Alice in Zombieland

AIZ: Chapter 15

All of them stilled as if frozen as they look at the horror slowly heading to their place. Ni hindi rumehistro ang takot sa unang segundo dahil tila tumigil ang kanilang mundo.

The men who are near the bridge are clearly stoned. Their sore muscles from work were forgotten as they silently stare at the terror presented in front of their faces. Walang nangahas gumalaw, walang sumubok na sumigaw. Unti-unti ay umakyat ang takot sa kanilang sistema nang paunti-unti'y narinig ang nakakakilabot na palahaw ng mga nilalang na 'yon.

A man facing the bridge paled. The wind blew his hat away but he did not flinch. He remained watching the troop of rotting limbs. The man can't figure out a way to describe the terror but he's perfectly aware of the scent of death filling his system. He swept his eyes on them once more.

Just a little far from the middle of the swarm is a man wearing torned workout clothes who's trashing wildly as he slowly advance. Not too far from it, he could make out a silhouette of a kid, the same age as his sweet little boy, dragging his body and trying to get ahead the others as if he wants to get the first bite. Then, a lady who's missing her arm. A huge man with an axe lodged on his chest. A saleslady with a thick rope wraped around her neck. Another kid. Another man. Another woman.

Too many to count. There's too many of them.

They are still far from them but the scare has reached him immediately. It nearly knocked him out. Suddenly, his mind wandered back to their place where his son and two daughters should be playing safely by now. Terror strikes his body like lightning.

Oh, heavens.

We're all going to die today.

Somebody. . . save us.

"Anong hinihintay!? Pasko!?"

All of them almost jumped from their places, startled by the loud voice that broke them from reverie. The pale man loooked back and watched the approaching figure from behind.

"She said gather and prepare, mga inútil! Ramon, Dex, at Bastian! Bring your knives and follow me!"

Tablo struts pass the pale man and went straight to the bridge. He starts to arrange his long hair into a tight bun in a hasty manner. Kagat niya ang isang patalim habang naniningkit ang mata sa mga nilalang na nasa kabilang dako ng tulay.

A jawless woman is leading the parade. Her tattered and shredded, used to be, white dress is now a mixture of red, dried mud, and some flesh. Tablo doesn't even want to know if it belongs to her or to her poor victims.

Disgusted, he rolled his eyes heavenward. Kaagad na sumunod sa kaniya ang mga tinawag na tao.

From the watchtower, Jiyo eyed the unfolding scene. Contrary to what is happening, the wind caress her face gently. Mahigpit pa rin ang kapit niya sa kahoy na poste. Pumikit ang dalaga upang kalmahin ang sarili. When she opened her eyes, her gaze is unwavering and clear.

Mabilis na nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin niya sa mga ito. From the lady who's leading the troop up to the zombies at the back who blindly follows what's in front. Hindi maubos-ubos. Hanggang ngayon ay may lumalabas pa mula sa kakahuyan. Too many. If they continue to advance in that number, they'll be in deep shit.

Lumipat ang tingin niya sa tulay. She saw four figures, one of which is Tablo, who are climbing in suprising speed. Walang inaaksayang segundo para marating ang tuktok, kasing tulad ng walang pagaaksaya ng oras ng mga nilalang sa kabilang dako upang makalapit sa kanila.

The distance and the bridge can be both their strength and weakness. Ang kalahating kilometrong patag sa kabilang dako ng tulay ay aabutin ng anim hanggang pitong minuto para lakarin ng isang normal na tao. But for these zombies who slowly drags their whole weight using broken limbs and fragile bones, it might take eighteen minutes tops for the first zombie to reach the bridge.