The Beginning of The End

Chapter 7: Favor

Favor

The heat of the sun gives me a different feeling the moment it hit my skin. Muli ay naarawan kami at tuluyang nakalabas.

Kahit hindi kulay asul ang ulap pero mataas pa rin ang sikat ng araw kaya hindi ako gaanong natatakot. I wonder how we would feel if the weather goes bad and it will become gloomy. Tapos may panganib at mga infected pa sa paligid. The beating of my heart goes fast as I think about the rainy days to come.

I swung the metal pipe on my hand straight to his nauseating face when he went to me. Ganoon rin ang ginagawa nina Timo at Pierce.

Kasalukuyang sumisilip sina Timo at Pierce sa likod at sa patutunguhan namin habang ako naman ay nakatayo sa pagitan nila. We had manage to clear this area now but it won't take long for the others to reach here now that they can finally smell our flesh.

"Three are coming this way." Ani Timo na nakasilip sa sementong dingding, natatamaan ng sikat ng araw ang kalahati ng kaniyang mukha.

The sun will go down anytime so we have to hurry.

"Just follow me. We'll head to Logan's first." Ani Pierce.

Nang magsimula na siyang humakbang ay sumunod ako. Maingat ang bawat lakad namin at nagtatago kami sa mga nagkalat na sasakyan sa daan dahil may mga pagala-gala pa rin na mga infected sa di kalayuan. The moment we get their attention, we're screwed. It's either babalik kami sa pinanggalingan namin o tatakbo kami papunta sa pupuntahan namin.

Everything is in a mess in here. It's worse than the first day knowing that the lives in this place have vanished. I think there are still people hiding inside the buildings but we haven't encountered any of them. Garbage are everywhere, with goos and flecks of the dead. Cars are rammed and their batteries are probably dead as well.

Malakas ang kabog ng aking dibdib dahil sa ginagawa namin. Pakiramdam ko'y naglalakad kami sa yelo na lawa na pwedeng mabasag kahit anong oras. Lumingon ako sa likuran ko at seryosong nakasunod si Timo sa amin. Malayo na pala kami sa pinto ng gusali ng apartment nina Aki.

Pierce stopped behind a car and lean on it, then he check again the streets before leaning once again. Nang makalapit ako sa kaniya ay inihilamos nya ang dalawa nyang kamay sa kaniyang mukha.

"Kailangan nating tumawid." Aniya kaya napalunok ako.

From what I saw earlier, hindi bababa sa dalawang dosena ang nasa daan. Kung tatawid kami, paniguradong makikita na nila kami. Although they're slow due to their defects, the thought of a herd going after us still scares the crap out of me.

"How do we do that without being seen?" I asked.

"They will see us sooner or later. So being seen now doesn't make any difference. Ano, pare?" Ani Timo at tama nga naman sya kaya lang... hindi pa ako handa.

Tinignan ko ang nanginginig kong mga kamay at pinagdaop ang mga ito. Why am I so scared right now? Nakaya nga naming makarating doon sa convenience store kung saan nila kami natagpuan pero bakit ngayon ay mas natatakot na ako?

Maybe because my brother is not with me? Or maybe because I was just too determined back then knowing I don't have anyone to count on in case anything happens to us and so I have no choice other than being tough and brave.

Pierce took out a binocular and started scanning the buildings across us.

"Let's go to that tailor shop. I see no signs of living."

"Wait!" Pagpipigil ko kay Pierce nang umamba na siyang tatayo. "Mag count ka naman."

He just clenched his teeth as he stare at me.