World Pandemic Z.

[ 1st Arc: Covid-19 to Z-Virus ]

== Year: 2022 - Situation: Just as I imagined ==

- Alright. - Said a man with blue eyes, medium weight, and long loose blonde hair that fell over his shoulders as he entered the heavily fortified door of his best friend's house. - My dear friend, I swear I thought you might be crazy, I mean... I'm not judging or anything, but you've changed a lot since your family's death and you're more than right... everyone has their time of mourning and ways to deal with it. - The man continued with his funny way of greeting, walking quickly to the kitchen and looking for a drink in the fridge, barely waiting for the response he always received from the funny introductions he had with his best friend. - But, man, did you see what was on TV? It matches your paranoias perfectly... but I didn't even want to know, I canceled my Uber rides today and came here.

- You waste time watching TV, my dear compatriot? - The dark-haired owner of the house responded humorously, their greeting, grabbing a can of orange Fanta from the same fridge. - If that's the case, you should pay more attention to my paranoias, they have more foundation than the supposed little flu from Bozo.

- No! But let's face it, lately there have been some pretty strange reports that attract attention. - Said the blonde, laughing. - But that's not the point, it's all over the internet, they're saying that the zombies have finally arrived and all that, just because some crazy pervert desecrated the tomb of the new president's wife, and man?... weren't you the one who voted for Bolsonaro, why are you acting like this?

- I voted for him expecting changes from the clear corruption of PT and Lula, nothing has changed since then... for me, it's all the same, life goes on and I approve the impeachment of someone who doesn't put their people first, or do you really think I'm going to go around shouting myth-myth for someone who doesn't even make an effort for us? - Said the dark-haired man, pretending to give an electoral speech. - But anyway, what are the problematic Christians from Record network saying?

- That it's the apocalypse, the end of times, the era of the rapture, and we should all convert and ask God for forgiveness. - The blonde said, savoring the Corona bottle he knew his best friend bought just because of his visits, when he came every night after a quick Uber service that earned him some cash.

- Maybe it is. - The dark-haired man added nonchalantly, while looking at his best friend. - And you, Johnny... how are you? I find it a drag to talk on WhatsApp, I never know how the person is really reacting or just pretending to be okay, especially in mourning.

- You know, Abner. - The blonde replied, sighing deeply. - It's crap, I mean, I know it's been six months..., but it still gives a damn anguish and a bitter taste in my mouth, it's complicated. - He continued, thinking about his family, who were also victims, like his best friend's family and many other people in this pandemic.

- The offer to live here is still on the table... you know, different places give us different feelings and being alone only makes it worse. - Abner advised, knowing it wasn't healthy for his best friend to continue living in the house where it happened. - When is your rent due?

- It's already due... I think the manager is just being understanding with me because of everything that's been happening. - Johnny replied, taking another sip of beer.

- Why didn't you tell me, damn it? - Abner pretended to be irritated, but it was more him being a shoulder to cry on for Johnny to stop hiding things and just say he's okay.

- Leave it alone, you have bigger problems... How are the world domination plans going? - Johnny said ironically, studying the open pages on the computer. - Because either you're right about the end of times, or you're going to be screwed with bank debts and the bunch of loan sharks you owe. - He opened the history and just sighed. - Seriously? No porn? What a good soul you are.

- Hey! Don't speak ill of my loan sharks, they're nice. - Abner pointed his finger in mock censure. - They don't kill, nor dismember... at most a broken arm and leg, but it's all within the law... I think. - Abner continued, laughing with his best friend. - And I wouldn't leave my perversions so blatant for you to come and judge me.

- You know you're going to die if you keep this up, right? - Johnny asked, staring at his beer and seeing how it was almost finished. - Damn, I want more... let's get drunk tonight?

- I'm already dead inside, I'm in this life just for the snacks. - Abner repeated with the same response he always gave his best friend, watching him go to the fridge, grabbing another bottle of Corona and handing a Coke Zero to Abner.

- Cheers to Ifood? - Johnny extended his bottle forward.

- Cheers to Ifood. - Abner agreed, clinking his bottle.

And with that, what would have continued with some silly conversation, with the two best friends drinking until they dropped, talking all night, smoking one or just in silence while watching the sunrise from the top of the house, as neither of them was an expert at overcoming grief in an appropriate way.

They were interrupted by a loud siren sounding in the living room.

- What the hell is that? - Johnny asked, hurrying with his best friend. - A purge night, seriously? - He identified the siren as from the movie series.

- I set it to sound whenever a news bulletin started on TV. - Abner replied with a laugh. - Come on, you liked it too, it makes life more chaotic.

- Oh, the paranoias coming. - Johnny laughed. - I miss the time when we only talked about nonsense.

- I don't think much has changed, we're just more mentally screwed and in debt to the bank. - Abner replied, turning his attention to the end of the Globo network news bulletin opening.

With both of them facing the large central screen in the living room, they felt a slight sense of emergency, urgency, and apprehension when they saw a blue screen with the golden coat of arms of the federative republic of Brazil, along with an annoying police siren sounding in the process.

- Is this your thing too? - Johnny asked humorously. - Professional, huh.

- Not this time. - Abner replied totally serious, not taking his eyes off the screen and quickly searching for a remote control he always kept in his pocket, showing in his eyes an apprehension that made his best friend alert, sitting with him on the couch.

"BRAZILIAN EMERGENCY BROADCAST"

"This is not a test!

It is the emergency broadcast system created by the new electoral party, sanctioned by the government of Aquarius in 2021.

A rabid plague is spreading at alarming levels through major metropolises such as Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, Fortaleza, Salvador, Belo Horizonte, Manaus, and São Paulo.

Government officials and parliaments are in the process of immediate extermination of the plague, using a lethal emergency task force, do not leave your homes.

We repeat! Do not leave your homes.

This plague is extremely lethal and rabid in its transmission, stay at home, isolated and safe until our task forces eliminate this threat.

At the sound of the siren, any individual, regardless of age, who is outside safe locations, freely roaming the streets, will be treated with severe hostility by our purification.

The police, firefighters, and emergency medical services will be unavailable for twelve continuous hours to prevent the plague from spreading in beds and sterilized environments.

Blessed be our Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and may God be with you.."

And at the end of the announcement, amidst the total silence of the room, a loud siren was sounded, not only on television but throughout the city they were in, in the most elaborate points which maintained alert sirens that Abner now understood why the army was spending so much time placing sirens on street poles... this was already expected, they probably knew what was happening and some independent branch decided to act to warn everyone, because to prove his point, the open Globo network simply lost signal and switching channels, such warnings being repeated also had their stations losing signal in the middle of the alerts.

The same siren used by Abner as a joke during the news bulletin time was now a real warning of something he only theorized in his paranoias, but that Johnny realized was no joke by the serious and sharp look of his best friend, who desperately rummaged through his pockets and pulled out a medium remote control, pressing it immediately without any hesitation.

And with that, I end the fourth chapter of the Global Pandemic Z. I hope you are enjoying it and don't forget to give that top support in the comments.

I will leave below the link of the sirens and sound effects used in the news bulletin alert for everyone to identify more.

I really hope you are enjoying it, I'm excited to write a zombie apocalypse in Brazil.

Siren Played at the News Bulletin:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjRyLVbXRzM

Example of how the Globo Network news bulletin was:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsJR7oDsGqg

-- Characters and Images Presented --

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Abner (House Owner):

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Johnny (Best Friend):

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Brazilian Flag:

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Federative Republic of Brazil:

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