The Live-Streamed Plague: The Last Broadcast

The screen flickered to life, casting an eerie glow on the small, cluttered room. The camera panned out to reveal a single figure, hunched over a laptop, his face illuminated by the screen's cold blue light. It was late at night, the only sound the soft hum of the computer and the distant, ominous whispers of the city outside.

"Hello, everyone," the man began, his voice trembling slightly. "I'm Dr. Ethan Winters, and I'm here to tell you the truth. The world has fallen apart. The dead are walking, and there's no going back. But I'm not here to scare you. I'm here to save you."

Ethan's eyes were fixed on the camera, his gaze unwavering. The room was a stark contrast to the chaos outside. The walls were lined with canned food and medical supplies, a makeshift fortress against the encroaching terror. The window, however, was ajar, and the faint glow of the city beyond could be seen through the darkness.

"I know you've seen the videos," he continued. "The live streams of the infected, their eyes hollow, their skin rotting. But I've been hiding, preparing. I've found a way to stop them. All you need to do is follow me."

Ethan's words were met with silence, the only sound the occasional click of the keyboard. He took a deep breath, his eyes narrowing as he adjusted the camera angle. "I know you're out there, watching. I can see you. And I promise you, this is real. The live streams are no longer just entertainment. They're a lifeline."

The screen cut to black for a moment, the camera's lens fogging up as Ethan's breath condensated on the cool glass. When it came back on, he was standing in a dimly lit room, the walls adorned with medical diagrams and notes. His hands were covered in ink, the marks of a scientist in a world gone mad.

"I've been working on a vaccine," he said, his voice filled with urgency. "But I need your help. I need you to spread the word. Find others, bring them here. We need to build a community, a safe haven. Together, we can survive."

The camera panned to a makeshift laboratory, filled with test tubes and strange chemicals. Ethan's eyes scanned the room, his face etched with determination. "I've made progress, but I need more. More samples, more volunteers. And time is running out."

The screen went black again, and when it came back on, Ethan was standing in the same cluttered room, but the atmosphere had changed. The air was thick with tension, the hum of the computer replaced by the sound of footsteps outside. He looked directly into the camera, his eyes filled with fear.

"Something's wrong," he whispered. "I can feel it. The infection is spreading faster than I thought. I need to get more samples, but I can't do it alone. I need you to help me."

The screen cut to black once more, and when it came back on, Ethan was surrounded by the infected, their eyes glowing with a malevolent light. He fought back with everything he had, but it was no use. The dead were overwhelming, their bodies collapsing around him.

The camera panned out, showing the room in ruins, the walls pockmarked with bullet holes, the floor littered with bodies. Ethan was alone, his breath coming in gasps, his eyes wide with terror.

"Please," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "Help me. Save us."

The screen went black, and for a moment, there was silence. Then, a single word appeared on the screen: "Broadcast."

The camera panned out to reveal a new figure, a young woman with a determined look in her eyes. She was holding a smartphone, her face illuminated by the screen's light.

"I'm here," she said, her voice steady. "I'll follow you, Dr. Winters. I'll help you save us."

The screen went black again, and when it came back on, the woman was running through the streets, the infected closing in behind her. She reached a crossroads, her heart pounding in her chest.

"Which way?" she asked herself, her voice barely above a whisper.

She turned left, her eyes scanning the darkness. The infected were gaining on her, their footsteps echoing in the silence. She reached a building, its windows shattered, its doors hanging open. She pushed them open, and the sound of the infected faded away.

Inside, the room was dimly lit, the walls lined with medical supplies and notes. Ethan was there, his eyes wide with relief.

"You made it," he said, his voice filled with gratitude.

The woman nodded, her eyes scanning the room. "I'll help you, Dr. Winters. But we need to move fast. The infection is spreading."

Ethan nodded, his eyes filled with determination. "Then let's go. We have a world to save."

The screen went black, and when it came back on, the two of them were running through the streets, the infected in their wake. The camera followed them, capturing the chaos, the terror, the hope.

And in that moment, the world was saved, one live stream at a time.