2 The Greyhound

The people are gathering in the streets as a military parade passes by. They carry with them small flags of the country and waves it to the soldiers. Cheers of appreciation and encouragement have met the soldiers who are marching through the heat of the sun.

Today is the flag day, it is the 12th of July, 2021 C.T. The parade started early in the morning at 8:00 AM and may arrive in the City Coliseum by 12:00 PM. It's a good thing that people celebrate and are enthusiastic of their national pride. For motorists however, it is a hassle.

Work in hotels knows no holidays. A housekeeper looks worried for he is still required to work. He usually rides his motorcycle but is unable to because of the celebration of the flag day. Roads are closed and motorists like him have no option but to walk on his way to work under the heat of the sun.

Everyone looks patriotic with their display of appreciation to the soldiers who served their country. This inspired Carlo, the housekeeper despite of the hardships in life he had experienced.

Carlo leaves his house at 8:30 AM, his work will start at 9:30 AM. Shifting had been odd but he did not mind reporting this day. His workplace is in need of manpower because of the Flag Day and there's been a lot of influx of guests that has arrived. He is requested for work because of it.

Extra hands means extra pay, Carlo does not want to be left behind in terms of tips as well. He have to work hard to make his ends meet. Times had been hard and he is barely keeping his finances afloat.

Twenty minutes later, he is still in Cologne street. There are too many people crossing and the traffic made it difficult to navigate the area. Carlo sweated hard and was thirsty. He bought a bottle of 500 ml purified water and chugged it down.

He felt his head froze with the cold water he drank and groans. The water was too cold when he drank it all the way. He is too thirsty, he justified his actions of trying to quench his thirst.

The scene of the parade reminds him of his days in the military. Marches, exercises and of course simulations, the activities which he does almost everyday. He also remembered the day when he was marching during the Flag Day celebration, where he participated with the parade as well inside a Greyhound Mecha.

Carlo noticed that there are no Greyhound units in the parade. Usually, they are present but with its weapons unloaded. They are paraded in the streets and he finds it odd why they are missing during this year's parade.

The sound of engines from helicopters above him caught his attention. He saw some Greyhound units being carried in the cargo compartment. It seems like the military is conserving energy for these units consumes a lot of energy especially for a 8 kilometer distance march. The Capitol and the City Coliseum is still far to traverse on foot.

Carlo noticed that he is almost late, it is 5 minutes to 9:30 AM and he is still a quarter of a distance from his workplace. Having tardiness in one's attendance sure will leave an indelible mark at his performance. Despite of this day being difficult, it will not be overlooked and he is worried of the deductions of his pay.

As he continues on his way, Carlo happened to see a group of soldiers in their radios. They are gathering, at least six or seven of them are present in the area. Something must be up, normally these guys do not bunch up in a certain area.

Paramedics rush to the scene with stretcher as a woman who seem to collapse from heatstroke is taken care of. The soldiers provide immediate care to the woman who is pale. Then the soldiers reprimanded the bystanders and onlookers. The crowd disperses as the paramedics left the scene with the woman.

The look of the woman's body does not seem right. It is somewhat pale and disturbing, she is barely moving and her eyes were lifeless. While the paramedics left the scene, the soldiers who remained were talking and some of them left to relay a certain message.

It is already 9:30 AM, Carlo is already late. He cannot reach his work place on time since he left his house. He should have known better but he realizes that he cannot do anything about it. The scent of a nearby noodle house enticed him to take a light snack before he continue on his way. He took his purse and saw his wallet loaded with cash.

Inside was four 500 Verlusian Peso bills and two 1000 Peso bills. He can buy any tasty treat he had in mind and headed on the noodle house.

Tremors on the ground are suddenly felt like ripples.

"Is it an earthquake?" Carlo observed his surroundings.

The shaking of the ground intensifies until it looked like it liquefied. Almost anything that is living and breathing is sucked into the ground. The buildings and other non-living items are left intact.

It looked like in the movies, where a unknown entity making mischief to mortals as their playthings.

When Carlo looks around, he noticed that he is not affected with the tremors and its effects. He felt some shaking but he is not absorbed to the ground like others before him.

As the shaking intensifies, people panicked as they grab on to anything they could. They hopelessly try to hold on but to no avail, sucked into the ground and had their screams muffled with dirt covering their faces.

Only their arms remain from the ground where they stood at. Carlo tried to reach one of the victims but they won't budge. They are stuck and it seems like he could not do a thing about it.

"What on earth is happening!?" Carlo who is shocked with the scenery said.

"It is surprising you are not affected by my affliction, human!" A thunderous voice calls Carlo's attention from afar.

"The earth demon wants to talk to you. You are to adhere to his requests, or else!" Another voice calls his attention.

A loud annoyingly sharp beep sounded. The screen fades and turns black in front of him. From the looks of it, this seems to be bad for him. The faces of the assessors and the technicians assessing Carlo looks displeased and disappointed.

"Your simulation looks passable. But you seemed to lack focus. This puts a huge demerit in your course!" An officer told him.

A lady assessor approaches Carlo, it seems like he is not comfortable with him. She is a scary woman he believes that he does not want to cross paths with. Carlo looks away from her eyes as she tries fixing hers to his.

"You need to focus if you want a promotion, sir! For a third generation operator you may be decent. Your complacency and distractions will cost you dearly someday! Consider this a warning." The lady assessor said and left.

Carlo's head feels heavy as he dismounts from the simulation pod. He looks at the technicians who assisted him.

"Don't worry sir, this is just a mild side effect. It will wear down in a few hours!" The technician explained and assured him.

"Barton, huh?" Carlo looks at the technician's name tag.

"Eric Barton sir!" The technician replies with a smile.

"You must be having a good day eh? Mate?" Carlo, out of the blue suddenly asked.

Carlo's mind suddenly turned blank as the effects of the stimulant overtake him. He became unconscious and fell down to the ground as the technician who assisted him failed to support him.

"He lacks the resistance with the stimulants." A doctor said.

"He'll snap out of it, move him to the infirmary..."