Alice in Zombieland

AIZ: Chapter 17

The setting sun paints the area a mix of two warm tones—orange and red; the latter color continuously dominates as minutes passes by, like a constant reminder of what might stain these grounds once the sun dipped below the horizon.

Once they make the wrong move.

A pool of murky blood floods at the foot of the metal fences where more than twenty thrashing and jerking zombies are now skewered. None of the zombies behind tries to detach themselves from the sharp pole pierced through their bodies. Instead, they drive forward impaling their rotten bodies as well as the one in front even more on the pointy metal rod.

Jiyo and Tablo managed to pull the fence, despite its now multiplied weight, just enough to create the gap they wanted. Tahimik na nagmasid ang dalaga, pinagmamasdan kung alin sa tatlong naguunahang nilalang ang unang makararaan. She didn't have to wait more further.

A man, although bloodied and missing an eye, found his way through the small space. It struggles as it tries to break away from the grasps and pulls from the skewered zombies—as if asking for help to let them out of the metal trap. Determinado naman ang lalaking zombie na makalayo at makalapit sa pwesto ng dalaga.

Although once he lined up with the burning pile of planks, a flash resembling a lone shooting star, came hurling at the zombie's direction. The bottle with a burning cloth shatters on impact with the zombie's head. Mist of droplets pours from his head down which immediately caught fire and sets the zombie's rotting body ablaze. Hindi na nagkaroon ng pagkakataon pang makabawi ang zombie dahil matapos yo'n ay isang bala ang diretsyong bumaon sa dibdib nito na naging dahilan upang bumagsak itong tuluyan sa lupa. Only the dancing flames swayed by the wind is the movement coming from the dead body.

The information that unfolds was instantly noted on everyone's mind who saw the fall of the zombie. And to test the hypothesis, another Molotov came crashing to the next zombie, who's barely walking, after it reached a good distance away from the bridge. Gaya ng nauna sa kaniya, matapos bumaon ang isang bala sa dibdib nito ay agad itong bumagsak. Walang galaw. Wala nang buhay.

The earlier confusion, Tablo unable to take down a zombie after multiple shots, still lingers on the minds of those who witnessed it. But Jiyo's proven theory of these irregulars' weakness has gradually lessen their fear, especially as more and more corpses fell into death's floor after fire bottles and bullets were fired.

Amidst the success of taking down these zombies, Jiyo remains unsatisfied. With the setting sun and the flaring flames illuminating the remaining zombies behind the barricade, she can perfectly see the unwavering grin plastered on one particular zombie that remained standing behind the metal curtain.

Tila ba nangungutya. Minamaliit ang hakbang na ginagawa nila.

Just wait 'till these frontline motherfuckers burn into ashes and I'll personally tear that rotting mouth off of that equally rotting face of yours. An unspoken oath was made on the spot Jiyo is standing.

"Gumagabi na." Tablo noted.

His squad has taken the liberty to light up the torches they've planted on various places of the run-down area. Burning arrows swoop through the air landing on their respective targets, bringing the dead, dilapidated buildings back to life. Soon after, faces after faces of their comrades are slowly resurfacing from the shadows as each torch catches fire.

Without the moon shining upon them nor stars to witness the event, torches and the increasing bonfire serves as their light after the sun completely sets. Shadows flickers here and there every time the night wind decides to howl silently. A shiver would run down on the spine of Jiyo's comrades, though some of them knew it wasn't because of the wind.