**We've been living in this house for a few years. Nothing would have really prepared me for what was about to happen. Sure, they told us that if a disaster ever hit that we'd just have to hide in our basement and put on gas masks...that everything would blow over quickly. That's not exactly how it happenend.
I was sweeping the floor in my kitchen, occasionally glancing out the kitchen window to catch glimpses of the green hillsides and to enjoy the singing of the birds nearby. With a ponytail and whispies falling at my cheeks, my three little children were playing in the living room. It was at this moment, while I was leaning against my broom with a sun-splashed warmth coating my dress and apron, that I saw a flash of light. Almost immediately there was a plume of green and purple smoke shooting up with an orange tinged halo near the origin of the flash.
"TO THE BASEMENT!!! NOW!!!"**
I checked that my phone was in my pocket, then I followed my children into our custom basement. Not only did they know that their lives could depend upon quickly descending the stairs, there was plenty of incentive to actually want to be there.
They had a family game room, a PlayStation, three computers, a smart TV, and the contents of their rooms. We all had our bedrooms in the basement. It saved a small fortune in utility bills. And I slept better, knowing that we were safe.
Our government had warned us almost a decade ago that there could be an attack by our rival superpower. The most likely method? Biological weapons. To emphasize the danger, schools were required to run drills on a regular basis. But they also promised that it would be dealt with swiftly. Luckily I used my head, and was more prepared than most.
I didn't like the idea of us wearing masks for days, perhaps longer, so I had proper filters installed. I also had emergency rations as well as extra supplies. And an extra kitchen, to cook real meals. The basement was safe from pretty much everything, except for a nuclear weapon.
This home within a home was all thanks to the genius of 
"I'm scared, Mommy." cried my youngest, Vanden. He was usually brave, I guess he picked up on my terror.
"It's alright, this is just what we have been practicing for." I told him, as calmly as I could. I don't think he was satisfied, but at least he settled down a little. Those school drills turned out to be a blessing.
I checked one of the computers. Yes! We still had Internet, at least for now. "Kids, go play. But stay in the basement. Mommy is going to talk to some Hive friends." I said, trying to sound unconcerned.
I logged into Discord, and began typing in my favorite Discord server, run by @Hive.Pizza .
" 
Once we were in voice chat, he had his own news. I could hear panic in his voice.
"Your government bombed us with something too. It gave off some green and purple stuff. It looked nasty!" he told me, obviously shocked. My country had signed a UN agreement not to even possess biological weapons. I was speechless for several seconds.
"When did this happen?!?!" I finally sputtered.
"A couple of minutes ago, why?"
"That's when it hit here too, and it was the same thing."
@Ravenmus1c and 
"Well this sure crashed our Friday Night Pizza Party, unless this mess is over before tomorrow! I wonder who we have to blame?" I said, trying to add a little humor to a terrifying moment.
Nobody laughed... You could hear a pin drop in that room.
"Uh, sorry. I just wanted to try to calm us - er, me - down." I said awkwardly.
I dropped the link for
"Hello, as you may already know, we are in the middle of a global emergency. Biological weapons have been deployed to all major cities. If you are listening to this, you are likely indoors. Stay where you are. Should you ignore this advice, wear a gas mask. Medical masks will not protect you.
A group of billionaires calling themselves "The New Era" have initiated a worldwide culling of the human race. They claim that by doing this we will advance into our next stage of development. Be assured, we will bring them to justice. Until then, stay safe."
Twenty Years Later
"Vanden! Tina! Wes! They think they found the TNE base!" I yelled out excitedly. Maybe this would be the year that I could take my now adult children out for their first picnic. If our forces were strong enough to penetrate the maniac's base of course. Why hadn't I taken them out more when they were little, while I had the chance..."
Cover image made in Apophysis and Gimp and is my original artwork. Text is from the gimp computer program.