I woke up feeling OK a bit hungry and thirsty, but OK. I went downstairs and put the kettle and TV on. The news again so I change the channel news again after flicking through eight channels. I decided that it must be on every channel. Start to watch it while eating my cereal. 

Doctors are calling the epidemic more flu. It is spreading out of control and hospitals can not take in any more patients, in most parts of the country. The advice at the moment is to call one one one if you need medical advice. 

The reporter on the news was in London outside the doors to a hospital. It looks like a war zone. I see people start to fight to get in the entrance. A security guard tried to break it up and got knocked out. The symptoms so far have been sour throat coughing aching all over then nose bleeding. After twenty-four hours. Apparently, the nose bleed is the last symptom before death. There have been no reports of survivors after the nose bleeds. 

Words scroll across the bottom of the screen. Hospitals full to capacity. Morea flu out of control. 

The police are trying to hold people back from hospitals and pharmacy with varying degrees of success. Due to the number of people and officers, the army has started to arrive in major cities. 

I turn off the TV and try to ring my mum. It rings once twice three times nothing it keeps ringing. Her voice comes on hi I can't get to the phone right now please leave a message. I just leave a message to ring me straight away. 

I get my drink and round to next door. Mrs Jessop an elderly lady In her seventy. I have kept an eye on her since her husband died a couple of years ago. 

I stood outside her house with my coffee in hand. I knocked on the door. There was no sound. I knocked again and shouted through the letterbox. 

"Hi, Mrs Jessop it's me sid".

First a cough then a weak voice. 

"Come in its open."

I opened the door and walked into the living room. Mrs Jessop was laying on her sora with a blanket pulled up to her chin. The curtains were closed. I went to open them. 

"No don't the light hurts my eyes."

OK take it easy you don't look too good. I will get you a drink. 

"Thanks, you're a good lad."

Blood started to trickle from her nose. I quickly grabbed a hand full of tissues she had on the floor by her side and pinched them to her nose. With cough blood specks sprayed in a mist. Some got on my hand. I tilted her head back. 

"Hold this ill be back in a second."

She did as told and I went to her kitchen washed my hands. The sink was full of dirty dishes. I got a clean glass and filled it with water. 

"Here you go."

The tissues were already soggy with blood. 

Your a good lad but I know I don't have long now so shut up and listen. You have been like a son to me and I want you to have everything I have no family as you know. 

More coughing. I put a hand on her cheek. She was burning up. 

"Get off it is all written in a will but I don't think I that is going to be important for a while. I want you to stay home for as long as you can my food and medicine is yours take it. So you don't have to go to town."

"You will be fine stop talking like this OK."

I was scared for her and could feel tears in my eyes. I have never seen anyone look so sick and be awake. I handed her some more tissues. 

Promise me that you will do what it takes to get through this OK. 

I nod I will. 

I think that the best way to keep yourself healthy is to stay away from the public OK. 

I'm going to ring you an ambulance. 

Her head and arm dropped. I felt for a pulse. At this point, I realised I didn't know what I was doing. I pulled the blanket up over her face. Closed the doors and went home. 

As I went outside I saw the post van. Now he is dedicated to the job. I mused. I had my hand on the door handle when I heard barking and growing. Looking up the road there are two dogs charging down the road. With a quick glance, it is obvious that the posty hasn't noticed them. He had got out and had gone to the back of the van. 

"OY LOOK OUT MATE!" 

There was no response from him and the dogs were getting closer. I dropped my coffee on the ground the cup smashed. I opened the door and grabbed my t-ball bat form behind it. A bit of home defence. Then set off running bat in hand. 

" HEY LOOK OUT!"

Again nothing. I was getting closer but the dogs were closer. I was at a full sprint now. I called again and he turned his head just as the first dog got round the back of the van. The other one was going around the other side. The first dog pounced on him. He managed to turn and get his hands on it. I got to the van now and saw that he was holding the first dog and shouting for help. I went to the side and hit the second dog with the bat hard on top of its head between the eyes. It dropped instantly. Without any hesitation, I went back to the ven. With my free hand grabbed the first dog by the scruff of the neck and yanked it away. The strength of the animal was unbelievable. I managed to toss it a couple of feet. It skidded on its side and was straight back up on its feet and pounced at the same time I swung the bat overhead and hit it on the head. It dropped just in front of me. I'm not proud to say I lost my cool. The bat just kept hitting the creature. It was like I was watching it. I felt a hand touch my shoulder. 

"hey man I think it's dead" 

I spun around with my bat ready to swing again. It was the post. 

"WHAT THE FUCK WERE YOU DOING" 

"Sorry man I had my headphones on" 

I stopped for a second and breathed. Looking around I was the street was empty. Then looked at the dogs. The first one was laid on the pavement. One eye hanging out of its head with very little blood. The other had no head I had beaten it to a pulp. Again there was very little blood. The post had been a black man now he was grey. 

"you OK I've never seen a black guy go white before" 

I joked. He stood in silence looking at the carnage. He put a hand on the back of the van and threw up. 

"how many have you seen nearly die" 

"none" 

We both laughed. I held out my hand. 

"sid sorry for shouting at you" 

He held his out and shook it 

"Earl. No worries thanks for the help. I think I would have been a gonner if you hadn't been here."

"Lock up and come to mine I think we need a drink" 

We went to mine. The door was still open we walked in. I told Earl to make himself at home. He asked if he could smoke and I nodded and gestured to the ashtray. Then poured two tumblers of vodka neat. I sat down and sparked up. Blowing out smoke. 

"what are you doing working. Haven't you heard what's going on?" 

"no what."

"The flu thing." 

He just looked at me and shook his head. 

"I thought it was quite in the depot but I don't watch the news is just depressing bullshit." 

"I agree but what a bad time to not watch." 

I switch on the TV and there was just a message on every channel. If you are healthy go to your town hall. This is a global crisis. 

"What the fuck." he hissed. My mouth dropped open. 

"What time is it." with a glance at his watch. 

"Ten forty." 

"OK it's up to you do you want to go." He took a large swallow of vodka. 

"What other options are there." 

"I'm going to stay here and see what happens for a few days. I think I have enough to see me though for a bit I think." 

Then looked into my packet of fags. Four left. 

"Ah well, I will have when I have been to the shop." 

"What do you need from the shop." 

I showed him my depleted supply of smokes. 

"I can't go an hour at most without one." 

"I see but why stay hear." I thought that this was obvious but then realised that I had had a few hours more than him to think. 

"Because if everyone is going to town one the roads will be a nightmare. Two people are stupid and more than likely sick people will go as well, and I'm staying away from the sick." 

Then a thought hit me like a sledgehammer. 

"how do you feel." 

"Fine shook up but that's all." 

I breathe a sigh of relief. 

"OK, that's good. So what do you think." 

"I'm not sure give me a minute." 

I lit another fag and finished my drink. We were sat in silence for a few minutes. I was starting to get annoyed how long does it take to make up your mind. 

"so what do you think."

"OK" 

"OK? " 

"OK" 

At this point, I was confused and shocked by the response 

"WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN OOOOOKKK!" 

"OK I will stick it out with you for now and see what happens OK" 

I could feel my face had gone red. I was embarrassed for shouting at Earl. He had not had long to think really, and I felt sorry for him. I apologised to him. We talked for a while. He rang around his friends and family. The ones that answered were sick. We surmised that the ones that didn't had died. I had done the same. 

"well that's my last fag" 

I said docking it out. We came to an agreement that I would go to the shop across the road, and he would keep watch for any more dogs outside. I went to the door and there was no one in sight. 

"Hello, John Mrs Patel anyone in." 

No answer so I went to the bottom of the stairs and called up again nothing. So I went behind the counter lifted the shutter that counselled the tobacco products. After I had grabbed ten packs of cigarettes and pulled the shutter down I heard a gargling moan like a death rattle. I spun on my heels to see John stood at the end of the counter. Blood all down his front and mouth. It was all congealed and dark. His eyes were black. 

"hi, John I was." 

My words got cut off as the lurched out at me. His hand reaching out to me. I dropped my goodies and punched him on the jaw. His head turned but did not slow him down. His hand grabbed my shoulder and I spun us both around. We toppled to the ground me on top I manoeuvred so my knees were on his shoulders. That was a bad idea his head popped up and bit my groin. Luckily for me, he didn't get my manhood just the tight cloth of my jeans. I grabbed the till off the counter. It landed corner first on his head sinking in. His body went limp and all noise stopped coming from him. I got up and looked at him dazed. Like the dogs before there was very little blood coming out of the wound. I picked up the fags turned to leave. My feet got caught in something. The next thing I knew was that I was in my living room.