The Beginning of The End

Chapter 8: Bite And Burn

Bite and burn

I heard a creak causing my eyes to snap open. Darkness welcomed my vision so I pause for a while to listen to my surroundings.

The luminous light from the hands of my wristwatch showed that it is still one in the morning. Maingat na bumangon ako. Dito rin sa kwarto ni Pierce natulog sina Kiana, Lory at ang iba pang mga babaeng kasama namin. Naaaninag ko ang mga katawan nila.

I didn't hear the creaking sound so I thought it came from my dream. It happened so many times before that I had woken up due to a dream. Yung narinig kong may tumalbog na bola, sa lakas nito sa panaginip ko ay nagising ako.

But wait... I heard it on my dream because it was really a noise coming from where I am.

Nanlaki ang mata ko nang marealize ko ito. Kinuha ko ang aking cellphone at ginamit ang flashlight dito. For sure Aki and Drew heard it too.

Sila ang unang naassign na magbantay ngayon at kami naman ni Pierce mula alas dos. We will be leaving at four later.

My heart is beating wildly on my chest as I tiptoed to the living room, holding the gun tightly with my left hand. Madilim pero nakikita ko pa rin ang paligid dahil sa ilaw na nagmumula sa bintana na binuksan namin. We didn't use any light inside kaya binuksan nalang namin ang isang parte ng bintana bago kami natulog kagabi.

"Drew..." I muttered when I saw the both of them in the front door.

They're listening to what's going on behind it. At tama nga ako... I was not the only one who heard something.

"What's going on?" I whispered.

"We don't know. We started hearing something five minutes ago." Ani Aki na halatang kabado rin.

"Do you think they manage to break in?" I asked again.

"The what? The infected or the ones you heard last time?" Kunot-noong tanong ni Drew kaya natigilan ako.

Now we are bothered with not just the infected. Pero kung yung mga taong iyon ang pumasok, dapat siguro ay kanina pa kami nila pinasok dito. Dozens of infected followed us yesterday when we got back. Ilang oras rin namin silang hinintay na umalis. They were screaming dreadfully at first be we just stay up here hanggang sa napansin naming yung iba sa kanila ay sumuko na dahil hindi na nila kami nakikita. Some have left but some have joined the group due to the noise.

"I think it's best if we wake them up." Hindi na ako naghintay na utusan ni Aki.

Dumiretso na ako pabalik sa kwarto. Una kong ginising si Lawrence at sinabihan sya na may naririnig kami sa labas. He hurried to pack our things and get our bags ready.

"Zori, pinasok ba tayo?" Millie asked.

"I don't know yet. Just get your things ready."

Lumabas ako at nagtungo sa kabilang kwarto kung nasaan ang ibang mga lalaki. Naabutan kong gising na si Pierce at inihahanda niya na ang kaniyang baril kaya dumiretso na ako kina Timo, Luke at Anthony.

We heard a loud thud coming from downstairs. I can feel the hairs on my arm standing in fear. What if we get trap?! I jog back to Aki at Drew.

"Aki, do you think we have to go now? Baka matrap tayo dito."

"Is that possible at this hour? Mahihirapan tayo, Zo-" Natigil sa pagsasalita si Drew dahil sa hiyaw na narinig namin.

Napamura ako at agad na kinuha ang pabango na nasa dining table. They have prepared it last night. Binuksan ko ito at itinapon ang laman nito sa may pinto.