CHAPTER ONE

Petersfield, England, Thursday 2nd February 9:45pm

Eve stretched luxuriously as she escaped the cramped confines of her beloved red mini. After being forced to stay late at work and the two hour drive home she was thoroughly looking forward to a hot meal and a sit down in front of the television. She shivered slightly in the bitter breeze and watched the smoke of her breath spiral silently upwards toward the yellow street-lamp light. As she gathered her things from the boot of her car she noted the screaming of her five year old son Ron who particularly liked the words “I won’t”. From outside it seemed that he was using these to great effect and would be doing so for some time yet.

Gathering the last of her things, slamming closed the boot and locking the car, Eve hurried up the icy path and into the warmth of her four bedroomed suburban home. Upon entering her house Eve witnessed the hurried escape of her son from his bedroom across the landing and down the stairs, followed by her husband who thundered closely behind rather red in the face.

As Ron, her son, ran, in full flight, passed her she grabbed him and swung him, squealing in delight, into a full hug. Her husband however was unable to stop so Eve pressed herself against the wall as he skidded into a halt well into the next room.

“Hello darling,” he panted. “Just ya-know, trying to get the little git to bed.”

Eve frowned a little as she disapproved of swearing in front of Ron but she needn’t have worried as having escaped his mothers clutched her son was happily making his way into the lounge. “Sorry I’m late.” She said a little exasperatedly. “That. . .” She lowered her voice. “Bitch is running me ragged again.”

Her husband, David, noticed the warning signs and decided to disperse the situation. “Don’t think of that.” He implored. “You’re at home, relax, I’ll go put your dinner on. It s your favourite…” He added, “Pizza!” Good he thought happily to himself that should buy him some time until the moaning about her boss would start.

As David made his way to the kitchen Eve followed the footsteps of her son into the lounge. Ron was hitting the controller out of frustration against the arm of the chair and eve had to spend several moments gently prising it from his tiny fist.

Waiting for the freeview box to warm up Eve noticed that the tiome was five to ten and made a mental note to watch the news. After several moments of channel hopping Eve resided that there was in fact nothing to watch and turned to BBC1 to watch the news that had just started.

“…Warned not to go to sleep…” This would put ME to sleep she thought drowsily. The word “Death” dragged her out of her stupor to concentrate on what she was seeing on the screen.

“…Toll rises ever higher and the city of Fairbanks is silent for the first time in centuries.” The presenter took a shuddering yawn as a clip was played showing row upon row of bodies laid in what seemed to be a stadium. “And I’ll say this again for those that have just joined us, do not go to sleep…” Both eve and David, who had just re-entered the room, gasped. “Gather your friends, family, neighbours anybody you meet and stay awake.”

Eve may have thought that this was some kind of elaborate hoax but the fear on the presenters face chilled her to the bone. It was obvious that the poor guy had been up for hours and it was probable that the people for the next shift, who would have been sleeping, had not turned up.

”Tell everyone, get the news around and make sure no one goes to sleep because quite honestly it will be the last thing that they will do.”

Eve hugged her son tightly as the family sat in a stunned silence. They did not move even when the sharp tang the of burning pizza engulfed their senses.