Alice in Zombieland

AIZ: Chapter 12

Muling nagsalubong ang kilay ni Alice nang sa ika-apat na pagkakataon ay bumaon ang karayom sa kanyang palad. She grits her teeth, suppressing the sudden pang as the doctor pulls the needle away.

Mag-isang bumalik ang dalaga matapos ang pangyayari kanina. Nanatili naman si Maron sa kakahuyan. Alice figured that he needed time for himself especially after the rage he displayed minutes ago. Now here she is, her wound being attended. Apparently, the cut on her palm was too deep that it's needed to be sewn close.

"Are you alright?" Malumanay na tanong ni Cyrus. The guy stayed close since she came. At kanina pa ito paulit-ulit sa pagtatanong kung ayos lang ba ang babae.

"Oo." sagot ng dalaga. Ang kaniyang kunot sa noo'y mas lumalim nang umikot muli ang karayom papasok sa kanyang balat.

Matapos ang ilan pang minuto'y natapos na rin ang paggamot sa kaniya. A bandage covers her whole hand.

"Rest that hand for a while maybe a week or so and it'll be good as brand new." Abiso sa kaniya ng doctor.

Nagpasalamat siya rito saka tumayo mula sa kanyang upuan. She exits the tent first, Cyrus following behind. Bumungad sa kaniya ang kakaunting sinag na nanggagaling sa papalubog na araw. Isang mabining ihip ng hangin ang humawi sa ilang hibla ng kaniyang buhok.

Abala ang mga tao sa labas. The people in the parking lot are preparing themselves to head back to the houses. Pagbaling naman ni Alice sa kabilang dako'y nakita niyang papunta na rito ang mga papalit sa kanila. As far as Alice can remember, their shift was one of the things that Jiyo proposed.

"Magpahinga ka muna." Naagaw ni Cyrus ang atensyon ng dalaga. Ang kulay tsokolate nitong mga mata'y mariing nakatitig sa babae. His expression clearly shows how concern he is about her wound and, even more, to the girl's well-being.

Alice faced and asked him. "Cyrus, do you remember the shop we went yesterday?"

His thick brows shot up. "Sa bayan? Oo. Bakit? What's the matter?"

"May iba tayong kasama kahapon. And he was the one who fired gun shots a while ago." Mas lalong tumaas ang kilay ng lalaki na tila ba may katakataka sa sinabi ni Alice. "The man was bitten, tho."

'At mukhang wala na ito sa tamang pag-iisip.' Alice wanted to add but Cyrus prevented her.

"Shots? What do you mean by that, Chief?" Nagtatakang tanong sa kaniya ng lalaki. Unti-unti'y nagsasalubong ang mga kilay nito.

"He fired twice." Alice simply answered but a feeling slowly creeps inside her as she waits for Cyrus' reply.

Hindi naman kaagad sumagot ang lalaki. His brows finally met making him looked puzzled yet his eyes bear another expression. Alice can see a tint of shock inside those deep chestnut orbs.

"I only heard one, Chief." He silently and slowly mutters as if he doesn't want to say it. Inilayo nito ang paningin mula sa dalaga. "Baka nagkamali ka lang nang narinig."

Strange, even Maron had the same baffled look. But she heard it from the houses which are meters far from here. Did she really just heard it wrong?

Alice wanted to argue back but something is keeping her from doing so. Mas minabuti na lang ng dalaga na sumang-ayon sa sinabi ng binata.

A commotion coming from the main gate catches her attention. The gate creaks slowly as one of their men opens it wide enough for a person to enter. There goes Maron who had his usual grin plastered on his lips. Gone was the dark shadow casted upon his emerald eyes and the rage residing in it.

Una nitong nakita ang dalaga. Pumipito pa ito habang naglalakad patungo sa kaniya. Binigyang pansin din nito si Cyrus ngunit saglit lang 'yon lalo na't mabilis na nahagip ng paningin nito ang nakabendang kamay ni Alice.