Doomed Read Online Free PDF

wonder what the hell I’vedone to piss off the universe so completely. Because I have to say, this is the Worst. Birthday. Ever.
    I brace myself for a snide comment or twelve, but he doesn’t say anything about my idiot behavior. Instead he starts to reboot the computer, and I spring into action.
    “Wait! Don’t do that!”
    “What’s wrong?” he asks impatiently, and I’m not sure what to say. How to explain what I’m thinking—particularly when I’m not even sure what’s going through my head. I only know that this whole thing is strange. Really, really strange.
    Is it possible that some kind of virus attacked my house and is now spreading to my neighbors’? Maybe it’s working its way down the block, one house at a time … Just thinking it sounds insane, but what other explanation can there be? Laptop? TV? Phone? Internet? Electricity? Everything acting funky at once. I mean, I’m no computer expert, but everything I’ve ever heard says that isn’t possible—at least not without a major storm or disaster.
    My gut, however, says that’s exactly what’s happening. I just don’t know how, especially since I have a Mac and I’ve always been told they don’t get viruses.
    “I logged on to Pandora’s Box and everything went to hell,” Eli yells down.
    At first Theo doesn’t answer, just scowls as he restarts the computer despite my warning. Only then does he call up the stairs, “Hey, come down here. Your little friend just showed up.”
    I bristle at the words and the tone he says them in. Like I’m some kid and he’s the grown-up I’m bugging. It’sannoying and I start to snap at him, but I glance at the stairs just in time to see a pair of faded jeans and huge bare feet take the last few stairs in one giant step.
    Eli has arrived. Big and strong and a lot more rumpled than he was during class this morning. The large kitchen suddenly feels stifling with both of them in such close proximity. I back up, try to get a little more breathing room. I mean, seriously, has the world been invaded by giants and I just didn’t get the memo?
    Eli spots me before I move more than a few inches. “Oh, hey, Pandora. What are you doing here?”
    “I didn’t know you guys moved in,” I blurt out, wanting to make sure he knows I’m not stalking him.
    “Yeah. We moved in a couple of weeks ago, the same time Theo and I started school.”
    Now they’re both looking at me, which makes me realize that I need to say something else. I clear my throat, try not to choke on my own spit—which, incidentally, is not as easy as it sounds.
    I turn to Theo. “No Internet?” It’s not brilliant, but it’s the best I can manage.
    “I don’t know. The computer won’t even restart.” He frowns at Eli. “What did you do this time?”
    “Nothing.” Eli’s face is closed, his response surprisingly defensive. But there’s that whole undercurrent again, the one from earlier in class. It doesn’t feel any better this time around. “I told you, I logged on to Pandora’s Box and the whole thing just wigged out—the TV, my PlayStation. Everything.”
    “Pandora’s Box?” I ask. “I logged on to Pandora’s Box a little while ago.”
    “Oh.” Eli looks a little puzzled. “That’s cool, I guess.”
    Theo gets the connection right away. “You think there’s some kind of virus in the game?”
    “I don’t know. I mean, nothing else makes sense.” I nod to the blank computer screen. “I got some weird message I’d never seen before and then everything went nuts.”
    “What was the message?”
    “You’ve reached the point of no return. Welcome to the real Pandora’s Box.” It’s Eli who answers, and I glance at him, startled. He smiles at me, dimple flashing, and I duck my head.
    “What the hell does that mean?” Theo demands, yanking me back to our present dilemma.
    “I don’t know. Then it just started with this strange countdown,” I tell him.
    “To what?”
    “Total annihilation.” Eli and I