At the moment, Karina was at the largest department store in the capital. Time flew by quickly, and she realized that the virus outbreak would start tomorrow.
Despite already stocking up on supplies like medicines, instant noodles, kitchen spices, and canned meat in the freezer at her villa, she felt the need to buy more fresh fruits and vegetables.
She intentionally bought these on the day before the outbreak to ensure their freshness for the coming days. After buying a considerable amount, she provided the seller with her address for delivery.
Afterward, Karina started driving her Jeep. Having bought so many things, she checked her bank account and saw that she still had a little money left. Determined to spend it all today, a store with a logo of a cat and dog suddenly caught her attention. She quickly parked her Jeep and entered the shop.
"Hello, may I help you? What type of pet are you looking for?" greeted an employee in a yellow uniform as they approached her.
"I'm looking for a large dog for my home."
"Alright, please follow me."
As they entered, the sound of barking dogs filled the air. There were various breeds, from large to small. One particular strong, brown-furred dog caught Karina's attention.
Noticing her gaze on the dog, the employee quickly explained, "Ah, this is a retriever from England. Besides being strong enough to guard your home, this breed is very loyal. Are you interested?"
"I want it," she replied.
"Alright, please follow me for the adoption process."
After completing the adoption procedure, Karina walked toward her Jeep, carrying the furry creature in her arms. She also made sure to buy all the necessary dog supplies, including vitamins and dog food.
...
In the dark night, with the wind blowing fiercely and cutting through her skin, a woman stood on the balcony, gazing at the full moon. The floor of the balcony was littered with cigarette butts she had finished smoking.
Her villa had just finished renovations. She had also built a library and a small microbiology laboratory, fully equipped for her research. Although acquiring the equipment had been quite difficult, she managed to get everything thanks to her money and connections.
"This fresh air… maybe this is the last day it can be enjoyed, right, Ruby?" she said, naming the brown dog Ruby. There wasn't any special reason for the name—it had simply popped into her mind.
"Woof woof."
She chuckled at the sound of the dog's bark. As the weather grew colder, she stepped back inside her room.
Grabbing some snacks, she turned on her laptop and started watching a drama she had downloaded earlier. She had downloaded many videos, including dramas, movies, cooking tutorials, and a few songs to prevent boredom.
The next morning, Karina woke up from a good night's sleep, stood up, and checked her phone. She tapped on the blue bird icon and saw that the trend about the zombie outbreak was spreading. The internet and electricity were still functioning, but a few weeks later, those services would be cut off completely.
The government had announced that no one should leave their homes, and they had sent out security forces to deal with the creatures. As she continued scrolling through the news, she saw a video where a blood-soaked living corpse was chasing a soldier in camo, which had gone viral.
[Guys, is this a new drama shoot? Looks so real.]
˻[ this is real, dumbass.]
[Let's start growing mushrooms, shall we?]
[Cameramen are always safe.]
[This is definitely a global elite conspiracy.]
[If zombies are real, I'm too lazy to run, lol.]
[Where's the nearest minimart?]
And many other comments followed. While some people still treated it as a joke, fear would take hold once they saw it for themselves.
...
On the second day after the zombie outbreak, food supplies in people's homes began to run low, but no one dared to go outside. Meanwhile, the number of zombies in the city continued to increase, and even the government had difficulty delivering supplies. A large-scale operation to eradicate the zombies was launched.
Middle-class citizens tried to flee to other countries, but the reality was no better there. The zombie outbreak happened simultaneously in several countries, and the strange nature of this event remained unsolved for the next ten years.
After five days had passed, the government began to retreat and stopped attending to the needs of the people. They focused more on saving themselves, revealing humanity's true selfish nature in such a crisis.
Meanwhile, security forces also sought refuge in safer places, and this was where the role of the wealthy elites became evident.
The elites had secure and protected compounds, prioritizing their own safety and survival. In contrast, the common people were left behind, trapped in a worsening situation without adequate help or protection.