Population Zero

By Fran Lewis

"Fran Lewis's newest offering is a polished, razor-sharp double-edged sword. On one hand, it is reminiscent of the old Twilight Zone series and just as chilling. On the other, it is a poignant reminder of just how precious and fragile human life on this planet truly is. A riveting read." 

--Vincent Zandri, New York Times and USA Today

• Language: English
• Publisher: Atmosphere Press
• Release date: Jun 26, 2021
• ISBN: 9781637528204

Fran Lewis

Fran Lewis: Fran worked in the NYC Public Schools as the Reading and Writing Staff Developer for over 36 years. She has three masters degrees and a PD in Supervision and Administration. Currently, she is a member of Who's Who of America's Teachers and Who's Who of America's Executives from Cambridge. In addition, she is the author of three children's books and a fourth that has just been published on Alzheimer's disease in order to honor her mom and help create more awareness for a cure. The title of my new Alzheimer’s book is Memories are Precious: Alzheimer’s Journey; Ruth’s storyShe was the musical director for shows in her school and ran the school's newspaper. Fran writes reviews for authors upon request and for several other sites. You can read some of my reviews on Ezine.com and on ijustfinished.com under the name Gabina. I am a member of Whos Who of Americas Teachers and Whos Who of America’s Executives and Professionals on Cambridge. I review books for authors upon request. My goal is to get my books published by a traditional publisher and on the shelves of every school library, hospital and bookstore. I host two radio shows on Blog Talk Radio. Book Discussion with Fran Lewis is on Blog Talk every third Wednesday of the month from three to five eastern. My children’s author’s show is four times a year. I host online book blogs and book tours for authors and I review books for authors throughout the world. I have published six books the last Because We Care in memory of my sister Marcia. The proceeds going to find the cause and cure for Alzheimer’s.

Book preview

POPULATION

Z

E

R

O

STORIES OF THE WORLD’S END

by FRAN LEWIS

atmosphere press

© 2021 Fran Lewis

Published by Atmosphere Press

Cover design by Matthew Fielder

No part of this book may be reproduced without permission from the author except in brief quotations and in reviews. This is a work of fiction, and any resemblance to real places, persons, or events is entirely coincidental.

atmospherepress.com

Uncle Len was my book discussion partner for many years. I would send him copies of the books I was reviewing and each month we talked about them. He even helped me to create better and more meaningful reviews. I dedicate this book in memory of Uncle Len Lewis.

I miss you so much.

Your niece, Fran

A second dedication in memory of Aunt Frances Lewis, who was my mentor, book editor and critic, who guided me through the processes of making my books more informative, meaningful, and perfectly edited. We would spend hours talking about each point that needed to be fixed. I loved her visits.

Miss you so much.

Your niece, Fran Lewis

POPULATION ZERO

My name is Ella, and I will be your guide and voice as you take the journey with me into the future. I am an ethereal being that is not alive but has been chosen by those above to help you, the humans, understand what is going to happen if you do not work together, follow the guidelines for the virus, and learn to live in harmony.

Remember, these worlds are the imagination of the author, and she wants you to really think about what she has created. You can decide if you would want to live in any of the worlds she imagined in her mind. What if you were asked to be the only human to experience one of these worlds if you could travel back for a short while? Welcome to your future. Think about it and decide.

Sometimes I think the world would be better off without humans. For many reasons in the worlds created, people fled and abandoned their homes. Desert areas became common, providing people with the sand, the hot sun, and not even a trace of water. Recent scenes show nuclear exclusion zones, urban neighborhoods burned out, and nowhere to escape.

Think about this: A forest so dense and so filled with trees that you cannot see anything but darkness. The smell of the dead leaves, the creatures that lived there, and the stench they created are worse than the smoke from a five-alarm fire. Imagine a sandstorm that plows across a highway and darkens the daylight sky, making it hard for drivers to see even an inch in front of them.

Smashed windows and abandoned satellite dishes and blocks of plaster all over the ground. The world—Population Zero…a look into the future.

What if this really does happen?

WORLD ONE

THE DARKENED CITY

Darkness falls over the streets and the smell of rotted flesh from people that used to live in doorways and alleyways has left its mark. Bones are all around. You can barely walk without falling over someone’s dead body or skeleton.

The world is not good for humans. The air quality is dangerous, dank—no oxygen mask or COVID-19 mask could filter out the burnt smell. The animals that once lived in this world are no longer alive, and those that are walking around have rabies or other diseases that make them dangerous even to themselves. Many