This chapter follows Apocalypse founder Anthony Smith through University.

Smith’s Apocalypse Chapter 0 (prologue)

Hi! My name is Anthony Smith. I'd like to share my story with you, if it's okay. I think it's important to get the word out about what happened here, even if the only way to do it is for someone to find my journal after I'm long dead. I hope my experiences will be useful in teaching people what to do (and what not to do) if they are ever in my situation. And for those reading this who are in my situation, I feel your pain. I feel your anger and frustration. The best way I've found to cope is just thinking back to better times. I don't have much in the way of pictures from my college days. Luckily I was always taking shots with my camera, and I had some in my pocket on that day. That horrible day. Let me take you back to when it was not all so bad.

Here I am, at Viper Canyon's La Fiesta Tech. It wasn't really my first choice in schools, but it was the closest, and they had a Med program. My dream was always to become a doctor. I love helping people, and Medicine is the best way to do it. Obviously I picked my major as soon as I got to college, and hankered down and got to studying.

It was hard work, but told myself it would be worthwhile once I got around to the 'saving people's lives' part.

Of course, I did find time have some fun.

And meet the girl of my dreams! This is Michelle Collins. We had been best friends freshman year, but I could feel that there might be something more. I decided to press my luck with her and try my hand at flirting. She told me it was about time I got around to it. It wasn't long before we had fallen hard in love, and I couldn't resist proposing to her. It was what she had been waiting for and she said yes.

After four semesters of studying hard and playing hard, I was able to graduate with the highest honors! I had a great graduation party. Everyone had a fantastic time:

We hit the bubble blower... Did the Smustle...

And just kicked back and enjoyed ourselves.

I think I had more fun than anyone else, though.

Soon enough, my party was over, and it was time for the big SimBowl game. The Gerbits had been kicking butt all season and this was the championship game. I don't think there was a Sim in the nation who wasn't glued to their televisions.

Eventually, halftime came around and everyone took a break. I went outside for some fresh air. If I had done this as a photo blog of my college experience, this would be where I sign off. Unfortunately, I won't be signing off for a while. I intend to document my experience until I am gone and have my family carry on the tradition.

Where I would have said "Well that's all folks!" Instead I found myself looking at the sky. A strange glow was on the horizon, and it kept getting bigger and brighter. What was it?

It's a nuclear explosion!!!!!!

"Get down!"

"Oooof...."

...

...

...

...

I have no idea how long I was out. All I know is that when I came to, everything around me was gone. The buildings were little more than rubble, and there were just scorch marks where plant life had been. Somehow, I was not seriously injured. I only sustained some minor bruising. Though it was the middle of spring, it was somehow getting bitterly cold. When it started to snow, I held out my hand to catch the flakes. They burned my skin! This wasn't regular snow. Our whole region had been plunged into a toxic winter. The only thing on my mind at that point was survival. I was able to find enough materials to build a shelter before the snow got to me. All that was left for me to do then...

was wait.

Writer's notes: I apologize for the shoddy pictures. (Especially the explosion poses, I relied on luck with the in game poses and now that I see them, they don't look good to me.) I have since figured out high quality screen capture instead of medium quality, and learned how to use the cameraman mode. Sadly, I did not learn fast enough for Chapter 1, and some of Chapter 2.

They will get better.

Thanks for reading!

End of chapter