Corona Virus

Two

Being a pediatrician was Robbie Albertson's dream since he was in grade school. That's why he did everything he could to finish his studies. He worked hard both in his studies and in his two jobs, barely having three or four hours of sleep everyday. There were times that he would be sick, but he wouldn't dare to take a rest.

When he finally graduated, Robbie and his entire family celebrated. They were not rich, but they had enough to support their family, especially when they moved to the Philippines. His parents opened up a business and it all went well. His family thought that it's the start of a better life for them.

Then the outbreak happened. He was at the hospital back then and was treating a patient when they heard the sound of people screaming. He was lucky enough that the outbreak first erupted in other location in the Philippines. It gave the government enough to assemble the army, and hospital were the first one they rescued.

Dr. Robbie Albertson together with three hundred other survivors lived in peace inside the Fort Magsaysay base. They had supplies, medicines, and weaponry to protect themselves. Every citizen who was rescued can sleep peacefully without the fear of getting eaten by the dead walkers because of their military protection.

As one of the three doctors in the settlement, Robbie's responsibility was to ensure that everyone's healthy. While the military handles their protection and supplies, Robbie and the other two doctors takes care of everyone's health. That was the closest to the normal life anyone could have at the time.

'Doctors! Doctors! Mr. Santos is dying!'

The three doctors did their best to save the old man's life, but he's already at the end of his journey. At the age of seventy-five, Mr. Rolando Santos has lived a wonderful life. So they all thought that it was his time to rest, but they thought wrong.

After a simple funeral, they buried him on a corner of the training field. What they didn't know is that they should have shot him in the head. They should have ensure that he wouldn't be coming back too life. But, of course, they didn't that he will. And when he did, he turned almost everyone inside the settlement.

Only seven of them survived, or if there were others, they didn't know. They all thought that everyone else had died that night. Those seven survivors worked together to survive outside the camp, eventually, they all started dying too. Everyone died until Robbie is the only one left.

'You let us die! You're a doctor! You're supposed to save us!'

'You are worthless!'

'I died because of you!'

There were nights, as he was alone, cuddled beneath an old blanket on an abandoned building or car, he would hear voices. Those who have died haunted him, blaming him for their fate. He knew he was already losing his mind. All the trauma, the pain of being alone, the realization that one way or another he would up just like everyone else, it's paralyzing him.

For three years, he managed to survive alone. Avoiding other survivors because he already witnessed many horrible things. In fact, he was just waiting for his time to come. Until Robbie heard a broadcast. A group of scientists announced to all the survivors around the world that they might have found a way to stop the spread of the virus.

It was not Corona Virus anymore. Because of the vaccine that Global Pharmaceutical gave to the people, the vaccine mutated the virus into a much deadlier, more dangerous one. A virus that mainly attacks the nervous system of a human body and turns a man into a flesh-eating, living dead. But it was not the worst part of it. As the virus eats the human brain and turns a human into a zombie, the virus develops making airborne.

Now, even those who did take the vaccine are already infected. So everyone of the survivors left in the world are already infected, and if they die, they will only come back as one of the dead walkers. That's broadcast gave Robbie another reason to fight.

He searched for an airport that he can enter. Any airport where he find an airplane that is still working. But it wasn't easy because almost every building and establishments that are still standing are packed with zombies. The rest were destroyed because of the bombing.

"Oh, my God!" Robbie saw three adults and four children whom he thought were walkers. "I almost shot all of you!"

The pistol he's holding was a gun given by a soldier who saved his life and allowed him to escape from the settlement. His eyes immediately studied the strangers I front of him. The children looked malnourished, the woman too. Not only that, she has obvious scars in her face. The smaller adult guy looks drunk, and the taller one looks pissed about something.

"We're very sorry to startle you, but we're trying to find an airplane. We heard the broadcast of those scientists." The stated politely. She looked scared about everything.

"The only airport nearby is the Philippine Airlines, and I'm sure it'll be packed with zombies." Robbie responded.

"I'm a pilot, and I've been to that airlines many times. I think I can get us in safely. Beside, we don't have any other choice. I want to that cure, and I think that goes for all of you." The taller guy said.

"Okay, let's go."

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'Call center? That's a lousy job. So cheap!'

That's how people used to insult call center agents, especially in the Philippines. Just because they don't have board exams, or they don't have to be a degree holder, people think call center agents are nobodies. But the COVID-19 hit the world and put a stop on almost everything, call center companies became the backbone of the world's economical aspects.

Call center agents continued to work despite the threat of the virus, and they kept contributing to the economy. They became the true heroes along with the frontliners. But they never got any help from the government, especially in the Philippines. Why? Mainly because their salary is high.

Ally Hunters is one of thosecall center agents in the Philippines who ensured the pandemic without the help of the government. When the president signed DOLE financial assistance, she never got anything, when the DSWD financial rolled out, she never got anything, not a single penny.

But just like all the other call center agents, she never complained. She just kept working and earning for herself. Being an orphan at the age of sixteen was not easy. She can't get a regular because she was minor. So she had no choice but to stop going to school. Ally worked odd jobs to support herself until she turned eighteen.

'Ally, it's our off tomorrow. Don't tell me you won't come with us after shift? Come on, live a little.'

When she started working as a call center agent, all she can think about was to earn and pay her bills. She's been living with her mother's sister, and her uncle is starting to get touchy with her. So when she had her first salary, Ally didn't have to think twice before finding her own place. Since then, she promised herself that she will only enjoy her life when she already have enough to support her needs.

But her friends taught her to balance her work and her life. Ally began hangin out with her friends and because of them, she finally found a member of her her other family tree. Being a half American and half Filipina, Ally is one of those Fil-ams who never met their father. And meeting her father's sister was the best blessing in her life.

And when the pandemic struck the Philippines, things were not easy for her. It was a good thing that a company called Global Pharmaceutical found the solution to the world's greatest problem. Or so they thought. Ally immediately filed a leave and visited her aunt in New York when the outbreak happened. Since then, she spent everyday protecting her aunt at all cost. Sad thing is, she never had the chance to meet her father.

"Auntie, I'll just go out for some supplies. Stay here and keep quiet, okay? I'll be back soon." Ally said to her Aunt Laura.

"Okay, sweetheart. Be careful, okay?" Her aunt replied.

This has been a normal thing for the two them. Except today, when she came back from looting, there's a car parked in front of her aunt's home. It was like the world stopped when Ally heard her aunt's screams before a gunshot echoed in the quiet neighborhood.

Ally was nailed to the spot, unable to move or even blink. Somebody killed her aunt and she's outside their house with no idea of what to do. Two dead walkers are slowly approaching her, but she can't move. Her mind is debating between the thought of getting revenge for her aunt or running for her life.

"Hey, you!" A man yelled. That's when four other armed men came out of the house and fired at her. It's a good thing that they weren't sharp shooters, or she would have been dead. It's the only time that Ally realized she had to run.

Three men chased her down until she reached an alley where on the other end a hoard of zombies are waiting for her. She's cornered with nowhere else to go, and she has no weapon. Their smirks gave her the chills as wells as the realization that her end is near. Until she heard three loud gunshots before the three men who chased her fell one by one.

"What the?" She muttered, unable to see who her savior was. Until she heard a whistle coming from a building to her right. That's when she saw someone waving a red flag? Shirt? Who cares, right? She's saved and it looks like she has a new friend, so Ally ran as fast as she could to the building.

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The worst thing that a father could do is to put a bullet in his son's head. It will surely haunt him for the rest of his life, and that's exactly what happened to Corporal Miguel Fernandez. He was on a mission when the outbreak happened. Miguel had to steal cars, kill people both living and dead just to get back to his family as fast as he can.

His wife, Eloisa, was his dream woman. Growing up on the same village, Miguel had watched Eloisa grew into a fine woman. Little did he know that he was the reason why Eloisa never had a boyfriend. She was waiting for him. And so their relationship became a real life fairytale. They are the embodiment of the word 'soulmates'.

Miguel was the happiest man on earth when Eloisa agreed to marry him. And as a soldier who's always on a mission, having a family was like an impossible dream for the young Corporal. A dream he achieved and more. Because only a year after they got married, Eloisa got pregnant and gave birth to a healthy baby boy.

And even thought he was more often on a mission than with his family, Eloisa was an amazing wife. She was understanding, caring, and the best mother in the world. There's nothing more that Miguel could have asked for. He has everything he could ever wanted.

"Papa, I don't feel okay. Please, don't go." Those were his son's last words to him before he left for another mission.

The COVID-19 had took a toll of almost every country around the world. And after the Global Pharmaceutical distributed it's miracle cure, people became too excited to finally have the freedom to go out and be with other people. Riots had erupted, and it all turned to chaos.

As a good soldier, he couldn't turn his back on his duty just because his son is having a mood. Even when he gave his son a last look and the terrified look in his eyes that made his heart skipped a beat, he can't set aside his duty. That's why when the outbreak erupted, he was a three days travel away from his family.

Miguel and other members of his troops were having dinner when they saw it in the news. Places in different countries had reports of people attacking others in a cannibalistic way. His comrades laughed at it, thinking that it was all some sort of a prank.

But then the entire country of Spain experienced the bloodbath. He saw with his own eyes how their soldiers turned one by one. Then there was no time think for Corporal Miguel Fernandez. He left his men and fought his way through the chaos. All he could think of at the time was his wife and son.

'Eloisa! Miguelito!'

The crumbled around him when they saw them. Both covered in blood, but not of their own. They don't have any injuries, at least nothing visible. On their floor is a trail of blood. His wife and son has completely turned. They already lost their ability to recognize, and their movements are slower than usual.

In fact, at first, he thought that they recognized him because they didn't attack him. But then he realized that it was because of his smell. He had to fight and kill a number of flesh-eating maniacs. He thought of killing himself for he has no reason to live anymore. Then he realized that he has to pay for not being able to protect his family.

So he decided to keep fighting and keep living. Before he left their home, he couldn't just leave his son and wife and left to stay like that, forever hungry and never ever going to die. So put a bullet on their heads and buried them before he left.

For ten years, Miguel roamed Spain aimlessly. Killing walkers became his daily entertainment. It was like shooting a walker in the head gives him some sort redemption for failing his family. Then he heard the broadcast of those scientists. Miguel finally had another reason to live and fight.

'We are a group of scientists trapped in our laboratory here in San Francisco, California. We might have found a way to stop the virus from killing all the remaining survivors out there. But we can't get out of here. We're scientists, not fighters. If anyone alive is still out there, please come to us. If you will be coming from outside United States, the only airport that was not destroyed by the bombing was the New York International. Please, hurry! Our building is already overran by zombies and we're running out of supplies.'

He needed to come to New York, and so he did.

Two days since he arrived and he needed to plan ahead. So Miguel looked for a place to stay and gathered basic supplies he would need. On his second day, just after he came back from looting, he heard three loud gunshots. And when he peeked in the window, he saw a young woman running, avoiding walkers and being chased down by three men. Without a second thought, he saved her.

"What is your name?" Miguel asked when he welcomed his new companion by the entrance of the building.

"Ally Hunters, you?"

"Corporal Miguel Fernandez."

The two of them shook each other's hands and went up to take some rest before they proceed to their journey.