[ WP ] On Dec 31st , 2016 , everyone hears the exact same broadcast message in their head : “ Level 2016 failed ; restarting level . ”

“ What the fuck did they just say? ” Asked Alison as she slowly put down the plate of grilled chicken for that night ’ s dinner. 
 
 None of her four teenage boys responded. Each set of eyes glued to the TV screen that had turned an unsettling static grey with the number 30 sitting in the middle. 
 
 “ Dylan! ” She said urgently, looking to her husband now. “ I asked what they just said. ” 
 
 “ They said-, ” He gave a slight shake of his head and tore his eyes away from the screen. “ They said ‘ Level 2016 failed; restarting level. ’ ” 
 
 The family of six sat in silence around the dinner table. Steam from the hot chicken slowly fading as the food grew cold. Alison ’ s mind was trying to comprehend what was happening. If this was a joke, possibly. Maybe some sort of prank the news station was playing on their city because they disagreed with who just got elected president. Reaching for her phone, Alison called the only person who she knew would never lie to her; her father. 
 
 Half way through the first ring her dad picked up, “ Dad? ” She didn ’ t wait for him to say hello. “ Dad are you watching TV? What ’ s it saying for you in Florida? ” 
 
 “ Your step mom and I are trying to figure it out right now, kid. Just…just hold tight? Ok? I ’ m sure everything will be fine. ” The old thinned out voice that belonged for her father to years now had been replaced with a much more thick and panicked one. He hadn ’ t had the responsibility of soothing his children in years, but here Alison was – knocking on his door for reassurance and he couldn ’ t provide it. 
 
 The TV gave a loud beep, and it spoke again. “ Level 2016 failed; restarting level. ” The 30 on the screen began to tick down. 
 
 twenty nine. 
 
 Alison put her phone down on the table without even hanging up. “ Please remain calm. Years have been re-set before. You will remember none of what happened, and feel no pain. ” A women ’ s voice spoke to them now through the TV but showed no face. 
 
 twenty eight. 
 
 twenty seven 
 
 twenty six 
 
 twenty five 
 
 twenty four. 
 
 “ Mom? ” Allen, the second from the youngest, asked quietly. 
 
 twenty three 
 
 Not fully understanding what was going to happen, Alison felt a shiver run down her spine and began to panic. *This might be real*, she thought. *If it is…* 
 
 twenty two 
 
 twenty one 
 
 “ Mom. ” Allen began to cry small tears in fear. 
 
 twenty one 
 
 Alison jumped out of her chair and pulled Allen ’ s chair away from the table so she could look at him directly. 
 
 nineteen 
 
 “ It ’ s going to be alright, ” She tried to put on a warm smile, and grabbed her son ’ s face gently in both hands. 
 
 eighteen 
 
 seventeen 
 
 He sobbed harder. His eldest brother, nearly 20, put a hand on Allen ’ s shoulder. 
 
 sixteen 
 
 Pushing down any of her own fear for the sake of her sons, their mother said firmly. “ We can do this, Allen. If we can do it once, we can do it again. ” 
 
 fifteen 
 
 fourteen 
 
 thirteen 
 
 “ You said it was over, ” Allen begged through increasing hiccups. “ You said I ’ d never have to go back there again. ” 
 
 twelve 
 
 Their father put his head in his hands and closed his eyes, preying to any God that would listen. 
 
 eleven 
 
 “ I know, sweetheart. ” She choked down her own cries. “ I know I did, but you ’ re so strong. You ’ re so so strong. ” Alison tried to wipe her sons tears away with her thumbs. 
 
 ten 
 
 Her two remaining sons looked on as the TV counted down. 
 
 nine 
 
 “ I don ’ t want to, ” Allen managed barely above a whimper, a tiny trail of snot coming out of his nose. 
 
 eight 
 
 seven 
 
 Alison began to cry with him, “ neither do I. ” 
 
 six 
 
 The eldest son, holding on to Allen ’ s shoulder leaned in and whispered, “ We ’ ll all be there with you, like we always were. ” Trying his hardest to make up for their fathers absence. 
 
 five 
 
 Allen leaned in to his mother, begging for her to cradle him. “ The chemo… ” he said as if speaking of a vile monster that lived under his bed. 
 
 four 
 
 three 
 
 She took him in his arms, awkwardly leaned in to Allen as he sat in his chair at the dinner table. His brother joined them, wrapping around them from the back. Their father cursing at the heavens under his breath, and the two remaining brothers sitting, watching, and waiting like deer caught in the headlights. 
 
 two 
 
 one 

