1 HNT VIRUS
It's been a year since the human total population decreased by over 40%. The HNT virus, which was just recently discovered last year, has caused a massive impact on the world's economy and resources.
Unlike other viruses that affected the Earth in the last decades and centuries, the HNT virus attacks the animal's immune system and the vegetation available.
In the first month, the HNT virus was still manageable. It wasn't until the sudden death of the affected animals that drastically increased the spread of the virus.
Scientists and researchers worked together to find a cure for the HNT virus. Countless experiments were conducted, but to no avail; they still haven't made any progress other than the fact that this virus can't affect human beings.
Even though the virus couldn't affect humans, its impact was significantly shown in just a few months. Food resources became limited, and with the limited supplies, prices inflated ten times.
Shifting the focus, the government tried to find a way to start a new way of vegetation, in hopes of growing and producing crops that could end world hunger. However, the lab-grown crops were very limited, making them only accessible to the rich.
Since then, people who were not fortunate enough couldn't do anything but starve to death.
"Do you think people will still sign up for this?" A young man wearing an office suit suddenly asked. On his uniform, a golden pleated name tag was clipped on the side. It contains the name 'Terrence'.
Terrence sighed as he glanced at the side. His brown eyes stared at the poster plastered on the white wall of their office.
The poster states that the government had found a hidden island far from the land. They're looking for human volunteers who were willing to be transferred there with the means of trying to see if the island was livable.
Marco, Terrence's commander-in-chief, shook his head. He made a sour face, already speaking of disapproval. "These past few weeks, only a limited number of people are still signing up. They're starting to get suspicious of it already."
Terrence nodded. He felt a big lump in his throat. He blankly stared at the wall for a couple of minutes. He wanted to feel guilty about it, but the thought that he and his family survived this long because of it was stopping him.
For he knew the truth.
That every word in the poster was just a scapegoat for them to survive.
Since everything was already limited, the resources that they currently have can only accommodate half of the human's original percentage.
At most, it can last for 5 years. If they decrease the human population more, it might even last them a few years longer.
After that, it was already unknown to everyone.
And even though there was uncertainty in the poster, the people were already desperate enough to experience change. And when desperation sets in, the ability of humans to think logically is often set aside.
"I wonder what they will do about it?" Terrence asked in a curious tone. He couldn't help but wonder what will be their next move.
Terrence knew for sure that the government wouldn't stop with what was happening. After all, the only way for them to survive was if they limit the human population.
"I don't know too."
Terrence can understand why no one was signing up for it already. The government told the people that if there was no life on the island, everyone who was transferred there would be brought back.
But after 4 months, no one heard of anything.
No news about life.
No news about the cure for the virus.
And certainly, no news about all the people that went there.
"We're still fortunate to survive this long," Marco sighed.
"I know," Terrence, in a low voice, whispered.
He knew for sure that if he was not part of this team, then he and his family wouldn't have survived for months.
Marco nodded in agreement. "That's why you should be thankful that you're part of this team, Terrence. Without the government protecting us, we would already be part of those people."
Terrence looked at Marco. "That's why I'm still here. I am grateful to the government even though our job is to..." he does not have the courage to say the last word.
Terrence was part of the special unit created by the government. Among all of the members in the unit, he was the only one with a different background. His family was poor, and because of his job, he was assured that his family would be safe.
That was the reason why he accepted this job in the first place. The offer was for his family's safety in exchange for his silence and loyalty. And since he was already a loyal supporter of the government, he agreed immediately.
The government called them the 'Mission for Life' unit, and their sole purpose was to kill everyone who would be sent to the 'Island'— his own kind— the poor.
"Is this the list of all the people that are scheduled for death in 3 days?" Terrence asked as his eyes gazed at the stack of papers in their office. The number was much smaller than they used to have these past months.
Marco nodded. "Yes. There will be more files to be sent tomorrow. We'll finalize this by then."
"Alright," Terrence nodded as he leaned over at the back of his chair.
Terrence started to skim through every paper. He encoded the names and the address of each one of them. He was working seriously when someone barged into their office.
"Guys! I can't anymore!" A familiar voice echoed on the 4 sides of their office.
Terrence stood up to greet the person who had entered. It was none other than his friend William. However, unlike him, his friend was the son of a senator and the second in command at their unit.
"What's happening, William?"
"I don't know. All I know is that because of this virus, I've been celibate for 9 months already!" William exclaimed in horror. His mouth stretched as he walked towards Terrence.
"Agree with me. That's a big problem, right?"
Terrence does not know how to react to William's question.
He awkwardly smiled.
"Haha…Yes?" He doesn't have any idea about what William was talking about.
He had no experience in that aspect, and with everything that's happening all around him, it seems like he will stay that way until he dies.
He doesn't want to f*ck women who were just all bones.
What if they flew away with just a few thrusts of his hips?
With the limited resources, making condoms became so expensive and conceiving this time was forbidden. So, the risk was not really worth it.
Yes. It was a sad life.
William laughed after he saw Terrence's reaction. "You virgin boy. I'll help you with what you're doing. Bring some of the files to my desk." He continued to laugh as he walked away from Terrence.
Terrence just shrugged his shoulder and did what William told him to do. He didn't mind the teasing words that came from William's mouth.
Even though he regretted not doing the deed in the past, at least he still got his hands.
"Here," Terrence placed them on William's desk. He was about to walk away when William's teasing voice sounded again.
"Bro, yours is too long. You should hide it a little bit."
Terrence glared. "What do you mean?"
William smiled. He used his lips and pointed them at Terrence's pants.
"Why are you even staring at it?"
"Can't I?" William sheepishly smiled at Terrence's question.
"You gay motherfuck**" Terrence gave William the middle finger before he went back to his desk.
Sighing, Terrence adjusted the belt of his pants as its end was too long, inserting it inside the belt hole and sliding it behind to secure its place.
Fortunately, it was the belt and not his zippers.
Terrence looked at the papers in front of him. He was about to return to work when their office's telephone rang, distracting him.
*****
Author's Note:
Hi, this novel does not have an edgy MC, so if you want an MC that knows everything and makes the perfect decision all the time, then I am sorry, but this novel is not for you.
He will be OP, but this MC is still a human. He is bound to react and live like a human— feel emotions and make mistakes.
Although the MC made mistakes and will make some more in the future, rest assured that he will learn from it. His character will gradually be better as the story progresses.
