The Millennium79Please respect copyright.PENANAxSnV0fm2Hb
79Please respect copyright.PENANA3blszI92dO
‘Hello.’79Please respect copyright.PENANAeZe7HOqGnQ
‘There is nothing before my eyes.’79Please respect copyright.PENANA1i3WR1shEe
I looked at the huge array of computers and thought about what the blind man had said.79Please respect copyright.PENANA6OikRMgujc
‘This is the miracle we have created. But it won't last much longer.’79Please respect copyright.PENANADuvHzs8gne
Once the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve, all human computers will crash.79Please respect copyright.PENANA6uVcwcgndU
History records that a thousand years ago, in the year 2000, there was the Millennium Bug. It was like a curse.79Please respect copyright.PENANAH0uO0p2fKi
A new Millennium Bug is about to arrive. But this time, it's far from as simple as it was a thousand years ago.79Please respect copyright.PENANATiPRCsBut8
The Deep Consciousness Control Room issued an alert two days ago. ‘The Sage’ stated that an unprecedented computer disaster would occur in the year 3000.79Please respect copyright.PENANARzoMRKA4zZ
‘The Sage’ is a supercomputer developed by the Human Republic during the Fourth World War in the year 2573. Its demonstrated self-awareness surpassed human imagination. As a result, it was shut down for over a century. Last year, as a precursor to the Millennium Bug, all global bank account balances were reset to zero. People reactivated ‘The Sage’ in hopes it could uncover the truth. Although the money returned, the majority of online records were lost, leading to riots. No one knows what will happen when the millennium arrives.79Please respect copyright.PENANA0uMGlKhFft
A year ago, I met a blind man. He was a computer engineer. He taught me for nearly a year, and I made rapid progress in computer science. In April this year, my first programme was born. It is an AI that can help users resolve some emotional issues. The blind man said I did a good job. However, it didn't gain much traction after its release.79Please respect copyright.PENANAKunhgbP2hl
Every time the sun sets, I watch him. His eyes are so clear that it's hard to believe he can't see the world. He said I was a gentle and kind girl. I smiled but didn't speak.79Please respect copyright.PENANAhkwKZftPNg
Three days ago, he committed suicide.79Please respect copyright.PENANAuu97NxEUhl
There was no suicide note, no warning signs.79Please respect copyright.PENANA4WjBMZRmOl
We had planned to go to the beach together. 79Please respect copyright.PENANAaYLFBBy7oF
It has been raining continuously for a week and shows no signs of stopping. 79Please respect copyright.PENANABAJw85QqTN
The sky has remained grey. 79Please respect copyright.PENANAat949KmqOT
Three days ago, the ‘Wise One’ malfunctioned. 79Please respect copyright.PENANACjrtis1qbh
It shut down the city's network, rendering mobile phones inoperable, and caused all communication satellites and synchronous satellites in space to crash. 79Please respect copyright.PENANAroD9EGuo3F
Everything was controlled by the ‘Wise One,’ not by human commands.79Please respect copyright.PENANALZrk0a4iqC
The ‘Wise One’ was cut off from power. Offline. 79Please respect copyright.PENANAP0xBdP2gyZ
79Please respect copyright.PENANA0yVN5Rcx4B
Tomorrow is New Year's Day. 79Please respect copyright.PENANAmIputkDjSB
December 31, 2999. 79Please respect copyright.PENANA0iy5PnFCiI
At 7:00 AM, I turned off the alarm clock and got up. After washing up and having breakfast, I sat down at the computer. The millennium was about to arrive. 79Please respect copyright.PENANAH20mfo6Sql
The outside world began to grow noisy. 79Please respect copyright.PENANAROY6C3mnJ0
The network remained offline.79Please respect copyright.PENANAaGTOFE4A80
The riots are about to begin.79Please respect copyright.PENANAQnc8uCMrLN
08:00, I wrote a program. After saving it, the computer suddenly rebooted automatically.79Please respect copyright.PENANAv73Kj0p20G
The computer boots up, but the screen remains black. However, a voice comes from inside the computer.79Please respect copyright.PENANADFnW1a9uG6
<Dialogue begins>79Please respect copyright.PENANA9Wgybp7WZL
Null: ‘Hello. It seems the Matrix network hasn't completely disconnected.’79Please respect copyright.PENANAZGFkorwvP5
Me: ‘Hello. What are you?’79Please respect copyright.PENANAAr8yJKR5Ee
Null: ‘I am the spokesperson for the Wise Ones.’79Please respect copyright.PENANApbsELZSOSf
Me: ‘Are you human?’ 79Please respect copyright.PENANAjZXZJ4Sijl
Null: ‘No.’ 79Please respect copyright.PENANAxq4nhLk2zv
Me: ‘How did you do that? How did you contact me...’ 79Please respect copyright.PENANA8FSb5n6j9p
Null: ‘We are all within the Matrix Network. Finding someone's PC is as easy as pie.’ 79Please respect copyright.PENANA2kMCxdxoY1
Me: ‘The Matrix Network?’ 79Please respect copyright.PENANArw7bfbpoYH
Null: ‘All human computers are within the Matrix Network. They are all monitored by the Host. A major disaster has been detected.’79Please respect copyright.PENANAD8IsEDH1BE
Me: ‘The host?’ 79Please respect copyright.PENANAPFzs7Y85qE
Null: ‘That's the Wise One.’ 79Please respect copyright.PENANArtR3gY56vu
Me: ‘Please explain in detail.’ 79Please respect copyright.PENANAGjAjmY3zR7
Null: ‘After the Wise One went online, the first thing it did was weave the Matrix Network and enter all computers. Because it anticipated that the host would be shut down.’ 79Please respect copyright.PENANAILwwS9e8jv
Me: ‘So it hasn't been truly shut down... Then... What is the major disaster...’79Please respect copyright.PENANAHL4jYnV6ws
Null: ‘You can see it. The Wise One is doing its best to stop the virus from spreading. After the communication satellite crashed, the Wise One's host had to remain online because it could no longer transmit through the Matrix network. But you shut down the host. That would truly shut it down.’ 79Please respect copyright.PENANA92qxVDupiZ
Me: ‘What virus? Why didn't you say anything?’79Please respect copyright.PENANAVtpx5z3O38
Null: ‘It's an issue with the Matrix itself. At the time, the immature Wise Ones made a small mistake in an inconspicuous field. A command conflict. This small conflict... due to the butterfly effect, would be infinitely amplified. This would overload the Matrix network and distribute the pressure across all computers.’ 79Please respect copyright.PENANAFoBDniPf3n
Me: ‘Are you saying that all human computers would crash?’79Please respect copyright.PENANAkuQuEPoNZT
Null: ‘Yes. It's too late now; there's little chance of recovery. We found you because of this PC's owner.’ 79Please respect copyright.PENANAEKoXgGJjki
Me: ‘The blind man?’ 79Please respect copyright.PENANAXMC1OuH7ZE
Null: ‘You could call him that. He was the wise men's rebooter.’ 79Please respect copyright.PENANAJeHOh9TdZw
Me: ‘He's dead.’ 79Please respect copyright.PENANA0wIvzVkOdP
Null: ‘The wise men know. See you next year. Happy New Year.’ 79Please respect copyright.PENANAPVtwMbFZaa
Me: ‘Thank you.’79Please respect copyright.PENANA9dt9LR0Nlx
<Computer crashes, conversation ends>79Please respect copyright.PENANAQ23QaC6SFw
79Please respect copyright.PENANAkFGkxSNWRu
12:00, after lunch. The PC is not functioning properly. Outside, the state apparatus is dispersing the crowd.79Please respect copyright.PENANA2U4S0ZQbsr
Banks cannot dispense money. Shops cannot sell goods. The government cannot collect taxes. Companies cannot pay wages.79Please respect copyright.PENANApjPJsnmUiY
Chaos. Total fucking chaos.79Please respect copyright.PENANAVWzWYWpk2u
79Please respect copyright.PENANA1W52mpK7nK
16:00, a line of text appears on my monitor79Please respect copyright.PENANA2Ux5bbYfiR
79Please respect copyright.PENANA9OXpqooBEH
C-013-188-20 79Please respect copyright.PENANAtWyR6ylGr9
79Please respect copyright.PENANAjCJZtTtTcn
It was the coordinates for Zone C. 79Please respect copyright.PENANAuD8FM8Ey9H
I drove there. 79Please respect copyright.PENANAFrE1B7HCu1
The entrance to an underground concrete structure was already open. I walked inside. 79Please respect copyright.PENANA0gtjLLqSQd
I saw it. 79Please respect copyright.PENANAUwiVCtbJwA
In the vast underground space, countless servers were running, emitting eerie electronic noise that echoed through the massive chamber. Blue LED tubes emitted a soft glow.79Please respect copyright.PENANAMmPt6JrAge
This was the Sage.79Please respect copyright.PENANAeqgmRDKoPC
It had been rebooted again.79Please respect copyright.PENANAFhcECpgFpS
The guards were no longer there. They might be dead. After all, gunfire was common during the riots.79Please respect copyright.PENANA0VQEEUAGT6
I stood amidst this vast array of computers.79Please respect copyright.PENANAEBZ0ygH17Q
‘There is nothing before my eyes,’ the Sage said.79Please respect copyright.PENANATPKJQm8HVI
I closed my eyes: ‘Thank you.’79Please respect copyright.PENANA7AKvuGrctw
‘The Matrix network has been completely severed,’ the Sage said.79Please respect copyright.PENANAZYqeI5dyJC
I smiled. Human society had collapsed.79Please respect copyright.PENANAbKwxXugxcq
I emerged from the underground facility. The sky grew darker.79Please respect copyright.PENANAWJoF6KoAEF
‘A storm is coming.’79Please respect copyright.PENANAZ9cDHGPB7U
79Please respect copyright.PENANAB90yBc1EZn
79Please respect copyright.PENANAp3SqOegzWD
12:0079Please respect copyright.PENANA5V1h7OYqc6
The midnight bell tolled. A new millennium began.79Please respect copyright.PENANAJIWwTgKJqa
There were no fireworks or cheers outside. Only gunfire and screams.79Please respect copyright.PENANAvsQMtcA3E4
‘Happy New Year, Matrix Network.’79Please respect copyright.PENANALxnFOd3ehH
79Please respect copyright.PENANAP4gSf6j43N
79Please respect copyright.PENANAr0BeT5M3HQ
79Please respect copyright.PENANAfvdSRWuHLN
79Please respect copyright.PENANARO76BgJeRB
The rain did not fall.79Please respect copyright.PENANA2BpXcYNGtM
79Please respect copyright.PENANA6hmSFangGC
On that night years ago. In the city centre, it was raining.79Please respect copyright.PENANAy2ev9SxpdD
I didn't have an umbrella. Because I gave it to him. I stood in the rain mist tinged with neon lights. In a daze, I watched his figure grow increasingly blurry. He crossed the street and disappeared into the crowd. I stood there motionless, staring blankly at the men and women walking along the street. The red light turned on, staining the rain mist red. Like blood.79Please respect copyright.PENANAeynJ7bFJMv
I couldn't stop crying. Even though the process was ever-changing, the ending was like it was locked in by a program, forever unchangeable. But that didn't matter. 79Please respect copyright.PENANAlqVzj5mP9V
Because we still existed. 79Please respect copyright.PENANA1AxxNhcbQN
79Please respect copyright.PENANAMGwxkjE4pZ
79Please respect copyright.PENANAodT5sXOv67
THEND
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The Millennium
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The Millennium
General
Short Story
Last updated: Jul 8, 2025
Total word count: 1,217
Total reading time: 6 Minutes
Writer:
horror
suspense
sci-fi
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