

May Twenty Eighth. 28 of May. There may be a day keeping the date will no longer be of any significance. In any case, it's the fourth day and already I feel inclined to forget the days of the week. Keeping track of internet activity has kept me aware that it's Friday. Was it really Tuesday when things were still normal? Was it really around dawn of that day fate decided to play a *cruel* joke on us?

Anyhow, what with it being Friday, I thought we should still honor tradition of this day by relaxing on it. I do wish that's just what we did. For the first couple of hours, we did. Something wonderful happened that almost made it worthwhile to forget this was our favorite day of the week. I'll get to that when I do. Let me start by saying I woke up this morning with a weird pressure on my chest. When I opened my eyes, and looked up, the dog lady was on my chest, pining me down on my bed. "Wake up, sleepyhead." Oh, shoot. Samantha. I told her the time wasn't even six yet. She evidently didn't care. She obviously was restless. When I continued to wake everybody else, I told them today would be a fun day, and we all would have a good time. I began watching my favorite nostalgic show again, because I knew that when the net dies, it dies for good, and I had a feeling it would go today. They all either groaned or were not very enthusiastic about me watching some cartoon clearly intended for children as an adult, especially one Will says didn't age well. I did not care, and don't care now. He told me he saw that show as a kid and thought it uninteresting. He sees it now and practically gags. Whatever. I resisted the temptation to fantasize something else happened while he was in that crosswalk a split second before the event happened. I won't dwell on it.

I think I have gathered the courage to ask Monica about his name. When I ask Monica how he got a girl's name, I want Anthony to be present. It will likely be during our break tomorrow, as I intend to start the day with a viewing of a movie. I find Monica and Anthony's companies comforting, and don't find myself with any desire to be away from both of them at once, especially with Will around. Even more so with him absent. I have no qualms with being alone with Monica, but I'd rather have Anthony by my side when asking this kind of sensitive information. I also intend to go into more detail about what's edible and what's toxic. I have only eaten what was leftover from the first couple of days before the hot dog incident. Spinach, mushrooms, eggs and dairy. I'm sure the others have eaten in my absence, but I need to see them eat with no ill effects before I press my luck.

After an hour of watching this kid's show I am so enthralled about, I looked into the comment section and found something: A comment that was left at three AM this morning. And it wasn't about the show. When I checked the user's profile, there was no previous activity. The account was made this morning. There was a picture of a manga girl with purple hair, purple eyes, boots and a rather large boomerang. The name was Width Length. The comment said: "I wouldn't normally post comments here, or watch shows like this, but this is an emergency. There's no one around. There's nothing on TV but static. There's nothing on the radio. What the hell is going on? Help me. If there is anyone there, come to me. I am at the US Bank building. I look a lot like one of those people in the show. One of those small, weird midget things. I am around half the size I was. I also have a weird mark on my hip that looks like a lightning bolt. Please." After that, I tried to refresh, but the connection died. No more internet. The others, who were all there listening to me as I read this out loud reacted as you might expect.

Later I asked Monica about the radio, and if we could use it. They (the Hadleys) could listen from the house. He claims it would make more sense if he and Sherman went as they both know more about the streets of this city. I told him I knew where US Bank building is as somep-- somebody who lives here. He didn't listen. We ultimately decided leaving the humanoids and gryphon plus Will and the mare (Angela) home would be best. I told them to keep an eye on him. Even though I have made this trip many times, I can scarcely say I have ventured to this local location on my own power or by anything purely electric. Especially something not intended for highway usage such as a golf cart or a bicycle. It was also nice yet strange that there was no one in our way, just us the whole way, lest we should forget all the cars that weren't in garages or driveways or the curb vanished along with the people. Furthermore, the total lack of pollution was great, yet ever so strange. Without vehicular traffic, it was like crossing the desert or plains, which is good considering we weren't in an enclosed vehicle.

When we arrived at the US Bank Building, no one was there. We called into the lobby. We called around the exterior. We even tried to something that obviously was not feasible, climb to the roof. The entire place was locked and bolted. When we got no responses, we nearly gave up, but then Sherman said we should try the radio here. Maybe somep-- somebody is on the roof or in the building. No one responded when we did. We won't get another chance like this, so it's imperative that we find this person. We will come back tomorrow, and do so earlier.

When we came back, we decided to take a detour through residential streets for kicks, as per Mister Hadley's suggestion. The sides roads will provide more opportunities to meet somebody. Of course, we first checked the map (a printed one, of course, like one you find at the auto clubs) to avoid any cul-de-sacs. As luck would have it, we heard a sound in a house a quarter of the way back. A scream. Hadley stopped the cart, hopped out and ran almost as if on reflex and ran full speed ahead to the source of the sound. We could scarcely keep up with him as he turned round the corner. We went into a moderate looking house after Monica knocked the front door down, and he, his brother, Anthony and I followed the sound of hyperventilating. We were led through the place straight to a bedroom with heavy panting in it. When Monica broke down yet another door (excessive, isn't he?) we all poured in to find a frantic mare in it. The mare froze on sight as we caught her. She didn't move. She just stared. Monica talked to her, asking her her name, who she lived with, and many other things. She calmed down somewhat and spoke normally, later, but only after Monica explained the situation, then she told us what happened most recently. As we thought, she woke up feeling like the whole wide world exploded in size. She had a delayed reaction. She finally broke. She was willing to ask who we were, where we were staying and what we planned to do in the near future. Naturally she wouldn't tell us about herself until tomorrow morning. She was very quick to come with us, but only after taking her laptop and a canteen and a sack with her.

"Hello, ma'am. We're here to help." There's a pause. "Listen very closely. No one's around for the city limits save a sparse handful, your's truly included. Something awfully strange has happened, and none of us have a clue what it is. For the foreseeable future, we must presume no one else is anywhere to be found. We still hope for the best." She gaped. "Shall I introduce myself? Monica Hadley. Here's my brother Sherman. These are two others who returned earlier. Alex, would you talk to her for a minute?" "Sure, Monica. I'm Alex Chance Torrez, and this is Anthony. I'm letting everybody stay at my place for the foreseeable future. Would you care to tell me your name, miss?" There was a blink, then a twitched tail. *sigh* "If you don't speak up, we are going to have to leave you here alone." Suddenly she broke free and shambled to the restroom. "I'll come with you, but I must pee first. And take a couple of possessions."

Before we left, there was an exchange in the bathroom that will forever be burned into my memory. There was another scream, and I popped in to see what had happened. The door was ajar so the others, who didn't come in so much as stand at the door frame watched as this previously heavily panting mare stood there leaning on the counter staring at herself in the mirror. It was at this moment she asked: "I am a mare, aren't I?" "You most certainly are." Anthony responded. She immediately froze all over in instant response to this. The whole time she continued to stare at herself without moving an inch, her whole body rigid. We gave her a moment to herself. It took five minutes for her to move again. Monica and I exchanged a quick glance. When she came out after several minutes, we asked if she would still come along. She did after going back to her room for a couple of things like the aforementioned canteen and computer. She didn't say another word.

When we got to my place, she said she wasn't going to tell us her real name. Just call her Sweet Stuff. I then told Sweet Stuff I was going back to US Bank building tomorrow, and asked if she would like to come. She said no. She needs to rest. I told her I would leave her alone, but first, I would introduce her to the only other mare here. "Sweet Stuff, this is Angie. Angie, Sweet Stuff. Get acquainted." Nothing like introducing two mares to each other. Yes, that's the word, mare. There is another chick here, but she's a gryphon. She's too intimidating to meet off the bat. We finally broke the double digits. There's Anthony, Will, Angie, who were all crossing the intersection or walking on a residential street, there's me, there's a humanoid lizard and dog and a gryphon I just realize I have not named (I will do them in the morning), there's the Hadleys, one of which was a cop, now we have added Sweet Stuff to our humble abode.

I'm so glad to have good news at last. I hope we find that other person soon. Hang in there. Until then, this is Alex Chance Torrez signing off.