First infection

The sound of gunfire and explosions has caused quite the commotion in the darker parts of the city. Even from a bit away, I can hear the police sirens coming closer as Kang's lot and I shoot it out, trying to sort out a serious disagreement. This loud trouble is bound to get the police on us, especially now when law and order are hanging by a thread. And with all this shooting, the news folks will likely be on their way too.

I sneak off through a drain as the flicker of police lights bounces down a nearby alley. My head's buzzing with what to do next as the thrill starts to wear off. I've only managed to get a bit of the weapons we desperately needed, and I bet the word of this fight is already spreading through secret chats. Other dodgy dealers will be going to ground now, out of my reach.

No, going back is too risky, even for the must-have antibiotics, with any shady contacts probably gone into hiding after this mess. I'll have to make do with the weapons I've got for our place's defence, and get back to making our mountain hideout secure. The cities are teetering on the brink – no sense in risking more trouble when we've already paid the price for tonight's actions.

When I get to my hidden car a few streets over, I load up the nicked guns and bullets, then keep an ear on the police radio while I work out a roundabout way to the motorways, beyond the bright lights of the suburbs. The police here are still cracking down on any trouble in this tense city area. But it won't be long before their emergency calls start to stack up without answer as the real crisis begins to hit these tall buildings and winding streets.

Driving the last part without really thinking, I'm more of a bystander now, watching as the chaos grows. I listen without much feeling as the radio talks about a single health scare – a traveller avoiding quarantine who managed to get in before the flights were stopped for good.

The story unfolds through crackly radio messages and the government trying to keep everyone calm. The traveller got violent with his wife when they got home, biting her until the neighbours stepped in...now they're both in hospital, kept away from others. Global health bodies are saying to keep a watchful eye out.

I turn off the radio, having heard enough to know things are going downhill fast. This outbreak is slipping through the cracks, despite scientists' best efforts. And while it's not confirmed it came from a lab, fingers are already pointing at strains from abroad. Behind the calm public words, you can bet military plans are in full swing.

And then there's the big business types, shaping news and policies to look after their own profits, not what's good for everyone. It's almost funny, this belief in control coming from fancy offices used to calling the shots, now just putting up weak defences against the harsh reality of nature.

But instead of feeling angry, I'm just sad for the slow, tough times ahead, as hope hangs on until it's impossible to ignore the horror.

I drive past empty farms and fields that used to feed the city's hunger, now at a breaking point, hidden behind official lines and empty promises meant to keep everyone calm. But I've seen how these places of order can fall apart, turning into nothing but chaos and despair.

There's no safety to be found in those high places once the masses start pouring into the streets, with new, fierce challenges emerging. Survival will have to come from outside, not within.

As the city lights fade behind me, I prepare for what's coming – letting go of the regret for a bright future that's now slipping away, hidden beneath thin assurances while the real storm gathers below.

I get back to our mountain base around midnight, the driveway lighting up as I arrive. Joon-ho comes out in his jacket, a look in his eye asking what happened, but he just gives my shoulder a squeeze and leads me inside, no questions asked.

Down in the lower bunker converted into a joint planning room, I unpack the twin pistols and ammunition box, locking them away. Joon-ho examines the firearms silently.

"Didn't get everything we wanted, sadly. The seller didn't stick to the deal halfway through." I rub my tired forehead, thinking back to the tense showdown and what followed. "I managed to grab these from two of his guys, but couldn't find any antibiotics like we needed."

Joon-ho gives my shoulder a comforting squeeze. "It was smart to call it off and come back when things started going south, instead of taking more risks. We really need you here to help us get stronger."

I nod, thankful for his firm support, knowing all too well how risky our trips into the disappearing safe zones can be. "We'll have to figure out something else for medical emergencies. But right now, it's crucial I check on how you're getting on with setting up those emergency hideouts."

I quickly mention the backup apartment we've got, just in case our main spot is overwhelmed. Joon-ho listens closely to the details, thinking hard.

"Consider it done. I found the perfect place on the top floor of the tallest building, with a clear view all around. Told them I was looking for a place for a mate who's visiting."

I give his shoulder a grateful squeeze. He's always been the one to think ahead, planning for backups and what-ifs since our days at the academy.

"You can never guess what's coming once things start falling apart. We've got to spread our resources wisely to be ready for anything."

I'm cut off by the sound of a radio alert from our base. Joon-ho moves across the room to answer the call I set up to connect us directly with our lookout team.

"Joon-ho here, go ahead..." He listens closely, his expression tightening as he gets the update from our team out near the villages, keeping an eye on things for any signs of the virus spreading. We've got people we trust keeping watch, helping us get supplies and keeping an eye on how things are going until we're in full lockdown.

After he hangs up, he looks over, grim. "There's been reports of the virus getting violent, just announced on the news. Sounds like some folks who've come back from abroad have taken a turn for the worse, hurt some hospital staff trying to deal with them."

I nod, knowing this means things are starting to fall apart quicker than we thought. "Looks like it's moving faster than before. We might not have much time to get our places ready before things really start to go downhill."

Joon-ho's clearly worried. I can tell he's itching to help out, like he's always done. But with things getting as bad as they are, there's not much safe ground left to stand on, let alone offer help from.

"So, how long have we got before everything collapses?" He asks after a moment. 

"It's hard to say for sure, things keep changing." I look back at him seriously. "But once the news starts telling people to stay away from hospitals and we hear about martial law, that's our cue. We'll need to lock down to avoid getting caught in the chaos."

Joon-ho lets out a sigh but trusts my judgment on the timing. He heads over to check our weapons stash, probably more out of habit than because he's questioning anything. Meanwhile, the base's radio keeps on crackling with bits and pieces of news from our lookout team. More trouble brewing...the sound of emergency sirens in the distance...the news telling everyone to stay indoors instead of going to the hospital...

It's like we're hearing bits from a battle that's yet to come, slowly but surely making its way back to our hidden spot. But we're ready for whatever comes our way, standing firm like brothers who've been through it all together.

As the hours tick by, we keep everything locked down tight, getting ready for the storm that's about to hit. It feels like the end of an era, with everything outside these walls falling apart so quickly.

Soon, there'll be people begging to get in, looking for safety. But this is the moment of truth, a harsh reality check for societies that prided themselves on their ideals rather than facing the tougher parts of life head-on.

Outside, people might be blaming their luck, but here, inside, we're committed to carrying through, guiding whatever's left of humanity through the chaos that's about to unfold, for all the future generations to come.