360

You flip on the TV in the living room. On the screen, a female announcer talks over images of police attempting to control a busy intersection in downtown Nightfall as the infected attack. "Here you see live coverage of police activity at Bridge and Langford Streets in the shopping district, where two infected charged a police barricade. Earlier, those two infected forced their way into a car driven by an unidentified local businessman and attacked him viciously."

The announcer pauses and presses on an earpiece. "We have video of the earlier attack and remind everyone that this footage may not be suitable for young viewers or those sensitive to violence."

The newscaster shifts in her seat and drinks from a Channel 8 mug. "For those still with us, here is the video of that horrific attack."

A scene flashes onscreen of a man in a business suit inside a silver luxury sedan waiting at a red light, when a group of infected surround the car. One smashes the driver-side window, and another climbs through the jagged hole. The audio picks up growls and screams as the infected squeeze into the car, ripping their own skin on broken glass. Blood spurts across the windshield from the inside, and the video freezes.

The announcer returns to the screen. "Health officials are asking everyone to avoid exposure to anyone showing symptoms, such as erratic behavior, jaundice-like or yellow skin, and green marks on the body. The infected cannot be reasoned with and are highly dangerous."

The screen shifts to more footage of random attacks across the state.

"Government officials are telling everyone to lock themselves indoors, conserve food and water, gather emergency resources, and deny all from entering your home. Avoid contact with infected individuals, and if someone you know becomes infected, you are instructed to restrain them and notify police immediately by dialing 911."

The station cuts into the national broadcast and joins Mark Jennings, a veteran newscaster with a deep voice. His normal energetic appearance has faded, his eyes are dark with heavy swelling, and his face twitches as he speaks. "The White House has declared this outbreak a 'national disaster of devastating proportions,' and they are working with other countries and the World Health Organization to develop a plan to manage the growing number of infected. The President will hold a press conference at any moment. The CDC has informed us that no vaccine or treatment is available, and they are working with state governments on disaster protocols. The Red Cross and FEMA are setting up centers close to highly affected areas."