"If anyone is listening, don't look at the TV, don't even look! For years, television has been a source of engaging relaxation and entertainment for many families. But now, something has happened, there's something in that TV, and we're all in danger. You have to run, you have to survive, don't look at the TV or you won't make it out alive! Your life is in your hands..."
Dark red clouds loomed above in the sky, and thunder rumbled in the distance. Everywhere, in many houses and shops, TV screens flickered on and off, with eerie static covering the screens. The streets of Mushroom City were abandoned, giving the land a post-apocalyptic feel.
'Don't look at the TV.'
The words echoed in the mind over and over again, as Mario, Desti, and SMG4 ran for their lives, not daring to look at a single TV screen. How long it had been since the crisis started, it didn't matter, all they knew was that bad things would happen if they looked at the TV screen, and there was something in the TV out to get them all.
People had vanished, many were already toast, and countless others had gone into hiding. It was a fight for survival, in a world where no one could look at the TV, unless they wanted to face a frightening horror, and a terrible fate.
A frightening noise made them stop, and SMG4 turned. His eyes wound up spotting a TV, and the screen flashed, showing a monstrous face. SMG4 yelped and ran, Mario and Desti ran as well. They didn't see it, but one glimpse at a TV would give one the glimpse of the horror that would come if anyone looked at any of the screens.
Mario spotted a spaghetti stand, and ran towards it, much to Desti and SMG4's annoyance, now was not the time to have a one-track mind for food.
"Oooh, yummy spaghetti." The plumber said happily.
Just then, he noticed the TV next to it, and squeezed his eyes shut with a yelp. He reached for a plate blindly, grabbed it, looked at the spaghetti, and ate it. He ran back to his friends, and blinked, only to spot a TV screen. He screamed and looked away, just before the TV flickered.
'Don't look at the TV.' The warning message replayed in the fat Italian's head.
"We need to get keep moving." Desti said nervously, the Octoling-turned human was feeling uneasy.
"GAH!" SMG4 cried, looking at his phone. A TV with a smiley face had popped up on it and said "hi".
'Don't look at the screens. Don't look at the TV.'
The trio ran as fast as they could, passing by abandoned cars, and running past the stop sign and a blinking street light. Mario, SMG4, and Desti turned on an avenue, no TV sets in sight, nothing but old dealer stores. They ran downtown, keeping alert, paying no attention to any TVs that were in sight. But then, they saw the jumbotron above.
"NO LOOKING!" SMG4 ducked into an alleyway.
Mario and Desti just laughed, that jumbotron was in active. But then, it flickered on, and they looked away quickly. Jumbotrons were giant TVs, best to advert your gaze. Both Desti and Mario followed SMG4 into the alley, keeping alert for trouble.
Desti pulled out her phone, making sure that she didn't deal with any surprise pop-ups like SMG4 did.
'Phones are safe. Phones are safe.' Desti thought.
Suddenly, the smiley face TV icon appeared, giving the former Octoling a freaky look. Desti shut off the phone as fast as possible, and put it in her pocket. She blinked, and moved through the alley until she, Mario and SMG4 were on another street corner. No TVs, no jumbotrons, don't look at any screens except for phones that didn't deal with TV pop-ups.
Both friends stepped onto the streets, and then, they heard a honk, and they spotted a car coming their way, WITH A TV ON TOP OF IT!
Mario and his friends shielded their eyes and ducked out of the way, as the car rode past and the TV screen flickered. They heard static, and looked up, spotting a TV on a table without a cord to hook it up. They looked away, just before they heard a snarling sound. Mario looked at SMG4, and at Desti. They ran across the street, running to the edge of town.
They passed a TV store, one that was closed. A series of TVs blipped to life, flashing static, and the gang adverted their eyes. SMG4 spotted a truck, one that had a box sign, and he ran towards it with Mario and Desti following him.
'Don't look at the screen, don't look at the screen.'
Opening the door, they piled into the front seat, only to spot a GPS device on the dashboard. Mario grabbed some tape from his inventory, and covered it up as quickly as he could before the GPS could blip on.
Avoid looking at the screens, don't pay any attention.
SMG4 twisted the key left in the ignition, and the engines rumbled to life. The trio hit the gas, and they drove down the road, racing through the city, they passed another TV by one of the shops and didn't look at it, not even in the rear-view mirror.
"We'll be okay..." The meme man said, "We'll be okay."
A radio then turned on, and static was heard. Mario and Desti tried to turn off the radio, dreading what would happen. No TV, no radio! They couldn't take risks with the radio, but then, music started playing until an eerie voice spoke: "You aren't safe from your TV, no one can hide forever, we are watching and we know where you are."
Mario smashed the radio, deactivating it instantly, and sparks flew. Silence in the truck, except for the sound of engines. The fat Italian, SMG4 and their ex-Octoling companion drove through a tunnel, and rode into the lush green countryside. They were out of the city, they were safe.
They drove past a mushroom, unaware of the TV hidden behind it. The TV flickered to life, showing static, and then, an ominous face with large eyes appeared, smiling maniacally, before the TV turned off...
The End