This week’s Story Starter teaser is: https://fivedotoh.com/2023/05/30/fandangos-story-starter-99/

Ross opened the fortune cookie that was delivered with his Chinese take-out and was shocked when he read the message inside telling him that his life was in danger and that he needed leave the city immediately.

Ross opened the fortune cookie that was delivered with his Chinese take-out and was shocked when he read the message inside telling him that his life was in danger and that he needed to leave the city immediately. Weren’t these things packaged in bulk in some warehouse in China or Hong Kong? How could it possibly be a personalized message, probably some jokester at the take-out place messing with customers. But what if…?

Ross stood up and grabbed his coat off the side chair. Leaving the food containers open, half empty, he hurriedly grabbed his keys, ensured his wallet was in his pants pocket, and left the apartment. He was going straight back to the Chinese Dragon to find out exactly what was happening. With a rush of adrenaline, he heaved the front door of his apartment building open and leaped onto the sidewalk. Ross froze.

The street was deserted! As far as Ross could see, the streets were barren in every direction and the world was silent. What was going on? There was almost a stifling quiet pulse in the air and breathing seemed harder. Was it his imagination or was the air getting thicker and thicker with each breath? Panic started to rise in Ross’s mind and his skin started to prickle. From under a broken down junk car, Ross heard the quiet whimpering of a child but when he bent down to see who it could be, he screamed in terror and fell back flailing his arms to try to keep himself on his feet. It was no use. Ross fell hard, smacking his head on the solid concrete.

When the paramedics found Ross he had lost too much blood and some brain matter to even had had a chance to survive.