The Millennium354Please respect copyright.PENANAx0i5mUiQAP
354Please respect copyright.PENANAhSAaB2mScf
‘Hello.’354Please respect copyright.PENANAeFoMiIn63N
‘There is nothing before my eyes.’354Please respect copyright.PENANAJKB2EG9PUm
I looked at the huge array of computers and thought about what the blind man had said.354Please respect copyright.PENANAl9u3u38GrA
‘This is the miracle we have created. But it won't last much longer.’354Please respect copyright.PENANAxsRatxCfx0
Once the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve, all human computers will crash.354Please respect copyright.PENANARIapJJkr3q
History records that a thousand years ago, in the year 2000, there was the Millennium Bug. It was like a curse.354Please respect copyright.PENANAj0nbjR20IW
A new Millennium Bug is about to arrive. But this time, it's far from as simple as it was a thousand years ago.354Please respect copyright.PENANATwcewTYsOX
The Deep Consciousness Control Room issued an alert two days ago. ‘The Sage’ stated that an unprecedented computer disaster would occur in the year 3000.354Please respect copyright.PENANAM6pGRGomJp
‘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.354Please respect copyright.PENANAp11aROT0Yr
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.354Please respect copyright.PENANAE12JEFkzTi
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.354Please respect copyright.PENANACh6HgbSf3k
Three days ago, he committed suicide.354Please respect copyright.PENANAa5xxuc1Q97
There was no suicide note, no warning signs.354Please respect copyright.PENANA7cDwkPccnM
We had planned to go to the beach together. 354Please respect copyright.PENANAhX7S8nzgdt
It has been raining continuously for a week and shows no signs of stopping. 354Please respect copyright.PENANABhJWwsQhT6
The sky has remained grey. 354Please respect copyright.PENANAn09je5g1ux
Three days ago, the ‘Wise One’ malfunctioned. 354Please respect copyright.PENANAOToy4EN6vt
It shut down the city's network, rendering mobile phones inoperable, and caused all communication satellites and synchronous satellites in space to crash. 354Please respect copyright.PENANAgz12rFXhJi
Everything was controlled by the ‘Wise One,’ not by human commands.354Please respect copyright.PENANAH6BJCrHpt4
The ‘Wise One’ was cut off from power. Offline. 354Please respect copyright.PENANAXSTXmis8Am
354Please respect copyright.PENANAbxkojbyyLP
Tomorrow is New Year's Day. 354Please respect copyright.PENANAjYt3CDea6W
December 31, 2999. 354Please respect copyright.PENANASZM9WLS61W
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. 354Please respect copyright.PENANA1nJitpMz5o
The outside world began to grow noisy. 354Please respect copyright.PENANANUSbJtXAPb
The network remained offline.354Please respect copyright.PENANAy0Ck8cA8hv
The riots are about to begin.354Please respect copyright.PENANAcTCdQn0bng
08:00, I wrote a program. After saving it, the computer suddenly rebooted automatically.354Please respect copyright.PENANAMM1TYlR7RP
The computer boots up, but the screen remains black. However, a voice comes from inside the computer.354Please respect copyright.PENANAXYxAOodNDY
<Dialogue begins>354Please respect copyright.PENANA5Sl02M9fJm
Null: ‘Hello. It seems the Matrix network hasn't completely disconnected.’354Please respect copyright.PENANAS7T8KHrf2A
Me: ‘Hello. What are you?’354Please respect copyright.PENANA0uHhXSICkF
Null: ‘I am the spokesperson for the Wise Ones.’354Please respect copyright.PENANAmAzSVMrbTR
Me: ‘Are you human?’ 354Please respect copyright.PENANAZQ2prYu7TT
Null: ‘No.’ 354Please respect copyright.PENANAfmTbRh2GNY
Me: ‘How did you do that? How did you contact me...’ 354Please respect copyright.PENANAecqmQffI4x
Null: ‘We are all within the Matrix Network. Finding someone's PC is as easy as pie.’ 354Please respect copyright.PENANAH5p9gZmZK0
Me: ‘The Matrix Network?’ 354Please respect copyright.PENANAKvAyU3drDt
Null: ‘All human computers are within the Matrix Network. They are all monitored by the Host. A major disaster has been detected.’354Please respect copyright.PENANA6P5TJkmXnI
Me: ‘The host?’ 354Please respect copyright.PENANAannIf6hjcw
Null: ‘That's the Wise One.’ 354Please respect copyright.PENANAn7AM1GnCBV
Me: ‘Please explain in detail.’ 354Please respect copyright.PENANAMXiQSPC4vD
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.’ 354Please respect copyright.PENANAhOh1PHixNA
Me: ‘So it hasn't been truly shut down... Then... What is the major disaster...’354Please respect copyright.PENANA0rNhLpoyeC
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.’ 354Please respect copyright.PENANAB8Xo3wTqcl
Me: ‘What virus? Why didn't you say anything?’354Please respect copyright.PENANARjFw8rQe5d
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.’ 354Please respect copyright.PENANAtt3vrIEgOx
Me: ‘Are you saying that all human computers would crash?’354Please respect copyright.PENANAVcwLLH8YxW
Null: ‘Yes. It's too late now; there's little chance of recovery. We found you because of this PC's owner.’ 354Please respect copyright.PENANAJMvGxWV5Ox
Me: ‘The blind man?’ 354Please respect copyright.PENANAYTGQL8Yh7b
Null: ‘You could call him that. He was the wise men's rebooter.’ 354Please respect copyright.PENANAXd0vEzASXE
Me: ‘He's dead.’ 354Please respect copyright.PENANAKzod2QXXIb
Null: ‘The wise men know. See you next year. Happy New Year.’ 354Please respect copyright.PENANAGPoel3jgJv
Me: ‘Thank you.’354Please respect copyright.PENANApcNorjC5ZX
<Computer crashes, conversation ends>354Please respect copyright.PENANAJAtxpEnReG
354Please respect copyright.PENANAQ8H9c41gWJ
12:00, after lunch. The PC is not functioning properly. Outside, the state apparatus is dispersing the crowd.354Please respect copyright.PENANAxWDYxE7dDH
Banks cannot dispense money. Shops cannot sell goods. The government cannot collect taxes. Companies cannot pay wages.354Please respect copyright.PENANAQjVEQobMOz
Chaos. Total fucking chaos.354Please respect copyright.PENANAY2aZ1rWM6f
354Please respect copyright.PENANAzLN0QS1k8F
16:00, a line of text appears on my monitor354Please respect copyright.PENANAPQdoye0UY4
354Please respect copyright.PENANA9nO0b4rhRk
C-013-188-20 354Please respect copyright.PENANAlYdFkObB3J
354Please respect copyright.PENANA0CX5R02VPD
It was the coordinates for Zone C. 354Please respect copyright.PENANAH234LMGqdm
I drove there. 354Please respect copyright.PENANAI7qibn4sB4
The entrance to an underground concrete structure was already open. I walked inside. 354Please respect copyright.PENANAL3qZYldY8b
I saw it. 354Please respect copyright.PENANAL1SBPTe118
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.354Please respect copyright.PENANA4GfaYIyXBO
This was the Sage.354Please respect copyright.PENANAbFHg7JJmce
It had been rebooted again.354Please respect copyright.PENANAE1TbZlqMPb
The guards were no longer there. They might be dead. After all, gunfire was common during the riots.354Please respect copyright.PENANAygXeueopKI
I stood amidst this vast array of computers.354Please respect copyright.PENANA3i59R4N1zq
‘There is nothing before my eyes,’ the Sage said.354Please respect copyright.PENANA2Uc2ZGL2e2
I closed my eyes: ‘Thank you.’354Please respect copyright.PENANAAE3NBTjhiV
‘The Matrix network has been completely severed,’ the Sage said.354Please respect copyright.PENANAan4cObWXSi
I smiled. Human society had collapsed.354Please respect copyright.PENANAD8T5gctBBm
I emerged from the underground facility. The sky grew darker.354Please respect copyright.PENANAAmAYQyYxbj
‘A storm is coming.’354Please respect copyright.PENANAvJf6Tbthao
354Please respect copyright.PENANAnfUWCZUj56
354Please respect copyright.PENANANhzpR3hmbc
12:00354Please respect copyright.PENANAYwlRyQ4dOx
The midnight bell tolled. A new millennium began.354Please respect copyright.PENANApQwhdfFePc
There were no fireworks or cheers outside. Only gunfire and screams.354Please respect copyright.PENANADtuNmepnYo
‘Happy New Year, Matrix Network.’354Please respect copyright.PENANAM3j9kNduZJ
354Please respect copyright.PENANAX3WMaXNt0O
354Please respect copyright.PENANAfBTatqEo26
354Please respect copyright.PENANAsBIvBFrWD8
354Please respect copyright.PENANA5w2tfcouTD
The rain did not fall.354Please respect copyright.PENANAdn0VEyxkGk
354Please respect copyright.PENANAexd98oEXHU
On that night years ago. In the city centre, it was raining.354Please respect copyright.PENANAC15PKqTVxS
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.354Please respect copyright.PENANADdbgdBjSZC
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. 354Please respect copyright.PENANATQ3xxT0h1z
Because we still existed. 354Please respect copyright.PENANAjTq6JpxZwh
354Please respect copyright.PENANAmc4FGKGCdK
354Please respect copyright.PENANAH1XamfM1id
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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