The fluorescent lights hummed softly above Erika as she wandered the narrow aisles of the convenience store. Her eyes, heavy with the weight of sleepless nights and heartache, scanned the shelves for the cheapest items she could afford. Her hands, calloused from hours of scrubbing grease-stained floors at the fast-food chain, trembled slightly as she picked up a can of beans and a loaf of bread. The cashier gave her a sympathetic look, but Erika ignored it. Pity was the last thing she needed.
Outside, the rain fell in thick sheets, turning the Manila streets into a blur of reflections and shadows. The distant rumble of thunder echoed through the city, a low, menacing growl that seemed to shake the very foundation of the earth. Erika shivered, pulling her thin jacket tighter around her shoulders as she made her way to the counter.
She hadn't slept in days. The breakup with her boyfriend, Jason, had been brutal, tearing at the fragile seams of her already strained existence. His wealthy family had never approved of her, deeming her unworthy of their son. Erika had tried to ignore their disdain, but the constant whispers and cold stares had finally taken their toll. Jason had caved under the pressure, leaving her to pick up the pieces of her shattered heart.
"Erika, you deserve better," she whispered to herself, trying to summon some semblance of strength. She had to be strong for her little brother, Tommy. At just ten years old, he was all she had left. Their mother had abandoned them for another man, and their father had died of a broken heart soon after. Erika had taken on the role of both mother and father, working tirelessly to provide for Tommy.
As she approached the checkout counter, a sudden, eerie silence fell over the store. The usual hum of conversation and the rustling of shopping bags ceased. Erika looked around, her heart pounding in her chest. A man, standing a few feet away, clutched his stomach and staggered forward. His face was pale, eyes wide with terror. Before anyone could react, he doubled over and vomited a torrent of blood onto the floor.
Time seemed to stand still. The only sound was the sickening splatter of blood hitting the tiles. Erika's breath caught in her throat as she watched the man collapse, his body convulsing violently before going still. The cashier screamed, shattering the silence and sending everyone into a frenzy. People rushed for the exit, their panic palpable.
Erika's legs felt like lead, but she forced herself to move. She had to get home to Tommy. She pushed through the chaotic crowd, her mind racing. What was happening? Was it some kind of disease? A terrorist attack? She didn't know, and she didn't care. All that mattered was getting to her brother.
The rain had started by the time she reached their small, dilapidated apartment. The wind howled through the narrow streets, carrying with it the scent of decay and despair. Erika fumbled with her keys, her hands shaking uncontrollably. She burst through the door, her eyes searching frantically for Tommy.
"Erika!" Tommy's voice was a beacon of hope in the darkness. He ran to her, his small arms wrapping around her waist. "You're home!"
She knelt down, hugging him tightly. "Tommy, are you okay?"
He nodded, his big, brown eyes filled with concern. "Yeah, but you look really tired. Did something happen?"
Erika forced a smile, ruffling his hair. "Just a long day, buddy. Let's get you to bed."
As the night wore on, the rain intensified, pounding against the windows like a relentless drumbeat. Erika lay in bed, listening to the storm and trying to calm her racing thoughts. She had almost convinced herself that the day's horrors were just a bad dream when the power went out, plunging their apartment into darkness.
"Damn it," she muttered, sitting up. It was probably just the unpaid electricity bill, but the timing felt ominous. She grabbed a flashlight from her bedside table and made her way to Tommy's room. He was sitting up in bed, clutching his teddy bear.
*****
The relentless patter of rain against the windowpane was like a metronome, its rhythm both soothing and unnerving. Erika lay awake in the darkness, her mind a whirlwind of worry and exhaustion. Sleep was an elusive escape, taunting her with its absence. She glanced at the clock on the bedside table—3:47 AM. Tommy was sound asleep, his soft snores a small comfort in the oppressive night.
Unable to bear the silence any longer, Erika slipped out of bed, careful not to wake her brother. She tiptoed into the living room, the flashlight casting eerie shadows on the walls. The apartment felt colder than usual, the dampness from the rain seeping through the thin walls. She shivered, pulling her sweater tighter around her.
Erika hesitated for a moment before deciding to turn on the TV. She needed a distraction, something to take her mind off the unsettling events of the day. She kept the volume low, not wanting to disturb Tommy. The flickering light from the screen cast an ominous glow across the room.
The news channel was on, the newscaster's face pale and tense. Erika's heart skipped a beat as she listened to the urgent report.
"We interrupt this program to bring you breaking news," the newscaster said, her voice trembling slightly. "Reports are flooding in from various parts of the city about a mysterious illness. People are collapsing in public places after vomiting blood. The cause is currently unknown, and authorities are urging everyone to stay indoors and avoid contact with others."
Erika's eyes widened, her pulse quickening. She leaned forward, her brow furrowed in disbelief. The screen cut to shaky footage of panicked crowds, people screaming and running as others fell to the ground, convulsing and coughing up blood. The scenes were chaotic, nightmarish.
"Authorities have yet to identify the source of the illness," the newscaster continued, her voice strained. "Hospitals are overwhelmed, and there are reports of similar outbreaks in neighboring cities. We advise everyone to remain calm and stay tuned for further updates."
Erika's mind raced. The man in the convenience store—was he one of the first victims? She felt a knot of fear tighten in her stomach. The eerie silence that had followed his collapse now seemed like a harbinger of something far more sinister.
She glanced towards Tommy's room, the door slightly ajar. Her little brother, so innocent and unaware of the horrors unfolding outside, was all she had left. She had to protect him, no matter what.
The rain continued to pour, a relentless torrent that seemed to echo the chaos and despair outside. Erika turned off the TV, the room plunging back into darkness. The images of blood and panic lingered in her mind, refusing to fade.
She stood by the window, watching the rain-soaked streets below. The city, usually alive with the hum of activity, was eerily quiet. The occasional flash of lightning illuminated the empty sidewalks, casting long, ghostly shadows.
Erika wrapped her arms around herself, trying to ward off the chill that had settled deep in her bones. She couldn't shake the feeling that they were on the brink of something terrible, something that would change their lives forever.
As she stood there, the weight of responsibility pressing down on her, Erika made a silent vow. She would do whatever it took to keep Tommy safe, to navigate this new, terrifying world. The end of days had begun, and she was determined to face it head-on.
The rain showed no signs of letting up, its relentless drumming a constant reminder of the storm both outside and within. Erika took a deep breath, steeling herself for the challenges ahead. The night was dark, but she knew she had to find a way through it—for Tommy, and for herself.
********
"Erika, what's going on?" he asked, his voice trembling.
"It's just a power outage, Tommy. Nothing to worry about," she said, trying to sound reassuring. But deep down, a sense of dread gnawed at her. Something was very, very wrong.
She sat on the edge of his bed, holding his hand. "We'll be okay, Tommy. I promise."
The rain outside continued its relentless assault, each drop a bullet against the thin glass of their windows. The room was thick with the smell of dampness and the musty scent of old, decaying wood. Erika's flashlight flickered, casting eerie shadows that danced across the walls, turning familiar shapes into monstrous figures.
Erika lay down beside Tommy, feeling his small, trembling body against hers. She listened to the rhythmic sound of his breathing, trying to draw comfort from its steady cadence. But her mind was a whirlpool of anxiety and fear, dragging her deeper into a sea of despair.
The minutes stretched into hours, and the storm outside showed no signs of abating. The wind howled like a tormented soul, its cries merging with the distant wail of sirens. Erika's thoughts drifted back to the convenience store, to the man who had collapsed in a pool of his own blood. What had caused it? Was it an isolated incident, or the beginning of something far worse?
As she lay there, her mind conjured images of a city in chaos, of people fleeing in terror from an unseen enemy. The air grew colder, and Erika pulled the thin blanket tighter around them. She couldn't shake the feeling that they were not alone, that something malevolent lurked in the shadows, watching and waiting.