Two Years To Become Erin

Chapter 1 - Run and Hide

17 March 2019

Davao is in chaos.

A disease called Covid-19 has infected the entire world and entered its way within the southern capital. The President decided to lock down the city to contain the disease.

I quickly packed my bags. Aunt Cora, or Manang—as I fondly call her—said the borders would close in less than 24 hours. I tried to gather all my belongings as fast as I could. Outside, I could hear sirens howling from all cardinal directions. The sound of it scared me to the bone. I have never witnessed such anarchy in Davao in my entire 15 years of existence.

I hurried down the stairs carrying the bag with me. Down at the foyer, all the household staff stood in a crescent line with a collected distressed look on their faces. We were all worried and anxious about what was happening and what would become of us in the following days.

I have loved everyone here in my home; all the maids and drivers have become my family. Especially Manang Cora. She has been my mother figure ever since my real mom left overseas to work. Manang couldn't go with me because she had to take care of everyone's employment and security first.

I had to leave with Jeany. Though she has only been with us for a year, I have already become close to her. She's only three years older than me. Just enough to finish senior high school and find employment. Jeany told me she had a sibling the same age as mine. Working for me helped ease the loneliness of being away from her brother in the province.

I also felt the same. Jeany filled the void I felt for not having a sister to confide to.

Jeany took my bag, and we embarked on a black Montero Sport for New Bataan. I said goodbye from my window and watched everyone wave back in tears. I had to be sent off north to escape the virus. I can only pray they would also be safe from Covid-19 here.

As we drove towards the outskirts of Davao, a different view of the city unfolded before my eyes. The military and police were everywhere. Red and blue lights from law enforcement vehicles flashed on every street corner as the sirens continued wailing throughout the night. People were apprehended by the authorities, hand-cuffing them as they were escorted inside police cars.

The roads have become empty.

Homeless people can no longer be seen wandering the streets. I wonder where they could be at this time. As we passed the suburban areas, people clad in astronaut-like suits came in and out of one house to another. When they come out, they would either be carrying a coughing man, a weak-kneed woman, or a frightened child. All must be suspected of contracting the disease or perhaps already a confirmed carrier.

Darkness covered everything like we were in the middle of Armageddon. We kept driving down the road. While in my seat, I reached out to my friends, hoping they were all alright. Most of them were safe. But some, unfortunately, got struck down with the terrible plague. Everyone kept wishing those who were affected to have a speedy recovery. I did the same, sending them messages of hope and prayers. Even though it was all for nothing. They said that once the virus has infiltrated your respiratory system, it will rapidly kill all your healthy cells. The global medical community has not yet figured a way to combat the disease. It was like death knocking on your door. Once you let the devil through, there's no escaping out.

After an hour or so, we reached the first checkpoint out of Davao. Roland, the driver, stopped in front of the Police post. He told me to roll the window down so the authorities could see me. The police circled his flashlight inside the car, and it beamed through my eyes. I squinted with the harsh white light and turned away from the officer.

"Sorry, Ma'am,"

I heard him say, but I didn't look back. I just wanted to get away from the checkpoint and head out as soon as possible. I'm feeling a little tired already. And yet, we barely just made it out of the city's borders.

Roland continued speeding along the highway. The suburbs have turned to vacant spaces of land. Lands transformed into scattered pockets of trees. The constant row of houses dotting along the main road dwindled little by little to nothing but single bungalows every kilometer or two.

I looked at the opposite lane and noticed how eerily empty it was. Usually, vehicles would cruise every so often in that direction. But now, nothing's running over it. Not a single car, not a single soul. The sight of it went on for miles and miles. The emptiness stretched on for as long as my consciousness could hold. It must have been three hours of driving already, and I still see nothing on the other side of the road.

My eyes are growing tired.

I will have to write again tomorrow.