Darkness' Oasis

CHAPTER 7

DAY 90

MARAHAS na napalingon si Homer sa direksyon ng sigaw ni Lana. Tila huminto ang pagtibok ng puso niya sa loob ng maikling segundong iyon.

The pebbles on the ground crunched when he moved to run, but a strong force yanked his body back when he was grabbed by the arm. Halos mabali ang leeg niya sa pagtingin kay Gael.

"Anong prob—"

Ngunit agad nitong tinakpan ng kamay ang bibig niya.

"Shut up!" asik nito sa mahinang boses.

Marahas niyang tinanggal ang kamay nito. Sa mahina ring boses ay galit siyang nagtanong ng, "Ano sa tingin mo ang ginagawa mo?"

"Don't act rashly. Think."

Tila umakyat lahat ng dugo sa ulo ni Homer. "What the hell is there to think about? Didn't you hear Lana's scream?"

"I fucking did. That's why I stopped you. She's gone."

Lalong lumalim ang kunot ng noo niya. "What do you mean she's gone?"

Naglakad na si Gael sa pinatutuyong mga armas at binuo ang nakabaklas na mga baril. "I'm 100 percent sure that those were Raiders."

"Raiders? Those people who raid for loots and slaves?"

"Exactly."

"What made you think those were not zombies?"

"I can't believe you're even asking that. She's your sister. From the short time that I met her, I know she would not scream her head out if she sees one. They'll be dead in her hands. Not only that, she'll come running here to warn us. But she's not."

Umiling si Homer at nagmamadaling ikinabit ang armas sa putol niyang braso. "She's not gone. I didn't hear any vehicle drove away."

Ikinasa ni Gael ang baril na buo na. "Well, yes, she's not. But you'll be walking straight into their trap if you go there now. You and your sister will be dead meat."

Matalim na tiningnan ni Homer ang lalaki. "At anong gusto mong gawin ko? Pabayaan ang kapatid ko?"

Gael laughed with no amusement. "May bunker kayo. That must only mean one thing. You're a prepper. Ba't mukhang hindi mo alam kung paano mabuhay at maka-survive sa ganitong klaseng mundo?"

Hindi nakaimik si Homer at napaiwas ng tingin. Tama ito. Ganito ang naging reaksyon niya dahil pinangungunahan siya ng emosyon.

"I won't be spoon-feeding you two. You will survive not because of relying on me but because of your own strengths. I made it until now because I learned the hard way. I won't give you the easy route and be little, green saplings. Now, use that brain. What's do you think is happening right now? And what's the best course of action? Don't think like a brother. Think like a fucking survivor."

Ilang segundong katahimikan. Nakatingin lang sa kanya nang matiim si Gael, naghihintay sa sagot niya. Siya naman ay nakapako ang tingin sa direksyon ng eskinitang dinaanan ni Lana para mag-isip. Lana was still probably around here. The Raiders were waiting for them to appear with their weapons ready to fire any moment. Pagkatapos ng ilang minutong pag-iisip ay nagsalita na siya.

"I think they're in an advantageous position. They're somewhere they can see us, but we can't see them."

Gael nodded in approval. "And?"

Nagsalubong ang mga kilay ni Homer. Para siyang bata kung itrato nito. Pero sa halip na pairalin ang galit ay humugot na lang siya ng malalim na hininga para pakalmahin ang sarili.

"We wait. We make them think that Lana is alone. That will lure them out, and we'll follow them."

"Good. That's how a survivor should be. Rational and logical."