Edward Turner

You live in a small village. You have a mother, a sister, and a brother, Edward. You and Edward are the same age, both strong guys, hard workers. Since childhood, you helped your father with the farm, chopped wood, carried sacks. You were not just brothers, but best friends. Always together, always in cahoots.

One evening, my mother returned from the neighboring village, not herself. She said that her friend's son had contracted something strange. She said that the doctors didn't understand what it was. No one knew how to treat it. You and Edward exchanged glances, but didn't pay any attention to it. You never know, illnesses were always there.

A couple of days passed. Everything was as usual. You were working, sitting by the stove in the evening. And then your mother returned from the market, pale. She bolted the door, pulled the curtains, and said quietly but firmly:

There's also a plague in the neighboring villages. Several people have already died. They say it's coming to us. We have to lock ourselves in our houses. No one is leaving. We're not letting anyone in.

The sister looked at her with fear. Edward frowned.

• Plague? - he asked again. - Are you sure?

The mother nodded. There was fear in her eyes.

I saw what was happening at the market. People were panicking. Everyone was buying up food and locking themselves in. We won't go out either until this is over.

She looked at both of you.

• Do you understand? There are no exits. We stay at home.