Echoes of Red [BINI AU]

Chapter 40

Third Person's Point Of View

Before Mikha or Jhoanna could respond, the creaking of metal reached their ears. The gate, which had appeared immovable, slowly began to open, revealing a figure standing at the other side.

"GET IN!" A voice rang out, loud and commanding. The urgency in the tone snapped them into action.

Jhoanna, with Aiah still firmly in her arms, started moving toward the gate. Sheena, though weak and on the edge of collapse, pushed forward as well, the sound of their footsteps quickening as the horde drew nearer.

But Mikha, her eyes still locked on the oncoming zombies, hesitated, frozen in place. The speed of the approaching creatures caught her off guard, their movements much faster than before. There was something distinctly wrong with them—something she couldn't quite pinpoint.

"Hey, get in!" The person shouted again.

Mikha's heart was racing. What the hell is happening? Her mind was scrambling to make sense of the situation. The zombies were evolving—she could see it in their speed, the unnatural aggression in their eyes. This wasn't like before. It wasn't just a mindless horde anymore.

They were becoming something else.

The realization hit Mikha hard, and before she could react, the person was there, grabbing her arm with surprising strength and pulling her toward the gate. Mikha stumbled, finally snapping out of her daze.

The gate slammed shut just as the first wave of zombies reached the entrance. Their growls and shrieks echoed in the air, but the gate held firm, locking out the threat for now.

Inside, Mikha stood frozen for a moment, her eyes wide with shock. She glanced at Colet, who was at the side of a woman holding a gun onto Colet's side. Sheena leaned against the wall, her breath shallow. Jhoanna, now visibly shaken, took a deep breath, her arms still clutching Aiah tightly.

Mikha stood in shock, her eyes wide as the woman slowly lowered the gun, her gaze softening when she saw Mikha. The weight of the moment finally settled, and Mikha felt the cold grip of fear begin to fade, replaced by a rush of overwhelming emotions.

"Tita?"

Mikha whispered, her voice trembling. She barely had time to process the word before her aunt pulled her into a tight embrace. Mikha's tears came freely, her body shaking as she cried into her aunt's shoulder.

"Natatakot ako," Mikha admitted, her voice muffled by the fabric of her aunt's jacket.

The three girls watched in silence as Mikha's vulnerable side, so rarely shown, emerged. They had seen Mikha as the strong, resilient one, the leader who always seemed to have a plan, a solution. But now, as she clung to her aunt, all of the trauma and uncertainty they had been carrying bubbled to the surface.

Mikha's aunt pulled back slightly, holding Mikha at arm's length as she wiped away a stray tear. "You're going to be okay," she said firmly. Her voice was steady, but Mikha could hear the concern underlying it.

Her aunt had always been strong, but even she was afraid now.

Mikha swallowed hard, looking up at her. "Do you know where Mom is?"

Before her aunt could respond, a voice called out from behind them, a voice so familiar, it sent a shiver down Mikha's spine.

"Anak?"

Mikha froze, her heart leaping into her throat. Sheena, equally stunned, turned to look, and there, standing.

Their mother was there.

Mikha and Sheena both rushed forward at once, colliding into her mother's arms. They held her tightly, tears streaming down their faces as the world outside seemed to fade away for a brief moment.

The warmth of their mother's embrace, the soft kiss on their foreheads, was everything they had longed for in the midst of this nightmare.

"I thought I lost you," Mikha whispered, her voice barely above a choked sob.

"I'm here," their mother murmured, kissing their foreheads one more time. "You're both safe now."

Colet watched this scene unfold in silence, her gaze softening. She had been so focused on Sheena, on protecting her, that she hadn't truly realized how much Mikha and Sheena had been through together.

It wasn't just Sheena who had been through this ordeal alone; Mikha had, too. Sheena's family, as much as Colet tried to make herself a part of it, was always Mikha.

The bond between the two was undeniable, a reminder of how much Colet had missed, how much she hadn't seen.

Suddenly, a heavy thud echoed through the shelter, and the group snapped to attention. Jhoanna, who had been standing near the wall while carrying Aiah, suddenly collapsed to the ground.

"Jhoanna!" Colet shouted, rushing over to her.

She knelt beside her, shaking her gently, but Jhoanna didn't respond. Colet's heart pounded as she checked her pulse, relieved to feel it, but Jhoanna remained unconscious, her face pale.

"She's passed out," Colet muttered, frustration and fear clear in her voice. "What the hell is happening to her?"

Mikha's mother moved quickly to help, but it was clear that they needed to act fast. Colet's focus shifted back to the situation at hand.

"We need to get inside," Mikha's mom said urgently, her voice cutting through the tension. "The mansion's not safe for long. Those things are getting closer."

Mikha's gaze turned to the hoard outside, now swarming against the gate, their speed and intensity unlike anything they had faced before.

"It evolved," Mikha muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. Her eyes flicked back to the others, her mind racing with a terrifying realization.

Mikha was already far beyond fear—she was analyzing the situation.

This wasn't just a fight for survival anymore. This was something much worse.

Colet's voice cut through the tension again, sharp and commanding. "We need to keep moving. Find somewhere safe."

But Mikha wasn't listening. Her mind kept returning to the same disturbing thought.

If the zombies have evolved, what does that mean for them?

The gate was holding for now, but Mikha couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning.

They were fucked.

And whatever Colet had planned, it was no longer going to be enough to save them from what was coming next.

Mikha's eyes darted back to the others. "We don't have much time," she said, her voice steady but laced with a quiet urgency.

"We need to figure out how to survive... because I'm not sure how much longer this place will hold."

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