A plague doctor sits in his office, discussing with his boss

  “Alright Philip, that’ll be your job tomorrow, don’t be late.” The boss says eagerly.

  “Hmmm, okay.” Philip replies calmly.

  The two then leave the clinic, and they go their separate ways.

  Philip takes his doctor mask off and breathes in.

  A subtle flashback shows him carrying a woman who appears to be dying.

  He then looks blankly, staring into an abyss, with a painful huff.

  He walks into the rain, thunder roaring through the skies, rain pouring down intensively.

  Philip doesn’t mind the rain, running through the mud just to get back home.

  But every thunder, more flashbacks appear in his mind.

  From the final gasps of the woman, to people being angry with him, all his utter failures and sins.

  Philip runs into the rain as he tries his best to brush the thoughts off his mind.

  But the pain won’t leave him be. The guilt acting as his shadow.

  ”Philip…”

  ”YOU FRAUD! MY DAUGHTER DIED BECAUSE OF YOU!”

  ”THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!”

  ”GET HIM!”

  The thunder strikes down one last time before Philip enters his house and shuts his door loud.

  He pants…in distress, he sheds a tear and lies against the door. Not knowing…what to do anymore.

  STORY I: “Zero to Liberty”

  EMANATION, SEGMENT I: TIMELESS SOULS

  Written by: John Parungao

  Chapter 1 - What is Freedom?

  5 AM. We see a girl walking down the sideroad.

  We then see a brief flashback of her discussion with a man.

  “Make sure this man you talked to is actually trustable this time, alright??” The man tells her seriously.

  “Yeah yeah I’ll make sure that!” The girl replies in assurance.

  We then go back to the girl, who’s walking in the early morning of AMERICA.

  It was a normal morning, there were bread and eggs on the table, Philip placed them on the table after he cooked his breakfast, ate them, then completed wearing his attire, a plague doctor robe, and went out after locking his doors. A girl was waiting outside for him.

  “Took ya’ long enough.” The girl tells him with a slight smirk.

  “Oh, shut up,” Phillip replies.

  YEAR: 1775

  Phillip and the girl walk into one of New York’s alleyways.

  Fun Fact Section:

  New York was actually named New Amsterdam, but due to the British, it was renamed to its current name. New York was dominated by a political machine known as Tammany Hall. From humble roots as a social club, Tammany became immensely powerful and was the hotbed of legendary corruption. And when I say British in this universe, yes, England.

  Phillip then realizes that something is off, he and the girl wait for a certain man inside one of the alleyways of New York.

  “Where is he?” Phillip asks the girl next to him.

  “He’ll be here. Just be patient.” The girl next to him replies.

  “We’re risking getting caught by the guards. We’ll leave if he doesn’t appear soon.” Phillip angrily whispers to the girl.

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  “He probably ran into trouble-” The girl says before being interrupted by the man’s arrival.

  The man they’ve been waiting for arrives before them, and Phillip’s face lights up.

  “It’s the man himself! Quit wasting time now.” Phillip happily says in relief.

  “All right, this way.” The man leads the two deeper into the alleyway.

  “See? He came.” The girl whispers to Phillip with a proud smile.

  “Don’t push it,” Phillip replies with annoyance in his voice.

  The three walk and follow the man before he enters a hidden room behind one of the building’s walls

  “We’re safe here. The guards won’t see or hear us.” The man says with a smile.

  They then enter the hidden room, and the man closes the wall door. They are now hidden inside. There are chairs, tables, a lamp, some books, and more. It’s a dusty but very relaxing and quiet room.

  “So, we’ll be putting you to a test. What’s your name?” The man asks calmly.

  “Why is knowing my name important?” Phillip eagerly asks.

  “Oh, don’t be a baby, your name isn’t valuable to anyone anyway!” The girl says, mocking his doubt.

  “Both of us aren’t talking to you,” Phillip replies with an annoyed expression.

  “Knowing your name would make communication easier, and it’s the first step in earning trust. You can’t join if you doubt even those you side with. That’s a hard way of living.” The man says in a serious tone.

  Phillip thinks for a second, and then he speaks.

  “My name’s Phillip. Good now?” Phillip says his name while the girl chuckles.

  “You’re annoying, Ninette,” Phillip says to her in a serious tone.

  The man notices this and guesses that they may be close friends. But the truth is, he just got Ninette to recruit whoever she trusted, so Ninette just probably got a hot head.

  “What’s your name, though?” Phillip suddenly asks the man.

  “Well, call me Albert from now on,” Albert tells Phillip with a slight nod and smile.

  “Well, I’ll be asking you one more question." Albert then says with a professional tone.

  "All right. But if it's personal, I can't answer." Phillip then replies, acting calmly.

  "Dude has more secrets than I do!" Ninette says in a mocking tone.

  Phillip ignores Ninette and waits for Albert's question.

  "What defines freedom?" Albert asks.

  Phillip is surprised and didn't expect a question like that. He was expecting a question bosses would ask people they're interviewing and about to hire...Phillip thinks about his answer because he can't turn the question down because it could be important.

  "Well, freedom is…having rights without restraint. That's at least what I think." Phillip says that, not sure of his answer.

  "No. Freedom is will, Phillip. One can't be free if they don't try to be free. Those who stay away from freedom are weak-willed. Freedom is an ideology, a choice, it isn't just rights, it's willpower! In this world, you need to have the WILLPOWER to have freedom. Now Phillip, would you call yourself a person who chooses to be free from the forces that invaded our homeland?" Albert explains what he believes in Phillip in such truth, and then asks Phillip another question at the end.

  Phillip is stunned by what he said, and he feels like the words about Albert, could be true, that he's a person with fierce eyes and a strong heart. He then thinks about his response to the question.

  "Well…I can't call myself a free man literally if I'm under their invasion." Phillip says in a bit of realization.

  "Then Phillip, believe that you are a free man," Albert stands up and offers him his hand to shake.

  "Join me. Join me and all my brave accomplices, as we shall fight against the invaders of our homeland!" Albert says with a welcoming tone, welcoming him into his revolutionary organization.

  Phillip is stunned, and then stands up.

  "You welcome me?" Phillip asks with surprise.

  "Why do I want to shake your hand then?" Albert says with a chuckle and Ninette giggles in the background.

  Phillip then shakes Albert's hand with delight, happy that he's a part of the organization now.

  After an hour, the interview finishes, and Albert and the two walk separate ways to avoid suspicion. Albert goes home while the two have something else in mind for the rest of the day.

  “Let’s celebrate your welcome with a good time at the bar!” Ninette says in a tone of celebration.

  “Why?” Phillip says in a neutral voice.

  “You’re an adult! You can celebrate with no limit!” Ninette says in a cheerful tone.

  “Well, I…you know what never mind that.” Phillip was about to say something but then decides not to.

  Phillip just decides to follow Ninette into a bar, and he’s not very excited but she was annoying him. The two then sit at the counter and Ninette orders them drinks.

  “Hey, I don’t want to get tipsy today. I’ll just have juice.” Phillip says in confirmation.

  “Oh, don’t be a baby! Just have at least one glass!” Ninette says in an optimistic voice.

  The bartender pours them each a glass of Whiskey. Ninette then holds her drink up to Phillip.

  “…what?” Phillip replies in confusion.

  “Dummy you’re supposed to also hold your glass up, then we say cheers and we must make our glasses tap with each other before we drink!” Ninette says, surprised he doesn’t even know how to cheer.

  “Is it necessary?” Phillip replies, still in confusion.

  “Just cheer with me you nut head!” Ninette replies with a bit of impatience.

  Phillip then raises his glass of whiskey and the two say cheers and make their glasses tap each other, then Ninette downs her whiskey while Phillip only sips a bit.

  “Hey…this flavor is, kind of nice,” Phillip says so with a bit of a smile.

  “Hah, and you were the one declining it!” Ninette replies to Phillip with a smile too.

  After a few seconds of silence, Phillip then suddenly asks Ninette.

  “Why did you recruit me?” Phillip asks her in curiosity.

  “Well, Albert suggested to us to recruit anyone we know that isn’t a part of the government and is trustworthy!” Ninette replied to Phillip.

  “So, since you’re the one that brought me in, he trusted me?” Phillip replies back.

  “Yeah, smart guy!” Ninette answers Phillip.

  “So…you think I’m trustworthy then?” Phillip asks her.

  “Why wouldn’t I?” Ninette replied.

  Phillip chuckles, then continues sipping his whiskey

  “Would you call me a friend my dear Phillip?” Ninette suddenly asks him.

  “…no. Not yet.” Phillip responds to Ninette.

  “You’re pretty hilarious!” Ninette laughs and continues drinking whiskey.

  {To be continued in Chapter 2}