Weeks After

W H A 19

"Sino ka?"

It's dumb how I called those pips on television stupid when they ask the mysterious thing hiding who they are, while in real life, I am also doing it.

I just can't help but to wonder, and be curious. I know he's not a human, and I am pretty sure he's not a zombie either. 'Cause if he is, he should attack me when he got the chance, right?

"Show yourself, bastard." I don't know where I got the courage to say that. Hell, I am literally shaking as I gripped my metal weapon. My eyes is still glued on the silhouette behind the branches.

"You don't want to see me." Para akong nawalan ng hininga nang marinig ang boses nito. It's deep. His voice is like those antagonist on the series I've watched.

"I'm not scared." My voice is edgy which contradicted my statement. Napaatras pa ako nang tumawa ito.

Zombies don't laugh.

"Really?" Sarcasm is evident in his voice but I still manage not to show too much emotion. "Why is your hand shaking then?"

I hid my arms at my back, still not cutting the eye contact to the creepy guy. I saw how his teeth shines when he smirked. Really, that thing creeps me out.

Even his teeth shines behind the dark, as if he's a ghost or what.

Napalunok na lang ako nang maramdaman ko na naman ang paggapang ng ugat sa leeg ko. I am now sure that side of my face is already covered with black and blue veins.

"You are turning slowly. You should be thankful to her that she injected you that elixir." Even that thing, he knew. What else? "That bitch loves meddling with things."

He knew Laelyn. I already had a hunch that Laelyn is someone big, so that thing didn't shock me at all. She had an elixir which made the infection slower. It made me conclude that somehow, she's connected to the Nyasaaa.

Ah, the most cliche plot twist. Whatever.

Hindi na din ako magugulat kung sasabihin nilang umalis si Laelyn sa organization. Posible kasing dahilan 'yun kung bakit kumukulo ang dugo nito sa babae.

"Her will to save her brother from Nyasaaa, huh." I heard him laugh sarcastically.

Even Nate is now on the line. Laelyn had no other siblings than Nate, if I am not wrong.

Why is she saving her brother from that org? What are they going to do with Nate if ever they find him?

The questions made my mind empty, I didn't even realize there is a zombie at my back!

"Shit!" Pagkaharap ko ay kaagad akong napahakbang patalikod. Bumuka ang bibig nito at gumawa ng ingay kaya wala akong choice kundi ang tusukin ang lalamunan nito.

Her blood scattered around. Mas lalo ko pang ibinaon ang bakal hanggang sa tumigil ito sa paggalaw.

I released a sigh as I stared at the lifeless body in front of me. Bahagya ko 'yung sinipa saka hinugot ang bakal kaya muling umagos ang dugo nito.

"You're becoming strong, huh. You don't cry anymore when you see a dead body, or you killed someone." Muli akong humarap dito nang muli itong magsalita. "Far from the girl I am watching before."

And that's it. He's been spying us ever since the start of this nightmare-like events.

What a bitch.

"But still, you are nothing compared to us. Finally, my job will be finished. You just have to die, and I am fine."

"Why don't you just kill me now, so your job will end already?"

He went silent because of what I have said. I can see his reaction but his eyes expresses still no emotion. I can't read what's going on inside his mind.

"You still have long way to go, Kimberley. It would be unfair if I kill you now. I still want to see you being slowly devoured by the virus. Your system is perfect, like him. I wonder how long you could stand it, though."

Hindi ko masyadong napagtuunan ng pansin ang sinabi niya dahil muli kong naramdaman ang pagdilim ng paligid ko. Rumupok ang tuhod ko at lumalim ang paghinga ko.

"You look better when your eyes are dark."

I blinked many times before I regained my vision. Lumunok ako ng laway at tiningnan ang puno ngunit wala na siya do'n.

I sighed and dropped the metal I am holding. Parang nawala ang isang bagay na humaharang sa lalamunan ko nang mawala siya sa paningin ko.

His presence is heavy.

I sat on the ground and crossed my legs as I observed the surrounding. Kinapa ko ang mukha ko at hindi na ako nagulat nang maramdaman ang mga ugat na naroon.

"Ano ba naman---,"

Napatayo ako nang makarinig ng mga kaluskos. Nagsimulang kumabog ang dibdib ko nang dahil do'n. Nakakarinig din ako ng mga ungot na nanggagaling sa zombie ngunit nang libutin ko ang paningin ko, wala naman akong nakikita.

Nakakapagtaka pa na maging ang mahihinang huni ng ibon ay naririnig ko. Tumingala ako at kumunot ang mata nang makita ang ibon na mag-isang lumilipad. Sa sobrang taas nito, imposibleng malakas ang nagagawa nitong tunog.

That's weird.

Muli kong pinulot ang bakal na nahulog sa sahig kanina at nagsimula ulit na maglakad. I felt unsafe here, lalo pa't may naririnig ako na mabibigat na yabag na sigurado akong nagmumula sa mga zombie.

Malakas ito kaya alam kong malapit lang sila mula sa kung nasaan man ako ngayon. Paika-ika akong naglakad paalis sa loob ng gubat. My leg hurt maybe because of that fight I've encountered with the gigantic monster.

Base on the rays sun is giving, I can tell that it's almost afternoon. Maybe 2 pm or later. Tumatagos ang ilang sinag ng araw sa mga dahon kaya kahit papaano ay may nakakapasok na liwanag sa gubat.

Hahanapin ko pa ba sila Rehan? Buhay pa ba sila? Sumama na ba sila sa mga Kieran? Ligtas ba sila kapag kasama ako?

Ligtas ba kami kapag magkakasama kaming lahat?

The last time I remember, I was a student. A lazy student. A crazy student.

The only thing I think of is how could I survived a single quarter. But now, everything changed.

I am now facing difficulties with surviving my life in the middle of chaos and end.

"Someone's coming..."

I heard a faint voice that brought back my thoughts. Nag-angat ako ng paningin at ngayon ko lang napansin na nasa labas na pala ako ng kakahuyan.

From afar, I saw a group of people wearing a black outfits. Tinagilid ko ang ulo ko at huminto sandali para alamin kung ano sila.

"Do you think she's a zombie?"

"I think so..."

Naririnig ko ang pag-uusap nila kahit na malayo pa sila sa'kin. Hindi nga lang gan'on kalakas. Para lang silang nagbubulungan.

Saka ko lang din napansin na sa likod nila, nando'n ang malaking bakod at ang labasan. I smiled weakly.

Is this the help?

"May tao dito..."

My voice weakens. My vision was covered with black and red colors. My hands uncontrollably moved and I can hear some bone cracking.

I gulped as I felt my body shaking. A tear fell on my eyes. I struggled with walking. My lips shivers as I uttered words which I am sure they can't hear.

"Tulong... May tao dito..."