In downtown Austin, towering buildings stand tall, their bases bustling with crowds and traffic. Despite the noise, the streets are punctuated by the occasional wail of an ambulance, its sirens piercing through the chaos. Even amid the city's din, the agonized screams of the patients inside can be heard.
"Are you sure about this place?" Brian asks Sarah, eyeing the busy mall in front of them. He knows the prices inside are steep.
"Absolutely." Sarah pulls out a $50 bill from her pocket, beaming with pride. "I've been saving for this for ages. Dad's been complaining about his broken watch. I thought I'd get him a new one."
"Uh..." Brian looks at the $50 bill, his expression turning awkward. In his old currency, that's barely enough for a decent watch. He's about to mention it when a commotion from across the street catches their attention.
A large African American man collapses on the sidewalk, gasping for breath, trembling violently. His veins bulged beneath his skin, his eyes bloodshot and black-rimmed. The symptoms are unmistakable—he's infected with the new disease that's been spreading.
People around him scatter, covering their mouths and noses. A patrolling officer rushes over, calling for an ambulance. Without hesitation, he cuffs the man's hands behind his back, a move that sparks outrage among the onlookers. Some try to reason with the officer, while others shout and threaten, some even brandishing weapons.
The officer, undeterred, pulls out his gun, a silent warning to keep back. Soon, the ambulance arrives, and the paramedics struggle to secure the thrashing man onto a stretcher. As the ambulance speeds away, the crowd disperses, and the street returns to normal, as if nothing had happened.
Watching it all, Brian feels a growing sense of unease. A voice in his head whispers, "Something bad is about to happen." He mutters, "Why do I always have this ominous feeling?"
Meanwhile, Sarah, unfazed by the incident, tugs at Brian's hand. "Let's go inside. I'm glad you're here. I wouldn't have come alone."
"Wait, you didn't bring me here just to pay for you, did you?" Brian asks, realization dawning on him.
"Bingo." Sarah snaps her fingers, ignoring the surprised looks from passersby. She links her arm with Brian's, resting her head on his shoulder. "You won't disappoint me, right?"
Brian sighs, covering his face with his hand. "Oh man, my poor allowance."
Back at School.
It's 2:30 PM when Brian and Sarah sneak back into their classroom, just as the school day is winding down. The other students are packing up, and the two slip into their seats unnoticed. Sarah is grinning, holding a watch box and a dinosaur-themed card, both bought with Brian's money.
When Mrs. Judy returns, everyone follows her to the school bus. At 3 PM, they're back in the suburbs, playing with Jimmy's dog. Sarah invites Brian over, and he agrees, thinking he has nothing better to do at home.
Inside Sarah's house, Brian is surprised by the neatness. He expected a mess, given it's a single dad's home. "I'll be right back," Sarah says, heading upstairs to change.
Bored, Brian wanders around, noticing photos of Sarah and her dad Joel, and a signed soccer ball in the corner. On the fridge, he finds a note from Joel:
"I'll be home late tonight. Order takeout. See you in the morning. Dad."
"Sarah, looks like your birthday gift won't be delivered today," Brian calls out when he hears her coming down the stairs.
"Huh?" Sarah's face falls when she sees the note. She plops down on the couch, her earlier excitement gone. "So, what do I do with the gift now?"
"Why not save it for tomorrow?" Brian suggests, trying not to laugh.
"No way!" Sarah jumps up, pouting. "You can't give a gift a day late. I'll just wait for him to get home."
"Alright," Brian shrugs, not wanting to argue. "What about dinner?"
Sarah points to the note. "Takeout, remember?"
"Didn't you have takeout yesterday?" Brian scratches his head, then opens the fridge. "Never mind, I'll cook for you. Takeout isn't great for you."
"Can you even cook?" Sarah asks, surprised.
"Of course!"
Night Falls.
As night descends, Brian paces in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows in his room. The moonlight casts a shadow on his anxious face. Josie, the housekeeper, has left and won't be back until morning.
Brian can't sleep, haunted by the memory of the man's collapse earlier. He glances at Sarah's house across the street, where lights are still on. He saw Joel come home earlier, so the gift must have been delivered by now. A small smile tugs at Brian's lips as he grabs the remote and turns on the TV. With no phone to distract him, watching TV seems like a good way to pass the time.
"Ding!"
The sudden ring of the phone jolts Brian awake. He sits up, groggy, and reaches for the landline. "Hello?" he mumbles, checking the clock—it's 2 AM.
"Who could be calling at this hour?" he mutters, still half-asleep. He picks up the phone and puts it to his ear. "Hello?"
"Thank God you answered!" a woman's voice sobs with relief. Brian's grogginess vanishes instantly. He recognizes the voice—it's his mother, the woman who gave birth to him in this world.
Before he can say anything, she continues, "Listen carefully to what I'm about to say. The world is about to be plunged into chaos. The infection has completely spiraled out of control. These people are going insane and hurting others. In our closet, there's a black box with a gun inside. Your father and I are stuck in Washington and can't get to you. You need to find..." Her voice cuts off abruptly, replaced by a series of beeps.
Brian's heart races. He tries to call back, but all he hears is the busy signal. The ominous feeling he's been trying to suppress now floods over him. He stares out the window at the flickering lights in the night, knowing that an unknown storm is about to sweep across the world.