The Beginning of the End by Lorana Hoopes (readict txt) 📕

The Spring Fling was as close to a prom as their small school got. They didn’t have the money or the student numbers to hold a large prom, but the school would generally rent out a nice banquet hall and cater dinner. Students would dress up in formal attire and dance the night away. Lily looked forward to it every year, but this year was guaranteed to top them all.

Science was her first class of the day, and the room was already abuzz with conversation. Hannah and Gretchen both had their phones out and were taking turns flashing their screens at each other as they found some story they wanted to share. Christian and Adam sat side by side peering into a laptop screen. Evidently, Lily was one of the few who hadn’t watched the news. Only Isaiah seemed unphased by the information. As usual, he was digging in his backpack like he did every morning. Lily and Katie took their seats and waited for the bell to ring.

“All right,” Mr. Higgins said as soon as the bell stopped. “I’m sure you’ve all heard about the virus by now.” An older man with a receding hairline and a salt and pepper goatee, Mr. Higgins reminded Lily slightly of Mr. Rogers. At least until he began assigning essays.

Katie shot her a look with raised eyebrows as if to say “See? I told you so.”

“So, let’s discuss what we know about viruses in general and what we know about this one.” A sinister gleam danced in his eyes as he clapped his hands together, and Lily stifled a sigh. There would be more than one paper around this virus.

As the discussion waged on around her, Lily found herself being drawn in. Though no one really knew how the virus had originated, what was known was that the first diagnosed patient was a technician at a lab in China. Evidently, he’d thought he just had a cold or a mild case of the flu. However, a week later, his lungs began to shut down and he was placed on a ventilator. While he was unconscious, four more people from his lab also became sick, and the number increased from there. It appeared that although patient zero had recovered, many others had not, and the death count was now nearing the hundreds in China and the surrounding areas.

The news media was referring to it as NCAV or a novel contagious airborne virus. The novel aspect evidently came from the fact that it had markers and qualities that had never been seen before.

“Mr. Higgins, is there any way this virus could come to us?” The question had been posed by Hannah, a quiet, studious girl, but Lily was pretty sure it was the question on all of the students’ minds. She watched Mr. Higgins eagerly as he tried to formulate his answer.

After a large deep breath, he sighed and looked them all in the eyes as he said, “I’m not sure.”

“What does this mean for us?” Candace asked as she glanced around the room. Doctors from nearly every department filled the room.

“We don’t know yet,” Dr. Aikens, the hospital chief, said. In his late sixties, he was a stern man with gray hair and a paunch belly. His muscular arms hinted that he had been in shape at one time though. “What we do know is that it is highly unlikely the virus won’t make it here and we need to be prepared. We have some PPE, but not enough for what they’re saying we will need. However, we have a request with the governor for more, and I’ve heard talk that the President is offering assistance.”

He paused as if surveying the room. “I’m not going to lie. We are on the front lines, and we don’t know much about what we’re fighting. Remember the most important pieces. Wash your hands, get plenty of rest, and gear up. Every time.” He paused to look each one of them in the eye. “Okay, I know that’s a lot, but does anyone have any questions?”

Candace had a plethora of questions racing through her mind, but none that Dr. Aikens could answer. No, she needed to call Raven and Pastor Ben and get their take on this. As much as she didn’t want to admit, she had a very bad feeling that this might be the beginning of the tribulation Raven had spoken of.

As soon as they were dismissed, Candace excused herself to an on-call room and dialed Raven’s number. She didn’t even bother with pleasantries when the other woman answered. “Is this it? Do you think this is the beginning?”

Raven sighed on the other end. “I’m assuming you mean the virus.”

“Of course I mean the virus,” Candace snapped. “I just left a briefing where we were told to gear up and get ready for it. I just want your opinion. Do you think this is it?”

“I don’t know, but it could be. I’ll start looking, Candace, and we’ll talk more on Sunday, but promise me one thing.”

“What’s that?” Candace asked although she was fairly certain she knew what Raven would ask.

“Be careful.”

That seemed to be the theme of the day around her. “I will,” Candace promised before hanging up the phone, but if the virus was the beginning of the tribulation, could she ever really be careful enough?

“What we know now is that the NCAV has appeared in countries outside of China. Cases have appeared in London, Italy, and Germany, but the President and his team continue to state there is no reason for worry here in the United States. Though he was originally vilified for the action, it appears the President closed the borders to travel from China last month and remains confident that action will keep the virus from breaching our borders.”

Raven felt a claw-like sensation squeeze her heart, and her fingers began to play with the cross around her neck. She’d told