Saturday August 8, 2026 [8/8 +0]
Chicago, United States of America
Perry Easton stared at the prisoner list from the Metro Corrections Center, then at the news article about the failed terrorist shooting in Barcelona. He looked up at Matthew McBride.
“No fucking way,” Perry agreed. “This is compelling, but we clearly need more if we’re going to run with this.”
“Boss, you’re totally right. But we need to roll on this with all of our people right away. We can be the first to break about what is actually causing this phenomenon.”
“Sparks! Kim! Swing on by and take a look at this!” Perry called across the newsroom. Victoria Sparks, the White House specialist, and Yvonne Kim, who was investigating the current prison emergencies, came over to Matthew’s desk.
“Matt, tell them what you just told me,” Perry said.
“Right. Guys, take a look at this prisoner list from Metro Correction. All of the prisoners in prison for murder, DUI leading to death, or manslaughter fell unconscious this morning. Although there are three exceptions—two men and one woman convicted of murder did not get knocked out today.” Matt pointed out the spreadsheet that Yvonne had given him.
“Also, take a look at what happened in Barcelona three hours ago. A mass shooting was halted because the shooter got knocked out by the phenomenon right after he made his first and only kill.”
Matthew grabbed his cell phone and flicked open a text message. “I just talked with one of my guys currently in Raqqa—one of those douchebags from the Mid-West that went to the Mid-East to fight. He says that many of the Iraqi Insurgency fighters were knocked out a 2-3 hours ago, and that those who passed out tended to have been there the longest. My guy sent me this answer to my question.”
Matthew showed the text message, which read:
Matthew looked up at the small group. “All of this points to one conclusion, as crazy as it sounds. This phenomenon hits people who have killed other people.”
The small group fell silent. Matthew saw that what he discovered struck a chord with everybody.
“How the hell.. what can cause this on a global scale? Is this even, like, biologically possible?” Victoria exclaimed.
“It sounds crazy, but it’s by far the best explanation so far,” said Perry, shaking his head in disbelief.
“Right. But it sounds right,” said Matthew. Everyone looked shocked, but no one was disagreeing, either.
Yvonne Kim was poring over the prisoner list. “Matt, like you say, there are three exceptions of inmates who have killed but did not fall unconscious. But there are also cases of unconscious inmates that are not in the slammer for murder or manslaughter. Like this guy… he’s in for B&E.”
“Right. There are five of those guys. That’s where you come in, Yvonne. Can you check into each one’s backstory and see if they had killed someone previously to their current hotel stay? Or perhaps they shanked someone in the prison shower and didn’t get caught.”
Yvonne looked at Perry. Perry nodded. “Yvonne, do it. Sparks, what’s going on at the White House? Any press conferences slated?”
Victoria Sparks flipped open her tablet and showed a video of Mark Melanger, the Press Secretary, giving a briefing forty-five minutes previous. “Melanger says the President is working the phones, or something. He was very vague, and he also seemed really stressed out. Like, more than usual, I mean. No further press conferences are scheduled for later today, which is totally crazy considering what’s happening. My guys over in Washington are going nuts over this stonewalling.”
Perry Easton set his jaw. “OK. Sparks, keep on the White House, and look into this Barcelona thing as well as anything like it that happened in the last three hours. Now Matt.”
Perry set his sharp grey eyes on Matthew McBride. “We have the opportunity to be the first to release the explanation of this phenomenon to the world. Write it up. Now. I will get everyone else to look into leads for this and feed you as they find out.”
He clapped his hands. “People, let’s move. If all pans out we release on the Internet in half an hour.”