Everyone in the bar headed for the exit at the same time.  A primal urge propelled him across the deserted campus.  An ominious chime reverberated through the chill air.  He looked towards the sky, nothing yet. 

Feet pounding pavement he at last arrived at a quaint two story duplex, located on a story-book cul de sac on the proper and well heeled side of campus, only things were not serene within. 

The downstairs couple with their teenage son were frantically cramming what they could into an ancient Volkswagen van.  His wife and young son were crying hysterically, obviously not knowing what to do.

He beseeched the male neighbor to accomodate his wife and child.  "No room," was his curt resonse as he and his boy forced camping supplies into the back. 

More begging and arguing ensued until he went into his bedroom and produced a cigar box full of gold coins.

"Yours, if you let them go with you."

The neighbor thought, for jus a minute, undoubtedly realizing the neccesity of gold in the new world.

He signaled his boy to begin off loading some of the extraneous detris.  "They can come as long as they make no trouble.  There are no guarantees you know. What about you?"

"I'll take the Toyota, take it down the culvert at 90 per until I hit the mountains."

"EMP will fry it you know.  Then what?"

"Chance I'll have to take, I'm a survivor.  I will be seeing you."

With that he crammed his screaming wife and child into the back of the van and watched as it disappeared down the dusty bucolic road. 

He thought he heard a faint pop high over head as he got into the Toyota.  As expected nothing happened as he turned the ignition.

Desppair surged through hom as he appreciated his situation, not another living soul was in sight.  Without thinking he began to run.

Fear knew no exhaustion, he continued to the edge of the city and through a park.  A squarrel leapt from a tree and began attacking him, no doubt in reprisal for what was about to happen.

He shook it it off and stumbled onto a railroad track.  He by chance looked up and saw several vapor trails high over head, some started to split two or three times. 

"MIRVs! Fuuuu....", he muttered,abject terror prevented him from finishing.

Mindless flight mechanism kicked in as he continued his futal trek down the railroad.  In the distance he saw a man walking towards him.  In slow motion the two made their way towards one another. 

When they were arm's distance the other man grabbed him, with eyes wide began to scream.

No pain, just pure white.

"Wake up you son of a bitch," the young woman said as she opened the blinds.  "Its almost noon...."