Prologue
*Hello, this is an author’s note. This book is indeed about COVID-19. I decided to take a twist on this situation. I am starting this on April 16th, 2020, so I am NOT producing reliable facts. This is not a nonfiction book. The characters and story itself are fiction and are not intended to be used for research purposes. During quarantine, I wanted to write a book about COVID-19 if the unthinkable happened. I have always been attracted to Plague tropes so here I am. If any of this happens in the future for real, I do not take responsibility. PS: Enjoy!
“Breaking News tonight. Novel Coronavirus officially reaches 500,000 deaths worldwide. Updated sources tell us that those are only the known deaths. Now back to you David.”
“Thank you. Now we switch to a lighter topic..” The sounds drowned out as my parents quarreled over the trending topic. Picking up another piece of bread, I spoke before I could stop himself. “You know, maybe this dumb virus wouldn’t be so bad if people like you would agree on one thing.”
My parents, Sarah and Harrell Barnes, turned to me in shock. “Tristen Barnes, you need to keep quiet while your father and I talk. Room. Now.” My mom demanded.
“Yeah, talk, more like being in a debate club,” I mumbled standing up, leaving my food to go straight to my room. I dragged myself upstairs and closed my door. Ever since this virus popped up my parents have been on edge. I mean, I can’t blame them, considering the whole state is on lockdown, but they can discuss matters in a more private setting, can’t they? New York is insane right now. It is like an apocalypse is happening right now. As if. This will be over in a year...
I turned on the TV to watch the news with some peace.
“The worldwide pandemic has officially claimed half a million lives. It has affected over 12 million people. The president is having a live press conference today. Here is the live clip:
Trump: “I understand your concerns. As a US Citizen, you have a right to be concerned. As you know, we have reached 500,000 deaths. That is our latest news update. I’m open to questions.”
Buzzing of news reporters flies around.
“Mr. President!”
“Mr. Trump sir, what is your next plan to contain this virus?”
Trump: Well, uhh, my well-trusted advisors and I have been pointing out the best options that will benefit us in the long run. It’ll be fine, we will all be fine. But, in order to do that, we need to take a few steps. Because of that, we have decided, starting tomorrow, The United States will be on complete lockdown.”
Turns out lockdown meant locked down. The earlier lockdown was going out to grab necessities, like food or medicine. Well, now people can’t do that. They are stuck in their homes. As if this couldn’t get worse, I mentally complained.
“ It’s all a joke, isn’t it? I mean seriously, if dumbasses got through The Black Plague in the 14th century, then we can easily get through this,” I explained to my friend Grant.
“Wait, what’s the Black Plague?” He asked.
My eyes rolled back at Grant’s lack of knowledge. “Whatever man, look Imma go, I need to do my math homework.” I hung up. To be truthful, I finished my homework last night, I just don’t want to talk to Grant. Just because quarantine made me miss my friends doesn’t mean they are still annoying.
It had been two weeks since President Trump set the lockdown order. Nothing else happened really. Just bullshit about the stock market crash. Whatever that meant. I walked out of his room to sit outside on my balcony. Connecting my AirPods, I played some music. It was the only outside interaction I could get. What used to be a loud, big city, was now a ghost town. Closing my eyes, my lungs took in a deep breath. I wonder when the lockdown would lift. Trump didn’t really say a date when it would end. Whatever, if I had to be in my room for the next two months, I have TikTok and Cheetos. That’s all I needed. A loud siren wail interrupted my thoughts.“What the hell?” I mumbled.
The piercing siren kept on making noise until it abruptly cut off.
“Please excuse this interruption. This is not a test. A testing unit freed a man who got tested on a vaccine in hopes to cure COVID-19. It failed. Symptoms are coughing blood, stomachaches, light-headed. Spread is airborne. The fatality rate, high. He has been spotted in several apartment complexes, interacting with humans. The U.S Government is trying to contain it. For the time being, may God be with you all”
