Wake Up and Open Your Eyes

Noah receives another urgent voicemail from his mother, imploring him to leave New York City due to escalating unrest and danger. Once a loving and gentle woman, his mother has transformed into someone unrecognizable, driven by fear and conspiracy theories. Her constant messages, which now arrive at all hours, are a source of stress for Noah, who struggles to reconcile the mother he knew with the person she has become.

Concerned, Noah shares his worries with his wife, Alicia, who remains calm and supportive. Alicia, an admin at a nonprofit, has a talent for diffusing tense situations, and she senses that Noah is becoming increasingly isolated from his family. Noah recalls fond memories of his childhood in Virginia, where his mother would read to him, fostering a love of stories and a close bond. However, the current state of their relationship is a stark contrast to those idyllic times.

The chapter delves into the political tensions that have strained Noah's family dynamics, particularly during the recent Thanksgiving gathering. Noah's mother's comments about immigration and her dismissive attitude towards their granddaughter, Kelsey, who is half-Haitian, have caused significant rifts. Alicia, who has been a steady presence for Noah, is beginning to distance herself from his family, pulling Kelsey away with her. Noah contemplates the possibility of reaching out to his mother again, despite the futility of previous attempts to reason with her. He tries calling her, but she does not answer, adding to his growing sense of despair and isolation.

Noah wakes up to another disturbing voicemail from his mother, this time at four in the morning. The message is eerie, filled with static and the sound of her labored, phlegmy breathing. She speaks directly into the receiver, saying, 'Time to wake up, son. Open your eyes.' Concerned and unsettled, Noah immediately tries to reach his parents, but all his calls go unanswered, including those to his father's landline. The lack of response from both parents, who are usually available, raises Noah's anxiety levels significantly.

Determined to get some answers, Noah contacts his older brother, Asher, who has been distant and resentful since Thanksgiving. Despite the tension between them, Noah asks Asher to check on their parents. Asher agrees reluctantly, hanging up without much warmth. This interaction highlights the strained relationship between the brothers, with Asher's aloofness mirroring their father's stoicism. Noah reflects on his father's favoritism towards Asher and the emotional distance it created, making him feel unseen and undervalued.

As the day progresses, Noah continues to try reaching his parents, leaving multiple messages and feeling increasingly desperate. He considers calling the neighbors or the police but hesitates, fearing the consequences if it turns out to be a false alarm. By dinner, the mounting anxiety and radio silence from his parents push Noah to the brink. He realizes he may need to drive the six to seven hours to Richmond to check on them himself, a daunting prospect that underscores the depth of his worry and the urgency of the situation.

Noah arrives at his parents' home, finding it in disarray and both his parents in a deeply disturbed state, seemingly possessed by the rhetoric of Fax News. His father is in a deteriorated condition, barely coherent, while his mother is naked and fixated on the television, engaging in disturbing behavior. Noah's attempts to communicate with his parents are met with resistance and bizarre reactions, highlighting the extent of their transformation.

The situation escalates when Noah's mother attacks him, biting off part of his ear, and his father nearly suffocates him. In a desperate struggle, Noah subdues his father by jamming a remote control down his throat. Shocked and alone, Noah realizes the severity of the situation and tries to call for help, but all lines are dead. He turns to the news and discovers that similar violent incidents are occurring nationwide, suggesting a coordinated mass hysteria or terrorist attack.

Overwhelmed and terrified, Noah is left to confront the reality that his parents are no longer the people he knew. The chapter ends with Noah grappling with the chaos around him, unsure of how to proceed or who to trust, as the Great Reawakening, a term often used on Fax News, unfolds in a terrifying and uncontrollable manner.

Devon, Asher's sister-in-law, contorts herself in a yoga class, her discomfort transforming into a surreal, almost religious ecstasy. Her instructor, Claudio, guides her deeper into the pain, which she interprets as a divine experience, seeing God and angels around her. Meanwhile, Asher is at home, mesmerized by the unnatural appearance of people on his new plasma screen TV. The motion smoothing feature makes the images look flat and lifeless, reflecting his growing disconnection from reality. In the bathroom, Caleb, Asher’s son, battles his acne, imagining he can summon the oil from his pores using only his mind—a fantasy that gives him a fleeting sense of control. The chapter culminates with a family night, where the Fairchilds gather for pizza and discuss their upcoming Christmas cruise. Underlying tensions surface, particularly from Caleb, who seems unenthusiastic about the trip. The family’s frequent use of the word 'family' underscores a growing emphasis on unity and togetherness, possibly in response to external pressures or internal conflicts.

Feeling vulnerable and disconnected from her body, Devon clicks on a suspicious email from her yoga friend, Larissa. The email, filled with platitudes and a hyperlink, leads to her email being hacked and her identity compromised. Devon spends the day apologizing to friends and dealing with fraudulent charges on her credit cards, culminating in a heated confrontation with Asher over her lapse in judgment.

Reflecting on his childhood influences, Asher decides to watch Fax News for one night. Initially repulsed by the inflammatory content, he becomes drawn in by the intensity and energy of the broadcast. Despite feeling a sense of validation and excitement, he keeps his viewing a secret from Devon, who is already upset over the hacking incident. The experience leaves him feeling energized and somewhat guilty.

Struggling with self-esteem and social isolation, Caleb posts a vulnerable tweet expressing his desire to matter. The tweet goes viral among bots, leading to an overwhelming amount of attention and a creeping sense of unease. After blocking a suspicious account named XAPHAN2001, Caleb feels a mix of relief and loneliness, questioning his own worth and the authenticity of the attention he received.

Devon receives a mysterious package containing a glass jar labeled 'AWAKEN', which she hides in the pantry. Struggling with migraines and a sense of disconnection, she turns to Instagram for spiritual guidance, becoming increasingly obsessed with a fitness influencer named YOGAMAMA. She starts to follow YOGAMAMA’s advice, including purging negative influences from her life and preparing for the 'Great Reawakening'.

Meanwhile, Asher is gifted a luxurious recliner by Devon, which he uses to watch Fax News late into the night. He becomes deeply engrossed in the commentary of Paul Tammany, who seems to speak directly to him. Asher’s viewing habits lead to a disturbing encounter where he masturbates in front of the TV, feeling a strange connection to the news anchor Julia Turin. This incident leaves him feeling ashamed and conflicted.

That night, Caleb experiences a nightmarish dream where he is pursued by a swarm of digital alerts and phantom phones. Upon waking, he discovers his skin covered in an oily substance and finds his mother’s tablet in the kitchen, displaying a series of unsettling selfies. He also witnesses the blender and TV turning on and off by themselves, culminating in an embarrassing encounter with his mother when a pornographic video plays on the TV.

During family night, the dynamics at the dinner table are tense. Mom serves a burnt chickpea crust pizza and a foul-smelling green smoothie, while Dad discusses a disturbing news story about a kindergarten teacher showing pornography to her class. Caleb remains withdrawn, and Marcus feels increasingly isolated and scared, especially when his mother’s behavior becomes erratic and threatening.

Devon embarks on a three-day juice cleanse, guided by YOGAMAMA’s spiritual teachings. The cleanse intensifies her delusions and hallucinations, leaving her physically weak and emotionally unstable. Her strained interactions with her family grow more frequent, as she becomes increasingly paranoid, suspecting that they are holding her back from her spiritual awakening.

Asher, recently laid off and feeling redundant, becomes more obsessed with Fax News. His fixation on the inflammatory rhetoric of Paul Tammany deepens his resentment towards his family and the world around him. He begins to see his family as part of a degenerate society that needs to be protected against, mirroring Devon’s growing paranoia.

Caleb, feeling isolated and misunderstood, continues his online conversations with Elzegan, who convinces him to participate in the ‘Wake-Up Call’ challenge. Caleb records a video of himself ingesting a spoonful of his mother’s juice cleanse powder, believing this act will elevate his status and bring him closer to Elzegan. His actions further isolate him from his family, who are already struggling with their own issues.

Family Night is a tense affair, with Marcus noticing the odd behavior of his parents and brother. The dinner table conversation is dominated by cryptic and unsettling remarks about ‘waking up’ and ‘opening eyes.’ Marcus becomes increasingly fearful, especially when he feels something strange and cold brushing against his fingers under the table, leading him to retreat to his room, feeling utterly alone and unsafe.

Feeling increasingly paranoid and disconnected, Devon embarks on a mission to expose what she perceives as a conspiracy at the local grocery store. Convinced that the products are harmful and that the store is part of a larger scheme to keep people sick, she launches into a rant, accusing the store of selling poisonous goods. Her actions attract a crowd and eventually lead to her arrest, as she is seen as a public disturbance. Devon’s behavior is driven by her deep-seated belief in the teachings of YOGAMAMA, who has rechristened her as NOMAMADRAMA, designating her as a key figure in the upcoming Great Reawakening.

Asher is consumed by a disturbing dream where he finds himself sitting in his deceased father’s La-Z-Boy, which is made of his father’s skin. The dream transitions into a surreal and terrifying experience where he interacts with a distorted version of Paul Tammany on a malfunctioning TV. Asher becomes increasingly entranced by the screen, eventually merging with it and entering the newsroom, where he takes over Paul’s role, delivering a passionate and inflammatory monologue. The chapter ends with Asher encountering a shadowy, inhuman figure that commands him to smile for the camera, further blurring the line between reality and delusion.

Isolated in his room, Caleb experiences a physical transformation as he sheds a crusty, amber-hued carapace from his body. He believes this change is a result of the purity challenge encouraged by Elzegan, an online influencer. Caleb feels empowered and transformed, seeing himself as a warrior and a messenger. He purchases materials to build an explosive device, following instructions provided by Elzegan. Caleb’s transformation is both physical and psychological, as he prepares to take drastic action at school, driven by a sense of mission and purpose.

Marcus, feeling weak and hungry, ventures out of his room to find food, navigating a dark and chaotic house. He encounters the remnants of a previous Family Night, where his family had eaten their pet dog, Rufus. The kitchen is a disaster, with food strewn everywhere and a foul odor permeating the air. Marcus finds a jar of pickled kumquats and drinks the brine, but soon retches. His mother, now a shadow of her former self, appears and forces him to participate in a grotesque version of Family Night, nearly pushing his hand into a blender. Marcus is traumatized and terrified, realizing the extent of his family’s decline.

Devon Fairchild, now fully immersed in the delusions of YOGAMAMA, prepares to make a video testimonial for the Great Reawakening. She sets up her phone and tablet, feeling a deep, almost religious fervor as she prepares to 'wake up.' Her speech is interrupted by coughing fits and the appearance of a slug-like creature, which she eats, leading to a bizarre and violent sequence where she mutilates her hand in a blender and drinks the resulting mixture. Devon's actions are driven by a twisted sense of purpose and a desire to transcend her physical form.

Driven by the inflammatory rhetoric of Fax News and a belief that the school is hiding crisis actors and fake children, Asher visits Marcus’s school. He assaults a teacher and locks himself in a classroom with the students, intent on exposing what he believes to be a grand deception. Asher’s actions are fueled by a delusional sense of duty and a desire to prove himself to Paul Tammany and his followers.

Caleb, deeply influenced by the online influencer Elzegan, stands before his English class, delivering a rambling and disturbing message. He smashes his head against the whiteboard to gain attention and then detonates a homemade explosive device, killing himself and severely injuring his classmates. The explosion is a symbolic act of spreading his message, which he hopes will go viral and inspire others to follow his example.

As the night falls, the Fairchild family gathers for Family Night, where the mantra 'WAKEUPOPENYOUREYES' is repeated ad nauseam, reflecting their descent into madness and the pervasive influence of the Great Reawakening.

Still reeling from the chaos inside his parents' home, Noah steps outside to find the neighborhood transformed into a surreal and terrifying dystopia. Neighbors act violently and irrationally, and the world he once knew has crumbled. A horrific car accident unfolds before him: a jogger is hit and dragged, and the driver, after crashing, lands on Noah's parents' lawn, coughing up blood. Paralyzed by shock, Noah stands rooted to the spot, unable to move or react.

The situation escalates when Super Soccer Mom emerges from her house and pounces on the injured driver, brutally smashing his head into the ground and consuming his brain matter. Noah, horrified, backs away, only to fall and find himself face-to-face with a horde of neighbors engaging in a violent and grotesque orgy on his parents' lawn. The scene is a chaotic blend of sexual frenzy and cannibalistic violence, with participants tearing at each other's flesh and chanting slogans from Fax News.

As Noah tries to process the madness, he realizes that the entire country is experiencing similar outbreaks of violence and chaos. News reports from Baltimore, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and Richmond describe spontaneous protests and riots, with people attacking each other and law enforcement struggling to maintain order. The footage shows people breaking into cars, tearing apart victims, and engaging in orgiastic behavior. Overwhelmed and terrified, Noah understands that he is in grave danger and must find a way to survive and reach his family in Brooklyn.

Still reeling from the chaos and violence in Richmond, Noah decides to take the back roads to his brother Asher’s house in Northern Virginia, hoping to find safety and perhaps some answers. The journey is harrowing, with Noah having to navigate through possessed individuals and eventually resort to hitting them with his car. Despite the grim reality, Noah struggles to maintain his humanity, grappling with the moral implications of his actions.

Upon arriving at Asher’s house, Noah finds the door unlocked and cautiously enters. The house is in disarray, with a strong, unpleasant odor permeating the air. As he explores, he discovers his nephew Marcus, emaciated and hiding in the pantry. Marcus is traumatized and barely responsive, revealing that his mother, Devon, has been overtaken by the same malevolent force that has affected others.

Devon, now a grotesque and violent shell of her former self, attacks Noah. In a desperate struggle, Noah uses a pizza slicer to defend himself, ultimately slicing Devon’s throat. The graphic and brutal encounter leaves Noah covered in blood and emotionally shattered. Marcus, who witnesses the entire event, helps Noah up, providing a small moment of tenderness amidst the chaos.

The chapter concludes with a video recording from a student at Greenfield High, detailing the terrifying events unfolding at her school. Students are hiding in the library, hearing their classmates behaving violently and irrationally. The video captures the fear and desperation of the students, as they are confronted by their possessed peers, who urge them to 'wake up' and 'open their eyes.'

Still reeling from the violent confrontation with Devon, Noah must now navigate the 301 miles between him and his family in Brooklyn. Determined to reach Alicia and Kelsey, but unable to confirm their safety due to downed communication lines, Noah faces the urgent task of finding a car and escaping with Marcus, who is in a catatonic state. Retrieving the keys to Devon’s Subaru Outback from the kitchen, Noah encounters a horrifying scene: Devon, whom he thought was dead, ambushes him from behind. After a terrifying struggle, Noah manages to kill her again, this time ensuring she will not rise. The car becomes their ticket to escape, but the journey is immediately fraught with danger as possessed children, singing a haunting song called 'Baby Ghost,' attack the vehicle. Noah narrowly avoids a collision with a fire hydrant, but the airbag deploys, momentarily incapacitating him. Once back on the road, Noah drives through the chaos, avoiding highways and sticking to back roads in hopes of a clearer path. The chapter ends with Noah reflecting on the surreal and terrifying nature of the events, while Marcus remains silent and detached, lost in his own trauma. Noah’s determination to reach his family fuels his resolve, but the journey ahead is uncertain and perilous.

Noah and Marcus press on through the desolate landscape of Northern Virginia, the weight of Marcus on his shoulders adding to the physical and emotional burden. The road is a grim tableau of violence and death, with burned corpses and a flaming school bus filled with screaming children. Noah tries to engage Marcus in conversation to distract him from the chaos, but the boy remains largely unresponsive, his trauma evident in his detached manner.

Desperate for sustenance, Noah stops at a McDonald’s, only to find the restaurant transformed into a scene of violent and sexual frenzy. Despite the horrors, he manages to secure a Happy Meal for Marcus, but the boy discards the toy, a poignant symbol of lost innocence. The journey grows increasingly arduous, with Noah’s feet aching and the distance to Brooklyn seeming insurmountable. Marcus’s questions about his parents force Noah to reveal the tragic events at Asher’s house, his voice heavy with sorrow.

As they approach a bottleneck of abandoned cars, a woman with Fax News Brain charges at them with a stroller. Unseen marksmen shoot her down, and Noah and Marcus find themselves surrounded by more armed individuals on the rooftops of nearby fast-food restaurants. These hunters, dressed in pristine neon gear, question Noah’s political affiliations, revealing their own naivety and inexperience with firearms. Noah surrenders, and the hunters, clearly inexperienced, allow him and Marcus to pass. The encounter leaves Noah shaken and wary of the dangers that lie ahead.

Noah and Marcus, still 99 miles from Brooklyn, join a group of survivors led by Martha, the former manager of a Dick’s Sporting Goods, now dressed in hot-pink camo gear. The group walks the remaining few miles to D.C., trading videos and theories about the cause of the chaos. Craig, a self-proclaimed expert on the apocalypse, constantly mansplains his theories, much to the annoyance of the others.

As they approach the National Mall, they encounter a massive, violent orgy involving thousands of people. The participants are engaged in grotesque sexual acts and cannibalism, transforming the historic site into a scene of debauchery and horror. Noah covers Marcus’s eyes and they flee, but Martha and Craig are overtaken by the crowd. Desperate and running, Noah and Marcus seek refuge in a gutted taco truck.

Inside the truck, they encounter a man with a lead pipe, protecting his children from the possessed. The man, skeptical of Noah, questions his news sources and beliefs, revealing a deep-seated mistrust and anger towards the system. After a tense exchange, the man allows Noah to stay temporarily but warns him to leave before the possessed return. Marcus, in the midst of a seizure, causes a commotion, and the man orders Noah to leave, prioritizing his own children’s safety.

On the second day of their journey, Noah and Marcus are 99 miles away from Brooklyn. The sky darkens with storm clouds, and Noah, mindful of the approaching weather, suggests finding cover. Marcus, who has been silent and shivering since his tablet lost its charge, finally speaks, indicating his need to use the restroom. The rain begins to pour heavily, and Noah and Marcus take shelter under a dilapidated gazebo at a rest area. The rest area, a far cry from the modern service areas they are used to, consists of a cinder-block outhouse and a wooden gazebo.

Inside the gazebo, Noah and Marcus find a community board covered with missing-person flyers, each describing a family member who has snapped and committed violent acts. The flyers highlight the widespread nature of the possession epidemic. Marcus, still traumatized, is given a stick of gum and a warm can of Coca-Cola, which they share. As the rain continues to pour, Marcus urgently needs to use the restroom, and Noah leads him to the men’s room, promising to wait outside.

In the bathroom, Marcus is initially relieved to find privacy, but his sense of safety is shattered when he notices a row of urinals with scratched mirrors and eerie messages. He opts for a stall, where he discovers a hole in the wall with a glistening trail of slime. Through the hole, he sees a bloodshot eye with swirling, colorful patterns. The eye belongs to someone or something that speaks to Marcus, calling him 'Baby Ghost' and offering him a fully charged tablet. Marcus, drawn to the tablet and the soothing, albeit eerie, voice, begins to sing along to a familiar song, 'Baby Ghost.'

Noah and Marcus, now 129 miles from Brooklyn, push forward despite the eerie presence of a little girl on the interstate, wearing a sign that reads 'NOT POSSESSED. HELP.' Marcus, unusually quiet and humming a haunting tune, remains withdrawn, only occasionally responding with grunts or tremors. Concerned about Marcus's mental state, Noah tries to engage him in conversation, but the boy remains distant.

As they approach Baltimore, the city is engulfed in flames and smoke. The harbor is a scene of horror, with a cruise ship's deck and pool filled with dead bodies. Determined to reach Brooklyn, Noah decides to navigate through the Fort McHenry Tunnel, despite the risks. The tunnel is dark and filled with abandoned cars, and the acrid smell of melted rubber and meat permeates the air. Noah, leading Marcus, is plagued by the eerie echoes of the song 'Baby Ghost' that Marcus sings.

Deep in the tunnel, Noah discovers that Marcus has been hiding a tablet, which has been playing the song on repeat. Realizing the tablet's influence, Noah smashes it, but the song continues to echo from the shadows. They are surrounded by possessed individuals who emerge from the cars, singing the song and advancing on them. Noah, determined to protect Marcus, straps him to his back and runs towards the exit, fighting off the possessed and the boy's thrashing and biting.

Noah and Marcus finally emerge from the tunnel into the sunlight, but Marcus is now fully possessed, singing the song with a menacing intensity. Refusing to abandon the boy, Noah continues to carry him, determined to reach Brooklyn and find help. The chapter ends with a series of disturbing videos, including a man performing a DIY exorcism and a reverend attempting to exorcise a possessed woman, highlighting the widespread chaos and desperation.

Exhausted and mentally frayed, Noah and Marcus arrive at a farm in Hopewell, New Jersey, guided by the sounds of starving pigs. Driven by desperation and the belief that he can perform an exorcism, Noah plans to transfer the demonic presence from Marcus to the pigs, referencing a passage from Mark 5:11, where demons enter pigs and drive them to their deaths. He carries a Bible, hoping to replicate this with the Ossabaw pigs on the farm.

Noah, struggling with the weight of Marcus and the constant repetition of the 'Baby Ghost' song, finds the pigs' cries unnervingly human and childlike, intensifying his resolve to free Marcus. After confirming the farm is deserted, he lays Marcus in the mud and attempts a makeshift exorcism, pleading with the demon to leave Marcus and enter the pigs. However, the pigs begin to join in the song, creating a chilling chorus that seems to mock Noah's efforts.

In a moment of clarity, Noah realizes that the idea of demonic possession is a delusion, a manifestation of humanity's darkest impulses. Overwhelmed by this realization and the strain of his journey, Noah's facade of moral superiority crumbles. He lashes out at Marcus, blaming him and his family for the country's problems, and in a fit of rage, begins to choke the boy. The pigs, sensing his vulnerability, nuzzle closer, encouraging him to continue. Noah, now fully succumbing to the madness, joins in the song, his voice blending with the pigs' and Marcus's, as he loses himself to the same malevolent force he sought to banish.

Exhausted and barely able to stand, Noah and Marcus finally reach their home in Brooklyn on Christmas Day. The physical toll of their journey is evident as they stand on the front stoop, their faces gaunt and their bodies trembling. They have lost their keys, so they ring the doorbell and knock gently, waiting for someone to answer.

When Alicia opens the door, her shock and relief are palpable. She gasps, tears welling in her eyes, as she recognizes Noah. Noah, with a wide, almost manic smile, reassures her, saying, 'Honey… I’m home.' The sight of Kelsey, peering from behind her mother’s hip, adds a layer of poignancy to the reunion. Noah kneels down to greet his daughter, opening his arms to embrace her, his smile never faltering.

However, beneath the surface, there is a sense of foreboding. Noah’s actions, while seemingly tender, carry a sinister undertone. The chapter ends with Noah’s internal monologue, revealing his intention to harm Kelsey, as he prepares to squeeze her tightly in his arms.