SOMETHING (en) √

Twenty-Two

The next day, Nowa woke up first. She didn't even realize when she fell asleep. Suddenly, she feels something heavy and furry on her lap. She was shocked but calmed herself quickly before taking a look at it on her lap.

“Kitten?”, she said.

“Did you say anything?”, Amber asked, yawning and scratching her eyes.

Seems like she woke up as soon as Nowa did. Her messy hair is showing now.

“A kitten,” Nowa said, pointing to the puppy on her lap.

“Aww, you’re so cute! Are you lost, little one?”, Amber took it away from Nowa.

“Why don’t you go and disturb his sleep?”, Amber put the kitten right on Daniel’s face.

A few seconds later, Daniel woke up, struggling for his life.

“What? What is this?!”, he freaked out and quickly sat down.

“Calm down! It’s just a kitten!”, Amber said.

A tuxedo cat. It is so spoiled and delicate. It makes the purr sound when they pat it.

“A he or she?”, Nowa asked.

“A he! Awww I can’t! He’s so lovely! Can I keep him?”, Amber said.

“I don’t know. But, according to Professor William, those viruses only attacked humans. We can keep him but only if we manage to take him with us along the way back to Kajang,” Nowa replied.

“I’ll keep him here just fine! I don’t have a lot of stuff in my back after all and he’s so small! See, it’s fit!”, Amber put the kitten on her back.
“Up to you then. We need to move out now. They might still be waiting,” Daniel stood up before checking outside again.

Nothing seems to be around them.

“It’s safe. Let’s go,” he said.

“Okay.”

They climbed up the hole to exit the tunnel. They even manage to scratch themselves first before continuing their journey. Daniel suddenly feels sore on his shot wound.

“You good?”, Nowa asked.

“It’s just a bit sore. I’ll be fine.”

They look around.

“Which way? We don’t have Sofea with us,” Daniel asked.

“If we can track the tunnel correctly, we can get back to the labs,” Amber replied.

“The tunnel was coming from there I believe. Maybe we can try to use it this way first,” Nowa said.

They walk together, carefully and fast. Nothing seems to appear around them. They feel a bit safe this morning. After a long walk, they saw some bombing effect.

“See, I told you! We’re walking on the right track!”, Nowa said after a bit of argument happened behind.

“Okay, Nono. You win. Now, where are they?”, Daniel asked.

Nowa used their earpiece to connect back with them. According to Sofea, the battery of this earpiece will last for at least 48 hours. It should still be enough. But, no one responded.

“No one is listening to me. But you heard my voice, right?”, Nowa asked.

“Yes, we heard you,” Daniel replied.

“Where are they?”, Amber somehow feels crushed inside with the thought of actually leaving them behind.

“Did they… leave us behind?”, Daniel asked.