(Prologue)

After spending almost the entire year in quarantine due to the pandemic, the whole world rejoiced when it was announced that an effective vaccine for the dreaded Corona Virus was finally discovered in a research facility in Germany. They called it CoviPro.

In a matter of a few months, the vaccine was mass produced and exported all over the world for commercial consumption. It didn't take long for all the other nations to remove travel bans for citizens who had taken both doses of the vaccine. Most of the offices and educational institutions in major cities opened up and masks were no longer a necessity to step outside your home. Although not every person in the world had been vaccinated with CoviPro (rather it was far from it), the fact that this was a definite step in the right direction was undeniable. People weren't afraid of a silly virus anymore; they went on living their mundane lives as if 2020 never happened at all. The world was recovering; slowly.

Or at least that was the case until 8th October, 2021.

A new strand of the virus was discovered in Singapore. One that not only resisted the CoviPro vaccine but also caused death within a few hours of getting infected if not treated immediately. The whole world collectively lost their minds. Several people thought this was a punishment from God. That this was nothing short of divine judgment to absolve them of humanity's past sins. Others conspired that it was a biological war started by an unknown terrorist organization. Or was it a collective decision by the First World countries to thin down the overall population of Earth?

The truth did not matter. For what was yet to come was even more frightening and devastating than the effects of the virus. The whole world would succumb to the inevitable disaster that was brewing in the darkness. A global epidemic with the potential to wipe out the human race from existence. But no one knew this at the time. Not until it hit them in the guts like a bullet train. The world as they knew it would never be the same again.

.....…..

(Ray)

On the verge of another nation-wide lockdown, Ray waited patiently in the lobby for his flight back home. He had been back in Bangalore for just about two months when the news of the Singapore Strand started spreading. He was actually starting to have fun at the office too. His colleagues were great, the office atmosphere was amazing and the facilities were definitely something to brag about. After more than a year of working from home, he was finally glad to work together with his peers for the first time. But sadly, that wasn't meant to last.

He let out a deep sigh. His favorite rock songs played loudly through the headphones but he wasn't really listening to them. They were just background noise so he didn't have to deal with the reality of his situation.

He didn't have to wait too long at the lobby. They soon began to announce the boarding procedures for his flight. Ray stood up slowly and made his way towards the gate.

Nearly an hour and a half of flying later he was finally back at the Kochi airport. He could not even remember how many times he had walked through the welcome gate of the domestic terminal in the last year alone. It was more times than he would have liked, that's for sure.

It took him about twelve minutes to collect his luggage and exit the airport building. He looked around but only saw unfamiliar faces and vehicles.

"Where is he?" he muttered to himself.

But Ray didn't have to wait long. A few minutes later a white Suzuki Swift pulled up in front of him and a dark, lanky guy stepped out wearing just a grey T-shirt and navy-blue shorts. He waved at Ray as he stepped forward.

Ray embraced his friend firmly before he helped him store his luggage into the trunk of the car.

"Ooof, that's heavy!" Rody said. "Did you bring everything you had in Bangalore?"

"Pretty much." Ray replied, "I don't how long I'll be here. And with the new mutated strain going around… you can't tell when it'll all end."

"True…" He looked at Ray anxiously, "It's honestly kinda scary. I was supposed to go to Canada for my diploma this year but with everything going on.... yeah, that didn't work out."

Ray nodded, "I remember."

They sat in the car and Rody drove out of the pickup area.

Ray gazed through the window. Kochi was exactly how he remembered it albeit with a lot less people on the streets. He barely counted five cars on the road which he never thought was possible in a populated city like this. Most of the shops had their shutters drawn down. The only open establishments he saw were pharmacies and grocery stores. But even those had barely any people in them.

"It looks like a ghost town" Ray said.

"Yeah, I couldn't even believe this was Kochi on my drive to the airport." Rody responded.

"You haven't been out recently?"

"Been out? And go where?" Rody laughed, "Everything is closed. No restaurants, no malls, no theatres. Nothing. I've been home, all day, every day."

"Well at least your girlfriend will be happy about that."

"Ah yeah, she is" he said awkwardly.

Ray couldn't help but make fun of him, "Is she at least a little less obsessed with you now?" he asked, despite knowing full well that she wasn't.

"Umm… she's getting better" Rody answered.

"Damn, getting better huh… that's good. How long you both been together again?"

Rody gave him a look, "Why are you doing this?"

"Doing what? I'm just asking you a question. How long has it been?"

Rody didn't answer for a while. But he knew Ray would eventually ask him again if he didn't say anything. He took a deep breath and said, "I don't remember…"

Ray stifled a laugh. He enjoyed watching his friend squirm but he wasn't quite done yet. "That's not good. I'll wonder what Sam will say when I tell her you don't even remember how long y'all have dated."

"Oh god, fine!" Rody said loudly, "Two years, Okay?"

Ray whistled, "Wow!" he said, "So even after two whole years huh? On a scale of one to Koala Bear, just how clingy is she currently?"

"I hate you, man."

Ray couldn't hold back his laughter anymore, "I know."

The two of them eventually reached Prime Gardens, their apartment complex. Rody pulled over in front of the building which had a sign hanging in front of the entrance that read, 'F Block'.

Ray got out of the car and asked his friend to open the trunk. He then heaved out his big suitcase and placed it on the ground. He walked over to the driver seat just as Rody lowered his window.

"Thanks bud," Ray said, "I'll catch ya later."

"You wanna meet outside in the evening? The rest of the guys will want to see you too." Rody said.

"If I'm not busy playing Lost Soul: Eternal Conquest then yes."

Rody laughed, "You no-life gamer!"

Ray smiled, thanked his friend once again and then made his way into F block.

.....…..

(Meghan)

Meghan liked Thursdays. It wasn't as hectic as the other days. She only had two classes to attend. Although that meant she had to do club work during her off times, it still wasn't as bad as Mondays and Tuesdays where she had four agonizing hours of class to sit through.

As she slumped comfortably into her bed with the laptop beside her, she couldn't help but start to feel a little drowsy. She didn't know whether it was the boring tone of the lecturer or the fact that she barely got any sleep last night but for some reason she found her bed to be the coziest place in the world. She initially struggled to keep her eyes open and listen to the lecture but her brain was insidiously prodding her to just close her eyes for a bit.

"Shut up brain," she mumbled. But of course, her brain didn't reply back.

Instead, she found herself feeling wearier with every passing second. It wasn't long until her eyes were fully shut and she could feel herself zoning out completely, as if being lifted up by a gentle breeze.

"Meghan!"

Meghan jerked awake to see her mom in the room.

Annoyed she said, "What do you want?"

"Don't you have class? Why are you sleeping?"

Meghan was getting angry now, "What do you want?" she asked more sternly.

"Your dad and I are going with Ray's parents to the hospital to get the second dose of the CoviPro vaccine."

"So why'd you have to wake me up for that?"

Her mom gave her a look, "Come lock the door. And don't sleep during class."

Meghan groaned in frustration, "Can't you take the key and go? I might be in a meeting when you get back."

"No, come and lock." Saying so her mom left the room.

Meghan cursed under her breath and threw a pillow at the door.

Her class was still going on. But the worst part was that only five minutes had passed since she last checked the time. She groaned even louder.

'Why is the time going soooo slowwwww?' She thought to herself.

Just then her phone lit up. She lifted it up slightly to see a message from Ray.

Ray: I'm Home

Meghan unlocked her phone and replied with a sticker of a bunny dancing.

"Meghan!" her mother called from the hall.

"Coming," she replied and got up.

Her parents opened the main door and proceeded to head out. Meghan asked, "When will you be back?"

"Hour and a half maybe" Her dad replied. "Shouldn't be longer than that."

"Okay."

"If you get hungry, there's rice and some curry in the kitchen." Her mother instructed.

"Fine."

They waved goodbye and Meghan closed the door as they got into the lift. She locked it before heading back to her room. She sat back on her bed only to get another message on her phone. It was Ray again.

Ray: Wachu doing?

Meghan: Class

Ray: How interesting…

Meghan sent a sticker of an annoyed frog walking away.

Ray responded with four laughing emojis.

Meghan: How was your flight?

Ray: Horrible

Meghan: Why?

Ray: Because I hate flying Momo… I've told you this already

Meghan sent a few awkward laughing emojis.

Meghan: Yeah but I still don't see why though. At least u ll reach fast know?

Ray: My ears hurt, my head hurts, and I woke up at six am to get to the airport on time

Meghan sent a grimacing emoji.

Meghan: Take rest now then.

Ray: Yeah… apparently our parents went to get some vaccine?

Meghan: Yepp. Second dose. They just left like five seconds ago.

Ray: You didn't go with them?

Meghan: No I need to wait two more weeks to get my second dose. They got the first one before me

Ray: Ahh gotcha

Meghan: What's your plan for today?

Ray: Might go down to meet the guys but honestly I'd rather sit at home and game all day.

Meghan: lol. Why am I not surprised?

Ray: Cause you know me too well. Obviously...

Meghan replied with a sticker of a bald cartoon character giving a sly smile.

Ray sent a sticker of a duck in return. Meghan didn't get what that was supposed to mean but it made her smile nonetheless.

"Back to class" she told herself.

.....…..

(Ray)

Ray stood on the balcony and gazed out at the view. He had a lot of things to do like unpack, clean his room or even go make something to eat but at this very moment he wasn't in the mood for any of those things. Rather, he felt quite content just standing there and enjoying the serenity before him. It wasn't the most extravagant of landscapes but it was quiet and peaceful.

His parents and his brother had just gone out to get their second dose of the vaccine. He very rarely got the whole house to himself. Someone would always be at home. But it was times like this that he looked forward to. Not because he wanted to do anything mischievous (he would have done that regardless) but more so because it enabled him to be alone with his thoughts for a while. That was enough for him.

But his tranquility was short lived as he heard his ringtone blaring from his bedroom. He went into the room and picked up the phone to see that his friends from the apartment were video calling him. After a short, uncertain pause he picked up the call.

"Yo" he answered.

"Look who's back!" said Leon.

"Ayy, welcome back Ray," Adam began, "How was the flight?"

"I'll let you know the moment my ears stop ringing."

"Oh lol!" Adam said.

Ray didn't like that. Who even said 'lol' while having a verbal conversation? And how was he supposed to reply to that anyway? Isn't 'lol' what you send when you have nothing else to talk about and you are trying to end the chat?

Luckily Rody chipped in "We meeting for a walk today evening?"

"I'm free" Adam said.

"I really want to play my game but I can spare a few minutes for you morons." Ray replied.

"I don't know man I have a thing…" Leon started.

The rest of them collectively groaned.

"You always have a thing, you jackass." Ray said.

"Yeah dude, like when are you ever free? We don't even see you do any work. You're always watching some random show on Netflix." Adam said.

Rody laughed and replied, "True. Maybe he just doesn't like hanging out with us."

"Ayy, no! It's not that at all. C'mon guys." Leon pleaded. "Alright I'll make time…"

"Hahaha there we go!" Ray said, "We just had to torture him a little."

"Just the way he likes it, right Leon?" Adam teased.

"Fuck off" cursed Leon.

They all laughed as Ray made his way back to the balcony.

"I'm glad to see that nothing's changed." He chimed.

"What you mean changed? You've only been away a few months, what did you expect? Some huge mall would suddenly pop out of nowhere?" Leon said.

"No, not just with the place. I meant in general. Everything seems the same. It's comforting in a way. With the entire world suffering from Covid and stuff, it just feels good to see that Prime is normal at least. I just hope it stays that way."

"Yeah, don't jinx it" Rody teased.

Ray smiled, "I'll try not to."