Two weeks had passed since Logan had first heard the troubling news from his old army buddy, Mark.
In that time, the world seemed to hold its breath.
Major cities across the United States were reporting strange outbreaks; unexplained illnesses, violent behavior, and rapid, untraceable infections.
The CDC had issued warnings, and the National Guard was deployed to assist with containment efforts.
For the most part, the situation was under control.
For now.
TV stations blared with breaking news coverage, each anchor struggling to maintain composure as they relayed updates on the crisis.
"Breaking news from New York City tonight. The CDC has confirmed that a fast-spreading viral infection is responsible for several hospitalizations in Manhattan, with the National Guard now in place to assist local authorities in managing the situation. While officials are still unsure of the cause, early reports indicate that the virus may have originated from an isolated group of infected individuals."
The scene cuts to images of uniformed soldiers standing guard outside a hospital, while medical personnel in full protective gear usher patients into quarantined areas.
"The National Guard has increased security in several major cities across the country. However, experts are urging the public to stay calm as containment efforts intensify. In Washington, D.C., CDC Director Dr. Jennifer Collins reassured citizens earlier today that the situation is still being contained and that there is no need to panic."
Logan sat on the couch, his eyes glued to the screen.
The news didn't help calm his nerves.
He reached for the remote and turned up the volume, feeling a deep, unsettling tension in the pit of his stomach.
His thoughts went immediately to Emma and the baby.
His phone buzzed on the coffee table, snapping him from his thoughts.
It was Mark.
He picked up immediately.
"Hey Mark."
"Hey, Logan," Mark's voice crackled on the other end, his tone laced with urgency. "You catching the news?"
"Yeah, I'm watching. Looks like they've got things under control—for now," Logan replied, his voice laced with uncertainty.
"For now," Mark echoed. "But trust me, Logan. It's not over. The situation is worsening, just not on the surface and you need to be ready."
Logan leaned forward, the weight of his friend's words sinking in.
"I've been thinking the same thing. Emma and I already talking about prepping. Stocking up. But what about comms if everything goes dark? How do we reach each other if the power goes out, or if phones and radios stop working?"
"That's exactly why I've been looking into backup systems," Mark said quickly. "There's a ham radio store a couple of miles from you. I'm sending you the frequencies to use. You need to get one of those radios, and soon. It'll be our line of communication when everything else fails."
"Got it," Logan replied, making a mental note. "I'll go by there tomorrow. And, uh, I'm already starting to pick up supplies. Food, water, ammo. I think Emma's going to kill me when she sees the extra stash I've got hidden in the garage, but I'm not taking any chances."
Mark chuckled darkly.
"It's better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. Be careful, Logan. Keep your eyes open. I'll be in touch."
"Stay safe, Mark," Logan said before hanging up.
He sat back in his recliner, his gaze drifting over to the dimly lit hallway leading to the kitchen, where Emma had just finished cleaning up after dinner.
A heavy silence hung in the air as he mulled over Mark's words.
He didn't want to frighten her, but the truth was, he had no idea how much time they had before everything changed.
Emma walked into the living room, her expression soft but a little distracted, as if something was on her mind.
"How's Mark? Any new updates on the crisis?"
Logan hesitated for a moment before replying, choosing his words carefully.
"He's still keeping an eye on things. It's hard to say where it's all going, but we're doing what we can to be ready."
Logan pauses for a moment.
"Have any patients come through the clinic with strange symptoms?"
Emma's brow furrowed slightly.
"Actually, yeah. A guy came in yesterday morning—looked like he hadn't slept in days. He was feverish, pale, and his eyes were bloodshot. I couldn't put my finger on it, but something about him was… off."
She paused, her voice growing quieter.
"He started getting really agitated, like he was in pain, and kept saying things that didn't make any sense. It was like he wasn't fully there."
Logan's heart skipped a beat.
"Did the clinic send him to the hospital?"
Emma nodded.
"Yeah, but I could tell they were getting overwhelmed. I don't know if they'll be able to help him. It's like whatever this thing is, it's spreading faster than they can keep up."
Logan stood up, walking toward her.
He takes her into his arms, offering a soft but reassuring smile.
"I'll take care of you, babe. We'll get through this."
She smiled weakly in return, but Logan could see the worry still etched on her face.
He knew she was doing her best to stay calm, but the anxiety was starting to get to her, as it was for everyone.
Logan has trouble trying to sleep that night.
He opens his eyes and sighs.
He listens and can hear Emma's steady breathing as she slept.
Logan gently rises from the bed and eases himself out from under the covers.
Ghost raises his head and looks curiously at him.
Logan then gently steps out from the bedroom with Ghost right behind him.
He opens the back sliding glass door and steps out onto the back porch.
The cool crisp air tingles Logan's skin and he welcomes it.
He sits down in one of the chairs and Ghost sits beside him.
Logan reaches over and gently pets his shoulder.
"It's getting crazy out there boy."
Ghost whines and nuzzles his head in Logan's hand.
Logan sighs and looks up into the night sky.
He sees it filled with stars and the moon is full tonight and he finds himself thinking about God.
Logan had grown up in a family that went to church, and he always believed in God, just in the last couple years he's slacked at going.
He's been thinking about starting to go again and bringing Emma with him and especially if they're going to have a baby now.
"Lord, what in the world is going on?"
Logan pauses for a moment to collect his thoughts.
Ghost sighs deeply and then lies down.
"I know you see what's going on. The craziness. It doesn't make sense. I'm nervous, Emma is nervous, people in the community are nervous. Something is happening. What should I do?"
Logan quietens himself for a moment and he finds his thoughts focused on Emma and the baby.
He feels his heart being burdened at their safety and well-being.
He then finds his thoughts drifting to Emma's parents and then to the conversations he's had with Mark.
"Lord, I can't thank you enough for the baby that you gave us, but I do find myself very worried about them with everything that's going on. Just please protect us and guide us and protect Emma's heart."
Logan puts his face in his hands and a few tears roll down his face.
His love for Emma and the baby fills his heart as so does the worry for them.
A few moments pass, and Logan can feel a peace start to wash over him.
It's feels like God is there right beside him putting a hand on his shoulder, reassuring him.
He smiles and stands up.
"Thank you," he says as he enters his house, with Ghost, and heads to bed.
Logan wakes up early, the sun barely peeking over the horizon.
He stretched out in bed, thinking about his prayer last night and the weight of the conversations with Mark.
He couldn't ignore the sense of urgency any longer.
His eyes shifted to the window, where the world outside seemed as calm and still as it had been the day before.
But Logan knew better.
He needed to prepare.
He quietly got dressed, trying not to wake Emma, and headed for the front door.
Ghost lifted his head as Logan grabbed his keys from the keyring by the door.
"Stay here, buddy," Logan murmured, as Ghost settled back down.
Logan stopped by a local store on the way to the ham radio shop Mark had recommended.
The shelves were still stocked with the basics, but Logan could feel the tension in the air as the clerk nervously rang up his purchases.
Water.
Canned goods.
Some protein bars.
Toilet paper, because you never knew how long things would last.
He felt a pang of guilt for hoarding, but it was outweighed by the reality of the situation.
The world wasn't the same anymore.
After grabbing a few other essentials, he made his way to the ham radio shop, buying a radio and the necessary equipment. The technician gave him a brief rundown of how to use it, and Logan left with a sense of preparedness, though he knew it wasn't enough. It wasn't ever enough when the world seemed to be falling apart.
Over the course of the next week, Logan made multiple trips—visiting hardware stores, Walmart, and the local gun store loading up on more supplies, weapons, and gasoline.
He even pulled out his gear that he personally bought during his time in the service and inspected it.
He tried to make sure Emma didn't see the growing stockpile in their garage, but it was getting harder to hide.
One night, he laid out a pile of ammunition on the table.
Boxes of shotgun shells, 9mm rounds, 5.56 rounds for his AR-15 that he built, .308 and .30-06 rounds for his hunting rifles.
Just as he was finishing his inventory, Emma walked into the room.
"Logan…" she began, eyes wide with disbelief. "What is all this?"
He paused, taking a deep breath.
"Emma, we don't know what's coming. I need to make sure we're ready for whatever happens. I've been keeping up with the news and it's not looking promising. People getting violent in the streets. These infection rates increasing. I'm not taking a chance with you and the baby here."
Her gaze softened, but there was a mixture of concern and resignation in her eyes.
"Just promise me you won't do anything reckless."
"I promise," Logan said, his voice steady, but inside, a storm of uncertainty raged.
The world was changing.
He just hoped they would be ready when the storm hit.