[ WP ] You notice more `` Lost Pet '' signs than usual one day . Then you start seeing the signs everywhere you go . You realize you ca n't remember the last time you actually saw a dog or cat . What 's happening ?

I frowned. This must have been the fifteenth LOST PET sign I saw this hour. 
 
 I was doing my usual morning jog and I had my music on full blast in my ears. I turned right and one of my iPhone AirPods fell out of my ear. 
 
 I cursed and stooped down to pick it. As I did, I suddenly had a foreboding feeling. The hair on the back of my neck stood up. 
 
 I looked around nervously. The TRUMP/PENCE sign that was usually in my neighbor's yard was gone. 
 
 `` Good riddance,'' I thought. 
 
 But in its place was a LOST PET sign. I craned my neck to look at the houses further down on the lane. All of them were sporting LOST PET signs as well. 
 
 `` What in the world...'' I said. 
 
 I suddenly felt a hand roughly grab mine. I yelped. 
 
 `` Shondra, I found our pet!'' Yelled a burly man with bulging arms. 
 
 `` What the -- let go of me, you crazy person!'' I yelled, trying to shake off the man's hand. 
 
 `` Do n't be like that now,'' chided the man. I felt something snap shut over my neck. Panicking, I felt it. It was a collar attached to a leash. 
 
 `` Max, we've been so worried about you,'' continued the man, yanking on my leash. I scrabbled for the locking mechanism on the collar, trying to pry it open. The man batted my hands away. 
 
 `` We've got some good kibbles for you,'' he said. 
 
 A woman wearing a doctor's coat exited a white picket fence barrier and approached me. 
 
 `` He's acting up,'' said the man worriedly. 
 
 `` Do n't worry, I've got some medicine for him,'' said the woman. `` It's good that LeAnn came over with her pet just now.'' She stuck a needle into my arm. 
 
 The last thing I saw was the man picking me up and carrying me to his house before everything faded to black.
