Meeting Prince Harry in an Apocalypse

Day 0 - Lea

LEA SALONGA

Lea sat in the back of a black SUV, looking out the window as Manhattan's skyline blurred past. Her phone buzzed for the fifth time in ten minutes, another email about the rehearsal schedule for the show next week. She ignored it, taking a deep breath. She loved her work, but some days, even Broadway could feel overwhelming.

"Almost there, Ms. Salonga," her driver said, glancing in the rearview mirror.

"Thanks, Joe," she replied, offering a small smile.

The streets of New York were their usual chaotic self-honking taxis, tourists with their faces buried in maps, the constant flow of people weaving through the sidewalks. Lea found it oddly comforting. No matter how big the world's problems got, New York stayed the same-alive, noisy, full of purpose.

Her phone buzzed again. This time, it was a text from her manager.

"We're hearing rumors about the European tour. Possible delays. Let's talk after your meeting."

She frowned, typing a quick response.

"Delays? Why?"

The reply came almost immediately.

"Something to do with biosecurity issues. There's chatter about an incident in Europe."

Lea sighed. "Great."

"Everything alright, Ms. Salonga?" Joe asked, catching her expression.

"Just another thing. They're talking about cancelling some of my European dates."

"Because of that virus thing? It's been all over the news."

"I guess. Seems like overreaction as usual."

Joe nodded. "Better safe than sorry, I suppose."

The car pulled up in front of the theater. Lea took a moment to gather herself before stepping out. As soon as her feet hit the pavement, the energy of the city washed over her. There was something magical about being here, no matter how many times she'd performed. Broadway was home.

Inside, the theater was already buzzing with life. Crew members hurried back and forth, actors rehearsed lines, and the familiar sound of a piano filled the air. Lea made her way through the backstage chaos, exchanging quick greetings with the cast and crew.

"Lea!" A voice called out from the stage. It was Frank, the director, waving her over. "We're running a bit behind, but we're ready for your scene soon."

"No rush," she said, pulling up a chair near the side of the stage. "What's the latest?"

Frank scratched his head, looking at the script in his hands. "Aside from this scene giving me a headache? There's some buzz going around about travel restrictions. Something happened in Europe. Biosecurity stuff, apparently. But we're still full steam ahead here."

"Yeah, my manager just mentioned it," Lea replied. "I hope it doesn't affect the tour too much. Everything feels so up in the air right now."

"It's probably nothing," Frank said, though his tone was uncertain. "The media blows these things up. It'll pass."

Lea nodded, though she couldn't shake a sense of unease. "Let's hope so."

As they talked, the familiar comfort of the theater slowly worked its magic, easing the tension in her chest. For the next few hours, she threw herself into the work, rehearsing lines, making adjustments, and laughing with her fellow cast members. It felt like any other day-normal, busy, full of the creative energy she lived for.

But during a break, as she sat in her dressing room sipping water, her phone buzzed again. This time, it was her brother from their apartment.

"Hey, you," she answered, smiling. "What's up?"

"You okay?" his voice came through, tense and quick.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Why?"

"It's all over the news here. Some bioweapon attack in Europe. They're saying it's spreading, hitting the rich first."

Lea straightened in her chair, the casual ease draining from her face. "I've heard bits and pieces, but... it's that bad?"

"They're saying it might be something big. I don't know. Just... be careful, okay?"

Lea pressed a hand to her forehead, suddenly feeling the weight of his words. "I'll be fine. I'm in the theatre, nothing's happening here."

"Just watch yourself. Things are crazy right now."

They exchanged a few more words before hanging up. Lea stared at her phone for a moment, the news from her brother sinking in. Something about his tone had unsettled her.

Back on stage, the rehearsal continued as planned, but her mind wandered. What if this wasn't just another overblown story? What if something bigger was brewing, something that could disrupt everything?

"Lea, you ready for your solo?" Frank called out.

"Yeah," she replied, standing and shaking off the thoughts. "Let's do this."

She stepped into the spotlight, the familiar rush of the stage washing over her. In that moment, it was easy to forget the world outside. But somewhere in the back of her mind, a seed of unease had been planted, and it wasn't going away.

As the day wound down and the cast started heading home, Lea stayed back, lingering in the quiet of the empty theater. Her phone buzzed one last time. It was her manager again.

"We need to talk about what's happening tomorrow. Things are moving fast. Stay safe."