THE VAMPIRE VIRUS

ALEX's POV

I was delighted when Susie called. It had been a while since I had talked to her.

I greeted her cheerfully, “Hello, Susie. Long time no call.”

“Alex……Alex, please come quickly to the El Rosa memorial hospital. Philip……..he is……very critical.” Then I heard her heart-rending sobs.

The impact of the news was so intense that my phone dropped from my hands and cracked. What could have happened to Philip? He was hale and hearty when I saw him ….. umm ..mm…..a month ago. I felt my heart twist with guilt. I had been so engrossed in my own world that I could not make time for friends.

“What is the matter, Alex?” Eva’s sweet voice snapped me out of my shock.

“Philip is in the hospital. I will have to go there right away.”

“Gosh! No! I am coming too.”

“It’s nothing serious, Eva. I will call you once I reach there.” I lied smoothly and sprinted out of the door before she could reply. I didn’t want to worry her unnecessarily.

I took my car out of the garage and pressed down the accelerator when someone jumped in front of my car. I applied the double brakes reflexively. The car came to a screeching halt just inches before the person. I couldn’t see the person clearly due to the glare of the sunlight.

I got out of the car as soon as it stopped, worried that the person was hurt. You can imagine my shock when I found Eva standing still with her mouth open.

I ran towards her and checked her from head to toe and asked in a worried voice, “Are you all right?”

“Yes…” She replied sheepishly after regaining her composure.

“Are you crazy!!! What do you think you were doing? You could have been seriously injured.”

She looked thoroughly chastised and said, “ Old habits die hard. I kind of forgot that I can now be killed by a car…..”

“God! What am I going to do with you? Please think about me the next time you are about to do something foolish like this….” I said helplessly.

She held my hands and said looking into my eyes, “I am sorry…..I promise I will be more careful. I just wanted to give you this phone.”

I found my anger melt away. I found it impossible to remain angry with her for any length of time.

I took the phone from her and kissed her forehead. I wanted to stay with her longer but Susie was in trouble and it was impertinent that I reached the hospital as soon as possible.

“I am leaving but for God’s sake, please be careful. When I return I want to see you whole and not in pieces.”

“Ha…ha…ha…” She laughed at my exaggeration.

After a while, she said seriously, “I will take care of myself. Bye…I will miss you…”

My heart accelerated when she gave me a flying kiss. All I wanted to do was to carry her to our bedroom and spend time with her but I restrained myself and got inside the car.

Speeding ahead, I connected my phone to the car speaker and called Athena.

“Hello, sir….”

“Hello, Do you know what exactly is wrong with Philip?” I asked without beating around the bush.

“Sir…..he….you….know….has that dreaded virus.” Her quivering voice rang in the car. It was as if she was scared to even mention the name of the disease.

“Which virus?”

“The same one that is being broadcast on the news.”

“Ummm….actually I have not been following the news much these days. Could you please tell me about it?”

“Sir, please don’t mind but I have to rush to my class. I will call you later.” She said hastily and disconnected the call.

What was so terrifying that she wasn’t able to even discuss it? Maybe she had some personal experience with the disease.

I tuned in the radio to a news channel in the hope of getting some information about their virus.

After the characteristic sound of the radio, the news started broadcasting.

The government had decided to place El Rosa under lockdown until a cure to this virus has been discovered.

”What the F****!!”

I almost dashed into a nearby tree when I heard this news but I managed to apply the brakes at the nick of the time. When had the situation become this bad!?

The radio had stopped due to the impact it suffered. I tried tuning it again but it was useless.

I would have to wait until I reached the hospital to find out more. I started the car and drove like crazy. I was glad that I left Eva at home. I wouldn’t want her to go near Philip. What if the virus was contagious?

The hospital premises was eerily vacant. The characteristic buzz of the hospital was missing. There was just a single ambulance parked on the ground and a couple of cars.

I parked my car and jogged towards the reception. There I was greeted by a robot. I couldn’t remember this hospital being so advanced.

“This hospital has been reserved for patients of the vampire virus. Others are not allowed to enter.” The robot said in its mechanical voice.

I caught on the keyword. ‘Vampire Virus’ what was that? Why did they name it so?

Before I could ask any questions, the robot held my arm and punched my finger with a device. I winced as I felt a pricking sensation. It let my hand go after a moment. I shook my hand with a scowl and put my finger into my mouth.

“You are not afflicted by the virus. So, You can’t go inside.” It said in a mechanical voice.

“I am here to meet a friend.”

“Visitors are allowed only between 2:00 p.m and 3:00 p.m”

There were still thirty minutes for it to strike 2:00. I called up Susie and told her that I was waiting outside.

I became aware of the subtle changes in the environment. The last time I had come here to see a friend I had been amazed by the sweet twittering birds that I could see on the trees around.

But now, leave alone birds there was not a single insect in sight. Everything around seemed to spell gloom. I felt as if my soul would be sucked out of me if stayed here any longer.

I closed my eyes and tried to imagine Eva’s beautiful face to dispel the intense despair that was coursing through me.

I jolted when someone suddenly hugged me. I opened my eyes to find Susie clinging to me. I rubbed her back and asked, “What has happened to Philip?”

The moment I uttered those words she started crying uncontrollably. I had no clue what I should do so I just held her wordlessly until the storm passed and she calmed down.

“I am sorry, Alex.” She said moving away from me once she had regained her senses. I tried to give her an encouraging smile but my lips wouldn’t oblige.

“I don’t know what to do, Alex……It’s just hopeless. He doesn’t even recognize me……I…..I……” She tried to speak but her words got drowned in sobs and sniffles. She slumped to the ground and kept staring at me with empty eyes.

My heart snapped into two on seeing her condition. What could I say to her? How could I make her feel better?

I racked my brain to come up with something but it was blank…………………………………………....................