Question Two

“A mysterious app called Hour 0 has appeared on devices around the world, and it’s asking people to vote on how they want the world to end. People are passing it off as a joke as authorities continue to investigate where this app came from and why it cannot be deleted…”

Anya is brushing her teeth as she continues watching the short news video on her phone. It’s been a week, and people are still talking about Hour 0. It’s either about the poll and its creepy countdown or how experts are failing to come up with an explanation of how or why the app appeared and why no one can get it off their phones. Anya finishes brushing her teeth just as her phone moves to the next video.

“...I still don’t know what the point of all this is,” a male voice from the video says, “but once you vote, you can’t change it. So… do it wisely, I guess.”

This feels like a bizarre dream. While the app trends, so is “mobile blackout”, a term that people have started using to refer to the shutdown of mobile phones just seconds before New Year’s Day. So far, no one can provide a logical explanation for how that happened either, and conspiracy theories are popping up left and right.

Anya’s in her room, getting ready for another day at work when her call goes through.

“Hey, Sis. Don’t tell me you called just to tell me to stay off that app again.”

“No,” Anya says flatly. “But, I trust you’ve been listening to me.”

Jun chuckles. “You’re taking this a little too seriously. I think it’s really interesting. Like… I overheard some people debating on what they think would be the best way to go.”

“Jun,” Anya says like a mother disciplining a child. “Leave it alone.”

“Okay, okay. If it’s any reassurance, I sometimes just open it. Didn’t vote or anything. But…”

Anya closes her closet door and fixes her blouse collar in the mirror. “But what?”

“I just think it’s kind of funny. Doesn’t your company make apps?”

“We make apps that make money,” Anya deadpans. “Not sick pranks like this.” She picks up her phone and heads to the kitchen. “Don’t tell me you think we’re the ones responsible.”

“No. It’s just—”

Anya hears a muffled but strong cough.

“Hey,” she says softly. “You—”

“Jun." A woman’s voice, one that Anya recognizes as the nurse caring for her brother, comes from the other end. "Oh, is that your sister?”

After a muffled “yeah” from Jun, the nurse’s voice is much clearer, and Anya assumes that she took the phone from Jun.

“Hi, Anya,” she says. “It's time for Jun to take his medication."

"How is he doing?"

"He's doing well. But, there's something the doctor would like to discuss with you about." Despite having heard this countless of times, it still makes her chest tighten. "Will you be visiting him today?"

“I plan to.”

“Great. I’ll tell the doctor that he can be expecting you. We’ll give you a detailed update on his condition.” Before Anya can ask, the nurse continues, “Don’t worry. As I said, he's doing well.”

Despite the reassuring words, there’s still an unsettling feeling Anya can’t shake.

xxx

“Did you vote?”

“Who cares. Nothing’s going to happen. I just wanna know who’s behind it.”

“What does it mean by letting an illness turn us into waste?”

“They should add more options like a war with AI.”

Anya has just stepped into the office building, and she’s already walked past a million conversations about Hour 0. She sees the appeal, but she’s also positive that it’ll blow over soon like with every hot topic.

“What if the world really does end?” Anya’s coworker, a young woman who Anya knows got in strictly because of family connections, is sitting at her desk next to Anya’s. As usual, she’s talking with an older woman next to her. “We won’t have to work anymore, and everyone will be happy.”

Without looking away from her laptop screen, the older woman sighs. “I know I’ll be. At least I won’t have to deal with my annoying husband.”

The younger woman’s eyes light up. “Ooh, another fight?”

The rest of the conversation falls on deaf ears as Anya gets to her desk. She puts her laptop on her desk just as Josh walks over.

“Hey,” he says quietly as if afraid of people overhearing him. “Do you have a minute?”

Anya raises a brow as Josh gestures for her to follow him. So, she does and the two end up outside of the building on an empty stairwell.

“I think I know who’s behind Hour 0.”

“Wait,” Anya says with a large amount of skepticism. “What?”

Josh takes a deep breath. “Look, I know this is going to sound crazy, but”—he looks around as if to ward off any prying eyes or unwelcomed ears—”I think it’s Mira.”

“Mira?” Anya asks as if she can’t believe what Josh said.

Being friends with Mira throughout high school and university, Anya knows too well about her friend’s ambitious nature. It’s why they got along and had healthy competition—competition that extended into their careers when they began working for the same company. But now that they’ve entered the workforce, their friendship and rivalry have entered a grey area where Anya won’t be surprised if Mira throws her under the bus to get ahead. Still, Anya doesn’t think they are on bad terms per se, but that doesn’t mean their friendship has changed since their rosy school days.

“What makes you think it’s her?” Anya asks skeptically.

“You didn’t hear this from me, but I heard there’s some secret project the company’s working on.” Josh’s hands start making gestures to signify there’s a connection. “Secret project? Um, hello!”

Anya gently pats Josh’s arm. “I think you’ve been watching too many movies, Friend. That doesn’t mean anything.”

“It’s not just me who saw it!” At Anya’s questionable look, Josh says with a sigh, “It’s not just me who saw her working on something that looks pretty similar to Hour 0.”

“But why?” Anya asks. “What reason would she or even the company have to do something like this? It doesn’t make sense.”

“Money? Promotion? Status?” Josh says as if it's obvious. "Data?"

"And we need this data because..." Anya gestures for Josh to continue.

"Fine." Josh huffs. "But, you can't deny she's the favorite of the executives." Anya gives him another look, and he sighs. “I know I should focus on work but like… c’mon. Can you blame me?”

“You better not let Mira know that you suspect her,” Anya advises.

“Oh, I won’t,” Josh deadpans. Then, jokingly, “She might add a new option to kill me first before the world ends.”

xxx

As the sun begins to set over the horizon, Anya is the first to leave. She has her coat draped over one arm and her things in one hand. As she heads out, a few co-workers stop to say a quick goodbye. She turns the corner, and she almost stops upon seeing Mira waiting for the elevator.

“Let’s talk about this later,” Anya hears Mira say to whoever she’s talking to on the phone as she joins her. Then, Mira looks at Anya. “Heading off early?”

“Visiting my brother,” Anya says as the conversation with Josh earlier in the day comes flooding back.

Mira nods knowingly, and Anya thinks she might ask about him. Instead, she asks, “Has he seen Hour 0?” The elevator doors open just as the women exchange a look. Mira smiles and gestures for Anya to head in first. “After you.”

As the elevator descends, Anya, facing straight ahead says, “He's interested, but I keep telling him to stay away from it.”

“Why’s that?”

Anya scoffs. “It’s meaningless. Just a ridiculous game.”

Mira shrugs. “I don’t know. I mean, it’s an interesting way to see what people gravitate towards.”

“Money? Promotion? Status?” Josh said as if it was obvious. "Data?"

Nah. Josh can't be right. Can he?

“Did you vote?” Anya asks, turning to her.

“Who me?”

“It sounds like you’re quite interested in the psychology of all of this. So, I’m just curious.”

Mira faces forward and smiles just as the elevator stops and the door opens. Once again, she gestures for Anya to go first. As they exit the elevator, Mira says, “I’ll see you around, and”—she smiles—”say hi to Jun for me.”

Anya watches Mira walk toward a different set of elevators, ones that are reserved for leadership or VIPs as they lead directly to their offices. Mira swipes a card, and an elevator immediately opens. As she walks in, Anya heads out of the building.

xxx

The glass doors of the hospital’s main entrance slide open, and Anya steps inside. She starts walking past the sparsely occupied chairs but stops when she sees her younger brother sitting with his back facing her.

“Jun?” Anya asks, approaching him from behind.

He immediately turns around and stands. “Sis!” He slides his phone into his pocket. “You’re finally here!”

After returning her brother’s hug, Anya asks, “What are you doing down here?”

“I had some tests,” Jun answers, nodding toward a section of the lobby where people are waiting.

Ding!

Ding!

Ding!

Anya looks at her brother’s pocket. “Um… I’ll get it later,” Jun quickly says. Anya gives him a skeptical look, and his shoulders fall. “Okay, I’ll tell you… but promise you won’t get mad.”

“Why would I get mad?” Anya asks, raising a brow.

“Well… I… I sort of joined this group chat that’s been talking about Hour 0.”

“Group chat?” Anya deadpans.

“It’s really interesting!” Jun insists. “There’s someone who says that the poll is going to change.”

“Change…? To what?” Anya asks cautiously.

Jun pulls out his phone, and Anya catches a glimpse of the conversation. But it’s all going so fast for her to really make sense of everything.

It changed!!

OMG it did!

Crazy. Ling was right.

Are you going to vote?

Ling? Jun and Anya glance at each other. Then, he opens the app, and Anya’s lips press into a thin line as white words begin seeping onto the screen.

what unfortunate event are you willing to accept

“None,” Anya deadpans.

“That’s a… nice way of putting it,” Jun says.

Then, the options appear one by one.