It's the second time now that a widespread pandemic brings the world to a standstill. Almost half of Asia is already affected and in nationwide lockdown. Families group together to survive the coming months together. But before complete isolation, people who want to return home fills the airports to board their flights. The last flight to Los Angeles made their first call for boarding and in a queue of weary people stood a little boy and a beautiful women in late thirties, with frustration and uneasiness in her eyes. Maria and her son Jaime are on their way to meet her husband in Los Angeles. This is said to be the last flight for a couple of weeks at the very least. Maria seems to be glancing at her watch frequently, as if the flight might leave without them. They have a trolley bag and a small bag pack, the later hanging on Jamie's shoulders. A couple standing behind them carries a little baby soundly sleeping. They were travelling light with just a bag with the most needed essentials.
Few minutes passed as everyone in the flight took a seat and waited for take-off. The passengers were still not sure whether they will get a permission as the recent developments led to closing of airports in every city, starting now. A man in his mid-forties sat beside Maria. Maria didn't even try to be discrete as she checked for any sign of injury. The noticed this but ignored it.
The captain requested one last time to fasten the seat belts, before the runway was seen. Jamie was happy that he got the window seat as he jumped in excitement after seeming the beautifully lit runway. It is during the night flights that we see the patterns the lights make to indicate a flight taking off to signal the flights in standby as well as the flights waiting to land.
An old man had started to vomit due to airsickness as the flight takes off. The passenger's shoulders seems to have relaxed a bit as the flight went airborne. The airhostess came with refreshments and the man took a bottle of mineral water while Maria took an apple juice. Jamie's stomach was upset so he ignored the refreshments. It was a 3 hour ride so nothing heavy was served. The old man seems to be screeching louder than before. Most of the people seems to have grown concerned. His face seems to be very pale and dry with saggy eyes. Dark circles around his eyes marked the sleepless nights this man had spent. His hands shook violently as he stood and walks towards the bathroom. Several pair of eyes followed the old man as he closes the door behind him. Maria seems concerned as she messages her husband. Jaime had found his interest on the screen before him as he scrolled down the options, not able to choose what to watch in the three hour flight.
The man beside Maria was scrolling through his phone but the suddenly decides to switch to a magazine in his bag. Maria listens to the recent updates as protest and destruction of building continues. Containment areas are being made and people take shelter in their houses. The death toll is not yet clear from the chaos.
The man beside Maria was always taking a glance at the bathroom door, as if he was waiting for something, something he was sure will happen. And it did. Cries of terror filled the flight as the airhostess rushed to help the man dripping with blood from his mouth coming out of the bathroom. "Help..." he said weakly. His legs failed to support him as he falls to the group making the people in the front jump out of their seats in fright.
Maria held Jamie in her arms, almost in tears as she was terrified at the amount of blood. Jaime's eyes were also filled with tears as he was scared of the sight in for of him. He hugged his mother tightly and sobs. The airhostess tries to help, but was stopped mid-way by the man beside Maria. He stood up and carefully walks towards the man. He seems to have passed out from the loss of blood. He calls for the airhostess and whispered something in her ear. She nods and with that, the old man was taken back inside the bathroom and the doors shut. The airhostess tried to smile but she couldn't hide to fear in her eyes. "What is happening?" a man yelled. "Is he infected?" another man chimes in. But before a barrage of questions could arise, she skilfully handled it by saying "The man who accompanied him claims to be a doctor. We will know the answers to your questions shortly."
Maria found that reply to satisfy the people, for now. She focuses on calming Jaime. The airhostess waited calmly beside the door.
After almost an hour the old man wakes up to find someone in his late forties sitting on the European toilet, as if waiting for him to wake up. He coughs out a lot of blood and looks at his blooded shirt and said "Now where will I find enough money for a shirt like this!"
"A bloodied shirt should be the least of your concern right now sir."
"If you say so." He said looking at his pants. He found no traces of blood and he sighed with relief.
Anwar was surprised by his actions. This man who is sweating like a pig with blood all over and showing signs of infection is concerned about his clothes.
The man then looked at Anwar as asked "Can you do me a favor and bring me my bag real quick. It's on my seat."
But before Anwar could reply, the man leaned towards the toilet and spat a mouthful of blood. He tilted his head backwards and Anwar was shocked by the difference. The man now looks tired and weary with almost no hope left in his eyes. He tried to clean his face with his hands but in vain. The man looked at Anwar and asked "I will be fine, right?"
'This man is still in denial of the fact that he is going to die.'
Anwar found out that his son and his in laws had moved last month and all ties to him were severed. He tried to find them by asking around but almost all of them was hostile towards him, as though he had done something wrong. He spent a week in Hong Kong and the new virus forced him to leave. Amidst the chaos he booked a ticket back to Los Angeles, but was reluctant to leave. And as though luck had it, he was kicked out of the lodge two days before his flight. The whole place was in lockdown and many shops and other facilities were closed. He roamed around the city and saw things that he shouldn't have seen, things that will haunt his dreams forever.
That's why when boarding the flight, when he heard a person behind him ask to someone else in the queue "It's just like Corona right?" Anwar couldn't hold back his laugh. If only they knew.
What sits before him is no normal virus. It's no rabies. It's every man's worst nightmare. A living dead.
"Yes it is just infection. But I still think it's better if you stay where you are. Just so you don't scare the passengers outside."
"But I have another shirt."
"Yes, but you still cough out blood."
"So that means...." The man paused for a moment, deep in thought.
"That means you just stay here for an hour and I will send the medics as soon as we reach the airport."
The man seems to still have doubts in his mind. So Anwar smiled calmly and said "You will survive."
Only then did the old man close his eyes with a faint nod and sat down on the bloody bathroom, leaning on to the wall.
When Anwar closed the door behind him, the airhostess was sitting behind him, looking sad and concerned.
"Was anything you said inside true?" she asked.
"No..." Anwar said turning towards her.
She nods.
The flight goes by without any incident and that gave Anwar ample time to take a quick nap. The control tower lit the designated run way and Anwar glanced at Jaime to find him to be fast asleep in his mother's arms. Maria seems to be relaxed to and gave Anwar a thankful smile. He smiled back.
The plane slowed down after leaving the runway and everyone scrambled for their bags, all eager and desperate to leave the flight. Anwar felt like he lost something in Hong Kong, something that was far more important than material things. He wants to be sure that he was prepared for what is about to come next. He asked the staff outside to help the passenger in the bathroom who needs medical attention.
"He might be infected." Anwar warned.
Maria and Jaime rushed towards Neil who was happy to finally be reunited with his family. Their eyes were filled with tears and Jaime cried to his father about an old man who died in front of him. Neil was shocked and looked at Maria, waiting for an explanation. But all she could do was to hold back her tears and nod. Her whole body was trembling from the incident in the plane and Neil noticed it too. They walked towards the parking area. Anwar watched the trio leave.
"That boy reminds you so much of your son, doesn't he?" A tall and muscular man with bald head and a black sunglasses sitting inside the black Cadillac Escalade said, looking at Anwar. He have a scar on his left eyebrow and a jawline that Anwar admires. Anwar was scared when he looked in the eyes of his first time. An emotion Anwar tried to hide.
"Yes, He does." Anwar said with a nod.
"Let's get going, Mr. Abadi. You and I need to have a chat." The man said, removing his sunglasses, revealing a pair of dead grey eyes.